Bible
Book of Proverbs, Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Proverbs

Chapter 1

מִשְׁלֵי שְׁלֹמֹה בֶן־דָּוִד מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל׃	א	1	The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
לָדַעַת חָכְמָה וּמוּסָר לְהָבִין אִמְרֵי בִינָה ׃	ב	2	To know wisdom and instruction; To discern the words of understanding;
לָקַחַת מוּסַר הַשְׂכֵּל צֶדֶק וּמִשְׁפָּט וּמֵישָׁרִים׃	ג	3	To receive instruction in wise dealing, In righteousness and justice and equity;
לָתֵת לִפְתָאיִם עָרְמָה לְנַעַר דַּעַת וּמְזִמָּה ׃	ד	4	To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion:
יִשְׁמַע חָכָם וְיוֹסֶף לֶקַח וְנָבוֹן תַּחְבֻּלוֹת יִקְנֶה׃	ה	5	That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; And that the man of understanding may attain unto sound counsels:
לְהָבִין מָשָׁל וּמְלִיצָה דִּבְרֵי חֲכָמִים וְחִידֹתָם׃	ו	6	To understand a proverb, and a figure, The words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
יִרְאַת יְהוָה רֵאשִׁית דָּעַת חָכְמָה וּמוּסָר אֱוִילִים בָּזוּ׃ פ	ז	7	The fear of YHVH is the beginning of knowledge;
שְׁמַע בְּנִי מוּסַר אָבִיךָ וְאַל־תִּטֹּשׁ תּוֹרַת אִמֶּךָ׃	ח	8	My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:
כִּי לִוְיַת חֵן הֵם לְרֹאשֶׁךָ וַעֲנָקִים לְגַרְגְּרֹתֶיךָ׃	ט	9	For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, And chains about thy neck.
בְּנִי אִם־יְפַתּוּךָ חַטָּאִים אַל־תֹּבֵא׃	י	10	My son, if sinners entice thee, Consent thou not.
אִם־יֹאמְרוּ לְכָה אִתָּנוּ נֶאֶרְבָה לְדָם נִצְפְּנָה לְנָקִי חִנָּם׃	יא	11	If they say, Come with us, Let us lay wait for blood; Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause;
נִבְלָעֵם כִּשְׁאוֹל חַיִּים וּתְמִימִים כְּיוֹרְדֵי בוֹר׃	יב	12	Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol, And whole, as those that go down into the pit;
כָּל־הוֹן יָקָר נִמְצָא נְמַלֵּא בָתֵּינוּ שָׁלָל ׃	יג	13	We shall find all precious substance; We shall fill our houses with spoil;
גּוֹרָלְךָ תַּפִּיל בְּתוֹכֵנוּ כִּיס אֶחָד יִהְיֶה לְכֻלָּנוּ׃	יד	14	Thou shalt cast thy lot among us; We will all have one purse:
בְּנִי אַל־תֵּלֵךְ בְּדֶרֶךְ אִתָּם מְנַע רַגְלְךָ מִנְּתִיבָתָם׃	טו	15	My son, walk not thou in the way with them; Refrain thy foot from their path:
כִּי רַגְלֵיהֶם לָרַע יָרוּצוּ וִימַהֲרוּ לִשְׁפָּךְ־דָּם׃	טז	16	For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood.
כִּי־חִנָּם מְזֹרָה הָרָשֶׁת בְּעֵינֵי כָל־בַּעַל כָּנָף׃	יז	17	For in vain is the net spread In the sight of any bird:
וְהֵם לְדָמָם יֶאֱרֹבוּ יִצְפְּנוּ לְנַפְשֹׁתָם׃	יח	18	And these lay wait for their own blood; They lurk privily for their own lives.
כֵּן אָרְחוֹת כָּל־בֹּצֵעַ בָּצַע אֶת־נֶפֶשׁ בְּעָלָיו יִקָּח׃ פ	יט	19	So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; It taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
חָכְמוֹת בַּחוּץ תָּרֹנָּה בָּרְחֹבוֹת תִּתֵּן קוֹלָהּ׃	כ	20	Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; She uttereth her voice in the broad places;
בְּרֹאשׁ הֹמִיּוֹת תִּקְרָא בְּפִתְחֵי שְׁעָרִים בָּעִיר אֲמָרֶיהָ תֹאמֵר׃	כא	21	She crieth in the chief place of concourse; At the entrance of the gates, In the city, she uttereth her words:
עַד־מָתַי פְּתָיִם תְּאֵהֲבוּ פֶתִי וְלֵצִים לָצוֹן חָמְדוּ לָהֶם וּכְסִילִים יִשְׂנְאוּ־דָעַת׃	כב	22	How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers delight them in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge?
תָּשׁוּבוּ לְתוֹכַחְתִּי הִנֵּה אַבִּיעָה לָכֶם רוּחִי אוֹדִיעָה דְבָרַי אֶתְכֶם׃	כג	23	Turn you at my reproof: Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you; I will make known my words unto you.
יַעַן קָרָאתִי וַתְּמָאֵנוּ נָטִיתִי יָדִי וְאֵין מַקְשִׁיב׃	כד	24	Because I have called, and ye have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man hath regarded;
וַתִּפְרְעוּ כָל־עֲצָתִי וְתוֹכַחְתִּי לֹא אֲבִיתֶם׃	כה	25	But ye have set at nought all my counsel, And would none of my reproof:
גַּם־אֲנִי בְּאֵידְכֶם אֶשְׂחָק אֶלְעַג בְּבֹא פַחְדְּכֶם׃	כו	26	I also will laugh in the day of your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
בְּבֹא כְשַׁאֲוָה פַּחְדְּכֶם וְאֵידְכֶם כְּסוּפָה יֶאֱתֶה בְּבֹא עֲלֵיכֶם צָרָה וְצוּקָה׃	כז	27	When your fear cometh as a storm, And your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind; When distress and anguish come upon you.
אָז יִקְרָאֻנְנִי וְלֹא אֶעֱנֶה יְשַׁחֲרֻנְנִי וְלֹא יִמְצָאֻנְנִי׃	כח	28	Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me:
תַּחַת כִּי־שָׂנְאוּ דָעַת וְיִרְאַת יְהֹוָה לֹא בָחָרוּ׃	כט	29	For that they hated knowledge, And did not choose the fear of YHVH:
לֹא־אָבוּ לַעֲצָתִי נָאֲצוּ כָּל־תּוֹכַחְתִּי׃	ל	30	They would none of my counsel; They despised all my reproof.
וְיֹאכְלוּ מִפְּרִי דַרְכָּם וּמִמֹּעֲצֹתֵיהֶם יִשְׂבָּעוּ׃	לא	31	Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled with their own devices.
כִּי מְשׁוּבַת פְּתָיִם תַּהַרְגֵם וְשַׁלְוַת כְּסִילִים תְּאַבְּדֵם׃	לב	32	For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, And the careless ease of fools shall destroy them.
וְשֹׁמֵעַ לִי יִשְׁכָּן־בֶּטַח וְשַׁאֲנַן מִפַּחַד רָעָה׃ פ	לג	33	But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely, And shall be quiet without fear of evil.

Chapter 2

בְּנִי אִם־תִּקַּח אֲמָרָי וּמִצְוֹתַי תִּצְפֹּן אִתָּךְ׃	א	1	My son, if thou wilt receive my words, And lay up my commandments with thee;
לְהַקְשִׁיב לַחָכְמָה אָזְנֶךָ תַּטֶּה לִבְּךָ לַתְּבוּנָה׃	ב	2	So as to incline thine ear unto wisdom, And apply thy heart to understanding;
כִּי אִם לַבִּינָה תִקְרָא לַתְּבוּנָה תִּתֵּן קוֹלֶךָ׃	ג	3	Yea, if thou cry after discernment, And lift up thy voice for understanding;
אִם־תְּבַקְשֶׁנָּה כַכָּסֶף וְכַמַּטְמוֹנִים תַּחְפְּשֶׂנָּה׃	ד	4	If thou seek her as silver, And search for her as for hid treasures:
אָז תָּבִין יִרְאַת יְהוָה וְדַעַת אֱלֹהִים תִּמְצָא׃	ה	5	Then shalt thou understand the fear of YHVH, And find the knowledge of God.
כִּי־יְהוָה יִתֵּן חָכְמָה מִפִּיו דַּעַת וּתְבוּנָה׃	ו	6	For YHVH giveth wisdom; Out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding:
וְצָפַן לַיְשָׁרִים תּוּשִׁיָּה מָגֵן לְהֹלְכֵי תֹם׃	ז	7	He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright;
לִנְצֹר אָרְחוֹת מִשְׁפָּט וְדֶרֶךְ חֲסִידוֹ יִשְׁמֹר׃	ח	8	That he may guard the paths of justice, And preserve the way of his saints.
אָז תָּבִין צֶדֶק וּמִשְׁפָּט וּמֵישָׁרִים כָּל־מַעְגַּל־טוֹב׃	ט	9	Then shalt thou understand righteousness and justice, And equity, yea, every good path.
כִּי־תָבוֹא חָכְמָה בְלִבֶּךָ וְדַעַת לְנַפְשְׁךָ יִנְעָם׃	י	10	For wisdom shall enter into thy heart, And knowledge shall be pleasant unto thy soul;
מְזִמָּה תִּשְׁמֹר עָלֶיךָ תְּבוּנָה תִנְצְרֶכָּה ׃	יא	11	Discretion shall watch over thee; Understanding shall keep thee:
לְהַצִּילְךָ מִדֶּרֶךְ רָע מֵאִישׁ מְדַבֵּר תַּהְפֻּכוֹת׃	יב	12	To deliver thee from the way of evil, From the men that speak perverse things;
הַעֹזְבִים אָרְחוֹת יֹשֶׁר לָלֶכֶת בְּדַרְכֵי־חֹשֶׁךְ׃	יג	13	Who forsake the paths of uprightness, To walk in the ways of darkness;
הַשְּׂמֵחִים לַעֲשׂוֹת רָע יָגִילוּ בְּתַהְפֻּכוֹת רָע׃	יד	14	Who rejoice to do evil, And delight in the perverseness of evil;
אֲשֶׁר אָרְחֹתֵיהֶם עִקְּשִׁים וּנְלוֹזִים בְּמַעְגְּלוֹתָם׃	טו	15	Who are crooked in their ways, And wayward in their paths:
לְהַצִּילְךָ מֵאִשָּׁה זָרָה מִנָּכְרִיָּה אֲמָרֶיהָ הֶחֱלִיקָה׃	טז	16	To deliver thee from the strange woman, Even from the foreigner that flattereth with her words;
הַעֹזֶבֶת אַלּוּף נְעוּרֶיהָ וְאֶת־בְּרִית אֱלֹהֶיהָ שָׁכֵחָה׃	יז	17	That forsaketh the friend of her youth, And forgetteth the covenant of her God:
כִּי שָׁחָה אֶל־מָוֶת בֵּיתָהּ וְאֶל־רְפָאִים מַעְגְּלֹתֶיהָ׃	יח	18	For her house inclineth unto death, And her paths unto the dead;
כָּל־בָּאֶיהָ לֹא יְשׁוּבוּן וְלֹא־יַשִּׂיגוּ אָרְחוֹת חַיִּים׃	יט	19	None that go unto her return again, Neither do they attain unto the paths of life:
לְמַעַן תֵּלֵךְ בְּדֶרֶךְ טוֹבִים וְאָרְחוֹת צַדִּיקִים תִּשְׁמֹר׃	כ	20	That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, And keep the paths of the righteous.
כִּי־יְשָׁרִים יִשְׁכְּנוּ־אָרֶץ וּתְמִימִים יִוָּתְרוּ בָהּ׃	כא	21	For the upright shall dwell in the land, And the perfect shall remain in it.
וּרְשָׁעִים מֵאֶרֶץ יִכָּרֵתוּ וּבוֹגְדִים יִסְּחוּ מִמֶּנָּה׃ פ	כב	22	But the wicked shall be cut off from the land, And the treacherous shall be rooted out of it.

Chapter 3

בְּנִי תּוֹרָתִי אַל־תִּשְׁכָּח וּמִצְוֹתַי יִצֹּר לִבֶּךָ׃	א	1	My son, forget not my law; But let thy heart keep my commandments:
כִּי אֹרֶךְ יָמִים וּשְׁנוֹת חַיִּים וְשָׁלוֹם יוֹסִיפוּ לָךְ׃	ב	2	For length of days, and years of life, And peace, will they add to thee.
חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת אַל־יַעַזְבֻךָ קָשְׁרֵם עַל־גַּרְגְּרוֹתֶיךָ כָּתְבֵם עַל־לוּחַ לִבֶּךָ׃	ג	3	Let not kindness and truth forsake thee: Bind them about thy neck; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart:
וּמְצָא־חֵן וְשֵׂכֶל־טוֹב בְּעֵינֵי אֱלֹהִים וְאָדָם׃ פ	ד	4	So shalt thou find favor and good understanding In the sight of God and man.
בְּטַח אֶל־יְהוָה בְּכָל־לִבֶּךָ וְאֶל־בִּינָתְךָ אַל־תִּשָּׁעֵן׃	ה	5	Trust in YHVH with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding:
בְּכָל־דְּרָכֶיךָ דָעֵהוּ וְהוּא יְיַשֵּׁר אֹרְחֹתֶיךָ׃	ו	6	In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths.
אַל־תְּהִי חָכָם בְּעֵינֶיךָ יְרָא אֶת־יְהוָה וְסוּר מֵרָע׃	ז	7	Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear YHVH, and depart from evil:
רִפְאוּת תְּהִי לְשָׁרֶּךָ וְשִׁקּוּי לְעַצְמוֹתֶיךָ׃	ח	8	It will be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones.
כַּבֵּד אֶת־יְהוָה מֵהוֹנֶךָ וּמֵרֵאשִׁית כָּל־תְּבוּאָתֶךָ׃	ט	9	Honor YHVH with thy substance, And with the first-fruits of all thine increase:
וְיִמָּלְאוּ אֲסָמֶיךָ שָׂבָע וְתִירוֹשׁ יְקָבֶיךָ יִפְרֹצוּ׃ פ	י	10	So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, And thy vats shall overflow with new wine.
מוּסַר יְהוָה בְּנִי אַל־תִּמְאָס וְאַל־תָּקֹץ בְּתוֹכַחְתּוֹ׃	יא	11	My son, despise not the chastening of YHVH; Neither be weary of his reproof:
כִּי אֶת אֲשֶׁר יֶאֱהַב יְהוָה יוֹכִיחַ וּכְאָב אֶת־בֵּן יִרְצֶה׃	יב	12	For whom YHVH loveth he reproveth; Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם מָצָא חָכְמָה וְאָדָם יָפִיק תְּבוּנָה׃	יג	13	Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding.
כִּי טוֹב סַחְרָהּ מִסְּחַר־כָּסֶף וּמֵחָרוּץ תְּבוּאָתָהּ׃	יד	14	For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, And the profit thereof than fine gold.
יְקָרָה הִיא מִפְּנִיִּים וְכָל־חֲפָצֶיךָ לֹא יִשְׁווּ־בָהּ׃	טו	15	She is more precious than rubies: And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her.
אֹרֶךְ יָמִים בִּימִינָהּ בִּשְׂמֹאולָהּ עֹשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד׃	טז	16	Length of days is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.
דְּרָכֶיהָ דַרְכֵי־נֹעַם וְכָל־נְתִיבוֹתֶיהָ שָׁלוֹם׃	יז	17	Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace.
עֵץ־חַיִּים הִיא לַמַּחֲזִיקִים בָּהּ וְתֹמְכֶיהָ מְאֻשָּׁר׃ פ	יח	18	She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: And happy is every one that retaineth her.
יְהוָה בְּחָכְמָה יָסַד־אָרֶץ כּוֹנֵן שָׁמַיִם בִּתְבוּנָה׃	יט	19	YHVH by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he established the heavens.
בְּדַעְתּוֹ תְּהוֹמוֹת נִבְקָעוּ וּשְׁחָקִים יִרְעֲפוּ־טָל׃	כ	20	By his knowledge the depths were broken up, And the skies drop down the dew.
בְּנִי אַל־יָלֻזוּ מֵעֵינֶיךָ נְצֹר תֻּשִׁיָּה וּמְזִמָּה׃	כא	21	My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
וְיִהְיוּ חַיִּים לְנַפְשֶׁךָ וְחֵן לְגַרְגְּרֹתֶיךָ׃	כב	22	So shall they be life unto thy soul, And grace to thy neck.
אָז תֵּלֵךְ לָבֶטַח דַּרְכֶּךָ וְרַגְלְךָ לֹא תִגּוֹף׃	כג	23	Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, And thy foot shall not stumble.
אִם־תִּשְׁכַּב לֹא־תִפְחָד וְשָׁכַבְתָּ וְעָרְבָה שְׁנָתֶךָ׃	כד	24	When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
אַל־תִּירָא מִפַּחַד פִּתְאֹם וּמִשֹּׁאַת רְשָׁעִים כִּי תָבֹא׃	כה	25	Be not afraid of sudden fear, Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh:
כִּי־יְהוָה יִהְיֶה בְכִסְלֶךָ וְשָׁמַר רַגְלְךָ מִלָּכֶד׃	כו	26	For YHVH will be thy confidence, And will keep thy foot from being taken.
אַל־תִּמְנַע־טוֹב מִבְּעָלָיו בִּהְיוֹת לְאֵל יָדֶיךָ לַעֲשׂוֹת׃	כז	27	Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, When it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
אַל־תֹּאמַר לְרֵעֶיךָ לֵךְ וָשׁוּב וּמָחָר אֶתֵּן וְיֵשׁ אִתָּךְ׃	כח	28	Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, And to-morrow I will give; When thou hast it by thee.
אַל־תַּחֲרֹשׁ עַל־רֵעֲךָ רָעָה וְהוּא־יוֹשֵׁב לָבֶטַח אִתָּךְ׃	כט	29	Devise not evil against thy neighbor, Seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
אַל־תָּרוֹב עִם־אָדָם חִנָּם אִם־לֹא גְמָלְךָ רָעָה׃	ל	30	Strive not with a man without cause, If he have done thee no harm.
אַל־תְּקַנֵּא בְּאִישׁ חָמָס וְאַל־תִּבְחַר בְּכָל־דְּרָכָיו׃	לא	31	Envy thou not the man of violence, And choose none of his ways.
כִּי תוֹעֲבַת יְהוָה נָלוֹז וְאֶת־יְשָׁרִים סוֹדוֹ ׃	לב	32	For the perverse is an abomination to YHVH; But his friendship is with the upright.
מְאֵרַת יְהוָה בְּבֵית רָשָׁע וּנְוֵה צַדִּיקִים יְבָרֵךְ׃	לג	33	The curse of YHVH is in the house of the wicked; But he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
אִם־לַלֵּצִים הוּא־יָלִיץ וְלַעֲנִיִּים יִתֶּן־חֵן ׃	לד	34	Surely he scoffeth at the scoffers; But he giveth grace unto the lowly.
כָּבוֹד חֲכָמִים יִנְחָלוּ וּכְסִילִים מֵרִים קָלוֹן׃ פ	לה	35	The wise shall inherit glory; But shame shall be the promotion of fools.

Chapter 4

שִׁמְעוּ בָנִים מוּסַר אָב וְהַקְשִׁיבוּ לָדַעַת בִּינָה׃	א	1	Hear, my sons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding:
כִּי לֶקַח טוֹב נָתַתִּי לָכֶם תּוֹרָתִי אַל־תַּעֲזֹבוּ׃	ב	2	For I give you good doctrine; Forsake ye not my law.
כִּי־בֵן הָיִיתִי לְאָבִי רַךְ וְיָחִיד לִפְנֵי אִמִּי׃	ג	3	For I was a son unto my father, Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
וַיֹּרֵנִי וַיֹּאמֶר לִי יִתְמָךְ־דְּבָרַי לִבֶּךָ שְׁמֹר מִצְוֹתַי וֶחְיֵה׃	ד	4	And he taught me, and said unto me: Let thy heart retain my words; Keep my commandments, and live;
קְנֵה חָכְמָה קְנֵה בִינָה אַל־תִּשְׁכַּח וְאַל־תֵּט מֵאִמְרֵי־פִי׃	ה	5	Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth;
אַל־תַּעַזְבֶהָ וְתִשְׁמְרֶךָּ אֱהָבֶהָ וְתִצְּרֶךָּ׃	ו	6	Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; Love her, and she will keep thee.
רֵאשִׁית חָכְמָה קְנֵה חָכְמָה וּבְכָל־קִנְיָנְךָ קְנֵה בִינָה׃	ז	7	Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; Yea, with all thy getting get understanding.
סַלְסְלֶהָ וּתְרוֹמְמֶךָּ תְּכַבֵּדְךָ כִּי תְחַבְּקֶנָּה׃	ח	8	Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her.
תִּתֵּן לְרֹאשְׁךָ לִוְיַת־חֵן עֲטֶרֶת תִּפְאֶרֶת תְּמַגְּנֶךָּ׃	ט	9	She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; A crown of beauty will she deliver to thee.
שְׁמַע בְּנִי וְקַח אֲמָרָי וְיִרְבּוּ לְךָ שְׁנוֹת חַיִּים׃	י	10	Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; And the years of thy life shall be many.
בְּדֶרֶךְ חָכְמָה הֹרֵתִיךָ הִדְרַכְתִּיךָ בְּמַעְגְּלֵי־יֹשֶׁר׃	יא	11	I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in paths of uprightness.
בְּלֶכְתְּךָ לֹא־יֵצַר צַעֲדֶךָ וְאִם־תָּרוּץ לֹא תִכָּשֵׁל׃	יב	12	When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; And if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
הַחֲזֵק בַּמּוּסָר אַל־תֶּרֶף נִצְּרֶהָ כִּי־הִיא חַיֶּיךָ׃	יג	13	Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: Keep her; for she is thy life.
בְּאֹרַח רְשָׁעִים אַל־תָּבֹא וְאַל־תְּאַשֵּׁר בְּדֶרֶךְ רָעִים׃	יד	14	Enter not into the path of the wicked, And walk not in the way of evil men.
פְּרָעֵהוּ אַל־תַּעֲבָר־בּוֹ שְׂטֵה מֵעָלָיו וַעֲבוֹר׃	טו	15	Avoid it, pass not by it; Turn from it, and pass on.
כִּי לֹא יִשְׁנוּ אִם־לֹא יָרֵעוּ וְנִגְזְלָה שְׁנָתָם אִם־לֹא יִכְשׁוֹלוּ׃	טז	16	For they sleep not, except they do evil; And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
כִּי לָחֲמוּ לֶחֶם רֶשַׁע וְיֵין חֲמָסִים יִשְׁתּוּ׃	יז	17	For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.
וְאֹרַח צַדִּיקִים כְּאוֹר נֹגַהּ הוֹלֵךְ וָאוֹר עַד־נְכוֹן הַיּוֹם׃	יח	18	But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
דֶּרֶךְ רְשָׁעִים כָּאֲפֵלָה לֹא יָדְעוּ בַּמֶּה יִכָּשֵׁלוּ׃ פ	יט	19	The way of the wicked is as darkness: They know not at what they stumble.
בְּנִי לִדְבָרַי הַקְשִׁיבָה לַאֲמָרַי הַט־אָזְנֶךָ׃	כ	20	My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings.
אַל־יַלִּיזוּ מֵעֵינֶיךָ שָׁמְרֵם בְּתוֹךְ לְבָבֶךָ׃	כא	21	Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart.
כִּי־חַיִּים הֵם לְמֹצְאֵיהֶם וּלְכָל־בְּשָׂרוֹ מַרְפֵּא׃	כב	22	For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh.
מִכָּל־מִשְׁמָר נְצֹר לִבֶּךָ כִּי־מִמֶּנּוּ תּוֹצְאוֹת חַיִּים׃	כג	23	Keep thy heart with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.
הָסֵר מִמְּךָ עִקְּשׁוּת פֶּה וּלְזוּת שְׂפָתַיִם הַרְחֵק מִמֶּךָּ׃	כד	24	Put away from thee a wayward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee.
עֵינֶיךָ לְנֹכַח יַבִּיטוּ וְעַפְעַפֶּיךָ יַיְשִׁרוּ נֶגְדֶּךָ׃	כה	25	Let thine eyes look right on, And let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
פַּלֵּס מַעְגַּל רַגְלֶךָ וְכָל־דְּרָכֶיךָ יִכֹּנוּ׃	כו	26	Make level the path of thy feet, And let all thy ways be established.
אַל־תֵּט־יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאול הָסֵר רַגְלְךָ מֵרָע׃	כז	27	Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil.

Chapter 5

בְּנִי לְחָכְמָתִי הַקְשִׁיבָה לִתְבוּנָתִי הַט־אָזְנֶךָ׃	א	1	My son, attend unto my wisdom; Incline thine ear to my understanding:
לִשְׁמֹר מְזִמּוֹת וְדַעַת שְׂפָתֶיךָ יִנְצֹרוּ׃	ב	2	That thou mayest preserve discretion, And that thy lips may keep knowledge.
כִּי נֹפֶת תִּטֹּפְנָה שִׂפְתֵי זָרָה וְחָלָק מִשֶּׁמֶן חִכָּהּ׃	ג	3	For the lips of a strange woman drop honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil:
וְאַחֲרִיתָהּ מָרָה כַלַּעֲנָה חַדָּה כְּחֶרֶב פִּיּוֹת׃	ד	4	But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword.
רַגְלֶיהָ יֹרְדוֹת מָוֶת שְׁאוֹל צְעָדֶיהָ יִתְמֹכוּ׃	ה	5	Her feet go down to death; Her steps take hold on Sheol;
אֹרַח חַיִּים פֶּן־תְּפַלֵּס נָעוּ מַעְגְּלֹתֶיהָ לֹא תֵדָע׃ פ	ו	6	So that she findeth not the level path of life: Her ways are unstable, and she knoweth it not.
וְעַתָּה בָנִים שִׁמְעוּ־לִי וְאַל־תָּסוּרוּ מֵאִמְרֵי־פִי׃	ז	7	Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me, And depart not from the words of my mouth.
הַרְחֵק מֵעָלֶיהָ דַרְכֶּךָ וְאַל־תִּקְרַב אֶל־פֶּתַח בֵּיתָהּ׃	ח	8	Remove thy way far from her, And come not nigh the door of her house;
פֶּן־תִּתֵּן לַאֲחֵרִים הוֹדֶךָ וּשְׁנֹתֶיךָ לְאַכְזָרִי׃	ט	9	Lest thou give thine honor unto others, And thy years unto the cruel;
פֶּן־יִשְׂבְּעוּ זָרִים כֹּחֶךָ וַעֲצָבֶיךָ בְּבֵית נָכְרִי׃	י	10	Lest strangers be filled with thy strength, And thy labors be in the house of an alien,
וְנָהַמְתָּ בְאַחֲרִיתֶךָ בִּכְלוֹת בְּשָׂרְךָ וּשְׁאֵרֶךָ׃	יא	11	And thou mourn at thy latter end, When thy flesh and thy body are consumed,
וְאָמַרְתָּ אֵיךְ שָׂנֵאתִי מוּסָר וְתוֹכַחַת נָאַץ לִבִּי׃	יב	12	And say, How have I hated instruction, And my heart despised reproof;
וְלֹא־שָׁמַעְתִּי בְּקוֹל מוֹרָי וְלִמְלַמְּדַי לֹא־הִטִּיתִי אָזְנִי׃	יג	13	Neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!
כִּמְעַט הָיִיתִי בְכָל־רָע בְּתוֹךְ קָהָל וְעֵדָה ׃	יד	14	I was well-nigh in all evil In the midst of the assembly and congregation.
שְׁתֵה־מַיִם מִבּוֹרֶךָ וְנֹזְלִים מִתּוֹךְ בְּאֵרֶךָ׃	טו	15	Drink waters out of thine own cistern, And running waters out of thine own well.
יָפוּצוּ מַעְיְנֹתֶיךָ חוּצָה בָּרְחֹבוֹת פַּלְגֵי־מָיִם׃	טז	16	Should thy springs be dispersed abroad, And streams of water in the streets?
יִהְיוּ־לְךָ לְבַדֶּךָ וְאֵין לְזָרִים אִתָּךְ׃	יז	17	Let them be for thyself alone, And not for strangers with thee.
יְהִי־מְקוֹרְךָ בָרוּךְ וּשְׂמַח מֵאֵשֶׁת נְעוּרֶךָ׃	יח	18	Let thy fountain be blessed; And rejoice in the wife of thy youth.
אַיֶּלֶת אֲהָבִים וְיַעֲלַת־חֵן דַּדֶּיהָ יְרַוֻּךָ בְכָל־עֵת בְּאַהֲבָתָהּ תִּשְׁגֶּה תָמִיד׃	יט	19	As a loving hind and a pleasant doe, Let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; And be thou ravished always with her love.
וְלָמָּה תִשְׁגֶּה בְנִי בְזָרָה וּתְחַבֵּק חֵק נָכְרִיָּה׃	כ	20	For why shouldest thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, And embrace the bosom of a foreigner?
כִּי נֹכַח עֵינֵי יְהוָה דַּרְכֵי־אִישׁ וְכָל־מַעְגְּלֹתָיו מְפַלֵּס׃	כא	21	For the ways of man are before the eyes of YHVH; And he maketh level all his paths.
עַווֹנוֹתָיו יִלְכְּדֻנוֹ אֶת־הָרָשָׁע וּבְחַבְלֵי חַטָּאתוֹ יִתָּמֵךְ׃	כב	22	His own iniquities shall take the wicked, And he shall be holden with the cords of his sin.
הוּא יָמוּת בְּאֵין מוּסָר וּבְרֹב אִוַּלְתּוֹ יִשְׁגֶּה׃ פ	כג	23	He shall die for lack of instruction; And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

Chapter 6

בְּנִי אִם־עָרַבְתָּ לְרֵעֶךָ תָּקַעְתָּ לַזָּר כַּפֶּיךָ׃	א	1	My son, if thou art become surety for thy neighbor, If thou hast stricken thy hands for a stranger;
נוֹקַשְׁתָּ בְאִמְרֵי־פִיךָ נִלְכַּדְתָּ בְּאִמְרֵי־פִיךָ׃	ב	2	Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, Thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
עֲשֵׂה זֹאת אֵפוֹא בְּנִי וְהִנָּצֵל כִּי בָאתָ בְכַף־רֵעֶךָ לֵךְ הִתְרַפֵּס וּרְהַב רֵעֶיךָ׃	ג	3	Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, Seeing thou art come into the hand of thy neighbor: Go, humble thyself, and importune thy neighbor;
אַל־תִּתֵּן שֵׁנָה לְעֵינֶיךָ וּתְנוּמָה לְעַפְעַפֶּיךָ׃	ד	4	Give not sleep to thine eyes, Nor slumber to thine eyelids;
הִנָּצֵל כִּצְבִי מִיָּד וּכְצִפּוֹר מִיַּד יָקוּשׁ׃ פ	ה	5	Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, And as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
לֵךְ־אֶל־נְמָלָה עָצֵל רְאֵה דְרָכֶיהָ וַחֲכָם׃	ו	6	Go to the ant, thou sluggard; Consider her ways, and be wise:
אֲשֶׁר אֵין־לָהּ קָצִין שֹׁטֵר וּמֹשֵׁל׃	ז	7	Which having no chief, Overseer, or ruler,
תָּכִין בַּקַּיִץ לַחְמָהּ אָגְרָה בַקָּצִיר מַאֲכָלָהּ׃	ח	8	Provideth her bread in the summer, And gathereth her food in the harvest.
עַד־מָתַי עָצֵל תִּשְׁכָּב מָתַי תָּקוּם מִשְּׁנָתֶךָ׃	ט	9	How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
מְעַט שֵׁנוֹת מְעַט תְּנוּמוֹת מְעַט חִבֻּק יָדַיִם לִשְׁכָּב׃	י	10	Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep:
וּבָא־כִמְהַלֵּךְ רֵאשֶׁךָ וּמַחְסֹרְךָ כְּאִישׁ מָגֵן׃ פ	יא	11	So shall thy poverty come as a robber, And thy want as an armed man.
אָדָם בְּלִיַּעַל אִישׁ אָוֶן הוֹלֵךְ עִקְּשׁוּת פֶּה׃	יב	12	A worthless person, a man of iniquity, Is he that walketh with a perverse mouth;
קֹרֵץ בְּעֵינָו מֹלֵל בְּרַגְלָו מֹרֶה בְּאֶצְבְּעֹתָיו׃	יג	13	That winketh with his eyes, that speaketh with his feet, That maketh signs with his fingers;
תַּהְפֻּכוֹת בְּלִבּוֹ חֹרֵשׁ רָע בְּכָל־עֵת מְדָנִים יְשַׁלֵּחַ׃	יד	14	In whose heart is perverseness, Who deviseth evil continually, Who soweth discord.
עַל־כֵּן פִּתְאֹם יָבוֹא אֵידוֹ פֶּתַע יִשָּׁבֵר וְאֵין מַרְפֵּא׃ פ	טו	15	Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; On a sudden shall he be broken, and that without remedy.
שֶׁשׁ־הֵנָּה שָׂנֵא יְהוָה וְשֶׁבַע תּוֹעֲבוֹת נַפְשׁוֹ׃	טז	16	There are six things which YHVH hateth; Yea, seven which are an abomination unto him:
עֵינַיִם רָמוֹת לְשׁוֹן שָׁקֶר וְיָדַיִם שֹׁפְכוֹת דָּם־נָקִי׃	יז	17	Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood;
לֵב חֹרֵשׁ מַחְשְׁבוֹת אָוֶן רַגְלַיִם מְמַהֲרוֹת לָרוּץ לָרָעָה׃	יח	18	A heart that deviseth wicked purposes, Feet that are swift in running to mischief,
יָפִיחַ כְּזָבִים עֵד שָׁקֶר וּמְשַׁלֵּחַ מְדָנִים בֵּין אַחִים׃ פ	יט	19	A false witness that uttereth lies, And he that soweth discord among brethren.
נְצֹר בְּנִי מִצְוַת אָבִיךָ וְאַל־תִּטֹּשׁ תּוֹרַת אִמֶּךָ׃	כ	20	My son, keep the commandment of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:
קָשְׁרֵם עַל־לִבְּךָ תָמִיד עָנְדֵם עַל־גַּרְגְּרֹתֶךָ׃	כא	21	Bind them continually upon thy heart; Tie them about thy neck.
בְּהִתְהַלֶּכְךָ תַּנְחֶה אֹתָךְ בְּשָׁכְבְּךָ תִּשְׁמֹר עָלֶיךָ וַהֲקִיצוֹתָ הִיא תְשִׂיחֶךָ׃	כב	22	When thou walkest, it shall lead thee; When thou sleepest, it shall watch over thee; And when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
כִּי נֵר מִצְוָה וְתוֹרָה אוֹר וְדֶרֶךְ חַיִּים תּוֹכְחוֹת מוּסָר׃	כג	23	For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; And reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
לִשְׁמָרְךָ מֵאֵשֶׁת רָע מֵחֶלְקַת לָשׁוֹן נָכְרִיָּה׃	כד	24	To keep thee from the evil woman, From the flattery of the foreigner’s tongue.
אַל־תַּחְמֹד יָפְיָהּ בִּלְבָבֶךָ וְאַל־תִּקָּחֲךָ בְּעַפְעַפֶּיהָ׃	כה	25	Lust not after her beauty in thy heart; Neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
כִּי בְעַד־אִשָּׁה זוֹנָה עַד־כִּכַּר לָחֶם וְאֵשֶׁת אִישׁ נֶפֶשׁ יְקָרָה תָצוּד׃ פ	כו	26	For on account of a harlot a man is brought to a piece of bread; And the adulteress hunteth for the precious life.
הֲיַחְתֶּה אִישׁ אֵשׁ בְּחֵיקוֹ וּבְגָדָיו לֹא תִשָּׂרַפְנָה׃	כז	27	Can a man take fire in his bosom, And his clothes not be burned?
אִם־יְהַלֵּךְ אִישׁ עַל־הַגֶּחָלִים וְרַגְלָיו לֹא תִכָּוֶינָה׃	כח	28	Or can one walk upon hot coals, And his feet not be scorched?
כֵּן הַבָּא אֶל־אֵשֶׁת רֵעֵהוּ לֹא יִנָּקֶה כָּל־הַנֹּגֵעַ בָּהּ׃	כט	29	So he that goeth in to his neighbor’s wife; Whosoever toucheth her shall not be unpunished.
לֹא־יָבוּזוּ לַגַּנָּב כִּי יִגְנוֹב לְמַלֵּא נַפְשׁוֹ כִּי יִרְעָב׃	ל	30	Men do not despise a thief, if he steal To satisfy himself when he is hungry:
וְנִמְצָא יְשַׁלֵּם שִׁבְעָתָיִם אֶת־כָּל־הוֹן בֵּיתוֹ יִתֵּן׃	לא	31	But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; He shall give all the substance of his house.
נֹאֵף אִשָּׁה חֲסַר־לֵב מַשְׁחִית נַפְשׁוֹ הוּא יַעֲשֶׂנָּה׃	לב	32	He that committeth adultery with a woman is void of understanding: He doeth it who would destroy his own soul.
נֶגַע־וְקָלוֹן יִמְצָא וְחֶרְפָּתוֹ לֹא תִמָּחֶה ׃	לג	33	Wounds and dishonor shall he get; And his reproach shall not be wiped away.
כִּי־קִנְאָה חֲמַת־גָּבֶר וְלֹא־יַחְמוֹל בְּיוֹם נָקָם׃	לד	34	For jealousy is the rage of a man; And he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
לֹא־יִשָּׂא פְּנֵי כָל־כֹּפֶר וְלֹא־יֹאבֶה כִּי תַרְבֶּה־שֹׁחַד׃ פ	לה	35	He will not regard any ransom; Neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.

Chapter 7

בְּנִי שְׁמֹר אֲמָרָי וּמִצְוֹתַי תִּצְפֹּן אִתָּךְ׃	א	1	My son, keep my words, And lay up my commandments with thee.
שְׁמֹר מִצְוֹתַי וֶחְיֵה וְתוֹרָתִי כְּאִישׁוֹן עֵינֶיךָ׃	ב	2	Keep my commandments and live; And my law as the apple of thine eye.
קָשְׁרֵם עַל־אֶצְבְּעֹתֶיךָ כָּתְבֵם עַל־לוּחַ לִבֶּךָ׃	ג	3	Bind them upon thy fingers; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart.
אֱמֹר לַחָכְמָה אֲחֹתִי אָתְּ וּמֹדָע לַבִּינָה תִקְרָא׃	ד	4	Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; And call understanding thy kinswoman:
לִשְׁמָרְךָ מֵאִשָּׁה זָרָה מִנָּכְרִיָּה אֲמָרֶיהָ הֶחֱלִיקָה׃	ה	5	That they may keep thee from the strange woman, From the foreigner that flattereth with her words.
כִּי בְּחַלּוֹן בֵּיתִי בְּעַד אֶשְׁנַבִּי נִשְׁקָפְתִּי׃	ו	6	For at the window of my house I looked forth through my lattice;
וָאֵרֶא בַפְּתָאיִם אָבִינָה בַבָּנִים נַעַר חֲסַר־לֵב׃	ז	7	And I beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, A young man void of understanding,
עֹבֵר בַּשּׁוּק אֵצֶל פִּנָּהּ וְדֶרֶךְ בֵּיתָהּ יִצְעָד׃	ח	8	Passing through the street near her corner; And he went the way to her house,
בְּנֶשֶׁף־בְּעֶרֶב יוֹם בְּאִישׁוֹן לַיְלָה וַאֲפֵלָה׃	ט	9	In the twilight, in the evening of the day, In the middle of the night and in the darkness.
וְהִנֵּה אִשָּׁה לִקְרָאתוֹ שִׁית זוֹנָה וּנְצֻרַת לֵב׃	י	10	And, behold, there met him a woman With the attire of a harlot, and wily of heart.
הֹמִיָּה הִיא וְסֹרָרֶת בְּבֵיתָהּ לֹא־יִשְׁכְּנוּ רַגְלֶיהָ׃	יא	11	She is clamorous and wilful; Her feet abide not in her house:
פַּעַם בַּחוּץ פַּעַם בָּרְחֹבוֹת וְאֵצֶל כָּל־פִּנָּה תֶאֱרֹב׃	יב	12	Now she is in the streets, now in the broad places, And lieth in wait at every corner.
וְהֶחֱזִיקָה בּוֹ וְנָשְׁקָה־לּוֹ הֵעֵזָה פָנֶיהָ וַתֹּאמַר לוֹ׃	יג	13	So she caught him, and kissed him,
זִבְחֵי שְׁלָמִים עָלָי הַיּוֹם שִׁלַּמְתִּי נְדָרָי׃	יד	14	Sacrifices of peace-offerings are with me; This day have I paid my vows.
עַל־כֵּן יָצָאתִי לִקְרָאתֶךָ לְשַׁחֵר פָּנֶיךָ וָאֶמְצָאֶךָּ׃	טו	15	Therefore came I forth to meet thee, Diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
מַרְבַדִּים רָבַדְתִּי עַרְשִׂי חֲטֻבוֹת אֵטוּן מִצְרָיִם׃	טז	16	I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, With striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt.
נַפְתִּי מִשְׁכָּבִי מֹר אֲהָלִים וְקִנָּמוֹן׃	יז	17	I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
לְכָה נִרְוֶה דֹדִים עַד־הַבֹּקֶר נִתְעַלְּסָה בָּאֳהָבִים׃	יח	18	Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning; Let us solace ourselves with loves.
כִּי אֵין הָאִישׁ בְּבֵיתוֹ הָלַךְ בְּדֶרֶךְ מֵרָחוֹק׃	יט	19	For the man is not at home; He is gone a long journey:
צְרוֹר־הַכֶּסֶף לָקַח בְּיָדוֹ לְיוֹם הַכֵּסֶא יָבֹא בֵיתוֹ׃	כ	20	He hath taken a bag of money with him; He will come home at the full moon.
הִטַּתּוּ בְּרֹב לִקְחָהּ בְּחֵלֶק שְׂפָתֶיהָ תַּדִּיחֶנּוּ׃	כא	21	With her much fair speech she causeth him to yield; With the flattering of her lips she forceth him along.
הוֹלֵךְ אַחֲרֶיהָ פִּתְאֹם כְּשׁוֹר אֶל־טָבַח יָבוֹא וּכְעֶכֶס אֶל־מוּסַר אֱוִיל׃	כב	22	He goeth after her straightway, As an ox goeth to the slaughter, Or as one in fetters to the correction of the fool;
עַד יְפַלַּח חֵץ כְּבֵדוֹ כְּמַהֵר צִפּוֹר אֶל־פָּח וְלֹא־יָדַע כִּי־בְנַפְשׁוֹ הוּא׃	כג	23	Till an arrow strike through his liver; As a bird hasteth to the snare, And knoweth not that it is for his life.
פ וְעַתָּה בָנִים שִׁמְעוּ־לִי וְהַקְשִׁיבוּ לְאִמְרֵי־פִי׃	כד	24	Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me, And attend to the words of my mouth.
אַל־יֵשְׂטְ אֶל־דְּרָכֶיהָ לִבֶּךָ אַל־תֵּתַע בִּנְתִיבוֹתֶיהָ׃	כה	25	Let not thy heart decline to her ways; Go not astray in her paths.
כִּי־רַבִּים חֲלָלִים הִפִּילָה וַעֲצֻמִים כָּל־הֲרֻגֶיהָ׃	כו	26	For she hath cast down many wounded: Yea, all her slain are a mighty host.
דַּרְכֵי שְׁאוֹל בֵּיתָהּ יֹרְדוֹת אֶל־חַדְרֵי־מָוֶת׃ פ	כז	27	Her house is the way to Sheol, Going down to the chambers of death.

Chapter 8

הֲלֹא־חָכְמָה תִקְרָא וּתְבוּנָה תִּתֵּן קוֹלָהּ ׃	א	1	Doth not wisdom cry, And understanding put forth her voice?
בְּרֹאשׁ־מְרוֹמִים עֲלֵי־דָרֶךְ בֵּית נְתִיבוֹת נִצָּבָה׃	ב	2	On the top of high places by the way, Where the paths meet, she standeth;
לְיַד־שְׁעָרִים לְפִי־קָרֶת מְבוֹא פְתָחִים תָּרֹנָּה׃	ג	3	Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, At the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:
אֲלֵיכֶם אִישִׁים אֶקְרָא וְקוֹלִי אֶל־בְּנֵי אָדָם׃	ד	4	Unto you, O men, I call; And my voice is to the sons of men.
הָבִינוּ פְתָאיִם עָרְמָה וּכְסִילִים הָבִינוּ לֵב ׃	ה	5	O ye simple, understand prudence; And, ye fools, be of an understanding heart.
שִׁמְעוּ כִּי־נְגִידִים אֲדַבֵּר וּמִפְתַּח שְׂפָתַי מֵישָׁרִים׃	ו	6	Hear, for I will speak excellent things; And the opening of my lips shall be right things.
כִּי־אֱמֶת יֶהְגֶּה חִכִּי וְתוֹעֲבַת שְׂפָתַי רֶשַׁע׃	ז	7	For my mouth shall utter truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
בְּצֶדֶק כָּל־אִמְרֵי־פִי אֵין בָּהֶם נִפְתָּל וְעִקֵּשׁ׃	ח	8	All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
כֻּלָּם נְכֹחִים לַמֵּבִין וִישָׁרִים לְמֹצְאֵי דָעַת׃	ט	9	They are all plain to him that understandeth, And right to them that find knowledge.
קְחוּ־מוּסָרִי וְאַל־כָּסֶף וְדַעַת מֵחָרוּץ נִבְחָר׃	י	10	Receive my instruction, and not silver; And knowledge rather than choice gold.
כִּי־טוֹבָה חָכְמָה מִפְּנִינִים וְכָל־חֲפָצִים לֹא יִשְׁווּ־בָהּ׃	יא	11	For wisdom is better than rubies; And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto it.
אֲנִי־חָכְמָה שָׁכַנְתִּי עָרְמָה וְדַעַת מְזִמּוֹת אֶמְצָא׃	יב	12	I wisdom have made prudence my dwelling, And find out knowledge and discretion.
יִרְאַת יְהוָה שְׂנֹאת רָע גֵּאָה וְגָאוֹן וְדֶרֶךְ רָע וּפִי תַהְפֻּכוֹת שָׂנֵאתִי׃	יג	13	The fear of YHVH is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate.
לִי־עֵצָה וְתוּשִׁיָּה אֲנִי בִינָה לִי גְבוּרָה ׃	יד	14	Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge: I am understanding; I have might.
בִּי מְלָכִים יִמְלֹכוּ וְרוֹזְנִים יְחֹקְקוּ צֶדֶק׃	טו	15	By me kings reign, And princes decree justice.
בִּי שָׂרִים יָשֹׂרוּ וּנְדִיבִים כָּל־שֹׁפְטֵי צֶדֶק׃	טז	16	By me princes rule, And nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
אֲנִי אֹהֲבֶיהָ אֵהָב וּמְשַׁחֲרַי יִמְצָאֻנְנִי ׃	יז	17	I love them that love me; And those that seek me diligently shall find me.
עֹשֶׁר־וְכָבוֹד אִתִּי הוֹן עָתֵק וּצְדָקָה׃	יח	18	Riches and honor are with me;
טוֹב פִּרְיִי מֵחָרוּץ וּמִפָּז וּתְבוּאָתִי מִכֶּסֶף נִבְחָר׃	יט	19	My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; And my revenue than choice silver.
בְּאֹרַח־צְדָקָה אֲהַלֵּך בְּתוֹךְ נְתִיבוֹת מִשְׁפָּט׃	כ	20	I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice;
לְהַנְחִיל אֹהֲבַי יֵשׁ וְאֹצְרֹתֵיהֶם אֲמַלֵּא׃ פ	כא	21	That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, And that I may fill their treasuries.
יְהוָה קָנָנִי רֵאשִׁית דַּרְכּוֹ קֶדֶם מִפְעָלָיו מֵאָז׃	כב	22	YHVH possessed me in the beginning of his way, Before his works of old.
מֵעוֹלָם נִסַּכְתִּי מֵרֹאשׁ מִקַּדְמֵי־אָרֶץ׃	כג	23	I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Before the earth was.
בְּאֵין־תְּהֹמוֹת חוֹלָלְתִּי בְּאֵין מַעְיָנוֹת נִכְבַּדֵּי־מָיִם׃	כד	24	When there were no depths, I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water.
בְּטֶרֶם הָרִים הָטְבָּעוּ לִפְנֵי גְבָעוֹת חוֹלָלְתִּי׃	כה	25	Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills was I brought forth;
עַד־לֹא עָשָׂה אֶרֶץ וְחוּצוֹת וְרֹאשׁ עָפְרוֹת תֵּבֵל׃	כו	26	While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
בַּהֲכִינוֹ שָׁמַיִם שָׁם אָנִי בְּחוּקוֹ חוּג עַל־פְּנֵי תְהוֹם׃	כז	27	When he established the heavens, I was there: When he set a circle upon the face of the deep,
בְּאַמְּצוֹ שְׁחָקִים מִמָּעַל בַּעֲזוֹז עִינוֹת תְּהוֹם׃	כח	28	When he made firm the skies above, When the fountains of the deep became strong,
בְּשׂוּמוֹ לַיָּם חֻקּוֹ וּמַיִם לֹא יַעַבְרוּ־פִיו בְּחוּקוֹ מוֹסְדֵי אָרֶץ׃	כט	29	When he gave to the sea its bound, That the waters should not transgress his commandment, When he marked out the foundations of the earth;
וָאֶהְיֶה אֶצְלוֹ אָמוֹן וָאֶהְיֶה שַׁעֲשֻׁעִים יוֹם יוֹם מְשַׂחֶקֶת לְפָנָיו בְּכָל־עֵת׃	ל	30	Then I was by him, as a master workman; And I was daily his delight, Rejoicing always before him,
מְשַׂחֶקֶת בְּתֵבֵל אַרְצוֹ וְשַׁעֲשֻׁעַי אֶת־בְּנֵי אָדָם׃ פ	לא	31	Rejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of men.
וְעַתָּה בָנִים שִׁמְעוּ־לִי וְאַשְׁרֵי דְּרָכַי יִשְׁמֹרוּ׃	לב	32	Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me; For blessed are they that keep my ways.
שִׁמְעוּ מוּסָר וַחֲכָמוּ וְאַל־תִּפְרָעוּ׃	לג	33	Hear instruction, and be wise, And refuse it not.
אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם שֹׁמֵעַ לִי לִשְׁקֹד עַל־דַּלְתֹתַי יוֹם יוֹם לִשְׁמֹר מְזוּזֹת פְּתָחָי׃	לד	34	Blessed is the man that heareth me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.
כִּי מֹצְאִי מֹצְאֵי חַיִּים וַיָּפֶק רָצוֹן מֵיְהוָה׃	לה	35	For whoso findeth me findeth life, And shall obtain favor of YHVH.
וְחֹטְאִי חֹמֵס נַפְשׁוֹ כָּל־מְשַׂנְאַי אָהֲבוּ מָוֶת׃ פ	לו	36	But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: All they that hate me love death.

Chapter 9

חָכְמוֹת בָּנְתָה בֵיתָהּ חָצְבָה עַמּוּדֶיהָ שִׁבְעָה׃	א	1	Wisdom hath builded her house; She hath hewn out her seven pillars:
טָבְחָה טִבְחָהּ מָסְכָה יֵינָהּ אַף עָרְכָה שֻׁלְחָנָהּ׃	ב	2	She hath killed her beasts; She hath mingled her wine; She hath also furnished her table:
שָׁלְחָה נַעֲרֹתֶיהָ תִקְרָא עַל־גַּפֵּי מְרֹמֵי קָרֶת׃	ג	3	She hath sent forth her maidens; She crieth upon the highest places of the city:
מִי־פֶתִי יָסֻר הֵנָּה חֲסַר־לֵב אָמְרָה לּוֹ׃	ד	4	Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: As for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,
לְכוּ לַחֲמוּ בְלַחֲמִי וּשְׁתוּ בְּיַיִן מָסָכְתִּי׃	ה	5	Come, eat ye of my bread, And drink of the wine which I have mingled.
עִזְבוּ פְתָאיִם וִחְיוּ וְאִשְׁרוּ בְּדֶרֶךְ בִּינָה׃	ו	6	Leave off, ye simple ones, and live; And walk in the way of understanding.
יֹסֵר לֵץ לֹקֵחַ לוֹ קָלוֹן וּמוֹכִיחַ לְרָשָׁע מוּמוֹ׃	ז	7	He that correcteth a scoffer getteth to himself reviling; And he that reproveth a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
אַל־תּוֹכַח לֵץ פֶּן־יִשְׂנָאֶךָּ הוֹכַח לְחָכָם וְיֶאֱהָבֶךָּ׃	ח	8	Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee: Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.
תֵּן לְחָכָם וְיֶחְכַּם־עוֹד הוֹדַע לְצַדִּיק וְיוֹסֶף לֶקַח׃ פ	ט	9	Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
תְּחִלַּת חָכְמָה יִרְאַת יְהוָה וְדַעַת קְדֹשִׁים בִּינָה׃	י	10	The fear of YHVH is the beginning of wisdom; And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
כִּי־בִי יִרְבּוּ יָמֶיךָ וְיוֹסִיפוּ לְּךָ שְׁנוֹת חַיִּים׃	יא	11	For by me thy days shall be multiplied, And the years of thy life shall be increased.
אִם־חָכַמְתָּ חָכַמְתָּ לָּךְ וְלַצְתָּ לְבַדְּךָ תִשָּׂא׃	יב	12	If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself; And if thou scoffest, thou alone shalt bear it.
אֵשֶׁת כְּסִילוּת הֹמִיָּה פְּתַיּוּת וּבַל־יָדְעָה מָּה׃	יג	13	The foolish woman is clamorous;
וְיָשְׁבָה לְפֶתַח בֵּיתָהּ עַל־כִּסֵּא מְרֹמֵי קָרֶת׃	יד	14	And she sitteth at the door of her house, On a seat in the high places of the city,
לִקְרֹא לְעֹבְרֵי־דָרֶךְ הַמְיַשְּׁרִים אֹרְחוֹתָם ׃	טו	15	To call to them that pass by, Who go right on their ways:
מִי־פֶתִי יָסֻר הֵנָּה וַחֲסַר־לֵב וְאָמְרָה לּוֹ ׃	טז	16	Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; And as for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,
מַיִם־גְּנוּבִים יִמְתָּקוּ וְלֶחֶם סְתָרִים יִנְעָם׃	יז	17	Stolen waters are sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
וְלֹא־יָדַע כִּי־רְפָאִים שָׁם בְּעִמְקֵי שְׁאוֹל קְרֻאֶיהָ׃ פ	יח	18	But he knoweth not that the dead are there; That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

Chapter 10

מִשְׁלֵי שְׁלֹמֹה פ בֵּן חָכָם יְשַׂמַּח־אָב וּבֵן כְּסִיל תּוּגַת אִמּוֹ׃	א	1	The proverbs of Solomon.
לֹא־יוֹעִילוּ אוֹצְרוֹת רֶשַׁע וּצְדָקָה תַּצִּיל מִמָּוֶת׃	ב	2	Treasures of wickedness profit nothing; But righteousness delivereth from death.
לֹא־יַרְעִיב יְהוָה נֶפֶשׁ צַדִּיק וְהַוַּת רְשָׁעִים יֶהְדֹּף׃	ג	3	YHVH will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish; But he thrusteth away the desire of the wicked.
רָאשׁ עֹשֶׂה כַף־רְמִיָּה וְיַד חָרוּצִים תַּעֲשִׁיר׃	ד	4	He becometh poor that worketh with a slack hand; But the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
אֹגֵר בַּקַּיִץ בֵּן מַשְׂכִּיל נִרְדָּם בַּקָּצִיר בֵּן מֵבִישׁ׃	ה	5	He that gathereth in summer is a wise son;
בְּרָכוֹת לְרֹאשׁ צַדִּיק וּפִי רְשָׁעִים יְכַסֶּה חָמָס׃	ו	6	Blessings are upon the head of the righteous; But violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
זֵכֶר צַדִּיק לִבְרָכָה וְשֵׁם רְשָׁעִים יִרְקָב ׃	ז	7	The memory of the righteous is blessed; But the name of the wicked shall rot.
חֲכַם־לֵב יִקַּח מִצְוֹת וֶאֱוִיל שְׂפָתַיִם יִלָּבֵט׃	ח	8	The wise in heart will receive commandments; But a prating fool shall fall.
הוֹלֵךְ בַּתֹּם יֵלֶךְ בֶּטַח וּמְעַקֵּשׁ דְּרָכָיו יִוָּדֵעַ׃	ט	9	He that walketh uprightly walketh surely; But he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
קֹרֵץ עַיִן יִתֵּן עַצָּבֶת וֶאֱוִיל שְׂפָתַיִם יִלָּבֵט׃	י	10	He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow; But a prating fool shall fall.
מְקוֹר חַיִּים פִּי צַדִּיק וּפִי רְשָׁעִים יְכַסֶּה חָמָס׃	יא	11	The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life; But violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
שִׂנְאָה תְּעוֹרֵר מְדָנִים וְעַל כָּל־פְּשָׁעִים תְּכַסֶּה אַהֲבָה׃	יב	12	Hatred stirreth up strifes; But love covereth all transgressions.
בְּשִׂפְתֵי נָבוֹן תִּמָּצֵא חָכְמָה וְשֵׁבֶט לְגֵו חֲסַר־לֵב׃	יג	13	In the lips of him that hath discernment wisdom is found; But a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
חֲכָמִים יִצְפְּנוּ־דָעַת וּפִי־אֱוִיל מְחִתָּה קְרֹבָה׃	יד	14	Wise men lay up knowledge; But the mouth of the foolish is a present destruction.
הוֹן עָשִׁיר קִרְיַת עֻזּוֹ מְחִתַּת דַּלִּים רֵישָׁם׃	טו	15	The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: The destruction of the poor is their poverty.
פְּעֻלַּת צַדִּיק לְחַיִּים תְּבוּאַת רָשָׁע לְחַטָּאת׃	טז	16	The labor of the righteous tendeth to life; The increase of the wicked, to sin.
אֹרַח לְחַיִּים שׁוֹמֵר מוּסָר וְעוֹזֵב תּוֹכַחַת מַתְעֶה׃	יז	17	He is in the way of life that heedeth correction; But he that forsaketh reproof erreth.
מְכַסֶּה שִׂנְאָה שִׂפְתֵי־שָׁקֶר וּמוֹצִא דִבָּה הוּא כְסִיל׃	יח	18	He that hideth hatred is of lying lips; And he that uttereth a slander is a fool.
בְּרֹב דְּבָרִים לֹא יֶחְדַּל־פָּשַׁע וְחֹשֵׂךְ שְׂפָתָיו מַשְׂכִּיל׃	יט	19	In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; But he that refraineth his lips doeth wisely.
כֶּסֶף נִבְחָר לְשׁוֹן צַדִּיק לֵב רְשָׁעִים כִּמְעָט׃	כ	20	The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver: The heart of the wicked is little worth.
שִׂפְתֵי צַדִּיק יִרְעוּ רַבִּים וֶאֱוִילִים בַּחֲסַר־לֵב יָמוּתוּ׃	כא	21	The lips of the righteous feed many; But the foolish die for lack of understanding.
בִּרְכַּת יְהוָה הִיא תַעֲשִׁיר וְלֹא־יוֹסִף עֶצֶב עִמָּהּ׃	כב	22	The blessing of YHVH, it maketh rich; And he addeth no sorrow therewith.
כִּשְׂחוֹק לִכְסִיל עֲשׂוֹת זִמָּה וְחָכְמָה לְאִישׁ תְּבוּנָה׃	כג	23	It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness; And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.
מְגוֹרַת רָשָׁע הִיא תְבוֹאֶנּוּ וְתַאֲוַת צַדִּיקִים יִתֵּן׃	כד	24	The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him; And the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
כַּעֲבוֹר סוּפָה וְאֵין רָשָׁע וְצַדִּיק יְסוֹד עוֹלָם׃	כה	25	When the whirlwind passeth, the wicked is no more; But the righteous is an everlasting foundation.
כַּחֹמֶץ לַשִּׁנַּיִם וְכֶעָשָׁן לָעֵינָיִם כֵּן הֶעָצֵל לְשֹׁלְחָיו׃	כו	26	As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, So is the sluggard to them that send him.
יִרְאַת יְהוָה תּוֹסִיף יָמִים וּשְׁנוֹת רְשָׁעִים תִּקְצֹרְנָה׃	כז	27	The fear of YHVH prolongeth days; But the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
תּוֹחֶלֶת צַדִּיקִים שִׂמְחָה וְתִקְוַת רְשָׁעִים תֹּאבֵד׃	כח	28	The hope of the righteous shall be gladness; But the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
מָעוֹז לַתֹּם דֶּרֶךְ יְהוָה וּמְחִתָּה לְפֹעֲלֵי אָוֶן׃	כט	29	The way of YHVH is a stronghold to the upright; But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
צַדִּיק לְעוֹלָם בַּל־יִמּוֹט וּרְשָׁעִים לֹא יִשְׁכְּנוּ־אָרֶץ׃	ל	30	The righteous shall never be removed; But the wicked shall not dwell in the land.
פִּי־צַדִּיק יָנוּב חָכְמָה וּלְשׁוֹן תַּהְפֻּכוֹת תִּכָּרֵת׃	לא	31	The mouth of the righteous bringeth forth wisdom; But the perverse tongue shall be cut off.
שִׂפְתֵי צַדִּיק יֵדְעוּן רָצוֹן וּפִי רְשָׁעִים תַּהְפֻּכוֹת׃	לב	32	The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable; But the mouth of the wicked speaketh perverseness.

Chapter 11

מֹאזְנֵי מִרְמָה תּוֹעֲבַת יְהוָה וְאֶבֶן שְׁלֵמָה רְצוֹנוֹ׃	א	1	A false balance is an abomination to YHVH; But a just weight is his delight.
בָּא־זָדוֹן וַיָּבֹא קָלוֹן וְאֶת־צְנוּעִים חָכְמָה׃	ב	2	When pride cometh, then cometh shame; But with the lowly is wisdom.
תֻּמַּת יְשָׁרִים תַּנְחֵם וְסֶלֶף בּוֹגְדִים וְשַׁדָּם׃	ג	3	The integrity of the upright shall guide them; But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
לֹא־יוֹעִיל הוֹן בְּיוֹם עֶבְרָה וּצְדָקָה תַּצִּיל מִמָּוֶת׃	ד	4	Riches profit not in the day of wrath; But righteousness delivereth from death.
צִדְקַת תָּמִים תְּיַשֵּׁר דַּרְכּוֹ וּבְרִשְׁעָתוֹ יִפֹּל רָשָׁע׃	ה	5	The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way; But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
צִדְקַת יְשָׁרִים תַּצִּילֵם וּבְהַוַּת בֹּגְדִים יִלָּכֵדוּ׃	ו	6	The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them; But the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity.
בְּמוֹת אָדָם רָשָׁע תֹּאבַד תִּקְוָה וְתוֹחֶלֶת אוֹנִים אָבָדָה׃	ז	7	When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish; And the hope of iniquity perisheth.
צַדִּיק מִצָּרָה נֶחֱלָץ וַיָּבֹא רָשָׁע תַּחְתָּיו׃	ח	8	The righteous is delivered out of trouble, And the wicked cometh in his stead.
בְּפֶה חָנֵף יַשְׁחִת רֵעֵהוּ וּבְדַעַת צַדִּיקִים יֵחָלֵצוּ׃	ט	9	With his mouth the godless man destroyeth his neighbor; But through knowledge shall the righteous be delivered.
בְּטוּב צַדִּיקִים תַּעֲלֹץ קִרְיָה וּבַאֲבֹד רְשָׁעִים רִנָּה׃	י	10	When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; And when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
בְּבִרְכַּת יְשָׁרִים תָּרוּם קָרֶת וּבְפִי רְשָׁעִים תֵּהָרֵס׃	יא	11	By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted; But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
בָּז־לְרֵעֵהוּ חֲסַר־לֵב וְאִישׁ תְּבוּנוֹת יַחֲרִישׁ׃	יב	12	He that despiseth his neighbor is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
הוֹלֵךְ רָכִיל מְגַלֶּה־סּוֹד וְנֶאֱמַן־רוּחַ מְכַסֶּה דָבָר׃	יג	13	He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter.
בְּאֵין תַּחְבֻּלוֹת יִפָּל־עָם וּתְשׁוּעָה בְּרֹב יוֹעֵץ׃	יד	14	Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth; But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
רַע־יֵרוֹעַ כִּי־עָרַב זָר וְשֹׂנֵא תֹקְעִים בּוֹטֵחַ׃	טו	15	He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it; But he that hateth suretyship is secure.
אֵשֶׁת־חֵן תִּתְמֹךְ כָּבוֹד וְעָרִיצִים יִתְמְכוּ־עֹשֶׁר׃	טז	16	A gracious woman obtaineth honor; And violent men obtain riches.
גֹּמֵל נַפְשׁוֹ אִישׁ חָסֶד וְעֹכֵר שְׁאֵרוֹ אַכְזָרִי׃	יז	17	The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
רָשָׁע עֹשֶׂה פְעֻלַּת־שָׁקֶר וְזֹרֵעַ צְדָקָה שֶׂכֶר אֱמֶת׃	יח	18	The wicked earneth deceitful wages; But he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward.
כֵּן־צְדָקָה לְחַיִּים וּמְרַדֵּף רָעָה לְמוֹתוֹ ׃	יט	19	He that is stedfast in righteousness shall attain unto life; And he that pursueth evil doeth it to his own death.
תּוֹעֲבַת יְהוָה עִקְּשֵׁי־לֵב וּרְצוֹנוֹ תְּמִימֵי דָרֶךְ׃	כ	20	They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to YHVH; But such as are perfect in their way are his delight.
יָד לְיָד לֹא־יִנָּקֶה רָּע וְזֶרַע צַדִּיקִים נִמְלָט׃	כא	21	Though hand join in hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished; But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
נֶזֶם זָהָב בְּאַף חֲזִיר אִשָּׁה יָפָה וְסָרַת טָעַם׃	כב	22	As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,
תַּאֲוַת צַדִּיקִים אַךְ־טוֹב תִּקְוַת רְשָׁעִים עֶבְרָה׃	כג	23	The desire of the righteous is only good;
יֵשׁ מְפַזֵּר וְנוֹסָף עוֹד וְחוֹשֵׂךְ מִיֹּשֶׁר אַךְ־לְמַחְסוֹר׃	כד	24	There is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more; And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth only to want.
נֶפֶשׁ־בְּרָכָה תְדֻשָּׁן וּמַרְוֶה גַּם־הוּא יוֹרֶא׃	כה	25	The liberal soul shall be made fat; And he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
מֹנֵעַ בָּר יִקְּבֻהוּ לְאוֹם וּבְרָכָה לְרֹאשׁ מַשְׁבִּיר׃	כו	26	He that withholdeth grain, the people shall curse him; But blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
שֹׁחֵר טוֹב יְבַקֵּשׁ רָצוֹן וְדֹרֵשׁ רָעָה תְבוֹאֶנּוּ׃	כז	27	He that diligently seeketh good seeketh favor; But he that searcheth after evil, it shall come unto him.
בּוֹטֵחַ בְּעָשְׁרוֹ הוּא יִפֹּל וְכֶעָלֶה צַדִּיקִים יִפְרָחוּ׃	כח	28	He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
עוֹכֵר בֵּיתוֹ יִנְחַל־רוּחַ וְעֶבֶד אֱוִיל לַחֲכַם־לֵב׃	כט	29	He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind; And the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
פְּרִי־צַדִּיק עֵץ חַיִּים וְלֹקֵחַ נְפָשׂוֹת חָכָם׃	ל	30	The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that is wise winneth souls.
הֵן צַדִּיק בָּאָרֶץ יְשֻׁלָּם אַף כִּי־רָשָׁע וְחוֹטֵא׃	לא	31	Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: How much more the wicked and the sinner!

Chapter 12

אֹהֵב מוּסָר אֹהֵב דָּעַת וְשֹׂנֵא תוֹכַחַת בָּעַר ׃	א	1	Whoso loveth correction loveth knowledge; But he that hateth reproof is brutish.
טוֹב יָפִיק רָצוֹן מֵיְהוָה וְאִישׁ מְזִמּוֹת יַרְשִׁיעַ׃	ב	2	A good man shall obtain favor of YHVH; But a man of wicked devices will he condemn.
לֹא־יִכּוֹן אָדָם בְּרֶשַׁע וְשֹׁרֶשׁ צַדִּיקִים בַּל־יִמּוֹט׃	ג	3	A man shall not be established by wickedness; But the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
אֵשֶׁת־חַיִל עֲטֶרֶת בַּעְלָהּ וּכְרָקָב בְּעַצְמוֹתָיו מְבִישָׁה׃	ד	4	A worthy woman is the crown of her husband; But she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
מַחְשְׁבוֹת צַדִּיקִים מִשְׁפָּט תַּחְבֻּלוֹת רְשָׁעִים מִרְמָה׃	ה	5	The thoughts of the righteous are just;
דִּבְרֵי רְשָׁעִים אֱרָב־דָּם וּפִי יְשָׁרִים יַצִּילֵם׃	ו	6	The words of the wicked are of lying in wait for blood; But the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
הָפוֹךְ רְשָׁעִים וְאֵינָם וּבֵית צַדִּיקִים יַעֲמֹד׃	ז	7	The wicked are overthrown, and are not; But the house of the righteous shall stand.
לְפִי־שִׂכְלוֹ יְהֻלַּל־אִישׁ וְנַעֲוֵה־לֵב יִהְיֶה לָבוּז׃	ח	8	A man shall be commended according to his wisdom; But he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.
טוֹב נִקְלֶה וְעֶבֶד לוֹ מִמְּתַכַּבֵּד וַחֲסַר־לָחֶם׃	ט	9	Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant, Than he that honoreth himself, and lacketh bread.
יוֹדֵעַ צַדִּיק נֶפֶשׁ בְּהֶמְתּוֹ וְרַחֲמֵי רְשָׁעִים אַכְזָרִי׃	י	10	A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast; But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
עֹבֵד אַדְמָתוֹ יִשְׂבַּע־לָחֶם וּמְרַדֵּף רֵיקִים חֲסַר־לֵב׃	יא	11	He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread; But he that followeth after vain persons is void of understanding.
חָמַד רָשָׁע מְצוֹד רָעִים וְשֹׁרֶשׁ צַדִּיקִים יִתֵּן׃	יב	12	The wicked desireth the net of evil men; But the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
בְּפֶשַׁע שְׂפָתַיִם מוֹקֵשׁ רָע וַיֵּצֵא מִצָּרָה צַדִּיק׃	יג	13	In the transgression of the lips is a snare to the evil man; But the righteous shall come out of trouble.
מִפְּרִי פִי־אִישׁ יִשְׂבַּע־טוֹב וּגְמוּל יְדֵי־אָדָם יָשׁוּב לוֹ׃	יד	14	A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth; And the doings of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.
דֶּרֶךְ אֱוִיל יָשָׁר בְּעֵינָיו וְשֹׁמֵעַ לְעֵצָה חָכָם׃	טו	15	The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; But he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsel.
אֱוִיל בַּיּוֹם יִוָּדַע כַּעְסוֹ וְכֹסֶה קָלוֹן עָרוּם׃	טז	16	A fool’s vexation is presently known; But a prudent man concealeth shame.
יָפִיחַ אֱמוּנָה יַגִּיד צֶדֶק וְעֵד שְׁקָרִים מִרְמָה׃	יז	17	He that uttereth truth showeth forth righteousness; But a false witness, deceit.
יֵשׁ בּוֹטֶה כְּמַדְקְרוֹת חָרֶב וּלְשׁוֹן חֲכָמִים מַרְפֵּא׃	יח	18	There is that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword; But the tongue of the wise is health.
שְׂפַת־אֱמֶת תִּכּוֹן לָעַד וְעַד־אַרְגִּיעָה לְשׁוֹן שָׁקֶר׃	יט	19	The lip of truth shall be established for ever; But a lying tongue is but for a moment.
מִרְמָה בְּלֶב־חֹרְשֵׁי רָע וּלְיֹעֲצֵי שָׁלוֹם שִׂמְחָה׃	כ	20	Deceit is in the heart of them that devise evil; But to the counsellors of peace is joy.
לֹא־יְאֻנֶּה לַצַּדִּיק כָּל־אָוֶן וּרְשָׁעִים מָלְאוּ רָע׃	כא	21	There shall no mischief happen to the righteous; But the wicked shall be filled with evil.
תּוֹעֲבַת יְהוָה שִׂפְתֵי־שָׁקֶר וְעֹשֵׂי אֱמוּנָה רְצוֹנוֹ׃	כב	22	Lying lips are an abomination to YHVH; But they that deal truly are his delight.
אָדָם עָרוּם כֹּסֶה דָּעַת וְלֵב כְּסִילִים יִקְרָא אִוֶּלֶת׃	כג	23	A prudent man concealeth knowledge; But the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
יַד־חָרוּצִים תִּמְשׁוֹל וּרְמִיָּה תִּהְיֶה לָמַס ׃	כד	24	The hand of the diligent shall bear rule; But the slothful shall be put under taskwork.
דְּאָגָה בְלֶב־אִישׁ יַשְׁחֶנָּה וְדָבָר טוֹב יְשַׂמְּחֶנָּה׃	כה	25	Heaviness in the heart of a man maketh it stoop; But a good word maketh it glad.
יָתֵר מֵרֵעֵהוּ צַדִּיק וְדֶרֶךְ רְשָׁעִים תַּתְעֵם׃	כו	26	The righteous is a guide to his neighbor; But the way of the wicked causeth them to err.
לֹא־יַחֲרֹךְ רְמִיָּה צֵידוֹ וְהוֹן־אָדָם יָקָר חָרוּץ׃	כז	27	The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting; But the precious substance of men is to the diligent.
בְּאֹרַח־צְדָקָה חַיִּים וְדֶרֶךְ נְתִיבָה אַל־מָוֶת׃	כח	28	In the way of righteousness is life; And in the pathway thereof there is no death.

Chapter 13

בֵּן חָכָם מוּסַר אָב וְלֵץ לֹא־שָׁמַע גְּעָרָה׃	א	1	A wise son heareth his father’s instruction; But a scoffer heareth not rebuke.
מִפְּרִי פִי־אִישׁ יֹאכַל טוֹב וְנֶפֶשׁ בֹּגְדִים חָמָס׃	ב	2	A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth; But the soul of the treacherous shall eat violence.
נֹצֵר פִּיו שֹׁמֵר נַפְשׁוֹ פֹּשֵׂק שְׂפָתָיו מְחִתָּה־לוֹ׃	ג	3	He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life;
מִתְאַוָּה וָאַיִן נַפְשׁוֹ עָצֵל וְנֶפֶשׁ חָרֻצִים תְּדֻשָּׁן׃	ד	4	The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
דְּבַר־שֶׁקֶר יִשְׂנָא צַדִּיק וְרָשָׁע יַבְאִישׁ וְיַחְפִּיר׃	ה	5	A righteous man hateth lying; But a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
צְדָקָה תִּצֹּר תָּם־דָּרֶךְ וְרִשְׁעָה תְּסַלֵּף חַטָּאת׃	ו	6	Righteousness guardeth him that is upright in the way; But wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
יֵשׁ מִתְעַשֵּׁר וְאֵין כֹּל מִתְרוֹשֵׁשׁ וְהוֹן רָב׃	ז	7	There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great wealth.
כֹּפֶר נֶפֶשׁ־אִישׁ עָשְׁרוֹ וְרָשׁ לֹא־שָׁמַע גְּעָרָה׃	ח	8	The ransom of a man’s life is his riches; But the poor heareth no threatening.
אוֹר־צַדִּיקִים יִשְׂמָח וְנֵר רְשָׁעִים יִדְעָךְ ׃	ט	9	The light of the righteous rejoiceth; But the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
רַק־בְּזָדוֹן יִתֵּן מַצָּה וְאֶת־נוֹעָצִים חָכְמָה׃	י	10	By pride cometh only contention; But with the well-advised is wisdom.
הוֹן מֵהֶבֶל יִמְעָט וְקֹבֵץ עַל־יָד יַרְבֶּה׃	יא	11	Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; But he that gathereth by labor shall have increase.
תּוֹחֶלֶת מְמֻשָּׁכָה מַחֲלָה־לֵב וְעֵץ חַיִּים תַּאֲוָה בָאָה׃	יב	12	Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; But when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
בָּז לְדָבָר יֵחָבֶל לוֹ וִירֵא מִצְוָה הוּא יְשֻׁלָּם׃	יג	13	Whoso despiseth the word bringeth destruction on himself; But he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
תּוֹרַת חָכָם מְקוֹר חַיִּים לָסוּר מִמֹּקְשֵׁי מָוֶת׃	יד	14	The law of the wise is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death.
שֵׂכֶל־טוֹב יִתֶּן־חֵן וְדֶרֶךְ בֹּגְדִים אֵיתָן ׃	טו	15	Good understanding giveth favor; But the way of the transgressor is hard.
כָּל־עָרוּם יַעֲשֶׂה בְדָעַת וּכְסִיל יִפְרֹשׂ אִוֶּלֶת׃	טז	16	Every prudent man worketh with knowledge; But a fool flaunteth his folly.
מַלְאָךְ רָשָׁע יִפֹּל בְּרָע וְצִיר אֱמוּנִים מַרְפֵּא׃	יז	17	A wicked messenger falleth into evil; But a faithful ambassador is health.
רֵישׁ וְקָלוֹן פּוֹרֵעַ מוּסָר וְשׁוֹמֵר תּוֹכַחַת יְכֻבָּד׃	יח	18	Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth correction; But he that regardeth reproof shall be honored.
תַּאֲוָה נִהְיָה תֶעֱרַב לְנָפֶשׁ וְתוֹעֲבַת כְּסִילִים סוּר מֵרָע׃	יט	19	The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.
הֹלֵוךְ אֶת־חֲכָמִים וֶחְכָּם וְרֹעֶה כְסִילִים יֵרוֹעַ׃	כ	20	Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise; But the companion of fools shall smart for it.
חַטָּאִים תְּרַדֵּף רָעָה וְאֶת־צַדִּיקִים יְשַׁלֶּם־טוֹב׃	כא	21	Evil pursueth sinners; But the righteous shall be recompensed with good.
טוֹב יַנְחִיל בְּנֵי־בָנִים וְצָפוּן לַצַּדִּיק חֵיל חוֹטֵא׃	כב	22	A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children; And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.
רָב־אֹכֶל נִיר רָאשִׁים וְיֵשׁ נִסְפֶּה בְּלֹא מִשְׁפָּט׃	כג	23	Much food is in the tillage of the poor; But there is that is destroyed by reason of injustice.
חוֹשֵׂךְ שִׁבְטוֹ שׂוֹנֵא בְנוֹ וְאֹהֲבוֹ שִׁחֲרוֹ מוּסָר׃	כד	24	He that spareth his rod hateth his son; But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
צַדִּיק אֹכֵל לְשֹׂבַע נַפְשׁוֹ וּבֶטֶן רְשָׁעִים תֶּחְסָר׃ פ	כה	25	The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul; But the belly of the wicked shall want.

Chapter 14

חַכְמוֹת נָשִׁים בָּנְתָה בֵיתָהּ וְאִוֶּלֶת בְּיָדֶיהָ תֶהֶרְסֶנּוּ׃	א	1	Every wise woman buildeth her house; But the foolish plucketh it down with her own hands.
הוֹלֵךְ בְּיָשְׁרוֹ יְרֵא יְהוָה וּנְלוֹז דְּרָכָיו בּוֹזֵהוּ׃	ב	2	He that walketh in his uprightness feareth YHVH; But he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
בְּפִי־אֱוִיל חֹטֶר גַּאֲוָה וְשִׂפְתֵי חֲכָמִים תִּשְׁמוּרֵם׃	ג	3	In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his pride; But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
בְּאֵין אֲלָפִים אֵבוּס בָּר וְרָב־תְּבוּאוֹת בְּכֹחַ שׁוֹר׃	ד	4	Where no oxen are, the crib is clean; But much increase is by the strength of the ox.
עֵד אֱמוּנִים לֹא יְכַזֵּב וְיָפִיחַ כְּזָבִים עֵד שָׁקֶר׃	ה	5	A faithful witness will not lie; But a false witness uttereth lies.
בִּקֶּשׁ־לֵץ חָכְמָה וָאָיִן וְדַעַת לְנָבוֹן נָקָל׃	ו	6	A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not; But knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.
לֵךְ מִנֶּגֶד לְאִישׁ כְּסִיל וּבַל־יָדַעְתָּ שִׂפְתֵי־דָעַת׃	ז	7	Go into the presence of a foolish man, And thou shalt not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.
חָכְמַת עָרוּם הָבִין דַּרְכּוֹ וְאִוֶּלֶת כְּסִילִים מִרְמָה׃	ח	8	The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; But the folly of fools is deceit.
אֱוִלִים יָלִיץ אָשָׁם וּבֵין יְשָׁרִים רָצוֹן׃	ט	9	A trespass-offering mocketh fools; But among the upright there is good will.
לֵב יוֹדֵעַ מָרַּת נַפְשׁוֹ וּבְשִׂמְחָתוֹ לֹא־יִתְעָרַב זָר׃	י	10	The heart knoweth its own bitterness; And a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy.
בֵּית רְשָׁעִים יִשָּׁמֵד וְאֹהֶל יְשָׁרִים יַפְרִיחַ׃	יא	11	The house of the wicked shall be overthrown; But the tent of the upright shall flourish.
יֵשׁ דֶּרֶךְ יָשָׁר לִפְנֵי־אִישׁ וְאַחֲרִיתָהּ דַּרְכֵי־מָוֶת׃	יב	12	There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.
גַּם־בִּשְׂחוֹק יִכְאַב־לֵב וְאַחֲרִיתָהּ שִׂמְחָה תוּגָה׃	יג	13	Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; And the end of mirth is heaviness.
מִדְּרָכָיו יִשְׂבַּע סוּג לֵב וּמֵעָלָיו אִישׁ טוֹב׃	יד	14	The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways; And a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
פֶּתִי יַאֲמִין לְכָל־דָּבָר וְעָרוּם יָבִין לַאֲשֻׁרוֹ׃	טו	15	The simple believeth every word; But the prudent man looketh well to his going.
חָכָם יָרֵא וְסָר מֵרָע וּכְסִיל מִתְעַבֵּר וּבוֹטֵחַ׃	טז	16	A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.
קְצַר־אַפַּיִם יַעֲשֶׂה אִוֶּלֶת וְאִישׁ מְזִמּוֹת יִשָּׂנֵא׃	יז	17	He that is soon angry will deal foolishly; And a man of wicked devices is hated.
נָחֲלוּ פְתָאיִם אִוֶּלֶת וַעֲרוּמִים יַכְתִּרוּ דָעַת׃	יח	18	The simple inherit folly; But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
שַׁחוּ רָעִים לִפְנֵי טוֹבִים וּרְשָׁעִים עַל־שַׁעֲרֵי צַדִּיק׃	יט	19	The evil bow down before the good; And the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.
גַּם־לְרֵעֵהוּ יִשָּׂנֵא רָשׁ וְאֹהֲבֵי עָשִׁיר רַבִּים׃	כ	20	The poor is hated even of his own neighbor; But the rich hath many friends.
בָּז־לְרֵעֵהוּ חוֹטֵא וּמְחוֹנֵן עֲנָיִים אַשְׁרָיו׃	כא	21	He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth; But he that hath pity on the poor, happy is he.
הֲלוֹא־יִתְעוּ חֹרְשֵׁי רָע וְחֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת חֹרְשֵׁי טוֹב׃	כב	22	Do they not err that devise evil? But mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
בְּכָל־עֶצֶב יִהְיֶה מוֹתָר וּדְבַר־שְׂפָתַיִם אַךְ־לְמַחְסוֹר׃	כג	23	In all labor there is profit; But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
עֲטֶרֶת חֲכָמִים עָשְׁרָם אִוֶּלֶת כְּסִילִים אִוֶּלֶת׃	כד	24	The crown of the wise is their riches;
מַצִּיל נְפָשׁוֹת עֵד אֱמֶת וְיָפִחַ כְּזָבִים מִרְמָה׃	כה	25	A true witness delivereth souls; But he that uttereth lies causeth deceit.
בְּיִרְאַת יְהוָה מִבְטַח־עֹז וּלְבָנָיו יִהְיֶה מַחְסֶה׃	כו	26	In the fear of YHVH is strong confidence; And his children shall have a place of refuge.
יִרְאַת יְהוָה מְקוֹר חַיִּים לָסוּר מִמֹּקְשֵׁי מָוֶת׃	כז	27	The fear of YHVH is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death.
בְּרָב־עָם הַדְרַת־מֶלֶךְ וּבְאֶפֶס לְאֹם מְחִתַּת רָזוֹן׃	כח	28	In the multitude of people is the king’s glory; But in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם רַב־תְּבוּנָה וּקְצַר־רוּחַ מֵרִים אִוֶּלֶת׃	כט	29	He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
חַיֵּי בְשָׂרִים לֵב מַרְפֵּא וּרְקַב עֲצָמוֹת קִנְאָה׃	ל	30	A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh; But envy is the rottenness of the bones.
עֹשֵׁק־דָּל חֵרֵף עֹשֵׂהוּ וּמְכַבְּדוֹ חֹנֵן אֶבְיוֹן׃	לא	31	He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; But he that hath mercy on the needy honoreth him.
בְּרָעָתוֹ יִדָּחֶה רָשָׁע וְחֹסֶה בְמוֹתוֹ צַדִּיק׃	לב	32	The wicked is thrust down in his evil-doing; But the righteous hath a refuge in his death.
בְּלֵב נָבוֹן תָּנוּחַ חָכְמָה וּבְקֶרֶב כְּסִילִים תִּוָּדֵעַ׃	לג	33	Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding; But that which is in the inward part of fools is made known.
צְדָקָה תְרוֹמֵם־גּוֹי וְחֶסֶד לְאֻמִּים חַטָּאת ׃	לד	34	Righteousness exalteth a nation; But sin is a reproach to any people.
רְצוֹן־מֶלֶךְ לְעֶבֶד מַשְׂכִּיל וְעֶבְרָתוֹ תִּהְיֶה מֵבִישׁ׃	לה	35	The king’s favor is toward a servant that dealeth wisely; But his wrath will be against him that causeth shame.

Chapter 15

מַעֲנֶה־רַּךְ יָשִׁיב חֵמָה וּדְבַר־עֶצֶב יַעֲלֶה־אָף׃	א	1	A soft answer turneth away wrath; But a grievous word stirreth up anger.
לְשׁוֹן חֲכָמִים תֵּיטִיב דָּעַת וּפִי כְסִילִים יַבִּיעַ אִוֶּלֶת׃	ב	2	The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright; But the mouth of fools poureth out folly.
בְּכָל־מָקוֹם עֵינֵי יְהוָה צֹפוֹת רָעִים וְטוֹבִים׃	ג	3	The eyes of YHVH are in every place, Keeping watch upon the evil and the good.
מַרְפֵּא לָשׁוֹן עֵץ חַיִּים וְסֶלֶף בָּהּ שֶׁבֶר בְּרוּחַ׃	ד	4	A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.
אֱוִיל יִנְאַץ מוּסַר אָבִיו וְשֹׁמֵר תּוֹכַחַת יַעְרִם׃	ה	5	A fool despiseth his father’s correction; But he that regardeth reproof getteth prudence.
בֵּית צַדִּיק חֹסֶן רָב וּבִתְבוּאַת רָשָׁע נֶעְכָּרֶת׃	ו	6	In the house of the righteous is much treasure; But in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
שִׂפְתֵי חֲכָמִים יְזָרוּ דָעַת וְלֵב כְּסִילִים לֹא־כֵן׃	ז	7	The lips of the wise disperse knowledge; But the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
זֶבַח רְשָׁעִים תּוֹעֲבַת יְהוָה וּתְפִלַּת יְשָׁרִים רְצוֹנוֹ׃	ח	8	The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to YHVH; But the prayer of the upright is his delight.
תּוֹעֲבַת יְהוָה דֶּרֶךְ רָשָׁע וּמְרַדֵּף צְדָקָה יֶאֱהָב׃	ט	9	The way of the wicked is an abomination to YHVH; But he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
מוּסָר רָע לְעֹזֵב אֹרַח שׂוֹנֵא תוֹכַחַת יָמוּת ׃	י	10	There is grievous correction for him that forsaketh the way;
שְׁאוֹל וַאֲבַדּוֹן נֶגֶד יְהוָה אַף כִּי־לִבּוֹת בְּנֵי־אָדָם׃	יא	11	Sheol and Abaddon are before YHVH: How much more then the hearts of the children of men!
לֹא יֶאֱהַב־לֵץ הוֹכֵחַ לוֹ אֶל־חֲכָמִים לֹא יֵלֵךְ׃	יב	12	A scoffer loveth not to be reproved; He will not go unto the wise.
לֵב שָׂמֵחַ יֵיטִב פָּנִים וּבְעַצְּבַת־לֵב רוּחַ נְכֵאָה׃	יג	13	A glad heart maketh a cheerful countenance; But by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.
לֵב נָבוֹן יְבַקֶּשׁ־דָּעַת וּפְנֵי כְסִילִים יִרְעֶה אִוֶּלֶת׃	יד	14	The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge; But the mouth of fools feedeth on folly.
כָּל־יְמֵי עָנִי רָעִים וְטוֹב־לֵב מִשְׁתֶּה תָמִיד׃	טו	15	All the days of the afflicted are evil; But he that is of a cheerful heart hath a continual feast.
טוֹב־מְעַט בְּיִרְאַת יְהוָה מֵאוֹצָר רָב וּמְהוּמָה בוֹ׃	טז	16	Better is little, with the fear of YHVH, Than great treasure and trouble therewith.
טוֹב אֲרֻחַת יָרָק וְאַהֲבָה־שָׁם מִשּׁוֹר אָבוּס וְשִׂנְאָה־בוֹ׃	יז	17	Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, Than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
אִישׁ חֵמָה יְגָרֶה מָדוֹן וְאֶרֶך אַפַּיִם יַשְׁקִיט רִיב׃	יח	18	A wrathful man stirreth up contention; But he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
דֶּרֶךְ עָצֵל כִּמְשֻׂכַת חָדֶק וְאֹרַח יְשָׁרִים סְלֻלָה׃	יט	19	The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns; But the path of the upright is made a highway.
בֵּן חָכָם יְשַׂמַּח־אָב וּכְסִיל אָדָם בּוֹזֶה אִמּוֹ׃	כ	20	A wise son maketh a glad father; But a foolish man despiseth his mother.
אִוֶּלֶת שִׂמְחָה לַחֲסַר־לֵב וְאִישׁ תְּבוּנָה יְיַשֶּׁר־לָכֶת׃	כא	21	Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding maketh straight his going.
הָפֵר מַחֲשָׁבוֹת בְּאֵין סוֹד וּבְרֹב יוֹעֲצִים תָּקוּם׃	כב	22	Where there is no counsel, purposes are disappointed; But in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
שִׂמְחָה לָאִישׁ בְּמַעֲנֵה־פִיו וְדָבָר בְּעִתּוֹ מַה־טּוֹב׃	כג	23	A man hath joy in the answer of his mouth; And a word in due season, how good is it!
אֹרַח חַיִּים לְמַעְלָה לְמַשְׂכִּיל לְמַעַן סוּר מִשְּׁאוֹל מָטָּה׃	כד	24	To the wise the way of life goeth upward, That he may depart from Sheol beneath.
בֵּית גֵּאִים יִסַּח יְהוָה וְיַצֵּב גְּבוּל אַלְמָנָה׃	כה	25	YHVH will root up the house of the proud; But he will establish the border of the widow.
תּוֹעֲבַת יְהוָה מַחְשְׁבוֹת רָע וּטְהֹרִים אִמְרֵי־נֹעַם׃	כו	26	Evil devices are an abomination to YHVH; But pleasant words are pure.
עֹכֵר בֵּיתוֹ בּוֹצֵעַ בָּצַע וְשׂוֹנֵא מַתָּנֹת יִחְיֶה׃	כז	27	He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; But he that hateth bribes shall live.
לֵב צַדִּיק יֶהְגֶּה לַעֲנוֹת וּפִי רְשָׁעִים יַבִּיעַ רָעוֹת׃	כח	28	The heart of the righteous studieth to answer; But the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
רָחוֹק יְהוָה מֵרְשָׁעִים וּתְפִלַּת צַדִּיקִים יִשְׁמָע׃	כט	29	YHVH is far from the wicked; But he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
מְאוֹר־עֵינַיִם יְשַׂמַּח־לֵב שְׁמוּעָה טוֹבָה תְּדַשֶּׁן־עָצֶם׃	ל	30	The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart;
אֹזֶן שֹׁמַעַת תּוֹכַחַת חַיִּים בְּקֶרֶב חֲכָמִים תָּלִין׃	לא	31	The ear that hearkeneth to the reproof of life Shall abide among the wise.
פּוֹרֵעַ מוּסָר מוֹאֵס נַפְשׁוֹ וְשׁוֹמֵעַ תּוֹכַחַת קוֹנֶה לֵּב׃	לב	32	He that refuseth correction despiseth his own soul; But he that hearkeneth to reproof getteth understanding.
יִרְאַת יְהוָה מוּסַר חָכְמָה וְלִפְנֵי כָבוֹד עֲנָוָה׃	לג	33	The fear of YHVH is the instruction of wisdom; And before honor goeth humility.

Chapter 16

לְאָדָם מַעַרְכֵי־לֵב וּמֵיְהוָה מַעֲנֵה לָשׁוֹן ׃	א	1	The plans of the heart belong to man; But the answer of the tongue is from YHVH.
כָּל־דַּרְכֵי־אִישׁ זַךְ בְּעֵינָיו וְתֹכֵן רוּחוֹת יְהוָה׃	ב	2	All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But YHVH weigheth the spirits.
גֹּל אֶל־יְהוָה מַעֲשֶׂיךָ וְיִכֹּנוּ מַחְשְׁבֹתֶיךָ׃	ג	3	Commit thy works unto YHVH, And thy purposes shall be established.
כֹּל פָּעַל יְהוָה לַמַּעֲנֵהוּ וְגַם־רָשָׁע לְיוֹם רָעָה׃	ד	4	YHVH hath made everything for its own end; Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
תּוֹעֲבַת יְהוָה כָּל־גְּבַהּ־לֵב יָד לְיָד לֹא יִנָּקֶה׃	ה	5	Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to YHVH:
בְּחֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת יְכֻפַּר עָוֹן וּבְיִרְאַת יְהוָה סוּר מֵרָע׃	ו	6	By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for; And by the fear of YHVH men depart from evil.
בִּרְצוֹת יְהוָה דַּרְכֵי־אִישׁ גַּם־אוֹיְבָיו יַשְׁלִם אִתּוֹ׃	ז	7	When a man’s ways please YHVH, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
טוֹב־מְעַט בִּצְדָקָה מֵרֹב תְּבוּאוֹת בְּלֹא מִשְׁפָּט׃	ח	8	Better is a little, with righteousness, Than great revenues with injustice.
לֵב אָדָם יְחַשֵּׁב דַּרְכּוֹ וַיהוָה יָכִין צַעֲדוֹ׃	ט	9	A man’s heart deviseth his way; But YHVH directeth his steps.
קֶסֶם עַל־שִׂפְתֵי־מֶלֶךְ בְּמִשְׁפָּט לֹא יִמְעַל־פִּיו׃	י	10	A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; His mouth shall not transgress in judgment.
פֶּלֶס וּמֹאזְנֵי מִשְׁפָּט לַיהוָה מַעֲשֵׂהוּ כָּל־אַבְנֵי־כִיס׃	יא	11	A just balance and scales are YHVH’s; All the weights of the bag are his work.
תּוֹעֲבַת מְלָכִים עֲשׂוֹת רֶשַׁע כִּי בִצְדָקָה יִכּוֹן כִּסֵּא׃	יב	12	It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; For the throne is established by righteousness.
רְצוֹן מְלָכִים שִׂפְתֵי־צֶדֶק וְדֹבֵר יְשָׁרִים יֶאֱהָב׃	יג	13	Righteous lips are the delight of kings; And they love him that speaketh right.
חֲמַת־מֶלֶךְ מַלְאֲכֵי־מָוֶת וְאִישׁ חָכָם יְכַפְּרֶנָּה׃	יד	14	The wrath of a king is as messengers of death; But a wise man will pacify it.
בְּאוֹר־פְּנֵי־מֶלֶךְ חַיִּים וּרְצוֹנוֹ כְּעָב מַלְקוֹשׁ׃	טו	15	In the light of the king’s countenance is life; And his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.
קְנֹה־חָכְמָה מַה־טּוֹב מֵחָרוּץ וּקְנוֹת בִּינָה נִבְחָר מִכָּסֶף׃	טז	16	How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.
מְסִלַּת יְשָׁרִים סוּר מֵרָע שֹׁמֵר נַפְשׁוֹ נֹצֵר דַּרְכּוֹ׃	יז	17	The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
לִפְנֵי־שֶׁבֶר גָּאוֹן וְלִפְנֵי כִשָּׁלוֹן גֹּבַהּ רוּחַ׃	יח	18	Pride goeth before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
טוֹב שְׁפַל־רוּחַ אֶת־עֲנִיִּים מֵחַלֵּק שָׁלָל אֶת־גֵּאִים׃	יט	19	Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
מַשְׂכִּיל עַל־דָּבָר יִמְצָא־טוֹב וּבוֹטֵחַ בַּיהוָה אַשְׁרָיו׃	כ	20	He that giveth heed unto the word shall find good; And whoso trusteth in YHVH, happy is he.
לַחֲכַם־לֵב יִקָּרֵא נָבוֹן וּמֶתֶק שְׂפָתַיִם יֹסִיף לֶקַח׃	כא	21	The wise in heart shall be called prudent; And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
מְקוֹר חַיִּים שֵׂכֶל בְּעָלָיו וּמוּסַר אֱוִלִים אִוֶּלֶת׃	כב	22	Understanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it; But the correction of fools is their folly.
לֵב חָכָם יַשְׂכִּיל פִּיהוּ וְעַל־שְׂפָתָיו יֹסִיף לֶקַח׃	כג	23	The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth, And addeth learning to his lips.
צוּף־דְּבַשׁ אִמְרֵי־נֹעַם מָתוֹק לַנֶּפֶשׁ וּמַרְפֵּא לָעָצֶם׃	כד	24	Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
יֵשׁ דֶּרֶךְ יָשָׁר לִפְנֵי־אִישׁ וְאַחֲרִיתָהּ דַּרְכֵי־מָוֶת׃	כה	25	There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.
נֶפֶשׁ עָמֵל עָמְלָה לּוֹ כִּי־אָכַף עָלָיו פִּיהוּ׃	כו	26	The appetite of the laboring man laboreth for him; For his mouth urgeth him thereto.
אִישׁ בְּלִיַּעַל כֹּרֶה רָעָה וְעַל־שְׂפָתָיו כְּאֵשׁ צָרָבֶת׃	כז	27	A worthless man deviseth mischief; And in his lips there is as a scorching fire.
אִישׁ תַּהְפֻּכוֹת יְשַׁלַּח מָדוֹן וְנִרְגָּן מַפְרִיד אַלּוּף׃	כח	28	A perverse man scattereth abroad strife; And a whisperer separateth chief friends.
אִישׁ חָמָס יְפַתֶּה רֵעֵהוּ וְהוֹלִיכוֹ בְּדֶרֶךְ לֹא־טוֹב׃	כט	29	A man of violence enticeth his neighbor, And leadeth him in a way that is not good.
עֹצֶה עֵינָיו לַחְשֹׁב תַּהְפֻּכוֹת קֹרֵץ שְׂפָתָיו כִּלָּה רָעָה׃	ל	30	He that shutteth his eyes, it is to devise perverse things: He that compresseth his lips bringeth evil to pass.
עֲטֶרֶת תִּפְאֶרֶת שֵׂיבָה בְּדֶרֶךְ צְדָקָה תִּמָּצֵא׃	לא	31	The hoary head is a crown of glory; It shall be found in the way of righteousness.
טוֹב אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם מִגִּבּוֹר וּמֹשֵׁל בְּרוּחוֹ מִלֹּכֵד עִיר׃	לב	32	He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.
בַּחֵיק יוּטַל אֶת־הַגּוֹרָל וּמֵיְהוָה כָּל־מִשְׁפָּטוֹ׃	לג	33	The lot is cast into the lap; But the whole disposing thereof is of YHVH.

Chapter 17

טוֹב פַּת חֲרֵבָה וְשַׁלְוָה־בָהּ מִבַּיִת מָלֵא זִבְחֵי־רִיב׃	א	1	Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of feasting with strife.
עֶבֶד־מַשְׂכִּיל יִמְשֹׁל בְּבֵן מֵבִישׁ וּבְתוֹךְ אַחִים יַחֲלֹק נַחֲלָה׃	ב	2	A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.
מַצְרֵף לַכֶּסֶף וְכוּר לַזָּהָב וּבֹחֵן לִבּוֹת יְהוָה׃	ג	3	The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But YHVH trieth the hearts.
מֵרַע מַקְשִׁיב עַל־שְׂפַת־אָוֶן שֶׁקֶר מֵזִין עַל־לְשׁוֹן הַוֹּת׃	ד	4	An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips;
לֹעֵג לָרָשׁ חֵרֵף עֹשֵׂהוּ שָׂמֵחַ לְאֵיד לֹא יִנָּקֶה׃	ה	5	Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker;
עֲטֶרֶת זְקֵנִים בְּנֵי בָנִים וְתִפְאֶרֶת בָּנִים אֲבוֹתָם׃	ו	6	Children’s children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers.
לֹא־נָאוָה לְנָבָל שְׂפַת־יֶתֶר אַף כִּי־לְנָדִיב שְׂפַת־שָׁקֶר׃	ז	7	Excellent speech becometh not a fool; Much less do lying lips a prince.
אֶבֶן־חֵן הַשֹּׁחַד בְּעֵינֵי בְעָלָיו אֶל־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר יִפְנֶה יַשְׂכִּיל׃	ח	8	A bribe is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
מְכַסֶּה־פֶּשַׁע מְבַקֵּשׁ אַהֲבָה וְשֹׁנֶה בְדָבָר מַפְרִיד אַלּוּף׃	ט	9	He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; But he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends.
תֵּחַת גְּעָרָה בְמֵבִין מֵהַכּוֹת כְּסִיל מֵאָה ׃	י	10	A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding Than a hundred stripes into a fool.
אַךְ־מְרִי יְבַקֶּשׁ־רָע וּמַלְאָךְ אַכְזָרִי יְשֻׁלַּח־בּוֹ׃	יא	11	An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
פָּגוֹשׁ דֹּב שַׁכּוּל בְּאִישׁ וְאַל־כְּסִיל בְּאִוַּלְתּוֹ׃	יב	12	Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly.
מֵשִׁיב רָעָה תַּחַת טוֹבָה לֹא־תָמִישׁ רָעָה מִבֵּיתוֹ׃	יג	13	Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.
פּוֹטֵר מַיִם רֵאשִׁית מָדוֹן וְלִפְנֵי הִתְגַּלַּע הָרִיב נְטוֹשׁ׃	יד	14	The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.
מַצְדִּיק רָשָׁע וּמַרְשִׁיעַ צַדִּיק תּוֹעֲבַת יְהוָה גַּם־שְׁנֵיהֶם׃	טו	15	He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to YHVH.
לָמָּה־זֶּה מְחִיר בְּיַד־כְּסִיל לִקְנוֹת חָכְמָה וְלֶב־אָיִן׃	טז	16	Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?
בְּכָל־עֵת אֹהֵב הָרֵעַ וְאָח לְצָרָה יִוָּלֵד׃	יז	17	A friend loveth at all times; And a brother is born for adversity.
אָדָם חֲסַר־לֵב תּוֹקֵעַ כָּף עֹרֵב עֲרֻבָּה לִפְנֵי רֵעֵהוּ׃	יח	18	A man void of understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his neighbor.
אֹהֵב פֶּשַׁע אֹהֵב מַצָּה מַגְבִּיהַּ פִּתְחוֹ מְבַקֶּשׁ־שָׁבֶר׃	יט	19	He loveth transgression that loveth strife: He that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction.
עִקֶּשׁ־לֵב לֹא יִמְצָא־טוֹב וְנֶהְפָּךְ בִּלְשׁוֹנוֹ יִפּוֹל בְּרָעָה׃	כ	20	He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
יֹלֵד כְּסִיל לְתוּגָה לוֹ וְלֹא־יִשְׂמַח אֲבִי נָבָל׃	כא	21	He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; And the father of a fool hath no joy.
לֵב שָׂמֵחַ יֵיטִב גֵּהָה וְרוּחַ נְכֵאָה תְּיַבֶּשׁ־גָּרֶם׃	כב	22	A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
שֹׁחַד מֵחֵיק רָשָׁע יִקָּח לְהַטּוֹת אָרְחוֹת מִשְׁפָּט׃	כג	23	A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of justice.
אֶת־פְּנֵי מֵבִין חָכְמָה וְעֵינֵי כְסִיל בִּקְצֵה־אָרֶץ׃	כד	24	Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
כַּעַס לְאָבִיו בֵּן כְּסִיל וּמֶמֶר לְיוֹלַדְתּוֹ ׃	כה	25	A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bare him.
גַּם עֲנוֹשׁ לַצַּדִּיק לֹא־טוֹב לְהַכּוֹת נְדִיבִים עַל־יֹשֶׁר׃	כו	26	Also to punish the righteous is not good,
חוֹשֵׂךְ אֲמָרָיו יוֹדֵעַ דָּעַת וְקַר־רוּחַ אִישׁ תְּבוּנָה׃	כז	27	He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
גַּם אֱוִיל מַחֲרִישׁ חָכָם יֵחָשֵׁב אֹטֵם שְׂפָתָיו נָבוֹן׃	כח	28	Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent.

Chapter 18

לְתַאֲוָה יְבַקֵּשׁ נִפְרָד בְּכָל־תּוּשִׁיָּה יִתְגַּלָּע׃	א	1	He that separateth himself seeketh his own desire, And rageth against all sound wisdom.
לֹא־יַחְפֹּץ כְּסִיל בִּתְבוּנָה כִּי אִם־בְּהִתְגַּלּוֹת לִבּוֹ׃	ב	2	A fool hath no delight in understanding, But only that his heart may reveal itself.
בְּבוֹא־רָשָׁע בָּא גַם־בּוּז וְעִם־קָלוֹן חֶרְפָּה׃	ג	3	When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, And with ignominy cometh reproach.
מַיִם עֲמֻקִּים דִּבְרֵי פִי־אִישׁ נַחַל נֹבֵעַ מְקוֹר חָכְמָה׃	ד	4	The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook.
שְׂאֵת פְּנֵי־רָשָׁע לֹא־טוֹב לְהַטּוֹת צַדִּיק בַּמִּשְׁפָּט׃	ה	5	To respect the person of the wicked is not good,
שִׂפְתֵי כְסִיל יָבֹאוּ בְרִיב וּפִיו לְמַהֲלֻמוֹת יִקְרָא׃	ו	6	A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for stripes.
פִּי־כְסִיל מְחִתָּה־לוֹ וּשְׂפָתָיו מוֹקֵשׁ נַפְשׁוֹ׃	ז	7	A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.
דִּבְרֵי נִרְגָּן כְּמִתְלַהֲמִים וְהֵם יָרְדוּ חַדְרֵי־בָטֶן׃	ח	8	The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.
גַּם מִתְרַפֶּה בִמְלַאכְתּוֹ אָח הוּא לְבַעַל מַשְׁחִית׃	ט	9	He also that is slack in his work Is brother to him that is a destroyer.
מִגְדַּל־עֹז שֵׁם יְהוָה בּוֹ־יָרוּץ צַדִּיק וְנִשְׂגָּב׃	י	10	The name of YHVH is a strong tower; The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
הוֹן עָשִׁיר קִרְיַת עֻזּוֹ וּכְחוֹמָה נִשְׂגָּבָה בְּמַשְׂכִּיתוֹ׃	יא	11	The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And as a high wall in his own imagination.
לִפְנֵי־שֶׁבֶר יִגְבַּהּ לֵב־אִישׁ וְלִפְנֵי כָבוֹד עֲנָוָה׃	יב	12	Before destruction the heart of man is haughty; And before honor goeth humility.
מֵשִׁיב דָּבָר בְּטֶרֶם יִשְׁמָע אִוֶּלֶת הִיא־לוֹ וּכְלִמָּה׃	יג	13	He that giveth answer before he heareth, It is folly and shame unto him.
רוּחַ־אִישׁ יְכַלְכֵּל מַחֲלֵהוּ וְרוּחַ נְכֵאָה מִי יִשָּׂאֶנָּה׃	יד	14	The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; But a broken spirit who can bear?
לֵב נָבוֹן יִקְנֶה־דָּעַת וְאֹזֶן חֲכָמִים תְּבַקֶּשׁ־דָּעַת׃	טו	15	The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
מַתָּן אָדָם יַרְחִיב לוֹ וְלִפְנֵי גְדֹלִים יַנְחֶנּוּ׃	טז	16	A man’s gift maketh room for him, And bringeth him before great men.
צַדִּיק הָרִאשׁוֹן בְּרִיבוֹ יּבָא־רֵעֵהוּ וַחֲקָרוֹ׃	יז	17	He that pleadeth his cause first seemeth just; But his neighbor cometh and searcheth him out.
מִדְיָנִים יַשְׁבִּית הַגּוֹרָל וּבֵין עֲצוּמִים יַפְרִיד׃	יח	18	The lot causeth contentions to cease, And parteth between the mighty.
אָח נִפְשָׁע מִקִּרְיַת־עֹז וּמְדוֹנִים כִּבְרִיחַ אַרְמוֹן׃	יט	19	A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; And such contentions are like the bars of a castle.
מִפְּרִי פִי־אִישׁ תִּשְׂבַּע בִּטְנוֹ תְּבוּאַת שְׂפָתָיו יִשְׂבָּע׃	כ	20	A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.
מָוֶת וְחַיִּים בְּיַד־לָשׁוֹן וְאֹהֲבֶיהָ יֹאכַל פִּרְיָהּ׃	כא	21	Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
מָצָא אִשָּׁה מָצָא טוֹב וַיָּפֶק רָצוֹן מֵיְהוָה ׃	כב	22	Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, And obtaineth favor of YHVH.
תַּחֲנוּנִים יְדַבֶּר־רָשׁ וְעָשִׁיר יַעֲנֶה עַזּוֹת׃	כג	23	The poor useth entreaties; But the rich answereth roughly.
אִישׁ רֵעִים לְהִתְרֹעֵעַ וְיֵשׁ אֹהֵב דָּבֵק מֵאָח׃	כד	24	He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Chapter 19

טוֹב־רָשׁ הוֹלֵךְ בְּתֻמּוֹ מֵעִקֵּשׁ שְׂפָתָיו וְהוּא כְסִיל׃	א	1	Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity Than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
גַּם בְּלֹא־דַעַת נֶפֶשׁ לֹא־טוֹב וְאָץ בְּרַגְלַיִם חוֹטֵא׃	ב	2	Also, that the soul be without knowledge is not good; And he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
אִוֶּלֶת אָדָם תְּסַלֵּף דַּרְכּוֹ וְעַל־יְהוָה יִזְעַף לִבּוֹ׃	ג	3	The foolishness of man subverteth his way; And his heart fretteth against YHVH.
הוֹן יֹסִיף רֵעִים רַבִּים וְדָל מֵרֵעהוּ יִפָּרֵד ׃	ד	4	Wealth addeth many friends; But the poor is separated from his friend.
עֵד שְׁקָרִים לֹא יִנָּקֶה וְיָפִיחַ כְּזָבִים לֹא יִמָּלֵט׃	ה	5	A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall not escape.
רַבִּים יְחַלּוּ פְנֵי־נָדִיב וְכָל־הָרֵעַ לְאִישׁ מַתָּן׃	ו	6	Many will entreat the favor of the liberal man; And every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
כָּל אֲחֵי־רָשׁ שְׂנֵאֻהוּ אַף כִּי מְרֵעֵהוּ רָחֲקוּ מִמֶּנּוּ מְרַדֵּף אֲמָרִים לֹא־הֵמָּה׃	ז	7	All the brethren of the poor do hate him: How much more do his friends go far from him! He pursueth them with words, but they are gone.
קֹנֶה־לֵּב אֹהֵב נַפְשׁוֹ שֹׁמֵר תְּבוּנָה לִמְצֹא־טוֹב׃	ח	8	He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: He that keepeth understanding shall find good.
עֵד שְׁקָרִים לֹא יִנָּקֶה וְיָפִיחַ כְּזָבִים יֹאבֵד׃ פ	ט	9	A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall perish.
לֹא־נָאוֶה לִכְסִיל תַּעֲנוּג אַף כִּי־לְעֶבֶד מְשֹׁל בְּשָׂרִים׃	י	10	Delicate living is not seemly for a fool; Much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
שֵׂכֶל אָדָם הֶאֱרִיךְ אַפּוֹ וְתִפאַרְתּוֹ עֲבֹר עַל־פָּשַׁע׃	יא	11	The discretion of a man maketh him slow to anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
נַהַם כַּכְּפִיר זַעַף מֶלֶךְ וּכְטַל עַל־עֵשֶׂב רְצוֹנוֹ׃	יב	12	The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; But his favor is as dew upon the grass.
הַוֹּת לְאָבִיו בֵּן כְּסִיל וְדֶלֶף טֹרֵד מִדְיְנֵי אִשָּׁה׃	יג	13	A foolish son is the calamity of his father; And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
בַּיִת וָהוֹן נַחֲלַת אָבוֹת וּמֵיְהוָה אִשָּׁה מַשְׂכָּלֶת׃	יד	14	House and riches are an inheritance from fathers; But a prudent wife is from YHVH.
עַצְלָה תַּפִּיל תַּרְדֵּמָה וְנֶפֶשׁ רְמִיָּה תִרְעָב׃	טו	15	Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; And the idle soul shall suffer hunger.
שֹׁמֵר מִצְוָה שֹׁמֵר נַפְשׁוֹ בּוֹזֵה דְרָכָיו יוּמָת׃	טז	16	He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul;
מַלְוֵה יְהוָה חוֹנֵן דָּל וּגְמֻלוֹ יְשַׁלֶּם־לוֹ ׃	יז	17	He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto YHVH, And his good deed will he pay him again.
יַסֵּר בִּנְךָ כִּי־יֵשׁ תִּקְוָה וְאֶל־הֲמִיתוֹ אַל־תִּשָּׂא נַפְשֶׁךָ׃	יח	18	Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope; and set not thy heart on his destruction.
גְּרָל־חֵמָה נֹשֵׂא עֹנֶשׁ כִּי אִם־תַּצִּיל וְעוֹד תּוֹסִף׃	יט	19	A man of great wrath shall bear the penalty; For if thou deliver him, thou must do it yet again.
שְׁמַע עֵצָה וְקַבֵּל מוּסָר לְמַעַן תֶּחְכַּם בְּאַחֲרִיתֶךָ׃	כ	20	Hear counsel, and receive instruction, That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
רַבּוֹת מַחֲשָׁבוֹת בְּלֶב־אִישׁ וַעֲצַת יְהוָה הִיא תָקוּם׃	כא	21	There are many devices in a man’s heart; But the counsel of YHVH, that shall stand.
תַּאֲוַת אָדָם חַסְדּוֹ וְטוֹב־רָשׁ מֵאִישׁ כָּזָב ׃	כב	22	That which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness; And a poor man is better than a liar.
יִרְאַת יְהוָה לְחַיִּים וְשָׂבֵעַ יָלִין בַּל־יִפָּקֶד רָע׃	כג	23	The fear of YHVH tendeth to life; And he that hath it shall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil.
טָמַן עָצֵל יָדוֹ בַּצַּלָּחַת גַּם־אֶל־פִּיהוּ לֹא יְשִׁיבֶנָּה׃	כד	24	The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
לֵץ תַּכֶּה וּפֶתִי יַעְרִם וְהוֹכִיחַ לְנָבוֹן יָבִין דָּעַת׃	כה	25	Smite a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; And reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
מְשַׁדֶּד־אָב יַבְרִיחַ אֵם בֵּן מֵבִישׁ וּמַחְפִּיר׃	כו	26	He that doeth violence to his father, and chaseth away his mother, Is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach.
חַדַל־בְּנִי לִשְׁמֹעַ מוּסָר לִשְׁגוֹת מֵאִמְרֵי־דָעַת׃	כז	27	Cease, my son, to hear instruction
עֵד בְּלִיַּעַל יָלִיץ מִשְׁפָּט וּפִי רְשָׁעִים יְבַלַּע־אָוֶן׃	כח	28	A worthless witness mocketh at justice; And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth iniquity.
נָכוֹנוּ לַלֵּצִים שְׁפָטִים וּמַהֲלֻמוֹת לְגֵו כְּסִילִים׃	כט	29	Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And stripes for the back of fools.

Chapter 20

לֵץ הַיַּיִן הֹמֶה שֵׁכָר וְכָל־שֹׁגֶה בּוֹ לֹא יֶחְכָּם׃	א	1	Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.
נַהַם כַּכְּפִיר אֵימַת מֶלֶךְ מִתְעַבְּרוֹ חוֹטֵא נַפְשׁוֹ׃	ב	2	The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life.
כָּבוֹד לָאִישׁ שֶׁבֶת מֵרִיב וְכָל־אֱוִיל יִתְגַּלָּע׃	ג	3	It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling.
מֵחֹרֶף עָצֵל לֹא־יַחֲרֹשׁ יִשְׁאַל בַּקָּצִיר וָאָיִן׃	ד	4	The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
מַיִם עֲמֻקִּים עֵצָה בְלֶב־אִישׁ וְאִישׁ תְּבוּנָה יִדְלֶנָּה׃	ה	5	Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.
רָב־אָדָם יִקְרָא אִישׁ חַסְדּוֹ וְאִישׁ אֱמוּנִים מִי יִמְצָא׃	ו	6	Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
מִתְהַלֵּךְ בְּתֻמּוֹ צַדִּיק אַשְׁרֵי בָנָיו אַחֲרָיו׃	ז	7	A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him.
מֶלֶךְ יוֹשֵׁב עַל־כִּסֵּא־דִין מְזָרֶה בְעֵינָיו כָּל־רָע׃	ח	8	A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
מִי־יֹאמַר זִכִּיתִי לִבִּי טָהַרְתִּי מֵחַטָּאתִי ׃	ט	9	Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
אֶבֶן וָאֶבֶן אֵיפָה וְאֵיפָה תּוֹעֲבַת יְהוָה גַּם־שְׁנֵיהֶם׃	י	10	Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to YHVH.
גַּם בְּמַעֲלָלָיו יִתְנַכֶּר־נָעַר אִם־זַךְ וְאִם־יָשָׁר פָּעֳלוֹ׃	יא	11	Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
אֹזֶן שֹׁמַעַת וְעַיִן רֹאָה יְהוָה עָשָׂה גַם־שְׁנֵיהֶם׃	יב	12	The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, YHVH hath made even both of them.
אַל־תֶּאֱהַב שֵׁנָה פֶּן־תִּוָּרֵשׁ פְּקַח עֵינֶיךָ שְׂבַע־לָחֶם׃	יג	13	Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
רַע רַע יֹאמַר הַקּוֹנֶה וְאֹזֵל לוֹ אָז יִתְהַלָּל׃	יד	14	It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
יֵשׁ זָהָב וְרָב־פְּנִינִים וּכְלִי יְקָר שִׂפְתֵי־דָעַת׃	טו	15	There is gold, and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
לְקַח־בִּגְדוֹ כִּי־עָרַב זָר וּבְעַד נָכְרִים חַבְלֵהוּ׃	טז	16	Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge that is surety for foreigners.
עָרֵב לָאִישׁ לֶחֶם שָׁקֶר וְאַחַר יִמָּלֵא־פִיהוּ חָצָץ׃	יז	17	Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
מַחֲשָׁבוֹת בְּעֵצָה תִכּוֹן וּבְתַחְבֻּלוֹת עֲשֵׂה מִלְחָמָה׃	יח	18	Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war.
גּוֹלֶה־סּוֹד הוֹלֵךְ רָכִיל וּלְפֹתֶה שְׂפָתָיו לֹא תִתְעָרָב׃	יט	19	He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips.
מְקַלֵּל אָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ יִדְעַךְ נֵרוֹ בְּאִישׁוֹן חֹשֶׁךְ׃	כ	20	Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
נַחֲלָה מְבֻחֶלֶת בָּרִאשֹׁנָה וְאַחֲרִיתָהּ לֹא תְבֹרָךְ׃	כא	21	An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed.
אַל־תֹּאמַר אֲשַׁלְּמָה־רָע קַוֵּה לַיהוָה וְיֹשַׁע לָךְ׃	כב	22	Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for YHVH, and he will save thee.
תּוֹעֲבַת יְהוָה אֶבֶן וָאָבֶן וּמֹאזְנֵי מִרְמָה לֹא־טוֹב׃	כג	23	Diverse weights are an abomination to YHVH; And a false balance is not good.
מֵיְהוָה מִצְעֲדֵי־גָבֶר וְאָדָם מַה־יָּבִין דַּרְכּוֹ׃	כד	24	A man’s goings are of YHVH; How then can man understand his way?
מוֹקֵשׁ אָדָם יָלַע קֹדֶשׁ וְאַחַר נְדָרִים לְבַקֵּר׃	כה	25	It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy, And after vows to make inquiry.
מְזָרֶה רְשָׁעִים מֶלֶךְ חָכָם וַיָּשֶׁב עֲלֵיהֶם אוֹפָן׃	כו	26	A wise king winnoweth the wicked, And bringeth the threshing -wheel over them.
נֵר יְהוָה נִשְׁמַת אָדָם חֹפֵשׂ כָּל־חַדְרֵי־בָטֶן׃	כז	27	The spirit of man is the lamp of YHVH, Searching all his innermost parts.
חֶסֶד וֶאֱמֶת יִצְּרוּ־מֶלֶךְ וְסָעַד בַּחֶסֶד כִּסְאוֹ׃	כח	28	Kindness and truth preserve the king; And his throne is upholden by kindness.
תִּפְאֶרֶת בַּחוּרִים כֹּחָם וַהֲדַר זְקֵנִים שֵׂיבָה׃	כט	29	The glory of young men is their strength; And the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
חַבֻּרוֹת פֶּצַע תַּמְרִיק בְּרָע וּמַכּוֹת חַדְרֵי־בָטֶן׃	ל	30	Stripes that wound cleanse away evil; And strokes reach the innermost parts.

Chapter 21

פַּלְגֵי־מַיִם לֶב־מֶלֶךְ בְּיַד־יְהוָה עַל־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר יַחְפֹּץ יַטֶּנּוּ׃	א	1	The king’s heart is in the hand of YHVH as the watercourses: He turneth it whithersoever he will.
כָּל־דֶּרֶךְ־אִישׁ יָשָׁר בְּעֵינָיו וְתֹכֵן לִבּוֹת יְהוָה׃	ב	2	Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But YHVH weigheth the hearts.
עֲשֹׂה צְדָקָה וּמִשְׁפָּט נִבְחָר לַיהוָה מִזָּבַח׃	ג	3	To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to YHVH than sacrifice.
רוּם־עֵינַיִם וּרְחַב־לֵב נִר רְשָׁעִים חַטָּאת׃	ד	4	A high look, and a proud heart,
מַחְשְׁבוֹת חָרוּץ אַךְ־לְמוֹתָר וְכָל־אָץ אַךְ־לְמַחְסוֹר׃	ה	5	The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; But every one that is hasty hasteth only to want.
פֹּעַל אוֹצָרוֹת בִּלְשׁוֹן שָׁקֶר הֶבֶל נִדָּף מְבַקְשֵׁי־מָוֶת׃	ו	6	The getting of treasures by a lying tongue Is a vapor driven to and fro by them that seek death.
שֹׁד־רְשָׁעִים יְגוֹרֵם כִּי מֵאֲנוּ לַעֲשׂוֹת מִשְׁפָּט׃	ז	7	The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away, Because they refuse to do justice.
הֲפַכְפַּךְ דֶּרֶךְ אִישׁ וָזָר וְזַךְ יָשָׁר פָּעֳלוֹ׃	ח	8	The way of him that is laden with guilt is exceeding crooked; But as for the pure, his work is right.
טוֹב לָשֶׁבֶת עַל־פִּנַּת־גָּג מֵאֵשֶׁת מִדְיָנִים וּבֵית חָבֶר׃	ט	9	It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
נֶפֶשׁ רָשָׁע אִוְּתָה־רָע לֹא־יֻחַן בְּעֵינָיו רֵעֵהוּ׃	י	10	The soul of the wicked desireth evil: His neighbor findeth no favor in his eyes.
בַּעְנָשׁ־לֵץ יֶחְכַּם־פֶּתִי וּבְהַשְׂכִּיל לְחָכָם יִקַּח־דָּעַת׃	יא	11	When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; And when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
מַשְׂכִּיל צַדִּיק לְבֵית רָשָׁע מְסַלֵּף רְשָׁעִים לָרָע׃	יב	12	The righteous man considereth the house of the wicked,
אֹטֵם אָזְנוֹ מִזַּעֲקַת־דָּל גַּם־הוּא יִקְרָא וְלֹא יֵעָנֶה׃	יג	13	Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry, but shall not be heard.
מַתָּן בַּסֵּתֶר יִכְפֶּה־אָף וְשֹׁחַד בַּחֵק חֵמָה עַזָּה׃	יד	14	A gift in secret pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath.
שִׂמְחָה לַצַּדִּיק עֲשׂוֹת מִשְׁפָּט וּמְחִתָּה לְפֹעֲלֵי אָוֶן׃	טו	15	It is joy to the righteous to do justice; But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
אָדָם תּוֹעֶה מִדֶּרֶךְ הַשְׂכֵּל בִּקְהַל רְפָאִים יָנוּחַ׃	טז	16	The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding Shall rest in the assembly of the dead.
אִישׁ מַחְסוֹר אֹהֵב שִׂמְחָה אֹהֵב יַיִן־וָשֶׁמֶן לֹא יַעֲשִׁיר׃	יז	17	He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
כֹּפֶר לַצַּדִּיק רָשָׁע וְתַחַת יְשָׁרִים בּוֹגֵד ׃	יח	18	The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; And the treacherous cometh in the stead of the upright.
טוֹב שֶׁבֶת בְּאֶרֶץ־מִדְבָּר מֵאֵשֶׁת מְדוֹנִים וָכָעַס׃	יט	19	It is better to dwell in a desert land, Than with a contentious and fretful woman.
אוֹצָר נֶחְמָד וָשֶׁמֶן בִּנְוֵה חָכָם וּכְסִיל אָדָם יְבַלְּעֶנּוּ׃	כ	20	There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man swalloweth it up.
רֹדֵף צְדָקָה וָחָסֶד יִמְצָא חַיִּים צְדָקָה וְכָבוֹד׃	כא	21	He that followeth after righteousness and kindness Findeth life, righteousness, and honor.
עִיר גִּבֹּרִים עָלָה חָכָם וַיֹּרֶד עֹז מִבְטֶחָה ׃	כב	22	A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
שֹׁמֵר פִּיו וּלְשׁוֹנוֹ שֹׁמֵר מִצָּרוֹת נַפְשׁוֹ ׃	כג	23	Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from troubles.
זֵד יָהִיר לֵץ שְׁמוֹ עוֹשֶׂה בְּעֶבְרַת זָדוֹן׃	כד	24	The proud and haughty man, scoffer is his name; He worketh in the arrogance of pride.
תַּאֲוַת עָצֵל תְּמִיתֶנּוּ כִּי־מֵאֲנוּ יָדָיו לַעֲשׂוֹת׃	כה	25	The desire of the sluggard killeth him; For his hands refuse to labor.
כָּל־הַיּוֹם הִתְאַוָּה תַאֲוָה וְצַדִּיק יִתֵּן וְלֹא יַחְשֹׂךְ׃	כו	26	There is that coveteth greedily all the day long; But the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.
זֶבַח רְשָׁעִים תּוֹעֵבָה אַף כִּי־בְזִמָּה יְבִיאֶנּוּ׃	כז	27	The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: How much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind!
עֵד־כְּזָבִים יֹאבֵד וְאִישׁ שׁוֹמֵעַ לָנֶצַח יְדַבֵּר׃	כח	28	A false witness shall perish; But the man that heareth shall speak so as to endure.
הֵעֵז אִישׁ רָשָׁע בְּפָנָיו וְיָשָׁר הוּא יָכִין דַּרְכֹּיו׃	כט	29	A wicked man hardeneth his face; But as for the upright, he establisheth his ways.
אֵין חָכְמָה וְאֵין תְּבוּנָה וְאֵין עֵצָה לְנֶגֶד יְהוָה׃ פ	ל	30	There is no wisdom nor understanding Nor counsel against YHVH.
סוּס מוּכָן לְיוֹם מִלְחָמָה וְלַיהוָה הַתְּשׁוּעָה׃	לא	31	The horse is prepared against the day of battle; But victory is of YHVH.

Chapter 22

נִבְחָר שֵׁם מֵעֹשֶׁר רָב מִכֶּסֶף וּמִזָּהָב חֵן טוֹב׃	א	1	A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,
עָשִׁיר וָרָשׁ נִפְגָּשׁוּ עֹשֵׂה כֻלָּם יְהוָה׃	ב	2	The rich and the poor meet together: YHVH is the maker of them all.
עָרוּם רָאָה רָעָה וְיִסָּתֵר וּפְתָיִים עָבְרוּ וְנֶעֱנָשׁוּ׃	ג	3	A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
עֵקֶב עֲנָוָה יִרְאַת יְהוָה עֹשֶׁר וְכָבוֹד וְחַיִּים׃	ד	4	The reward of humility and the fear of YHVH
צִנִּים פַּחִים בְּדֶרֶךְ עִקֵּשׁ שׁוֹמֵר נַפְשׁוֹ יִרְחַק מֵהֶם׃	ה	5	Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse: He that keepeth his soul shall be far from them.
חֲנֹךְ לַנַּעַר עַל־פִּי דַרְכּוֹ גַּם כִּי־יַזְקִין לֹא־יָסוּר מִמֶּנָּה׃	ו	6	Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it.
עָשִׁיר בְּרָשִׁים יִמְשׁוֹל וְעֶבֶד לוֶֹה לְאִישׁ מַלְוֶה׃	ז	7	The rich ruleth over the poor; And the borrower is servant to the lender.
זוֹרֵעַ עַוְלָה יִקְצָור־אָוֶן וְשֵׁבֶט עֶבְרָתוֹ יִכְלֶה׃	ח	8	He that soweth iniquity shall reap calamity; And the rod of his wrath shall fail.
טוֹב־עַיִן הוּא יְבֹרָךְ כִּי־נָתַן מִלַּחְמוֹ לַדָּל׃	ט	9	He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; For he giveth of his bread to the poor.
גָּרֵשׁ לֵץ וְיֵצֵא מָדוֹן וְיִשְׁבֹּת דִּין וְקָלוֹן׃	י	10	Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out; Yea, strife and ignominy will cease.
אֹהֵב טְהָור־לֵב חֵן שְׂפָתָיו רֵעֵהוּ מֶלֶךְ׃	יא	11	He that loveth pureness of heart,
עֵינֵי יְהוָה נָצְרוּ דָעַת וַיְסַלֵּף דִּבְרֵי בֹגֵד׃	יב	12	The eyes of YHVH preserve him that hath knowledge; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous man.
אָמַר עָצֵל אֲרִי בַחוּץ בְּתוֹךְ רְחֹבוֹת אֵרָצֵחַ׃	יג	13	The sluggard saith, There is a lion without: I shall be slain in the streets.
שׁוּחָה עֲמֻקָּה פִּי זָרוֹת זְעוּם יְהוָה יִפָּול־שָׁם׃	יד	14	The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: He that is abhorred of YHVH shall fall therein.
אִוֶּלֶת קְשׁוּרָה בְלֶב־נָעַר שֵׁבֶט מוּסָר יַרְחִיקֶנָּה מִמֶּנּוּ׃	טו	15	Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
עֹשֵׁק דָּל לְהַרְבּוֹת לוֹ נֹתֵן לְעָשִׁיר אַךְ־לְמַחְסוֹר׃	טז	16	He that oppresseth the poor to increase his gain,
הַט אָזְנְךָ וּשְׁמַע דִּבְרֵי חֲכָמִים וְלִבְּךָ תָּשִׁית לְדַעְתִּי׃	יז	17	Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
כִּי־נָעִים כִּי־תִשְׁמְרֵם בְּבִטְנֶךָ יִכֹּנוּ יַחְדָּו עַל־שְׂפָתֶיךָ׃	יח	18	For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, If they be established together upon thy lips.
לִהְיוֹת בַּיהוָה מִבְטַחֶךָ הוֹדַעְתִּיךָ הַיּוֹם אַף־אָתָּה׃	יט	19	That thy trust may be in YHVH, I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee.
הֲלֹא כָתַבְתִּי לְךָ שָׁלִישִׁום בְּמוֹעֵצֹת וָדָעַת׃	כ	20	Have not I written unto thee excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,
לְהוֹדִיעֲךָ קֹשְׁטְ אִמְרֵי אֱמֶת לְהָשִׁיב אֲמָרִים אֱמֶת לְשֹׁלְחֶיךָ׃ פ	כא	21	To make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, That thou mayest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?
אַל־תִּגְזָל־דָּל כִּי דַל־הוּא וְאַל־תְּדַכֵּא עָנִי בַשָּׁעַר׃	כב	22	Rob not the poor, because he is poor; Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
כִּי־יְהוָה יָרִיב רִיבָם וְקָבַע אֶת־קֹבְעֵיהֶם נָפֶשׁ׃	כג	23	For YHVH will plead their cause, And despoil of life those that despoil them.
אַל־תִּתְרַע אֶת־בַּעַל אָף וְאֶת־אִישׁ חֵמוֹת לֹא תָבוֹא׃	כד	24	Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; And with a wrathful man thou shalt not go:
פֶּן־תֶּאֱלַף אָרְחָתוֹ וְלָקַחְתָּ מוֹקֵשׁ לְנַפְשֶׁךָ׃	כה	25	Lest thou learn this ways, And get a snare to thy soul.
אַל־תְּהִי בְתֹקְעֵי־כָף בַּעֹרְבִים מַשָּׁאוֹת׃	כו	26	Be thou not one of them that strike hands,
אִם־אֵין־לְךָ לְשַׁלֵּם לָמָּה יִקַּח מִשְׁכָּבְךָ מִתַּחְתֶּיךָ׃	כז	27	If thou hast not wherewith to pay, Why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
אַל־תַּסֵּג גְּבוּל עוֹלָם אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ אֲבוֹתֶיךָ׃	כח	28	Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have set.
חָזִיתָ אִישׁ מָהִיר בִּמְלַאכְתּוֹ לִפְנֵי־מְלָכִים יִתְיַצָּב בַּל־יִתְיַצֵּב לִפְנֵי חֲשֻׁכִּים׃ פ	כט	29	Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; He shall not stand before mean men.

Chapter 23

כִּי־תֵשֵׁב לִלְחוֹם אֶת־מוֹשֵׁל בִּין תָּבִין אֶת־אֲשֶׁר לְפָנֶיךָ׃	א	1	When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, Consider diligently him that is before thee;
וְשַׂמְתָּ שַׂכִּין בְּלֹעֶךָ אִם־בַּעַל נֶפֶשׁ אָתָּה׃	ב	2	And put a knife to thy throat, If thou be a man given to appetite.
אַל־תִּתְאָו לְמַטְעַמּוֹתָיו וְהוּא לֶחֶם כְּזָבִים׃	ג	3	Be not desirous of his dainties; Seeing they are deceitful food.
אַל־תִּיגַע לְהַעֲשִׁיר מִבִּינָתְךָ חֲדָל׃	ד	4	Weary not thyself to be rich; Cease from thine own wisdom.
הֲתָעִוף עֵינֶיךָ בּוֹ וְאֵינֶנּוּ כִּי עָשֹׂה יַעֲשֶׂה־לּוֹ כְנָפַיִם כְּנֶשֶׁר וָעיּף הַשָּׁמָיִם׃ פ	ה	5	Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings, Like an eagle that flieth toward heaven.
אַל־תִּלְחַם אֶת־לֶחֶם רַע עָיִן וְאַל־תִּתְאָו לְמַטְעַמֹּתָיו׃	ו	6	Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, Neither desire thou his dainties:
כִּי כְּמוֹ־שָׁעַר בְּנַפְשׁוֹ כֶּן־הוּא אֱכֹל וּשְׁתֵה יֹאמַר לָךְ וְלִבּוֹ בַּל־עִמָּךְ׃	ז	7	For as he thinketh within himself, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; But his heart is not with thee.
פִּתְּךָ־אָכַלְתָּ תְקִיאֶנָּה וְשִׁחַתָּ דְּבָרֶיךָ הַנְּעִימִים׃	ח	8	The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, And lose thy sweet words.
בְּאָזְנֵי כְסִיל אַל־תְּדַבֵּר כִּי־יָבוּז לְשֵׂכֶל מִלֶּיךָ׃	ט	9	Speak not in the hearing of a fool; For he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
אַל־תַּסֵּג גְּבוּל עוֹלָם וּבִשְׂדֵי יְתוֹמִים אַל־תָּבֹא׃	י	10	Remove not the ancient landmark; And enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
כִּי־גֹאֲלָם חָזָק הוּא־יָרִיב אֶת־רִיבָם אִתָּךְ ׃	יא	11	For their Redeemer is strong; He will plead their cause against thee.
הָבִיאָה לַמּוּסָר לִבֶּךָ וְאָזְנֶךָ לְאִמְרֵי־דָעַת׃	יב	12	Apply thy heart unto instruction, And thine ears to the words of knowledge.
אַל־תִּמְנַע מִנַּעַר מוּסָר כִּי־תַכֶּנּוּ בַשֵּׁבֶט לֹא יָמוּת׃	יג	13	Withhold not correction from the child;
אַתָּה בַּשֵּׁבֶט תַּכֶּנּוּ וְנַפְשׁוֹ מִשְּׁאוֹל תַּצִּיל׃	יד	14	Thou shalt beat him with the rod, And shalt deliver his soul from Sheol.
בְּנִי אִם־חָכַם לִבֶּךָ יִשְׂמַח לִבִּי גַם־אָנִי ׃	טו	15	My son, if thy heart be wise, My heart will be glad, even mine:
וְתַעְלֹזְנָה כִלְיוֹתָי בְּדַבֵּר שְׂפָתֶיךָ מֵישָׁרִים׃	טז	16	Yea, my heart will rejoice, When thy lips speak right things.
אַל־יְקַנֵּא לִבְּךָ בַּחַטָּאִים כִּי אִם־בְּיִרְאַת־יְהוָה כָּל־הַיּוֹם׃	יז	17	Let not thy heart envy sinners; But be thou in the fear of YHVH all the day long:
כִּי אִם־יֵשׁ אַחֲרִית וְתִקְוָתְךָ לֹא תִכָּרֵת ׃	יח	18	For surely there is a reward; And thy hope shall not be cut off.
שְׁמַע־אַתָּה בְנִי וַחֲכָם וְאַשֵּׁר בַּדֶּרֶךְ לִבֶּךָ׃	יט	19	Hear thou, my son, and be wise, And guide thy heart in the way.
אַל־תְּהִי בְסֹבְאֵי־יָיִן בְּזֹלֲלֵי בָשָׂר לָמוֹ ׃	כ	20	Be not among winebibbers, Among gluttonous eaters of flesh:
כִּי־סֹבֵא וְזוֹלֵל יִוָּרֵשׁ וּקְרָעִים תַּלְבִּישׁ נוּמָה׃	כא	21	For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty; And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.
שְׁמַע לְאָבִיךָ זֶה יְלָדֶךָ וְאַל־תָּבוּז כִּי־זָקְנָה אִמֶּךָ׃	כב	22	Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, And despise not thy mother when she is old.
אֱמֶת קְנֵה וְאַל־תִּמְכֹּר חָכְמָה וּמוּסָר וּבִינָה׃	כג	23	Buy the truth, and sell it not;
גִּול יָגִול אֲבִי צַדִּיק ְיוֹלֵד חָכָם ויִשְׂמַח־בּוֹ׃	כד	24	The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; And he that begetteth a wise child will have joy of him.
יִשְׂמַח־אָבִיךָ וְאִמֶּךָ וְתָגֵל יוֹלַדְתֶּךָ׃	כה	25	Let thy father and thy mother be glad, And let her that bare thee rejoice.
תְּנָה־בְנִי לִבְּךָ לִי וְעֵינֶיךָ דְּרָכַי תִּרְצֶנָה׃	כו	26	My son, give me thy heart; And let thine eyes delight in my ways.
כִּי־שׁוּחָה עֲמֻקָּה זוֹנָה וּבְאֵר צָרָה נָכְרִיָּה׃	כז	27	For a harlot is a deep ditch; And a foreign woman is a narrow pit.
אַף־הִיא כְּחֶתֶף תֶּאֱרֹב וּבוֹגְדִים בְּאָדָם תּוֹסִף׃	כח	28	Yea, she lieth in wait as a robber, And increaseth the treacherous among men.
לְמִי אוֹי לְמִי אֲבוֹי לְמִי מִדוֹנִים לְמִי שִׂיחַ לְמִי פְּצָעִים חִנָּם לְמִי חַכְלִלוּת עֵינָיִם׃	כט	29	Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? Who hath complaining? who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes?
לַמְאַחֲרִים עַל־הַיָּיִן לַבָּאִים לַחְקֹר מִמְסָךְ׃	ל	30	They that tarry long at the wine; They that go to seek out mixed wine.
אַל־תֵּרֶא יַיִן כִּי יִתְאַדָּם כִּי־יִתֵּן בַּכִּיס עֵינוֹ יִתְהַלֵּךְ בְּמֵישָׁרִים׃	לא	31	Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, When it sparkleth in the cup, When it goeth down smoothly:
אַחֲרִיתוֹ כְּנָחָשׁ יִשָּׁךְ וּכְצִפְעֹנִי יַפְרִשׁ׃	לב	32	At the last it biteth like a serpent, And stingeth like an adder.
עֵינֶיךָ יִרְאוּ זָרוֹת וְלִבְּךָ יְדַבֵּר תַּהְפֻּכוֹת׃	לג	33	Thine eyes shall behold strange things, And thy heart shall utter perverse things.
וְהָיִיתָ כְּשֹׁכֵב בְּלֶב־יָם וּכְשֹׁכֵב בְּרֹאשׁ חִבֵּל׃	לד	34	Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, Or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
הִכּוּנִי בַל־חָלִיתִי הֲלָמוּנִי בַּל־יָדָעְתִּי מָתַי אָקִיץ אוֹסִיף אֲבַקְשֶׁנּוּ עוֹד׃	לה	35	They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not hurt; They have beaten me, and I felt it not: When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

Chapter 24

אַל־תְּקַנֵּא בְּאַנְשֵׁי רָעָה וְאַל־תִּתְאָו לִהְיוֹת אִתָּם׃	א	1	Be not thou envious against evil men; Neither desire to be with them:
כִּי־שֹׁד יֶהְגֶּה לִבָּם וְעָמָל שִׂפְתֵיהֶם תְּדַבֵּרְנָה׃	ב	2	For their heart studieth oppression, And their lips talk of mischief.
בְּחָכְמָה יִבָּנֶה בָּיִת וּבִתְבוּנָה יִתְכּוֹנָן׃	ג	3	Through wisdom is a house builded; And by understanding it is established;
וּבְדַעַת חֲדָרִים יִמָּלְאוּ כָּל־הוֹן יָקָר וְנָעִים׃	ד	4	And by knowledge are the chambers filled With all precious and pleasant riches.
גֶּבֶר־חָכָם בַּעוֹז וְאִישׁ־דַּעַת מְאַמֶּץ־כֹּחַ ׃	ה	5	A wise man is strong; Yea, a man of knowledge increaseth might
כִּי בְתַחְבֻּלוֹת תַּעֲשֶׂה־לְּךָ מִלְחָמָה וּתְשׁוּעָה בְּרֹב יוֹעֵץ׃	ו	6	For by wise guidance thou shalt make thy war; And in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
רָאמוֹת לֶאֱוִיל חָכְמוֹת בַּשַּׁעַר לֹא יִפְתַּח־פִּיהוּ׃	ז	7	Wisdom is too high for a fool: He openeth not his mouth in the gate.
מְחַשֵּׁב לְהָרֵעַ לוֹ בַּעַל־מְזִמּוֹת יִקְרָאוּ ׃	ח	8	He that deviseth to do evil, Men shall call him a mischief-maker.
זִמַּת אִוֶּלֶת חַטָּאת וְתוֹעֲבַת לְאָדָם לֵץ׃	ט	9	The thought of foolishness is sin; And the scoffer is an abomination to men.
הִתְרַפִּיתָ בְּיוֹם צָרָה צַר כֹּחֶכָה׃	י	10	If thou faint in the day of adversity, Thy strength is small.
הַצֵּל לְקֻחִים לַמָּוֶת וּמָטִים לַהֶרֶג אִם־תַּחְשׂוֹךְ׃	יא	11	Deliver them that are carried away unto death, And those that are ready to be slain see that thou hold back.
כִּי־תֹאמַר הֵן לֹא־יָדַעְנוּ זֶה הֲלֹא־תֹכֵן לִבּוֹת הוּא־יָבִין וְנֹצֵר נַפְשְׁךָ הוּא יֵדָע וְהֵשִׁיב לְאָדָם כְּפָעֳלוֹ׃	יב	12	If thou sayest, Behold, we knew not this; Doth not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? And he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? And shall not he render to every man according to his work?
אֱכָל־בְּנִי דְבַשׁ כִּי־טוֹב וְנֹפֶת מָתוֹק עַל־חִכֶּךָ׃	יג	13	My son, eat thou honey, for it is good; And the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to thy taste:
כֵּן דְּעֶה חָכְמָה לְנַפְשֶׁךָ אִם־מָצָאתָ וְיֵשׁ אַחֲרִית וְתִקְוָתְךָ לֹא תִכָּרֵת׃	יד	14	So shalt thou know wisdom to be unto thy soul; If thou hast found it, then shall there be a reward, And thy hope shall not be cut off.
פ אַל־תֶּאֱרֹב רָשָׁע לִנְוֵה צַדִּיק אַל־תְּשַׁדֵּד רִבְצוֹ׃	טו	15	Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous; Destroy not his resting-place:
כִּי שֶׁבַע יִפּוֹל צַדִּיק וָקָם וּרְשָׁעִים יִכָּשְׁלוּ בְרָעָה׃	טז	16	For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again; But the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
בִּנְפֹל אוֹיְבֶיךָ אַל־תִּשְׂמָח וּבִכָּשְׁלוֹ אַל־יָגֵל לִבֶּךָ׃	יז	17	Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, And let not thy heart be glad when he is overthrown;
פֶּן־יִרְאֶה יְהוָה וְרַע בְּעֵינָיו וְהֵשִׁיב מֵעָלָיו אַפּוֹ׃	יח	18	Lest YHVH see it, and it displease him, And he turn away his wrath from him.
אַל־תִּתְחַר בַּמְּרֵעִים אַל־תְּקַנֵּא בָּרְשָׁעִים׃	יט	19	Fret not thyself because of evil-doers; Neither be thou envious at the wicked:
כִּי לֹא־תִהְיֶה אַחֲרִית לָרָע נֵר רְשָׁעִים יִדְעָךְ׃	כ	20	For there shall be no reward to the evil man; The lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
יְרָא־אֶת־יְהוָה בְּנִי וָמֶלֶךְ עִם־שׁוֹנִים אַל־תִּתְעָרָב׃	כא	21	My son, fear thou YHVH and the king;
כִּי־פִתְאֹם יָקוּם אֵידָם וּפִיד שְׁנֵיהֶם מִי יוֹדֵעַ׃ ס	כב	22	For their calamity shall rise suddenly; And the destruction from them both, who knoweth it?
גַּם־אֵלֶּה לַחֲכָמִים הַכֵּר־פָּנִים בְּמִשְׁפָּט בַּל־טוֹב׃	כג	23	These also are sayings of the wise.
אֹמֵר לְרָשָׁע צַדִּיק אָתָּה יִקְּבֻהוּ עַמִּים יִזְעָמוּהוּ לְאֻמִּים׃	כד	24	He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; Peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him:
וְלַמּוֹכִיחִים יִנְעָם וַעֲלֵיהֶם תָּבוֹא בִרְכַּת־טוֹב׃	כה	25	But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, And a good blessing shall come upon them.
שְׂפָתַיִם יִשָּׁק מֵשִׁיב דְּבָרִים נְכֹחִים׃	כו	26	He kisseth the lips Who giveth a right answer.
הָכֵן בַּחוּץ מְלַאכְתֶּךָ וְעַתְּדָהּ בַּשָּׂדֶה לָךְ אַחַר וּבָנִיתָ בֵיתֶךָ׃ פ	כז	27	Prepare thy work without, And make it ready for thee in the field; And afterwards build thy house.
אַל־תְּהִי עֵד־חִנָּם בְּרֵעֶךָ וַהֲפִתִּיתָ בִּשְׂפָתֶיךָ׃	כח	28	Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause; And deceive not with thy lips.
אַל־תֹּאמַר כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה־לִי כֵּן אֶעֱשֶׂה־לּוֹ אָשִׁיב לָאִישׁ כְּפָעֳלוֹ׃	כט	29	Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.
עַל־שְׂדֵה אִישׁ־עָצֵל עָבַרְתִּי וְעַל־כֶּרֶם אָדָם חֲסַר־לֵב׃	ל	30	I went by the field of the sluggard, And by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
וְהִנֵּה עָלָה כֻלּוֹ קִמְּשֹׂנִים כָּסּוּ פָנָיו חֲרֻלִּים וְגֶדֶר אֲבָנָיו נֶהֱרָסָה׃	לא	31	And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, The face thereof was covered with nettles, And the stone wall thereof was broken down.
וָאֶחֱזֶה אָנֹכִי אָשִׁית לִבִּי רָאִיתִי לָקַחְתִּי מוּסָר׃	לב	32	Then I beheld, and considered well; I saw, and received instruction:
מְעַט שֵׁנוֹת מְעַט תְּנוּמוֹת מְעַט חִבֻּק יָדַיִם לִשְׁכָּב׃	לג	33	Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep;
וּבָא־מִתְהַלֵּךְ רֵישֶׁךָ וּמַחְסֹרֶיךָ כְּאִישׁ מָגֵן׃ פ	לד	34	So shall thy poverty come as a robber, And thy want as an armed man.

Chapter 25

גַּם־אֵלֶּה מִשְׁלֵי שְׁלֹמֹה אֲשֶׁר הֶעְתִּיקוּ אַנְשֵׁי חִזְקִיָּה מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה׃	א	1	These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
כְּבֹד אֱלֹהִים הַסְתֵּר דָּבָר וּכְבֹד מְלָכִים חֲקֹר דָּבָר׃	ב	2	It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
שָׁמַיִם לָרוּם וָאָרֶץ לָעֹמֶק וְלֵב מְלָכִים אֵין חֵקֶר׃	ג	3	As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.
הָגוֹ סִיגִים מִכָּסֶף וַיֵּצֵא לַצֹּרֵף כֶּלִי׃	ד	4	Take away the dross from the silver, And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:
הָגוֹ רָשָׁע לִפְנֵי־מֶלֶךְ וְיִכּוֹן בַּצֶּדֶק כִּסְאוֹ׃	ה	5	Take away the wicked from before the king, And his throne shall be established in righteousness.
אַל־תִּתְהַדַּר לִפְנֵי־מֶלֶךְ וּבִמְקוֹם גְּדֹלִים אַל־תַּעֲמֹד׃	ו	6	Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, And stand not in the place of great men:
כִּי טוֹב אֲמָר־לְךָ עֲלֵה הֵנָּה מֵהַשְׁפִּילְךָ לִפְנֵי נָדִיב אֲשֶׁר רָאוּ עֵינֶיךָ׃	ז	7	For better is it that it be said unto thee, Come up hither, Than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom thine eyes have seen.
אַל־תֵּצֵא לָרִב מַהֵר פֶּן מַה־תַּעֲשֶׂה בְּאַחֲרִיתָהּ בְּהַכְלִים אֹתְךָ רֵעֶךָ׃	ח	8	Go not forth hastily to strive, Lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, When thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.
רִיבְךָ רִיב אֶת־רֵעֶךָ וְסוֹד אַחֵר אַל־תְּגָל׃	ט	9	Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself, And disclose not the secret of another;
פֶּן־יְחַסֶּדְךָ שֹׁמֵעַ וְדִבָּתְךָ לֹא תָשׁוּב ׃	י	10	Lest he that heareth it revile thee, And thine infamy turn not away.
תַּפּוּחֵי זָהָב בְּמַשְׂכִּיּוֹת כָּסֶף דָּבָר דָּבֻר עַל־אָפְנָיו׃	יא	11	A word fitly spoken Is like apples of gold in network of silver.
נֶזֶם זָהָב וַחֲלִי־כָתֶם מוֹכִיחַ חָכָם עַל־אֹזֶן שֹׁמָעַת׃	יב	12	As an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold,
כְּצִנַּת־שֶׁלֶג בְּיוֹם קָצִיר צִיר נֶאֱמָן לְשֹׁלְחָיו וְנֶפֶשׁ אֲדֹנָיו יָשִׁיב׃ פ	יג	13	As the cold of snow in the time of harvest,
נְשִׂיאִים וְרוּחַ וְגֶשֶׁם אָיִן אִישׁ מִתְהַלֵּל בְּמַתַּת־שָׁקֶר׃	יד	14	As clouds and wind without rain,
בְּאֹרֶךְ אַפַּיִם יְפֻתֶּה קָצִין וְלָשׁוֹן רַכָּה תִּשְׁבָּר־גָּרֶם׃	טו	15	By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
דְּבַשׁ מָצָאתָ אֱכֹל דַּיֶּךָּ פֶּן־תִּשְׂבָּעֶנּוּ וַהֲקֵאתוֹ׃	טז	16	Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
הֹקַר רַגְלְךָ מִבֵּית רֵעֶךָ פֶּן־יִשְׂבָּעֲךָ וּשְׂנֵאֶךָ׃	יז	17	Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor’s house, Lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
מֵפִיץ וְחֶרֶב וְחֵץ שָׁנוּן אִישׁ עֹנֶה בְרֵעֵהוּ עֵד שָׁקֶר׃	יח	18	A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
שֵׁן רֹעָה וְרֶגֶל מוּעָדֶת מִבְטָח בּוֹגֵד בְּיוֹם צָרָה׃	יט	19	Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
מַעֲדֶה בֶּגֶד בְּיוֹם קָרָה חֹמֶץ עַל־נָתֶר וְשָׁר בַּשִּׁרִים עַל לֶב־רָע׃ פ	כ	20	As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon soda, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.
אִם־רָעֵב שֹׂנַאֲךָ הַאֲכִלֵהוּ לָחֶם וְאִם־צָמֵא הַשְׁקֵהוּ מָיִם׃	כא	21	If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
כִּי גֶחָלִים אַתָּה חֹתֶה עַל־רֹאשׁוֹ וַיהוָה יְשַׁלֶּם־לָךְ׃	כב	22	For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And YHVH will reward thee.
רוּחַ צָפוֹן תְּחוֹלֵל גָּשֶׁם וּפָנִים נִזְעָמִים לְשׁוֹן סָתֶר׃	כג	23	The north wind bringeth forth rain: So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
טוֹב שֶׁבֶת עַל־פִּנַּת־גָּג מֵאֵשֶׁת מִדוֹנִים וּבֵית חָבֶר׃	כד	24	It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
מַיִם קָרִים עַל־נֶפֶשׁ עֲיֵפָה וּשְׁמוּעָה טוֹבָה מֵאֶרֶץ מֶרְחָק׃	כה	25	As cold waters to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country.
מַעְיָן נִרְפָּשׂ וּמָקוֹר מָשְׁחָת צַדִּיק מָט לִפְנֵי־רָשָׁע׃	כו	26	As a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring,
אָכֹל דְּבַשׁ הַרְבּוֹת לֹא־טוֹב וְחֵקֶר כְּבֹדָם כָּבוֹד׃	כז	27	It is not good to eat much honey: So for men to search out their own glory is grievous.
עִיר פְּרוּצָה אֵין חוֹמָה אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר אֵין מַעְצָר לְרוּחוֹ׃	כח	28	He whose spirit is without restraint Is like a city that is broken down and without walls.

Chapter 26

כַּשֶּׁלֶג בַּקַּיִץ וְכַמָּטָר בַּקָּצִיר כֵּן לֹא־נָאוֶה לִכְסִיל כָּבוֹד׃	א	1	As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor is not seemly for a fool.
כַּצִּפּוֹר לָנוּד כַּדְּרוֹר לָעוּף כֵּן קִלְלַת חִנָּם לֹא תָבֹא׃	ב	2	As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the curse that is causeless alighteth not.
שׁוֹט לַסּוּס מֶתֶג לַחֲמוֹר וְשֵׁבֶט לְגֵו כְּסִילִים׃	ג	3	A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
אַל־תַּעַן כְּסִיל כְּאִוַּלְתּוֹ פֶּן־תִּשְׁוֶה־לּוֹ גַם־אָתָּה׃	ד	4	Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him.
עֲנֵה כְסִיל כְּאִוַּלְתּוֹ פֶּן־יִהְיֶה חָכָם בְּעֵינָיו׃	ה	5	Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own conceit.
מְקַצֶּה רַגְלַיִם חָמָס שֹׁתֶה שֹׁלֵחַ דְּבָרִים בְּיַד־כְּסִיל׃	ו	6	He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool Cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh in damage.
דַּלְיוּ שֹׁקַיִם מִפִּסֵּחַ וּמָשָׁל בְּפִי כְסִילִים׃	ז	7	The legs of the lame hang loose: So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
כִּצְרוֹר אֶבֶן בְּמַרְגֵּמָה כֵּן־נוֹתֵן לִכְסִיל כָּבוֹד׃	ח	8	As one that bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth honor to a fool.
חוֹחַ עָלָה בְיַד־שִׁכּוֹר וּמָשָׁל בְּפִי כְסִילִים׃	ט	9	As a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
רַב מְחוֹלֵל־כֹּל וְשֹׂכֵר כְּסִיל וְשֹׂכֵר עֹבְרִים׃	י	10	As an archer that woundeth all, So is he that hireth a fool and he that hireth them that pass by.
כְּכֶלֶב שָׁב עַל־קֵאוֹ כְּסִיל שׁוֹנֶה בְאִוַּלְתּוֹ׃	יא	11	As a dog that returneth to his vomit,
רָאִיתָ אִישׁ חָכָם בְּעֵינָיו תִּקְוָה לִכְסִיל מִמֶּנּוּ׃	יב	12	Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
אָמַר עָצֵל שַׁחַל בַּדָּרֶךְ אֲרִי בֵּין הָרְחֹבוֹת׃	יג	13	The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the streets.
הַדֶּלֶת תִּסּוֹב עַל־צִירָהּ וְעָצֵל עַל־מִטָּתוֹ ׃	יד	14	As the door turneth upon its hinges, So doth the sluggard upon his bed.
טָמַן עָצֵל יָדוֹ בַּצַּלָּחַת נִלְאָה לַהֲשִׁיבָהּ אֶל־פִּיו׃	טו	15	The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
חָכָם עָצֵל בְּעֵינָיו מִשִּׁבְעָה מְשִׁיבֵי טָעַם ׃	טז	16	The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit Than seven men that can render a reason.
מַחֲזִיק בְּאָזְנֵי־כָלֶב עֹבֵר מִתְעַבֵּר עַל־רִיב לֹּא־לוֹ׃	יז	17	He that passeth by, and vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
כְּמִתְלַהְלֵהַּ הַיֹּרֶה זִקִּים חִצִּים וָמָוֶת ׃	יח	18	As a madman who casteth firebrands, Arrows, and death,
כֵּן־אִישׁ רִמָּה אֶת־רֵעֵהוּ וְאָמַר הֲלֹא־מְשַׂחֵק אָנִי׃	יט	19	So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, Am not I in sport?
בְּאֶפֶס עֵצִים תִּכְבֶּה־אֵשׁ וּבְאֵין נִרְגָּן יִשְׁתֹּק מָדוֹן׃	כ	20	For lack of wood the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
פֶּחָם לְגֶחָלִים וְעֵצִים לְאֵשׁ וְאִישׁ מִדוֹנִים לְחַרְחַר־רִיב׃ פ	כא	21	As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to inflame strife.
דִּבְרֵי נִרְגָּן כְּמִתְלַהֲמִים וְהֵם יָרְדוּ חַדְרֵי־בָטֶן׃	כב	22	The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.
כֶּסֶף סִיגִים מְצֻפֶּה עַל־חָרֶשׂ שְׂפָתַיִם דֹּלְקִים וְלֶב־רָע׃	כג	23	Fervent lips and a wicked heart Are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
בִּשְׂפָתוֹ יִנָּכֵר שׂוֹנֵא וּבְקִרְבּוֹ יָשִׁית מִרְמָה׃	כד	24	He that hateth dissembleth with his lips; But he layeth up deceit within him:
כִּי־יְחַנֵּן קוֹלוֹ אַל־תַּאֲמֶן־בּוֹ כִּי שֶׁבַע תּוֹעֵבוֹת בְּלִבּוֹ׃	כה	25	When he speaketh fair, believe him not; For there are seven abominations in his heart:
תִּכַּסֶּה שִׂנְאָה בְּמַשָּׁאוֹן תִּגָּלֶה רָעָתוֹ בְקָהָל׃	כו	26	Though his hatred cover itself with guile, His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly.
כֹּרֶה־שַּׁחַת בָּהּ יִפֹּל וְגֹלֵל אֶבֶן אֵלָיו תָּשׁוּב׃	כז	27	Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
לְשׁוֹן־שֶׁקֶר יִשְׂנָא דַכָּיו וּפֶה חָלָק יַעֲשֶׂה מִדְחֶה׃	כח	28	A lying tongue hateth those whom it hath wounded; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

Chapter 27

אַל־תִּתְהַלֵּל בְּיוֹם מָחָר כִּי לֹא־תֵדַע מַה־יֵּלֶד יוֹם׃	א	1	Boast not thyself of tomorrow; For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
יְהַלֶּלְךָ זָר וְלֹא־פִיךָ נָכְרִי וְאַל־שְׂפָתֶיךָ׃	ב	2	Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; A stranger, and not thine own lips.
כֹּבֶד־אֶבֶן וְנֵטֶל הַחוֹל וְכַעַס אֱוִיל כָּבֵד מִשְּׁנֵיהֶם׃	ג	3	A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; But a fool’s vexation is heavier than they both.
אַכְזְרִיּוּת חֵמָה וְשֶׁטֶף אָף וּמִי יַעֲמֹד לִפְנֵי קִנְאָה׃	ד	4	Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; But who is able to stand before jealousy?
טוֹבָה תּוֹכַחַת מְגֻלָּה מֵאַהֲבָה מְסֻתָּרֶת׃	ה	5	Better is open rebuke Than love that is hidden.
נֶאֱמָנִים פִּצְעֵי אוֹהֵב וְנַעְתָּרוֹת נְשִׁיקוֹת שׂוֹנֵא׃	ו	6	Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
נֶפֶשׁ שְׂבֵעָה תָּבוּס נֹפֶת וְנֶפֶשׁ רְעֵבָה כָּל־מַר מָתוֹק׃	ז	7	The full soul loatheth a honeycomb; But to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
כְּצִפּוֹר נוֹדֶדֶת מִן־קִנָּהּ כֵּן־אִישׁ נוֹדֵד מִמְּקוֹמוֹ׃	ח	8	As a bird that wandereth from her nest, So is a man that wandereth from his place.
שֶׁמֶן וּקְטֹרֶת יְשַׂמַּח־לֵב וּמֶתֶק רֵעֵהוּ מֵעֲצַת־נָפֶשׁ׃	ט	9	Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; So doth the sweetness of a man’s friend that cometh of hearty counsel.
רֵעֲךָ וְרֵעֶה אָבִיךָ אַל־תַּעֲזֹב וּבֵית אָחִיךָ אַל־תָּבוֹא בְּיוֹם אֵידֶךָ טוֹב שָׁכֵן קָרוֹב מֵאָח רָחוֹק׃	י	10	Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; And go not to thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: Better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off.
חֲכַם בְּנִי וְשַׂמַּח לִבִּי וְאָשִׁיבָה חֹרְפִי דָבָר׃	יא	11	My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him that reproacheth me.
עָרוּם רָאָה רָעָה נִסְתָּר פְּתָאיִם עָבְרוּ נֶעֱנָשׁוּ׃	יב	12	A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself;
קַח־בִּגְדוֹ כִּי־עָרַב זָר וּבְעַד נָכְרִיָּה חַבְלֵהוּ׃	יג	13	Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge that is surety for a foreign woman.
מְבָרֵךְ רֵעֵהוּ בְּקוֹל גָּדוֹל בַּבֹּקֶר הַשְׁכֵּים קְלָלָה תֵּחָשֶׁב לוֹ׃	יד	14	He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It shall be counted a curse to him.
דֶּלֶף טוֹרֵד בְּיוֹם סַגְרִיר וְאֵשֶׁת מִדוֹנִים נִשְׁתָּוָה׃	טו	15	A continual dropping in a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike:
צֹפְנֶיהָ צָפַן־רוּחַ וְשֶׁמֶן יְמִינוֹ יִקְרָא׃	טז	16	He that would restrain her restraineth the wind; And his right hand encountereth oil.
בַּרְזֶל בְּבַרְזֶל יָחַד וְאִישׁ יַחַד פְּנֵי־רֵעֵהוּ׃	יז	17	Iron sharpeneth iron; So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
נֹצֵר תְּאֵנָה יֹאכַל פִּרְיָהּ וְשֹׁמֵר אֲדֹנָיו יְכֻבָּד׃	יח	18	Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; And he that regardeth his master shall be honored.
כַּמַּיִם הַפָּנִים לַפָּנִים כֵּן לֵב־הָאָדָם לָאָדָם׃	יט	19	As in water face answereth to face, So the heart of man to man.
שְׁאוֹל וַאֲבַדֹּה לֹא תִשְׂבַּעְנָה וְעֵינֵי הָאָדָם לֹא תִשְׂבַּעְנָה׃	כ	20	Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; And the eyes of man are never satisfied.
מַצְרֵף לַכֶּסֶף וְכוּר לַזָּהָב וְאִישׁ לְפִי מַהֲלָלוֹ׃	כא	21	The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; And a man is tried by his praise.
אִם תִּכְתּוֹשׁ־אֶת־הָאֱוִיל בַּמַּכְתֵּשׁ בְּתוֹךְ הָרִיפוֹת בַּעֱלִי לֹא־תָסוּר מֵעָלָיו אִוַּלְתּוֹ׃ פ	כב	22	Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with bruised grain, Yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
יָדֹעַ תֵּדַע פְּנֵי צֹאנֶךָ שִׁית לִבְּךָ לַעֲדָרִים׃	כג	23	Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks,
כִּי לֹא לְעוֹלָם חֹסֶן וְאִם־נֵזֶר לְדוֹר דוֹר׃	כד	24	For riches are not for ever: And doth the crown endure unto all generations?
גָּלָה חָצִיר וְנִרְאָה־דֶשֶׁא וְנֶאֶסְפוּ עִשְּׂבוֹת הָרִים׃	כה	25	The hay is carried, and the tender grass showeth itself, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in.
כְּבָשִׂים לִלְבוּשֶׁךָ וּמְחִיר שָׂדֶה עַתּוּדִים ׃	כו	26	The lambs are for thy clothing, And the goats are the price of the field;
וְדֵי חֲלֵב עִזִּים לְלַחְמְךָ לְלֶחֶם בֵּיתֶךָ וְחַיִּים לְנַעֲרוֹתֶיךָ׃	כז	27	And there will be goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, And maintenance for thy maidens.

Chapter 28

נָסוּ וְאֵין־רֹדֵף רָשָׁע וְצַדִּיקִים כִּכְפִיר יִבְטָח׃	א	1	The wicked flee when no man pursueth; But the righteous are bold as a lion.
בְּפֶשַׁע אֶרֶץ רַבִּים שָׂרֶיהָ וּבְאָדָם מֵבִין יֹדֵעַ כֵּן יַאֲרִיךְ׃	ב	2	For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof; But by men of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
גֶּבֶר רָשׁ וְעֹשֵׁק דַּלִּים מָטָר סֹחֵף וְאֵין לָחֶם׃	ג	3	A needy man that oppresseth the poor Is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
עֹזְבֵי תוֹרָה יְהַלְלוּ רָשָׁע וְשֹׁמְרֵי תוֹרָה יִתְגָּרוּ בָם׃ פ	ד	4	They that forsake the law praise the wicked; But such as keep the law contend with them.
אַנְשֵׁי־רָע לֹא־יָבִינוּ מִשְׁפָּט וּמְבַקְשֵׁי יְהוָה יָבִינוּ כֹל׃	ה	5	Evil men understand not justice; But they that seek YHVH understand all things.
טוֹב־רָשׁ הוֹלֵךְ בְּתֻמּוֹ מֵעִקֵּשׁ דְּרָכַיִם וְהוּא עָשִׁיר׃	ו	6	Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, Than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
נוֹצֵר תּוֹרָה בֵּן מֵבִין וְרֹעֶה זוֹלְלִים יַכְלִים אָבִיו׃	ז	7	Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son; But he that is a companion of gluttons shameth his father.
מַרְבֶּה הוֹנוֹ בְּנֶשֶׁךְ וּבְתַרְבִּית לְחוֹנֵן דַּלִּים יִקְבְּצֶנּוּ׃	ח	8	He that augmenteth his substance by interest and increase, Gathereth it for him that hath pity on the poor.
מֵסִיר אָזְנוֹ מִשְּׁמֹעַ תּוֹרָה גַּם־תְּפִלָּתוֹ תּוֹעֵבָה׃	ט	9	He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.
מַשְׁגֶּה יְשָׁרִים בְּדֶרֶךְ רָע בִּשְׁחוּתוֹ הוּא־יִפּוֹל וּתְמִימִים יִנְחֲלוּ־טוֹב׃	י	10	Whoso causeth the upright to go astray in an evil way, He shall fall himself into his own pit; But the perfect shall inherit good.
חָכָם בְּעֵינָיו אִישׁ עָשִׁיר וְדַל מֵבִין יַחְקְרֶנּוּ׃	יא	11	The rich man is wise in his own conceit; But the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
בַּעֲלֹץ צַדִּיקִים רַבָּה תִפְאָרֶת וּבְקוּם רְשָׁעִים יְחֻפַּשׂ אָדָם׃	יב	12	When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
מְכַסֶּה פְשָׁעָיו לֹא יַצְלִיחַ וּמוֹדֶה וְעֹזֵב יְרֻחָם׃	יג	13	He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper: But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy.
אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם מְפַחֵד תָּמִיד וּמַקְשֶׁה לִבּוֹ יִפּוֹל בְּרָעָה׃	יד	14	Happy is the man that feareth alway; But he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
אֲרִי־נֹהֵם וְדֹב שׁוֹקֵק מֹשֵׁל רָשָׁע עַל עַם־דָּל׃	טו	15	As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear,
נָגִיד חֲסַר תְּבוּנוֹת וְרַב מַעֲשַׁקּוֹת שֹׂנְאֵי בֶצַע יַאֲרִיךְ יָמִים׃ פ	טז	16	The prince that lacketh understanding is also a great oppressor;
אָדָם עָשֻׁק בְּדַם־נָפֶשׁ עַד־בּוֹר יָנוּס אַל־יִתְמְכוּ־בוֹ׃	יז	17	A man that is laden with the blood of any person Shall flee unto the pit; let no man stay him.
הוֹלֵךְ תָּמִים יִוָּשֵׁעַ וְנֶעְקַשׁ דְּרָכַיִם יִפּוֹל בְּאֶחָת׃	יח	18	Whoso walketh uprightly shall be delivered; But he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.
עֹבֵד אַדְמָתוֹ יִשְׂבַּע־לָחֶם וּמְרַדֵּף רֵקִים יִשְׂבַּע־רִישׁ׃	יט	19	He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread; But he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.
אִישׁ אֱמוּנוֹת רַב־בְּרָכוֹת וְאָץ לְהַעֲשִׁיר לֹא יִנָּקֶה׃	כ	20	A faithful man shall abound with blessings; But he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be unpunished.
הַכֵּר־פָּנִים לֹא־טוֹב וְעַל־פַּת־לֶחֶם יִפְשַׁע־גָּבֶר׃	כא	21	To have respect of persons is not good; Neither that a man should transgress for a piece of bread.
נִבֳהָל לַהוֹן אִישׁ רַע עָיִן וְלֹא־יֵדַע כִּי־חֶסֶר יְבֹאֶנּוּ׃	כב	22	he that hath an evil eye hasteth after riches, And knoweth not that want shall come upon him.
מוֹכִיחַ אָדָם אַחֲרַי חֵן יִמְצָא מִמַּחֲלִיק לָשׁוֹן׃	כג	23	He that rebuketh a man shall afterward find more favor Than he that flattereth with the tongue.
גּוֹזֵל אָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ וְאֹמֵר אֵין־פָּשַׁע חָבֵר הוּא לְאִישׁ מַשְׁחִית׃	כד	24	Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression, The same is the companion of a destroyer.
רְחַב־נֶפֶשׁ יְגָרֶה מָדוֹן וּבוֹטֵחַ עַל־יְהוָה יְדֻשָּׁן׃	כה	25	He that is of a greedy spirit stirreth up strife; But he that putteth his trust in YHVH shall be made fat.
בּוֹטֵחַ בְּלִבּוֹ הוּא כְסִיל וְהוֹלֵךְ בְּחָכְמָה הוּא יִמָּלֵט׃	כו	26	He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool; But whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
נוֹתֵן לָרָשׁ אֵין מַחְסוֹר וּמַעְלִים עֵינָיו רַב־מְאֵרוֹת׃	כז	27	He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack; But he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
בְּקוּם רְשָׁעִים יִסָּתֵר אָדָם וּבְאָבְדָם יִרְבּוּ צַדִּיקִים׃	כח	28	When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.

Chapter 29

אִישׁ תּוֹכָחוֹת מַקְשֶׁה־עֹרֶף פֶּתַע יִשָּׁבֵר וְאֵין מַרְפֵּא׃	א	1	He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck Shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
בִּרְבוֹת צַדִּיקִים יִשְׂמַח הָעָם וּבִמְשֹׁל רָשָׁע יֵאָנַח עָם׃	ב	2	When the righteous are increased, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man beareth rule, the people sigh.
אִישׁ־אֹהֵב חָכְמָה יְשַׂמַּח אָבִיו וְרֹעֶה זוֹנוֹת יְאַבֶּד־הוֹן׃	ג	3	Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father; But he that keepeth company with harlots wasteth his substance.
מֶלֶךְ בְּמִשְׁפָּט יַעֲמִיד אָרֶץ וְאִישׁ תְּרוּמוֹת יֶהֶרְסֶנָּה׃	ד	4	The king by justice establisheth the land; But he that exacteth gifts overthroweth it.
גֶּבֶר מַחֲלִיק עַל־רֵעֵהוּ רֶשֶׁת פּוֹרֵשׂ עַל־פְּעָמָיו׃	ה	5	A man that flattereth his neighbor Spreadeth a net for his steps.
בְּפֶשַׁע אִישׁ רָע מוֹקֵשׁ וְצַדִּיק יָרוּן וְשָׂמֵחַ׃	ו	6	In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare; But the righteous doth sing and rejoice.
יֹדֵעַ צַדִּיק דִּין דַּלִּים רָשָׁע לֹא־יָבִין דָּעַת׃	ז	7	The righteous taketh knowledge of the cause of the poor; The wicked hath not understanding to know it.
אַנְשֵׁי לָצוֹן יָפִיחוּ קִרְיָה וַחֲכָמִים יָשִׁיבוּ אָף׃	ח	8	Scoffers set a city in a flame; But wise men turn away wrath.
אִישׁ־חָכָם נִשְׁפָּט אֶת־אִישׁ אֱוִיל וְרָגַז וְשָׂחַק וְאֵין נָחַת׃	ט	9	If a wise man hath a controversy with a foolish man, Whether he be angry or laugh, there will be no rest.
אַנְשֵׁי דָמִים יִשְׂנְאוּ־תָם וִישָׁרִים יְבַקְשׁוּ נַפְשׁוֹ׃	י	10	The bloodthirsty hate him that is perfect; And as for the upright, they seek his life.
כָּל־רוּחוֹ יוֹצִיא כְסִיל וְחָכָם בְּאָחוֹר יְשַׁבְּחֶנָּה׃	יא	11	A fool uttereth all his anger; But a wise man keepeth it back and stilleth it.
מֹשֵׁל מַקְשִׁיב עַל־דְּבַר־שָׁקֶר כָּל־מְשָׁרְתָיו רְשָׁעִים׃	יב	12	If a ruler hearkeneth to falsehood, All his servants are wicked.
רָשׁ וְאִישׁ תְּכָכִים נִפְגָּשׁוּ מֵאִיר־עֵינֵי שְׁנֵיהֶם יְהוָה׃	יג	13	The poor man and the oppressor meet together; YHVH lighteneth the eyes of them both.
מֶלֶךְ שׁוֹפֵט בֶּאֱמֶת דַּלִּים כִּסְאוֹ לָעַד יִכּוֹן׃	יד	14	The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, His throne shall be established for ever.
שֵׁבֶט וְתוֹכַחַת יִתֵּן חָכְמָה וְנַעַר מְשֻׁלָּח מֵבִישׁ אִמּוֹ׃	טו	15	The rod and reproof give wisdom; But a child left to himself causeth shame to his mother.
בִּרְבוֹת רְשָׁעִים יִרְבֶּה־פָּשַׁע וְצַדִּיקִים בְּמַפַּלְתָּם יִרְאוּ׃	טז	16	When the wicked are increased, transgression increaseth; But the righteous shall look upon their fall.
יַסֵּר בִּנְךָ וִינִיחֶךָ וְיִתֵּן מַעֲדַנִּים לְנַפְשֶׁךָ׃ פ	יז	17	Correct thy son, and he will give thee rest; Yea, he will give delight unto thy soul.
בְּאֵין חָזוֹן יִפָּרַע עָם וְשֹׁמֵר תּוֹרָה אַשְׁרֵהוּ׃	יח	18	Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
בִּדְבָרִים לֹא־יִוָּסֶר עָבֶד כִּי־יָבִין וְאֵין מַעֲנֶה׃	יט	19	A servant will not be corrected by words; For though he understand, he will not give heed.
חָזִיתָ אִישׁ אָץ בִּדְבָרָיו תִּקְוָה לִכְסִיל מִמֶּנּוּ׃	כ	20	Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
מְפַנֵּק מִנֹּעַר עַבְדּוֹ וְאַחֲרִיתוֹ יִהְיֶה מָנוֹן׃	כא	21	He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child Shall have him become a son at the last.
אִישׁ־אַף יְגָרֶה מָדוֹן וּבַעַל חֵמָה רַב־פָּשַׁע ׃	כב	22	An angry man stirreth up strife, And a wrathful man aboundeth in transgression.
גַּאֲוַת אָדָם תַּשְׁפִּילֶנּוּ וּשְׁפַל־רוּחַ יִתְמֹךְ כָּבוֹד׃	כג	23	A man’s pride shall bring him low; But he that is of a lowly spirit shall obtain honor.
חוֹלֵק עִם־גַּנָּב שׂוֹנֵא נַפְשׁוֹ אָלָה יִשְׁמַע וְלֹא יַגִּיד׃	כד	24	Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul; He heareth the adjuration and uttereth nothing.
חֶרְדַּת אָדָם יִתֵּן מוֹקֵשׁ וּבוֹטֵחַ בַּיהוָה יְשֻׂגָּב׃	כה	25	The fear of man bringeth a snare; But whoso putteth his trust in YHVH shall be safe.
רַבִּים מְבַקְשִׁים פְּנֵי־מוֹשֵׁל וּמֵיְהוָה מִשְׁפַּט־אִישׁ׃	כו	26	Many seek the ruler’s favor; But a man’s judgment cometh from YHVH.
תּוֹעֲבַת צַדִּיקִים אִישׁ עָוֶל וְתוֹעֲבַת רָשָׁע יְשַׁר־דָּרֶךְ׃ פ	כז	27	An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous; And he that is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.

Chapter 30

דִּבְרֵי אָגוּר בִּן־יָקֶה הַמַּשָּׂא נְאֻם הַגֶּבֶר לְאִיתִיאֵל לְאִיתִיאֵל וְאֻכָל׃	א	1	The words of Agur the son of Jakeh; The oracle.
כִּי בַעַר אָנֹכִי מֵאִישׁ וְלֹא־בִינַת אָדָם לִי ׃	ב	2	Surely I am more brutish than any man, And have not the understanding of a man;
וְלֹא־לָמַדְתִּי חָכְמָה וְדַעַת קְדֹשִׁים אֵדָע ׃	ג	3	And I have not learned wisdom, Neither have I the knowledge of the Holy One.
מִי עָלָה־שָׁמַיִם וַיֵּרַד מִי אָסַף־רוּחַ בְּחָפְנָיו מִי צָרַר־מַיִם בַּשִּׂמְלָה מִי הֵקִים כָּל־אַפְסֵי־אָרֶץ מַה־שְּׁמוֹ וּמַה־שֶּׁם־בְּנוֹ כִּי תֵדָע׃	ד	4	Who hath ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in his garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou knowest?
כָּל־אִמְרַת אֱלוֹהַּ צְרוּפָה מָגֵן הוּא לַחֹסִים בּוֹ׃	ה	5	Every word of God is tried: He is a shield unto them that take refuge in him.
אַל־תּוֹסְףְּ עַל־דְּבָרָיו פֶּן־יוֹכִיחַ בְּךָ וְנִכְזָבְתָּ׃ פ	ו	6	Add thou not unto his words, Lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
שְׁתַּיִם שָׁאַלְתִּי מֵאִתָּךְ אַל־תִּמְנַע מִמֶּנִּי בְּטֶרֶם אָמוּת׃	ז	7	Two things have I asked of thee; Deny me them not before I die:
שָׁוְא וּדְבַר־כָּזָב הַרְחֵק מִמֶּנִּי רֵאשׁ וָעֹשֶׁר אַל־תִּתֶּן־לִי הַטְרִיפֵנִי לֶחֶם חֻקִּי׃	ח	8	Remove far from me falsehood and lies; Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is needful for me:
פֶּן אֶשְׂבַּע וְכִחַשְׁתִּי וְאָמַרְתִּי מִי יְהוָה וּפֶן־אִוָּרֵשׁ וְגָנַבְתִּי וְתָפַשְׂתִּי שֵׁם אֱלֹהָי׃ פ	ט	9	Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is YHVH? Or lest I be poor, and steal, And use profanely the name of my God.
אַל־תַּלְשֵׁן עֶבֶד אֶל־אֲדֹנוֹ פֶּן־יְקַלֶּלְךָ וְאָשָׁמְתָּ׃	י	10	Slander not a servant unto his master, Lest he curse thee, and thou be held guilty.
דּוֹר אָבִיו יְקַלֵּל וְאֶת־אִמּוֹ לֹא יְבָרֵךְ׃	יא	11	There is a generation that curse their father, And bless not their mother.
דּוֹר טָהוֹר בְּעֵינָיו וּמִצֹּאָתוֹ לֹא רֻחָץ׃	יב	12	There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, And yet are not washed from their filthiness.
דּוֹר מָה־רָמוּ עֵינָיו וְעַפְעַפָּיו יִנָּשֵׂאוּ ׃	יג	13	There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up.
דּוֹר חֲרָבוֹת שִׁנָּיו וּמַאֲכָלוֹת מְתַלְּעֹתָיו לֶאֱכֹל עֲנִיִּים מֵאֶרֶץ וְאֶבְיוֹנִים מֵאָדָם׃ פ	יד	14	There is a generation whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
לַעֲלוּקָה שְׁתֵּי בָנוֹת הַב הַב שָׁלוֹשׁ הֵנָּה לֹא תִשְׂבַּעְנָה אַרְבַּע לֹא־אָמְרוּ הוֹן׃	טו	15	The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied,
שְׁאוֹל וְעֹצֶר רָחַם אֶרֶץ לֹא־שָׂבְעָה מַּיִם וְאֵשׁ לֹא־אָמְרָה הוֹן׃	טז	16	Sheol; and the barren womb; The earth that is not satisfied with water; And the fire that saith not, Enough.
עַיִן תִּלְעַג לְאָב וְתָבוּז לִיקֲּהַת־אֵם יִקְּרוּהָ עֹרְבֵי־נַחַל וְיֹאכְלוּהָ בְנֵי־נָשֶׁר׃ פ	יז	17	The eye that mocketh at his father, And despiseth to obey his mother, The ravens of the valley shall pick it out, And the young eagles shall eat it.
שְׁלֹשָׁה הֵמָּה נִפְלְאוּ מִמֶּנִּי וְאַרְבָּעָ לֹא יְדַעְתִּים׃	יח	18	There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Yea, four which I know not:
דֶּרֶךְ הַנֶּשֶׁר בַּשָּׁמַיִם דֶּרֶךְ נָחָשׁ עֲלֵי צוּר דֶּרֶךְ־אֳנִיָּה בְלֶב־יָם וְדֶרֶךְ גֶּבֶר בְּעַלְמָה׃	יט	19	The way of an eagle in the air; The way of a serpent upon a rock; The way of a ship in the midst of the sea; And the way of a man with a maiden.
כֵּן דֶּרֶךְ אִשָּׁה מְנָאָפֶת אָכְלָה וּמָחֲתָה פִיהָ וְאָמְרָה לֹא־פָעַלְתִּי אָוֶן׃ פ	כ	20	So is the way of an adulterous woman; She eateth, and wipeth her mouth, And saith, I have done no wickedness.
תַּחַת שָׁלוֹשׁ רָגְזָה אֶרֶץ וְתַחַת אַרְבַּע לֹא־תוּכַל שְׂאֵת׃	כא	21	For three things the earth doth tremble, And for four, which it cannot bear:
תַּחַת־עֶבֶד כִּי יִמְלוֹךְ וְנָבָל כִּי יִשְׂבַּע־לָחֶם׃	כב	22	For a servant when he is king; And a fool when he is filled with food;
תַּחַת שְׂנוּאָה כִּי תִבָּעֵל וְשִׁפְחָה כִּי־תִירַשׁ גְּבִרְתָּהּ׃ פ	כג	23	For an odious woman when she is married; And a handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
אַרְבָּעָה הֵם קְטַנֵּי־אָרֶץ וְהֵמָּה חֲכָמִים מְחֻכָּמִים׃	כד	24	There are four things which are little upon the earth, But they are exceeding wise:
הַנְּמָלִים עַם לֹא־עָז וַיָּכִינוּ בַקַּיִץ לַחְמָם׃	כה	25	The ants are a people not strong, Yet they provide their food in the summer;
שְׁפַנִּים עַם לֹא־עָצוּם וַיָּשִׂימוּ בַסֶּלַע בֵּיתָם׃	כו	26	The conies are but a feeble folk, Yet make they their houses in the rocks;
מֶלֶךְ אֵין לָאַרְבֶּה וַיֵּצֵא חֹצֵץ כֻּלּוֹ׃	כז	27	The locusts have no king, Yet go they forth all of them by bands;
שְׂמָמִית בְּיָדַיִם תְּתַפֵּשׂ וְהִיא בְּהֵיכְלֵי מֶלֶךְ׃ פ	כח	28	The lizard taketh hold with her hands, Yet is she in kings’ palaces.
שְׁלֹשָׁה הֵמָּה מֵיטִיבֵי צָעַד וְאַרְבָּעָה מֵיטִבֵי לָכֶת׃	כט	29	There are three things which are stately in their march, Yea, four which are stately in going:
לַיִשׁ גִּבּוֹר בַּבְּהֵמָה וְלֹא־יָשׁוּב מִפְּנֵי־כֹל׃	ל	30	The lion, which is mightiest among beasts, And turneth not away for any;
זַרְזִיר מָתְנַיִם אוֹ־תָיִשׁ וּמֶלֶךְ אַלְקוּם עִמּוֹ׃	לא	31	The greyhound; the he-goat also; And the king against whom there is no rising up.
אִם־נָבַלְתָּ בְהִתְנַשֵּׂא וְאִם־זַמּוֹתָ יָד לְפֶה׃	לב	32	If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, Or if thou hast thought evil,
כִּי מִיץ חָלָב יוֹצִיא חֶמְאָה וּמִיץ־אַף יוֹצִיא דָם וּמִיץ אַפַּיִם יוֹצִיא רִיב׃	לג	33	For the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, And the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood; So the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

Chapter 31

פ דִּבְרֵי לְמוּאֵל מֶלֶךְ מַשָּׂא אֲשֶׁר־יִסְּרַתּוּ אִמּוֹ׃	א	1	The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.
מַה־בְּרִי וּמַה־בַּר־בִּטְנִי וּמֶה בַּר־נְדָרָי ׃	ב	2	What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows?
אַל־תִּתֵּן לַנָּשִׁים חֵילֶךָ וּדְרָכֶיךָ לַמְחוֹת מְלָכִין׃	ג	3	Give not thy strength unto women, Nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
אַל לַמְלָכִים לְמוֹאֵל אַל לַמְלָכִים שְׁתוֹ־יָיִן וּלְרוֹזְנִים אוֹ שֵׁכָר׃	ד	4	It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; Nor for princes to say, Where is strong drink?
פֶּן־יִשְׁתֶּה וְיִשְׁכַּח מְחֻקָּק וִישַׁנֶּה דִּין כָּל־בְּנֵי־עֹנִי׃	ה	5	Lest they drink, and forget the law, And pervert the justice due to any that is afflicted.
תְּנוּ־שֵׁכָר לְאוֹבֵד וְיַיִן לְמָרֵי נָפֶשׁ׃	ו	6	Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, And wine unto the bitter in soul:
יִשְׁתֶּה וְיִשְׁכַּח רִישׁוֹ וַעֲמָלוֹ לֹא יִזְכָּר־עוֹד׃	ז	7	Let him drink, and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more.
פְּתַח־פִּיךָ לְאִלֵּם אֶל־דִּין כָּל־בְּנֵי חֲלוֹף׃	ח	8	Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are left desolate.
פְּתַח־פִּיךָ שְׁפָט־צֶדֶק וְדִין עָנִי וְאֶבְיוֹן׃ פ	ט	9	Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And minister justice to the poor and needy.
אֵשֶׁת־חַיִל מִי יִמְצָא וְרָחֹק מִפְּנִינִים מִכְרָהּ׃	י	10	A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies.
בָּטַח בָּהּ לֵב בַּעְלָהּ וְשָׁלָל לֹא יֶחְסָר׃	יא	11	The heart of her husband trusteth in her, And he shall have no lack of gain.
גְּמָלַתְהוּ טוֹב וְלֹא־רָע כֹּל יְמֵי חַיֶּיה׃	יב	12	She doeth him good and not evil All the days of her life.
דָּרְשָׁה צֶמֶר וּפִשְׁתִּים וַתַּעַשׂ בְּחֵפֶץ כַּפֶּיהָ׃	יג	13	She seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands.
הָיְתָה כָּאֳנִיּוֹת סוֹחֵר מִמֶּרְחָק תָּבִיא לַחְמָהּ׃	יד	14	She is like the merchant-ships; She bringeth her bread from afar.
וַתָּקָם בְּעוֹד לַיְלָה וַתִּתֵּן טֶרֶף לְבֵיתָהּ וְחֹק לְנַעֲרֹתֶיהָ׃	טו	15	She riseth also while it is yet night, And giveth food to her household, And their task to her maidens.
זָמְמָה שָׂדֶה וַתִּקָּחֵהוּ מִפְּרִי כַפֶּיהָ נְטַע כָּרֶם׃	טז	16	She considereth a field, and buyeth it; With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
חָגְרָה בְעוֹז מָתְנֶיהָ וַתְּאַמֵּץ זְרֹעוֹתֶיהָ ׃	יז	17	She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms.
טָעֲמָה כִּי־טוֹב סַחְרָהּ לֹא־יִכְבֶּה בַלַּיִל נֵרָהּ׃	יח	18	She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable: Her lamp goeth not out by night.
יָדֶיהָ שִׁלְּחָה בַכִּישׁוֹר וְכַפֶּיהָ תָּמְכוּ פָלֶךְ׃	יט	19	She layeth her hands to the distaff, And her hands hold the spindle.
כַּפָּהּ פָּרְשָׂה לֶעָנִי וְיָדֶיהָ שִׁלְּחָה לָאֶבְיוֹן׃	כ	20	She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; Yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
לֹא־תִירָא לְבֵיתָהּ מִשָּׁלֶג כִּי כָל־בֵּיתָהּ לָבֻשׁ שָׁנִים׃	כא	21	She is not afraid of the snow for her household; For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
מַרְבַדִּים עָשְׂתָה־לָּהּ שֵׁשׁ וְאַרְגָּמָן לְבוּשָׁהּ׃	כב	22	She maketh for herself carpets of tapestry; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
נוֹדָע בַּשְּׁעָרִים בַּעְלָהּ בְּשִׁבְתּוֹ עִם־זִקְנֵי־אָרֶץ׃	כג	23	Her husband is known in the gates, When he sitteth among the elders of the land.
סָדִין עָשְׂתָה וַתִּמְכֹּר וַחֲגוֹר נָתְנָה לַכְּנַעֲנִי׃	כד	24	She maketh linen garments and selleth them, And delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
עֹז־וְהָדָר לְבוּשָׁהּ וַתִּשְׂחַק לְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן ׃	כה	25	Strength and dignity are her clothing; And she laugheth at the time to come.
פִּיהָ פָּתְחָה בְחָכְמָה וְתוֹרַת־חֶסֶד עַל־לְשׁוֹנָהּ׃	כו	26	She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And the law of kindness is on her tongue.
צוֹפִיָּה הֲלִיכוֹת בֵּיתָהּ וְלֶחֶם עַצְלוּת לֹא תֹאכֵל׃	כז	27	She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not the bread of idleness.
קָמוּ בָנֶיהָ וַיְאַשְּׁרוּהָ בַּעְלָהּ וַיְהַלְלָהּ׃	כח	28	Her children rise up, and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praiseth her, saying:
רַבּוֹת בָּנוֹת עָשׂוּ חָיִל וְאַתְּ עָלִית עַל־כֻּלָּנָה׃	כט	29	Many daughters have done worthily, But thou excellest them all.
שֶׁקֶר הַחֵן וְהֶבֶל הַיֹּפִי אִשָּׁה יִרְאַת־יְהוָה הִיא תִתְהַלָּל׃	ל	30	Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain;
תְּנוּ־לָהּ מִפְּרִי יָדֶיהָ וִיהַלְלוּהָ בַשְּׁעָרִים מַעֲשֶׂיהָ׃	לא	31	Give her of the fruit of her hands; And let her works praise her in the gates.

Bible
Book of Proverbs, Chapter: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

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English Scripture Passages from "The 1901 American Standard Version"
The 1901 American Standard Version Bible (ASV) is in the public domain, and may be freely copied.

TRANSLATION/PUBLICATION NOTES:
ASV Verse numbering has been altered to match the corresponding verses in the original Hebrew Scriptures.
"YHVH": The Name of God in the Hebrew Scriptures, "YHVH" (the Hebrew letters, 'Yud' 'He' 'Vav' 'He', aka Tetragamaton), is used instead of "Jehovah" or "JEHOVAH" in the original ASV Scriptures.

Notes for Unicode Font Encoding for Hebrew Scriptures:
Tanach (aka Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament) derived from html source at www.anastesontai.com.
Brit Hahadashah (aka New Testament) source encoding derived from Delitzsh Hebrew New Testament,
obtained through the use of DAVAR HEBREW DICTIONARY,
and converted into Unicode for HTML by programs written (in Java) by Robert Pill.