King James Version

Proverbs 16:22

Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.

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Hebrew

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מְק֣וֹרmeqorfountainמָקוֹרnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “fountain”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH4726properly, something dug, i.e. a (general) source (of water, even when naturally flowing; also of tears, blood (by euphemism, of the female pudenda); figuratively, of happiness, wisdom, progeny)fountain, issue, spring, well(-spring).חַ֭יִּיםchayimlifeחַיnoun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “life”, the ordinary formH2416alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or living thing), whether literally or figuratively[phrase] age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly), living (creature, thing), maintenance, [phrase] merry, multitude, [phrase] (be) old, quick, raw, running, springing, troop.שֵׂ֣כֶלsekheldiscretionשֶׂכֶלnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “discretion”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH7922intelligence; by implication, successdiscretion, knowledge, policy, prudence, sense, understanding, wisdom, wise.בְּעָלָ֑יוbealayvhusbandבַּעַלnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “husband”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1167a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner (often used with another noun in modifications of this latter sense)[phrase] archer, [phrase] babbler, [phrase] bird, captain, chief man, [phrase] confederate, [phrase] have to do, [phrase] dreamer, those to whom it is due, [phrase] furious, those that are given to it, great, [phrase] hairy, he that hath i…וּמוּסַ֖רumusarand chastisementמוּסָרconjunction, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “and chastisement”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH4148properly, chastisement; figuratively, reproof, warning or instruction; also restraintbond, chastening(-eth), chastisement, check, correction, discipline, doctrine, instruction, rebuke.אֱוִלִ֣יםevilimfoolאֱוִילadjective, adjective, masculine, plural, absolute — “fool”, the ordinary formH191(figuratively) sillyfool(-ish) (man).אִוֶּֽלֶתiveletfollyאִוֶּלֶתnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “folly”, the ordinary formH200sillinessfolly, foolishly(-ness).

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

Understanding is a fountain of life unto him that hath it; but folly is the chastisement of fools.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

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

American Standard Version (1901)

Understanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it; But the correction of fools is their folly.

Young’s Literal Translation

A fountain of life [is] understanding to its possessors, The instruction of fools is folly.

World English Bible

Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.

Darby Translation

Wisdom is a fountain of life for him that hath it; but the instruction of fools is folly.

Douay-Rheims

Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the instruction of fools is foolishness.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Understanding is a fountain of life unto him that hath it; but folly is the chastisement of fools.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessors; but the instruction of fools is evil.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Πηγὴ ζωῆς ἔννοια τοῖς κεκτημένοις, παιδεία δὲ ἀφρόνων κακή.