King James Version

Proverbs 18:17

He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

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Hebrew

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צַדִּ֣יקtsadiqjustצַדִּיקadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “just”, the ordinary formH6662justjust, lawful, righteous (man).הָרִאשׁ֣וֹןharishonthe firstרִאשׁוֹןdefinite article, adjective, ordinal, masculine, singular, absolute — “the first”, the ordinary formH7223first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun)ancestor, (that were) before(-time), beginning, eldest, first, fore(-father) (-most), former (thing), of old time, past.בְּרִיב֑וֹberivvoin causeרִיבpreposition, noun, common, both genders, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “in cause”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH7379a contest (personal or legal)[phrase] adversary, cause, chiding, contend(-tion), controversy, multitude (from the margin), pleading, strife, strive(-ing), suit.יבאyvto comeבּוֹאverb, qal, imperfect, 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,…וּבָֽאuvaand to comeבּוֹאconjunction, verb, qal, sequential perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and to come”, a completed action in a sequenceH935to 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,…רֵ֝עֵ֗הוּreehvbrotherרֵעַnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “brother”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH7453an associate (more or less close)brother, companion, fellow, friend, husband, lover, neighbour, [idiom] (an-) other.וַחֲקָרֽוֹvachaqarvoand find outחָקַרconjunction, verb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and find out”, a completed actionH2713properly, to penetrate; hence, to examine intimatelyfind out, (make) search (out), seek (out), sound, try.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

He that pleadeth his cause first seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him out.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

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

American Standard Version (1901)

He that pleadeth his cause first seemeth just; But his neighbor cometh and searcheth him out.

Young’s Literal Translation

Righteous [is] the first in his own cause, His neighbour cometh and hath searched him.

World English Bible

He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him.

Darby Translation

He that is first in his own cause [seemeth] just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.

Douay-Rheims

The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

He that pleadeth his cause first seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him out.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

A righteous man accuses himself at the beginning of his speech, but when he has entered upon the attack, the adversary is reproved.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Δίκαιος ἑαυτοῦ κατήγορος ἐν πρωτολογίᾳ, ὡς δʼ ἂν ἐπιβάλῃ ὁ ἀντίδικος ἐλέγχεται.