מִשְׁלֵי 24
| אל-תקנא באנשי רעה ואל-תתאו להיות אתם | 1 |
Do not imitate evil men, nor desire to be among them.
| כי-שד יהגה לבם ועמל שפתיהם תדברנה | 2 |
For their mind meditates on robberies, and their lips speak deceptions.
| בחכמה יבנה בית ובתבונה יתכונן | 3 |
By wisdom shall a house be built, and by prudence shall it be strengthened.
| ובדעת חדרים ימלאו-- כל-הון יקר ונעים | 4 |
By doctrine, the storerooms shall be filled with every substance that is precious and most beautiful.
| גבר-חכם בעוז ואיש-דעת מאמץ-כח | 5 |
A wise man is strong, and a well-taught man is robust and valiant.
| כי בתחבלות תעשה-לך מלחמה ותשועה ברב יועץ | 6 |
For war is undertaken in an orderly manner, and safety shall be where there are many counsels.
| ראמות לאויל חכמות בשער לא יפתח-פיהו | 7 |
Wisdom is beyond the foolish; at the gate he will not open his mouth.
| מחשב להרע-- לו בעל-מזמות יקראו | 8 |
Whoever intends to do evil shall be called foolish.
| זמת אולת חטאת ותועבת לאדם לץ | 9 |
The intention of the foolish is sin. And the detractor is an abomination among men.
| התרפית ביום צרה-- צר כחכה | 10 |
If you despair, being weary in the day of anguish, your strength will be diminished.
| הצל לקחים למות ומטים להרג אם-תחשוך | 11 |
Rescue those who are led away to death. And do not cease from delivering those who are dragged away to a violent death.
| כי-תאמר-- הן לא-ידענו-זה הלא-תכן לבות הוא-יבין ונצר נפשך הוא ידע והשיב לאדם כפעלו | 12 |
If you would say: “I do not have sufficient strength.” He who inspects the heart, the same one understands, and nothing slips past the one who preserves your soul. And he shall repay a man according to his works.
| אכל-בני דבש כי-טוב ונפת מתוק על-חכך | 13 |
My son, eat honey, because it is good, and the honeycomb, because it is so sweet to your throat.
| כן דעה חכמה--לנפשך אם-מצאת ויש אחרית ותקותך לא תכרת | 14 |
So, too, is the doctrine of wisdom to your soul. When you have found it, you will have hope in the end, and your hope shall not perish.
| אל-תארב רשע לנוה צדיק אל-תשדד רבצו | 15 |
Do not lie in wait, and do not seek impiety in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.
| כי שבע יפול צדיק וקם ורשעים יכשלו ברעה | 16 |
For the just one will fall seven times, and he shall rise again. But the impious will fall into evil.
| בנפל אויביך (אויבך) אל-תשמח ובכשלו אל-יגל לבך | 17 |
When your enemy will fall, do not be glad, and do not let your heart exult in his ruin,
| פן-יראה יהוה ורע בעיניו והשיב מעליו אפו | 18 |
lest perhaps the Lord see, and it displease him, and he may take away his wrath from him.
| אל-תתחר במרעים אל-תקנא ברשעים | 19 |
Do not contend with the most wicked, and do not be a rival to the impious.
| כי לא-תהיה אחרית לרע נר רשעים ידעך | 20 |
For the evil hold no hope in the future, and the lamp of the impious will be extinguished.
| ירא-את-יהוה בני ומלך עם-שונים אל-תתערב | 21 |
My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king. And do not mingle with detractors.
| כי-פתאם יקום אידם ופיד שניהם מי יודע | 22 |
For their perdition shall rise up suddenly. And who knows what ruin will be for each of them?
| גם-אלה לחכמים הכר-פנים במשפט בל-טוב | 23 |
Likewise, these things are for the wise. It is not good to base judgment on knowledge of character.
| אמר לרשע--צדיק אתה יקבהו עמים יזעמוהו לאמים | 24 |
Those who say to the impious, “You are just,” shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall detest them.
| ולמוכיחים ינעם ועליהם תבוא ברכת-טוב | 25 |
Those who argue against the impious shall be praised, and a blessing shall come upon them.
| שפתים ישק משיב דברים נכחים | 26 |
He shall kiss the lips, who responds with upright words.
| הכן בחוץ מלאכתך--ועתדה בשדה לך אחר ובנית ביתך | 27 |
Prepare your outdoor work, and diligently cultivate your field, so that afterward, you may build your house.
| אל-תהי עד-חנם ברעך והפתית בשפתיך | 28 |
Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor. And do not mislead anyone with your lips.
| אל-תאמר--כאשר עשה-לי כן אעשה-לו אשיב לאיש כפעלו | 29 |
Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me.” I will repay each one according to his work.
| על-שדה איש-עצל עברתי ועל-כרם אדם חסר-לב | 30 |
I passed by the field of a lazy man, and by the vineyard of a foolish man,
| והנה עלה כלו קמשנים--כסו פניו חרלים וגדר אבניו נהרסה | 31 |
and behold, it was entirely filled with nettles, and thorns had covered its surface, and the stonewall was destroyed.
| ואחזה אנכי אשית לבי ראיתי לקחתי מוסר | 32 |
When I had seen this, I laid it up in my heart, and by this example, I received discipline.
| מעט שנות מעט תנומות מעט חבק ידים לשכב | 33 |
You will sleep a little,” I said. “You will slumber briefly. You will fold your hands a little, so as to rest.
| ובא-מתהלך רישך ומחסריך כאיש מגן | 34 |
And destitution will overtake you like a runner, and begging will overtake you like an armed man.”
