Proverbs

Proverbs 6:6–11

⁶Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker;

observe its ways and become wise.

⁷Without a commander,

without an overseer or ruler,

⁸it prepares its provisions in summer;

it gathers its food at harvest.

⁹How long will you lie there, O slacker?

When will you get up from your sleep?

¹⁰A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest,

¹¹and poverty will come upon you like a robber,

and need like a bandit.

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Walk in the manner of	לֵֽךְ־	lêḵ-	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
the ant	נְמָלָ֥ה	nə·mā·lāh	Noun - feminine singular	H5244 ant
O slacker	עָצֵ֑ל	‘ā·ṣêl	Adjective - masculine singular	H6102 sluggish, lazy
observe	רְאֵ֖ה	rə·’êh	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H7200 see
its ways	דְרָכֶ֣יהָ	ḏə·rā·ḵe·hā	Noun - common plural construct; third person feminine singular	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
and become wise	וַחֲכָֽם׃	wa·ḥă·ḵām	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H2449 be wise

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Without	אֵֽין־	’ên-	Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
a commander	קָצִ֗ין	qā·ṣîn	Noun - masculine singular	H7101 chief, ruler
without an overseer	שֹׁטֵ֥ר	šō·ṭêr	Noun - masculine singular	H7860 official, officer
or ruler	וּמֹשֵֽׁל׃	ū·mō·šêl	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H4910 rule, have dominion, reign

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
it prepares	תָּכִ֣ין	tā·ḵîn	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person feminine singular	H3559 be firm
its provisions	לַחְמָ֑הּ	laḥ·māh	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singular	H3899 bread, food
in summer	בַּקַּ֣יִץ	baq·qa·yiṣ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H7019 summer, summer-fruit
it gathers	אָגְרָ֥ה	’ā·ḡə·rāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H103 gather
its food	מַאֲכָלָֽהּ׃	ma·’ă·ḵā·lāh	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person feminine singular	H3978 food
at harvest	בַ֝קָּצִ֗יר	ḇaq·qā·ṣîr	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H7105 harvesting, harvest

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
How	מָתַ֖י	mā·ṯay	Interrogative	H4970 when?
long	עַד־	‘aḏ-	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
will you lie there	תִּשְׁכָּ֑ב	tiš·kāḇ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H7901 lie down
O slacker	עָצֵ֥ל׀	‘ā·ṣêl	Adjective - masculine singular	H6102 sluggish, lazy
When	מָ֝תַ֗י	mā·ṯay	Interrogative	H4970 when?
will you get up	תָּק֥וּם	tā·qūm	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular	H6965 arise, stand up, stand
from your sleep	מִשְּׁנָתֶֽךָ׃	miš·šə·nā·ṯe·ḵā	Preposition-m; Noun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H8142 sleep

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
A little	מְעַ֣ט	mə·‘aṭ	Adjective - masculine singular construct	H4592 a little, fewness, a few
sleep	שֵׁ֭נוֹת	šē·nôt̲	Noun - feminine plural	H8142 sleep
a little	מְעַ֣ט	mə·‘aṭ	Adjective - masculine singular construct	H4592 a little, fewness, a few
slumber	תְּנוּמ֑וֹת	tə·nū·mō·wṯ	Noun - feminine plural	H8572 slumber
a little	מְעַ֓ט׀	mə·‘aṭ	Adjective - masculine singular construct	H4592 a little, fewness, a few
folding	חִבֻּ֖ק	ḥib·buq	Noun - masculine singular construct	H2264 a clasping, folding
of the hands	יָדַ֣יִם	yā·ḏa·yim	Noun - fd	H3027 hand
to rest	לִשְׁכָּֽב׃	liš·kāḇ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H7901 lie down

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
and poverty	רֵאשֶׁ֑ךָ	rê·še·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H7389 poverty
will come upon you	וּבָֽא־	ū·ḇā-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
like a robber	כִמְהַלֵּ֥ךְ	ḵim·hal·lêḵ	Preposition-k; Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
and need	וּ֝מַחְסֹֽרְךָ֗	ū·maḥ·sō·rə·ḵā	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H4270 need, thing needed, poverty
like a bandit	כְּאִ֣ישׁ	kə·’îš	Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular	H376 man