מִשְׁלֵי 22
| נבחר שם מעשר רב מכסף ומזהב חן טוב | 1 |
A good reputation is a much better choice than plenty of money; respect is better than silver and gold.
| עשיר ורש נפגשו עשה כלם יהוה | 2 |
The rich and the poor have this in common: the Lord created them all.
| ערום ראה רעה ויסתר (ונסתר) ופתיים עברו ונענשו | 3 |
If you're sensible you see danger coming and get out of the way; but stupid people just keep going and pay for it.
| עקב ענוה יראת יהוה עשר וכבוד וחיים | 4 |
The reward you receive for being humble and respecting the Lord is wealth, honor, and life.
| צנים פחים בדרך עקש שומר נפשו ירחק מהם | 5 |
Thorns and traps lie in the path of crooked people; those who value their lives will stay away from them.
| חנך לנער על-פי דרכו-- גם כי-יזקין לא-יסור ממנה | 6 |
Teach children the right way to live, and when they grow up they'll go on doing so.
| עשיר ברשים ימשול ועבד לוה לאיש מלוה | 7 |
The rich rule the poor, and borrowers are slaves to their lenders.
| זורע עולה יקצור- (יקצר-) און ושבט עברתו יכלה | 8 |
Those who sow injustice will reap disaster, and the angry beatings they inflict on others will be stopped.
| טוב-עין הוא יברך כי-נתן מלחמו לדל | 9 |
If you're generous, you'll be blessed, for you share your food with those in need.
| גרש לץ ויצא מדון וישבת דין וקלון | 10 |
Get rid of the scornful, and you'll get rid of conflict too—no more arguments or insults!
| אהב טהור- (טהר-) לב-- חן שפתיו רעהו מלך | 11 |
Anyone who loves sincerity and a gracious way of speaking will have the king as their friend.
| עיני יהוה נצרו דעת ויסלף דברי בגד | 12 |
The Lord watches over true knowledge, but counteracts the words of liars.
| אמר עצל ארי בחוץ בתוך רחבות ארצח | 13 |
Lazy people make claims like, “There's a lion outside! I might be killed if I go out there!”
| שוחה עמקה פי זרות זעום יהוה יפול- (יפל-) שם | 14 |
The seductive words of an immoral woman are a dangerous trap—if the Lord's angry with you, then you'll fall right in.
| אולת קשורה בלב-נער שבט מוסר ירחיקנה ממנו | 15 |
Children are naturally foolish; physical correction helps them to see sense.
| עשק דל להרבות לו-- נתן לעשיר אך-למחסור | 16 |
If you oppress the poor to make yourself rich, or if you're generous to the rich, you'll end up poor yourself.
| הט אזנך--ושמע דברי חכמים ולבך תשית לדעתי | 17 |
Pay attention and listen to the words of the wise, and think carefully about my teachings—
| כי-נעים כי-תשמרם בבטנך יכנו יחדו על-שפתיך | 18 |
for it's good to keep them in mind so you can be ready to share them.
| להיות ביהוה מבטחך-- הודעתיך היום אף-אתה | 19 |
I'm explaining this to you today so you can trust in the Lord—yes, you!
| הלא כתבתי לך שלשום (שלשים)-- במעצות ודעת | 20 |
Haven't I written down for you thirty sayings of advice and wisdom?
| להודיעך--קשט אמרי אמת להשיב אמרים אמת לשלחיך | 21 |
They are to make it clear to you what's right and true, so you can give a truthful explanation to those who sent you.
| אל-תגזל-דל כי דל-הוא ואל-תדכא עני בשער | 22 |
For you shouldn't steal from the poor just because they're poor; and you shouldn't crush those with limited means in court,
| כי-יהוה יריב ריבם וקבע את-קבעיהם נפש | 23 |
for the Lord will plead their case, and he will take back whatever was stolen from them.
| אל-תתרע את-בעל אף ואת-איש חמות לא תבוא | 24 |
Don't make friends with someone who gets upset easily; don't associate with angry people,
| פן-תאלף ארחתו ולקחת מוקש לנפשך | 25 |
in case you learn to be like them and make a mess of your life.
| אל-תהי בתקעי-כף בערבים משאות | 26 |
Don't shake hands and guarantee someone's debt,
| אם-אין-לך לשלם-- למה יקח משכבך מתחתיך | 27 |
for if you can't pay, why should your bed be taken away from beneath you?
| אל-תסג גבול עולם-- אשר עשו אבותיך | 28 |
Don't move ancient boundary markers that your forefathers put in place.
| חזית איש מהיר במלאכתו-- לפני-מלכים יתיצב בל-יתיצב לפני חשכים | 29 |
If you see someone skilled in what they do, they'll work for kings and not for ordinary people.
