King James Version

Proverbs 21:9

It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

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Hebrew

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ט֗וֹבtovgoodטוֹבadjective, 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,…לָשֶׁ֥בֶתlashevetto dwellיָשַׁבpreposition, verb, qal, infinitive construct — “to dwell”, the to-form of the verbH3427properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry(make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, r…עַלalaboveעַלpreposition — “above”H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsabove, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of,…פִּנַּתpinatbulwarkפִּנָּהnoun, common, feminine, singular, construct — “bulwark”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH6438an angle; by implication, a pinnacle; figuratively, a chieftainbulwark, chief, corner, stay, tower.גָּ֑גgagroofגָּגnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “roof”, the ordinary formH1406a roof; by analogy, the top of an altarroof (of the house), (house) top (of the house).מֵאֵ֥שֶׁתmeeshetfrom eachאִשָּׁהpreposition, noun, common, feminine, singular, construct — “from each”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH802a woman(adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.מִ֝דְיָנִ֗יםmidyanimbrawlingמִדְיָןnoun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “brawling”, the ordinary formH4079{a contest or quarrel}brawling, contention(-ous).וּבֵ֥יתuveytand familyבַּיִתconjunction, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “and family”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1004a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web,…חָֽבֶרchavercompanyחֶבֶרnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “company”, the ordinary formH2267a society; also a spell[phrase] charmer(-ing), company, enchantment, [idiom] wide.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than in a house in common with a contentious woman.

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

American Standard Version (1901)

It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.

Young’s Literal Translation

Better to sit on a corner of the roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions and a house of company.

World English Bible

It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.

Darby Translation

It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman, and a house in common.

Douay-Rheims

It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling women, and in a common house.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than in a house in common with a contentious woman.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

It is better to dwell in a corner on the house-top, than in plastered rooms with unrighteousness, and in an open house.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Κρεῖσσον οἰκεῖν ἐπὶ γωνίας ὑπαίθρου, ἢ ἐν κεκονιαμένοις μετὰ ἀδικίας καὶ ἐν οἴκῳ κοινῷ.