< Proverbs 18 >

1 A man who wishes to separate from friends seeks excuses; but at all times he will be liable to reproach.
לְֽתַאֲוָה יְבַקֵּשׁ נִפְרָד בְּכׇל־תּוּשִׁיָּה יִתְגַּלָּֽע׃
2 A senseless man feels no need of wisdom, for he is rather led by folly.
לֹא־יַחְפֹּץ כְּסִיל בִּתְבוּנָה כִּי אִֽם־בְּהִתְגַּלּוֹת לִבּֽוֹ׃
3 When an ungodly man comes into a depth of evils, he despises [them]; but dishonour and reproach come upon him.
בְּֽבוֹא־רָשָׁע בָּא גַם־בּוּז וְֽעִם־קָלוֹן חֶרְפָּֽה׃
4 A word in the heart of a man is a deep water, and a river and fountain of life spring forth.
מַיִם עֲמֻקִּים דִּבְרֵי פִי־אִישׁ נַחַל נֹבֵעַ מְקוֹר חׇכְמָֽה׃
5 [It is] not good to accept the person of the ungodly, nor [is it] holy to pervert justice in judgement.
שְׂאֵת פְּנֵֽי־רָשָׁע לֹא־טוֹב לְהַטּוֹת צַדִּיק בַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃
6 The lips of a fool bring [him] into troubles, and his bold mouth calls for death.
שִׂפְתֵי כְסִיל יָבֹאוּ בְרִיב וּפִיו לְֽמַהֲלֻמוֹת יִקְרָֽא׃
7 A fool's mouth is ruin to him, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
פִּֽי־כְסִיל מְחִתָּה־לוֹ וּשְׂפָתָיו מוֹקֵשׁ נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃
8 Fear casts down the slothful; and the souls of the effeminate shall hunger.
דִּבְרֵי נִרְגָּן כְּמִֽתְלַהֲמִים וְהֵם יָרְדוּ חַדְרֵי־בָֽטֶן׃
9 A man who helps not himself by his labour is brother of him that ruins himself.
גַּם מִתְרַפֶּה בִמְלַאכְתּוֹ אָח הוּא לְבַעַל מַשְׁחִֽית׃
10 The name of the Lord is of great strength; and the righteous running to it are exalted.
מִגְדַּל־עֹז שֵׁם יְהֹוָה בּֽוֹ־יָרוּץ צַדִּיק וְנִשְׂגָּֽב׃
11 The wealth of a rich man is a strong city; and its glory casts a broad shadow.
הוֹן עָשִׁיר קִרְיַת עֻזּוֹ וּכְחוֹמָה נִשְׂגָּבָה בְּמַשְׂכִּתֽוֹ׃
12 Before ruin a man's heart is exalted, and before honour it is humble.
לִפְנֵי־שֶׁבֶר יִגְבַּהּ לֶב־אִישׁ וְלִפְנֵי כָבוֹד עֲנָוָֽה׃
13 Whoso answers a word before he hears [a cause], it is folly and reproach to him.
מֵשִׁיב דָּבָר בְּטֶרֶם יִשְׁמָע אִוֶּלֶת הִיא־לוֹ וּכְלִמָּֽה׃
14 A wise servant calms a man's anger; but who can endure a faint-hearted man?
רֽוּחַ־אִישׁ יְכַלְכֵּל מַחֲלֵהוּ וְרוּחַ נְכֵאָה מִי יִשָּׂאֶֽנָּה׃
15 The heart of the sensible [man] purchases discretion; and the ears of the wise seek understanding.
לֵב נָבוֹן יִקְנֶה־דָּעַת וְאֹזֶן חֲכָמִים תְּבַקֶּשׁ־דָּֽעַת׃
16 A man's gift enlarges him, and seats him amongst princes.
מַתָּן אָדָם יַרְחִיב לוֹ וְלִפְנֵי גְדֹלִים יַנְחֶֽנּוּ׃
17 A righteous man accuses himself at the beginning of his speech, but when he has entered upon the attack, the adversary is reproved.
צַדִּיק הָרִאשׁוֹן בְּרִיבוֹ (יבא) [וּבָֽא־]רֵעֵהוּ וַחֲקָרֽוֹ׃
18 A silent [man] quells strifes, and determines between great powers.
מִדְיָנִים יַשְׁבִּית הַגּוֹרָל וּבֵין עֲצוּמִים יַפְרִֽיד׃
19 A brother helped by a brother is as a strong and high city; and is [as] strong as a [well]-founded palace.
אָח נִפְשָׁע מִקִּרְיַת־עֹז (ומדונים) [וּמִדְיָנִים] כִּבְרִיחַ אַרְמֽוֹן׃
20 A man fills his belly with the fruits of his mouth; and he shall be satisfied with the fruits of his lips.
מִפְּרִי פִי־אִישׁ תִּשְׂבַּע בִּטְנוֹ תְּבוּאַת שְׂפָתָיו יִשְׂבָּֽע׃
21 Life and death are in the power of the tongue; and they that rule it shall eat the fruits thereof.
מָוֶת וְחַיִּים בְּיַד־לָשׁוֹן וְאֹהֲבֶיהָ יֹאכַל פִּרְיָֽהּ׃
22 He that has found a good wife has found favours, and has received gladness from God. [He that puts away a good wife, puts away a good thing, and he that keeps an adulteress is foolish and ungodly.]
מָצָא אִשָּׁה מָצָא טוֹב וַיָּפֶק רָצוֹן מֵיְהֹוָֽה׃
תַּחֲנוּנִים יְדַבֶּר־רָשׁ וְעָשִׁיר יַעֲנֶה עַזּֽוֹת׃
אִישׁ רֵעִים לְהִתְרֹעֵעַ וְיֵשׁ אֹהֵב דָּבֵק מֵאָֽח׃

< Proverbs 18 >