מִשְׁלֵי 8

1 הֲלֹֽא־חׇכְמָה תִקְרָא וּתְבוּנָה תִּתֵּן קוֹלָֽהּ׃

Doesn't wisdom cry out? Doesn't understanding raise her voice?

2 בְּרֹאשׁ־מְרֹמִים עֲלֵי־דָרֶךְ בֵּית נְתִיבוֹת נִצָּֽבָה׃

On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.

3 לְיַד־שְׁעָרִים לְפִי־קָרֶת מְבוֹא פְתָחִים תָּרֹֽנָּה׃

Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud:

4 אֲלֵיכֶם אִישִׁים אֶקְרָא וְקוֹלִי אֶל־בְּנֵי אָדָֽם׃

"To you men, I call. I send my voice to the sons of humankind.

5 הָבִינוּ פְתָאיִם עׇרְמָה וּכְסִילִים הָבִינוּ לֵֽב׃

You simple, understand prudence. You fools, be of an understanding heart.

6 שִׁמְעוּ כִּֽי־נְגִידִים אֲדַבֵּר וּמִפְתַּח שְׂפָתַי מֵישָׁרִֽים׃

Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.

7 כִּֽי־אֱמֶת יֶהְגֶּה חִכִּי וְתוֹעֲבַת שְׂפָתַי רֶֽשַׁע׃

For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8 בְּצֶדֶק כׇּל־אִמְרֵי־פִי אֵין בָּהֶם נִפְתָּל וְעִקֵּֽשׁ׃

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.

9 כֻּלָּם נְכֹחִים לַמֵּבִין וִישָׁרִים לְמֹצְאֵי דָֽעַת׃

They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge.

10 קְחֽוּ־מוּסָרִי וְאַל־כָּסֶף וְדַעַת מֵחָרוּץ נִבְחָֽר׃

Receive my instruction rather than silver; knowledge rather than choice gold.

11 כִּֽי־טוֹבָה חׇכְמָה מִפְּנִינִים וְכׇל־חֲפָצִים לֹא יִֽשְׁווּ־בָֽהּ׃

For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can't be compared to it.

12 אֲֽנִי־חׇכְמָה שָׁכַנְתִּי עׇרְמָה וְדַעַת מְזִמּוֹת אֶמְצָֽא׃

"I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.

13 יִרְאַת יְהֹוָה שְֽׂנֹאת ־ רָע גֵּאָה וְגָאוֹן ׀ וְדֶרֶךְ רָע וּפִי תַהְפֻּכוֹת שָׂנֵֽאתִי׃

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.

14 לִֽי־עֵצָה וְתוּשִׁיָּה אֲנִי בִינָה לִי גְבוּרָֽה׃

Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.

15 בִּי מְלָכִים יִמְלֹכוּ וְרֹזְנִים יְחֹקְקוּ צֶֽדֶק׃

By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice.

16 בִּי שָׂרִים יָשֹׂרוּ וּנְדִיבִים כׇּל־שֹׁפְטֵי צֶֽדֶק׃

By me princes rule; nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.

17 אֲנִי (אהביה) [אֹהֲבַי] אֵהָב וּמְשַׁחֲרַי יִמְצָאֻֽנְנִי׃

I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.

18 עֹֽשֶׁר־וְכָבוֹד אִתִּי הוֹן עָתֵק וּצְדָקָֽה׃

With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.

19 טוֹב פִּרְיִי מֵחָרוּץ וּמִפָּז וּתְבוּאָתִי מִכֶּסֶף נִבְחָֽר׃

My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold; my yield than choice silver.

20 בְּאֹֽרַח־צְדָקָה אֲהַלֵּךְ בְּתוֹךְ נְתִיבוֹת מִשְׁפָּֽט׃

I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice;

21 לְהַנְחִיל אֹהֲבַי ׀ יֵשׁ וְאֹצְרֹתֵיהֶם אֲמַלֵּֽא׃

That I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.

22 יְֽהֹוָה קָנָנִי רֵאשִׁית דַּרְכּוֹ קֶדֶם מִפְעָלָיו מֵאָֽז׃

"The LORD created me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

23 מֵעוֹלָם נִסַּכְתִּי מֵרֹאשׁ מִקַּדְמֵי־אָֽרֶץ׃

I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed.

24 בְּאֵין־תְּהֹמוֹת חוֹלָלְתִּי בְּאֵין מַעְיָנוֹת נִכְבַּדֵּי־מָֽיִם׃

When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.

25 בְּטֶרֶם הָרִים הׇטְבָּעוּ לִפְנֵי גְבָעוֹת חוֹלָֽלְתִּי׃

Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was brought forth;

26 עַד־לֹא עָשָׂה אֶרֶץ וְחוּצוֹת וְרֹאשׁ עַפְרוֹת תֵּבֵֽל׃

while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.

27 בַּהֲכִינוֹ שָׁמַיִם שָׁם אָנִי בְּחֻקוֹ חוּג עַל־פְּנֵי תְהֽוֹם׃

When he established the heavens, I was there; when he set a circle on the surface of the deep,

28 בְּאַמְּצוֹ שְׁחָקִים מִמָּעַל בַּעֲזוֹז עִינוֹת תְּהֽוֹם׃

when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong,

29 בְּשׂוּמוֹ לַיָּם ׀ חֻקּוֹ וּמַיִם לֹא יַֽעַבְרוּ־פִיו בְּחוּקוֹ מוֹסְדֵי אָֽרֶץ׃

when he gave to the sea its boundary, that the waters should not violate his commandment, when he marked out the foundations of the earth;

30 וָאֶהְיֶה אֶצְלוֹ אָמוֹן וָאֶהְיֶה שַׁעֲשׁוּעִים יוֹם ׀ יוֹם מְשַׂחֶקֶת לְפָנָיו בְּכׇל־עֵֽת׃

then I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,

31 מְשַׂחֶקֶת בְּתֵבֵל אַרְצוֹ וְשַׁעֲשֻׁעַי אֶת־בְּנֵי אָדָֽם׃

Rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.

32 וְעַתָּה בָנִים שִׁמְעוּ־לִי וְאַשְׁרֵי דְּרָכַי יִשְׁמֹֽרוּ׃

"Now therefore, son, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.

33 שִׁמְעוּ מוּסָר וַחֲכָמוּ וְאַל־תִּפְרָֽעוּ׃

Hear instruction, and be wise. Do not refuse it.

34 אַשְֽׁרֵי אָדָם שֹׁמֵעַֽ לִי לִשְׁקֹד עַל־דַּלְתֹתַי יוֹם ׀ יוֹם לִשְׁמֹר מְזוּזֹת פְּתָחָֽי׃

Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.

35 כִּי מֹצְאִי (מצאי) [מָצָא] חַיִּים וַיָּפֶק רָצוֹן מֵיְהֹוָֽה׃

For whoever finds me, finds life, and will obtain favor from the LORD.

36 וְֽחֹטְאִי חֹמֵס נַפְשׁוֹ כׇּל־מְשַׂנְאַי אָהֲבוּ מָֽוֶת׃

But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death."