מִשְׁלֵי 22

1 נבחר שם מעשר רב מכסף ומזהב חן טוב

A good name is better than great riches: and good favour is above silver and gold.

2 עשיר ורש נפגשו עשה כלם יהוה

The rich and poor have met one another: the Lord is the maker of them both.

3 ערום ראה רעה ויסתר (ונסתר) ופתיים עברו ונענשו

The prudent man saw the evil, and hid himself: the simple passed on, and suffered loss.

4 עקב ענוה יראת יהוה עשר וכבוד וחיים

The fruit of humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.

5 צנים פחים בדרך עקש שומר נפשו ירחק מהם

Arms and swords are in the way of the perverse: but he that keepeth his own soul departeth far from them.

6 חנך לנער על-פי דרכו-- גם כי-יזקין לא-יסור ממנה

It is a proverb: A young man according to his way, even when he is old he will not depart from it.

7 עשיר ברשים ימשול ועבד לוה לאיש מלוה

The rich ruleth over the poor: and the borrower is servant to him that lendeth.

8 זורע עולה יקצור- (יקצר-) און ושבט עברתו יכלה

He that soweth iniquity shall reap evils, and with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed.

9 טוב-עין הוא יברך כי-נתן מלחמו לדל

He that is inclined to mercy shall be blessed: for of his bread he hath given to the poor. He that maketh presents shall purchase victory and honour: but he carrieth away the souls of the receivers.

10 גרש לץ ויצא מדון וישבת דין וקלון

Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall go out with him, and quarrels and reproaches shall cease.

11 אהב טהור- (טהר-) לב-- חן שפתיו רעהו מלך

He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips shall have the king for his friend.

12 עיני יהוה נצרו דעת ויסלף דברי בגד

The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge: and the words of the unjust are overthrown.

13 אמר עצל ארי בחוץ בתוך רחבות ארצח

The slothful man saith: There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the midst of the streets.

14 שוחה עמקה פי זרות זעום יהוה יפול- (יפל-) שם

The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is angry with, shall fall into it.

15 אולת קשורה בלב-נער שבט מוסר ירחיקנה ממנו

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of correction shall drive it away.

16 עשק דל להרבות לו-- נתן לעשיר אך-למחסור

He that oppresseth the poor, to increase his own riches, shall himself give to one that is richer, and shall be in need.

17 הט אזנך--ושמע דברי חכמים ולבך תשית לדעתי

Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise: and apply thy heart to my doctrine:

18 כי-נעים כי-תשמרם בבטנך יכנו יחדו על-שפתיך

Which shall be beautiful for thee, if thou keep it in thy bowels, and it shall flow in thy lips:

19 להיות ביהוה מבטחך-- הודעתיך היום אף-אתה

That thy trust may be in the Lord, wherefore I have also shewn it to thee this day.

20 הלא כתבתי לך שלשום (שלשים)-- במעצות ודעת

Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in thoughts and knowledge:

21 להודיעך--קשט אמרי אמת להשיב אמרים אמת לשלחיך

That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to answer out of these to them that sent thee.

22 אל-תגזל-דל כי דל-הוא ואל-תדכא עני בשער

Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:

23 כי-יהוה יריב ריבם וקבע את-קבעיהם נפש

Because the Lord will judge his cause, and will afflict them that have afflicted his soul.

24 אל-תתרע את-בעל אף ואת-איש חמות לא תבוא

Be not a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man:

25 פן-תאלף ארחתו ולקחת מוקש לנפשך

Lest perhaps thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul.

26 אל-תהי בתקעי-כף בערבים משאות

Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts:

27 אם-אין-לך לשלם-- למה יקח משכבך מתחתיך

For if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there, that he should take the covering from thy bed?

28 אל-תסג גבול עולם-- אשר עשו אבותיך

Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy fathers have set.

29 חזית איש מהיר במלאכתו-- לפני-מלכים יתיצב בל-יתיצב לפני חשכים

Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure.