מִשְׁלֵי 16
| לאדם מערכי-לב ומיהוה מענה לשון | 1 |
It is for man to prepare the soul, and for the Lord to govern the tongue.
| כל-דרכי-איש זך בעיניו ותכן רוחות יהוה | 2 |
All the ways of a man are open to his eyes; the Lord is the one who weighs spirits.
| גל אל-יהוה מעשיך ויכנו מחשבתיך | 3 |
Open your works to the Lord, and your intentions will be set in order.
| כל פעל יהוה למענהו וגם-רשע ליום רעה | 4 |
The Lord has wrought all things because of himself. Likewise the impious is for the evil day.
| תועבת יהוה כל-גבה-לב יד ליד לא ינקה | 5 |
All the arrogant are an abomination to the Lord. Even if hand will be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is to do justice. And this is more acceptable with God than to immolate sacrifices.
| בחסד ואמת יכפר עון וביראת יהוה סור מרע | 6 |
By mercy and truth, iniquity is redeemed. And by the fear of the Lord, one turns away from evil.
| ברצות יהוה דרכי-איש גם-אויביו ישלם אתו | 7 |
When the ways of man will please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.
| טוב-מעט בצדקה-- מרב תבואות בלא משפט | 8 |
Better is a little with justice, than many fruits with iniquity.
| לב אדם יחשב דרכו ויהוה יכין צעדו | 9 |
The heart of man disposes his way. But it is for Lord to direct his steps.
| קסם על-שפתי-מלך במשפט לא ימעל-פיו | 10 |
Foreknowledge is in the lips of the king. His mouth shall not err in judgment.
| פלס ומאזני משפט--ליהוה מעשהו כל-אבני-כיס | 11 |
Weights and scales are judgments of the Lord. And all the stones in the bag are his work.
| תועבת מלכים עשות רשע כי בצדקה יכון כסא | 12 |
Those who act impiously are abominable to the king. For the throne is made firm by justice.
| רצון מלכים שפתי-צדק ודבר ישרים יאהב | 13 |
Just lips are the will of kings. He who speaks honestly shall be loved.
| חמת-מלך מלאכי-מות ואיש חכם יכפרנה | 14 |
The indignation of a king is a herald of death. And the wise man will appease it.
| באור-פני-מלך חיים ורצונו כעב מלקוש | 15 |
In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance, there is life. And his clemency is like belated rain.
| קנה-חכמה--מה-טוב מחרוץ וקנות בינה נבחר מכסף | 16 |
Possess wisdom, for it is better than gold. And acquire prudence, for it is more precious than silver.
| מסלת ישרים סור מרע שמר נפשו נצר דרכו | 17 |
The path of the just turns away from evils. He who guards his soul preserves his way.
| לפני-שבר גאון ולפני כשלון גבה רוח | 18 |
Arrogance precedes destruction. And the spirit is exalted before a fall.
| טוב שפל-רוח את-עניים (ענוים) מחלק שלל את-גאים | 19 |
It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the arrogant.
| משכיל על-דבר ימצא-טוב ובוטח ביהוה אשריו | 20 |
The learned in word shall find good things. And whoever hopes in the Lord is blessed.
| לחכם-לב יקרא נבון ומתק שפתים יסיף לקח | 21 |
Whoever is wise in heart shall be called prudent. And whoever is sweet in eloquence shall attain to what is greater.
| מקור חיים שכל בעליו ומוסר אולים אולת | 22 |
Learning is a fountain of life to one who possesses it. The doctrine of the foolish is senseless.
| לב חכם ישכיל פיהו ועל-שפתיו יסיף לקח | 23 |
The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth and add grace to his lips.
| צוף-דבש אמרי-נעם מתוק לנפש ומרפא לעצם | 24 |
Careful words are a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and healthful to the bones.
| יש דרך ישר לפני-איש ואחריתה דרכי-מות | 25 |
There is a way which seems right to a man, and its end result leads to death.
| נפש עמל עמלה לו כי-אכף עליו פיהו | 26 |
The soul of the laborer labors for himself, because his mouth has driven him to it.
| איש בליעל כרה רעה ועל-שפתיו (שפתו) כאש צרבת | 27 |
The impious man digs up evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
| איש תהפכות ישלח מדון ונרגן מפריד אלוף | 28 |
A perverse man stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leaders.
| איש חמס יפתה רעהו והוליכו בדרך לא-טוב | 29 |
A man of iniquity entices his friend, and he leads him along a way that is not good.
| עצה עיניו לחשב תהפכות קרץ שפתיו כלה רעה | 30 |
Whoever, with astonished eyes, thinks up depravities, biting his lips, accomplishes evil.
| עטרת תפארת שיבה בדרך צדקה תמצא | 31 |
Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.
| טוב ארך אפים מגבור ומשל ברוחו מלכד עיר | 32 |
A patient man is better than a strong one. And whoever rules his soul is better than one who assaults cities.
| בחיק יוטל את-הגורל ומיהוה כל-משפטו | 33 |
Lots are cast into the lap, but they are tempered by the Lord.
