King James Version

Proverbs 11:27

He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.

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Hebrew

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שֹׁ֣חֵֽרshocherbetimesשָׁחַרverb, qal, participle, absolute — “betimes”, a verb used as a describing wordH7836properly, to dawn, i.e. (figuratively) be (up) early at any task (with the implication of earnestness); by extension, to search for (with painstaking)(do something) betimes, enquire early, rise (seek) betimes, seek diligently) early, in the morning).ט֭וֹבtovgoodטוֹבadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “good”, the ordinary formH2896good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, [idiom] fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, [idiom] most, pleasant,…יְבַקֵּ֣שׁyevaqeshbeseechבָּקַשׁverb, piel, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “beseech”, an unfinished actionH1245to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to strive afterask, beg, beseech, desire, enquire, get, make inquisition, procure, (make) request, require, seek (for).רָצ֑וֹןratsonas... wouldרָצוֹןnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “as... would”, the ordinary formH7522delight (especially as shown)(be) acceptable(-ance, -ed), delight, desire, favour, (good) pleasure, (own, self, voluntary) will, as...(what) would.וְדֹרֵ֖שׁvedoreshand askדָּרַשׁconjunction, verb, qal, participle, absolute — “and ask”, a verb used as a describing wordH1875properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or ask; specifically to worshipask, [idiom] at all, care for, [idiom] diligently, inquire, make inquisition, (necro-) mancer, question, require, search, seek (for, out), [idiom] surely.רָעָ֣הraahbadרַעnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “bad”, the ordinary formH7451bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)adversity, affliction, bad, calamity, [phrase] displease(-ure), distress, evil((-favouredness), man, thing), [phrase] exceedingly, [idiom] great, grief(-vous), harm, heavy, hurt(-ful), ill (favoured), [phrase] mark, mischief(-vous), misery…תְבוֹאֶֽנּוּtevoenvto comeבּוֹאverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, feminine, singular, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “to come”, an unfinished actionH935to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat,…

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

He that diligently seeketh good seeketh favour; but he that searcheth for evil, it shall come unto him.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

He that diligently seeketh good seeketh favor; But he that searcheth after evil, it shall come unto him.

Young’s Literal Translation

Whoso is earnestly seeking good Seeketh a pleasing thing, And whoso is seeking evil — it meeteth him.

World English Bible

He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.

Darby Translation

He that is earnest after good seeketh favour; but he that searcheth for mischief, it shall come upon him.

Douay-Rheims

Well doth he rise early who seeketh good things; but he that seeketh after evil things shall be oppressed by them.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

He that diligently seeketh good seeketh favour; but he that searcheth for evil, it shall come unto him.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

He that devises good counsels seeks good favour: but as for him that seeks after evil, evil shall overtake him.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Τεκταινόμενος ἀγαθὰ ζητεῖ χάριν ἀγαθὴν, ἐκζητοῦντα δὲ κακὰ καταλήψεται αὐτόν.