מִשְׁלֵי 3
| בני תורתי אל-תשכח ומצותי יצר לבך | 1 |
My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart:
| כי ארך ימים ושנות חיים-- ושלום יוסיפו לך | 2 |
For they will give you increase of days, years of life, and peace.
| חסד ואמת אל-יעזבך קשרם על-גרגרותיך כתבם על-לוח לבך | 3 |
Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart;
| ומצא-חן ושכל-טוב-- בעיני אלהים ואדם | 4 |
So you will have grace and a good name in the eyes of God and men.
| בטח אל-יהוה בכל-לבך ואל-בינתך אל-תשען | 5 |
Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support.
| בכל-דרכיך דעהו והוא יישר ארחתיך | 6 |
In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps.
| אל-תהי חכם בעיניך ירא את-יהוה וסור מרע | 7 |
Put no high value on your wisdom: let the fear of the Lord be before you, and keep yourself from evil:
| רפאות תהי לשרך ושקוי לעצמותיך | 8 |
This will give strength to your flesh, and new life to your bones.
| כבד את-יהוה מהונך ומראשית כל-תבואתך | 9 |
Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, and with the first-fruits of all your increase:
| וימלאו אסמיך שבע ותירוש יקביך יפרצו | 10 |
So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine.
| מוסר יהוה בני אל-תמאס ואל-תקץ בתוכחתו | 11 |
My son, do not make your heart hard against the Lord's teaching; do not be made angry by his training:
| כי את אשר יאהב יהוה יוכיח וכאב את-בן ירצה | 12 |
For to those who are dear to him the Lord says sharp words, and makes the son in whom he has delight undergo pain.
| אשרי אדם מצא חכמה ואדם יפיק תבונה | 13 |
Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge.
| כי טוב סחרה מסחר-כסף ומחרוץ תבואתה | 14 |
For trading in it is better than trading in silver, and its profit greater than bright gold.
| יקרה היא מפניים (מפנינים) וכל-חפציך לא ישוו-בה | 15 |
She is of more value than jewels, and nothing for which you may have a desire is fair in comparison with her.
| ארך ימים בימינה בשמאולה עשר וכבוד | 16 |
Long life is in her right hand, and in her left are wealth and honour.
| דרכיה דרכי-נעם וכל-נתיבותיה שלום | 17 |
Her ways are ways of delight, and all her goings are peace.
| עץ-חיים היא למחזיקים בה ותמכיה מאשר | 18 |
She is a tree of life to all who take her in their hands, and happy is everyone who keeps her.
| יהוה--בחכמה יסד-ארץ כונן שמים בתבונה | 19 |
The Lord by wisdom put in position the bases of the earth; by reason he put the heavens in their place.
| בדעתו תהומות נבקעו ושחקים ירעפו-טל | 20 |
By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies.
| בני אל-ילזו מעיניך נצר תשיה ומזמה | 21 |
My son, keep good sense, and do not let wise purpose go from your eyes.
| ויהיו חיים לנפשך וחן לגרגרתיך | 22 |
So they will be life for your soul, and grace for your neck.
| אז תלך לבטח דרכך ורגלך לא תגוף | 23 |
Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping.
| אם-תשכב לא-תפחד ושכבת וערבה שנתך | 24 |
When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you.
| אל-תירא מפחד פתאם ומשאת רשעים כי תבא | 25 |
Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers:
| כי-יהוה יהיה בכסלך ושמר רגלך מלכד | 26 |
For the Lord will be your hope, and will keep your foot from being taken in the net.
| אל-תמנע-טוב מבעליו-- בהיות לאל ידיך (ידך) לעשות | 27 |
Do not keep back good from those who have a right to it, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
| אל-תאמר לרעיך (לרעך) לך ושוב--ומחר אתן ויש אתך | 28 |
Say not to your neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you at the time.
| אל-תחרש על-רעך רעה והוא-יושב לבטח אתך | 29 |
Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when he is living with you without fear.
| אל-תרוב (תריב) עם-אדם חנם-- אם-לא גמלך רעה | 30 |
Do not take up a cause at law against a man for nothing, if he has done you no wrong.
| אל-תקנא באיש חמס ואל-תבחר בכל-דרכיו | 31 |
Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example.
| כי תועבת יהוה נלוז ואת-ישרים סודו | 32 |
For the wrong-hearted man is hated by the Lord, but he is a friend to the upright.
| מארת יהוה בבית רשע ונוה צדיקים יברך | 33 |
The curse of the Lord is on the house of the evil-doer, but his blessing is on the tent of the upright.
| אם-ללצים הוא-יליץ ולעניים (ולענוים) יתן-חן | 34 |
He makes sport of the men of pride, but he gives grace to the gentle-hearted.
| כבוד חכמים ינחלו וכסילים מרים קלון | 35 |
The wise will have glory for their heritage, but shame will be the reward of the foolish.
