מִשְׁלֵי 18

1 לְֽתַאֲוָה יְבַקֵּשׁ נִפְרָד בְּכָל־תּוּשִׁיָּה יִתְגַּלָּֽע׃

A man who wishes to separate from friends seeks excuses; but at all times he will be liable to reproach.

2 לֹֽא־יַחְפֹּץ כְּסִיל בִּתְבוּנָה כִּי אִֽם־בְּהִתְגַּלּוֹת לִבּֽוֹ׃

A senseless man feels no need of wisdom, for he is rather led by folly.

3 בְּֽבוֹא־רָשָׁע בָּא גַם־בּוּז וְֽעִם־קָלוֹן חֶרְפָּֽה׃

When an ungodly man comes into a depth of evils, he despises [them]; but dishonor and reproach come upon him.

4 מַיִם עֲמֻקִּים דִּבְרֵי פִי־אִישׁ נַחַל נֹבֵעַ מְקוֹר חָכְמָֽה׃

A word in the heart of a man is a deep water, and a river and fountain of life spring forth.

5 שְׂאֵת פְּנֵי־רָשָׁע לֹא־טוֹב לְהַטּוֹת צַדִּיק בַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃

[It is] not good to accept the person of the ungodly, nor [is it] holy to pervert justice in judgment.

6 שִׂפְתֵי כְסִיל יָבֹאֽוּ בְרִיב וּפִיו לְֽמַהֲלֻמוֹת יִקְרָֽא׃

The lips of a fool bring [him] into troubles, and his bold mouth calls for death.

7 פִּֽי־כְסִיל מְחִתָּה־לוֹ וּשְׂפָתָיו מוֹקֵשׁ נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃

A fool's mouth is ruin to him, and his lips are a snare to his soul.

8 דִּבְרֵי נִרְגָּן כְּמִֽתְלַהֲמִים וְהֵם יָרְדוּ חַדְרֵי־בָֽטֶן׃

Fear casts down the slothful; and the souls of the effeminate shall hunger.

9 גַּם מִתְרַפֶּה בִמְלַאכְתּוֹ אָח הוּא לְבַעַל מַשְׁחִֽית׃

A man who helps not himself by his labor is brother of him that ruins himself.

10 מִגְדַּל־עֹז שֵׁם יְהוָה בּֽוֹ־יָרוּץ צַדִּיק וְנִשְׂגָּֽב׃

The name of the Lord is of great strength; and the righteous running to it are exalted.

11 הוֹן עָשִׁיר קִרְיַת עֻזּוֹ וּכְחוֹמָה נִשְׂגָּבָה בְּמַשְׂכִּיתֽוֹ׃

The wealth of a rich man is a strong city; and its glory casts a broad shadow.

12 לִפְנֵי־שֶׁבֶר יִגְבַּהּ לֵב־אִישׁ וְלִפְנֵי כָבוֹד עֲנָוֽ͏ָה׃

Before ruin a man's heart is exalted, and before honor it is humble.

13 מֵשִׁיב דָּבָר בְּטֶרֶם יִשְׁמָע אִוֶּלֶת הִיא־לוֹ וּכְלִמָּֽה׃

Whoso answers a word before he hears [a cause], it is folly and reproach to him.

14 רֽוּחַ־אִישׁ יְכַלְכֵּל מַחֲלֵהוּ וְרוּחַ נְכֵאָה מִי יִשָּׂאֶֽנָּה׃

A wise servant calms a man's anger; but who can endure a faint-hearted man?

15 לֵב נָבוֹן יִקְנֶה־דָּעַת וְאֹזֶן חֲכָמִים תְּבַקֶּשׁ־דָּֽעַת׃

The heart of the sensible [man] purchases discretion; and the ears of the wise seek understanding.

16 מַתָּן אָדָם יַרְחִיב לוֹ וְלִפְנֵי גְדֹלִים יַנְחֶֽנּוּ׃

A man's gift enlarges him, and seats him among princes.

17 צַדִּיק הָרִאשׁוֹן בְּרִיבוֹ יבא־וּבָֽא־רֵעֵהוּ וַחֲקָרֽוֹ׃

A righteous man accuses himself at the beginning of his speech, but when he has entered upon the attack, the adversary is reproved.

18 מִדְיָנִים יַשְׁבִּית הַגּוֹרָל וּבֵין עֲצוּמִים יַפְרִֽיד׃

A silent [man] quells strifes, and determines between great powers.

19 אָח נִפְשָׁע מִקִּרְיַת־עֹז ומדונים וּמִדְיָנִים כִּבְרִיחַ אַרְמֽוֹן׃

A brother helped by a brother is as a strong and high city; and is [as] strong as a [well]-founded palace.

20 מִפְּרִי פִי־אִישׁ תִּשְׂבַּע בִּטְנוֹ תְּבוּאַת שְׂפָתָיו יִשְׂבָּֽע׃

A man fills his belly with the fruits of his mouth; and he shall be satisfied with the fruits of his lips.

21 מָוֶת וְחַיִּים בְּיַד־לָשׁוֹן וְאֹהֲבֶיהָ יֹאכַל פִּרְיָֽהּ׃

Life and death are in the power of the tongue; and they that rule it shall eat the fruits thereof.

22 מָצָא אִשָּׁה מָצָא טוֹב וַיָּפֶק רָצוֹן מֵיְהוָֽה׃

He that has found a good wife has found favours, and has received gladness from God. [He that puts away a good wife, puts away a good thing, and he that keeps an adulteress is foolish and ungodly.]

23 תַּחֲנוּנִים יְדַבֶּר־רָשׁ וְעָשִׁיר יַעֲנֶה עַזּֽוֹת׃

24 אִישׁ רֵעִים לְהִתְרֹעֵעַ וְיֵשׁ אֹהֵב דָּבֵק מֵאָֽח׃