King James Version

Proverbs 21:8

The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.

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Hebrew

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הֲפַכְפַּ֬ךְhafakhpakhfrowardהֲפַכְפַּךְadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “froward”, the ordinary formH2019very perversefroward.דֶּ֣רֶךְderekhalongדֶּרֶךְnoun, common, both genders, singular, construct — “along”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1870a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverbalong, away, because of, [phrase] by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever).אִ֣ישׁisha certainאִישׁnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “a certain”, the ordinary formH376a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phra…וָזָ֑רvazarcrimeוָזָרadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “crime”, the ordinary formH2054crime[idiom] strange.וְ֝זַ֗ךְvezakhand cleanזַךְconjunction, adjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “and clean”, the ordinary formH2134clearclean, pure.יָשָׁ֥רyasharstraightיָשָׁרadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “straight”, the ordinary formH3477straight (literally or figuratively)convenient, equity, Jasher, just, meet(-est), [phrase] pleased well right(-eous), straight, (most) upright(-ly, -ness).פָּעֳלֽוֹpaolvoactפֹּעַלnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “act”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH6467an act or work (concretely)act, deed, do, getting, maker, work.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

The way of man is froward and strange; but as for the pure, his work is right.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

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

American Standard Version (1901)

The way of him that is laden with guilt is exceeding crooked; But as for the pure, his work is right.

Young’s Literal Translation

Froward [is] the way of a man who is vile, And the pure — upright [is] his work.

World English Bible

The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

Darby Translation

Very crooked is the way of a guilty man; but as for the pure, his work is upright.

Douay-Rheims

The perverse way of a man is strange: but as for him that is pure, his work is right.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

The way of man is froward and strange; but as for the pure, his work is right.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Πρὸς τοὺς σκολιοὺς σκολιὰς ὁδοὺς ἀποστέλλει ὁ Θεὸς, ἁγνὰ γὰρ καὶ ὀρθὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ.