מִשְׁלֵי 17
| טוב פת חרבה ושלוה בה מבית מלא זבחי ריב׃ | 1 |
Better a bit of dry bread in peace, than a house full of feasting and violent behaviour.
| עבד משכיל ימשל בבן מביש ובתוך אחים יחלק נחלה׃ | 2 |
A servant who does wisely will have rule over a son causing shame, and will have his part in the heritage among brothers.
| מצרף לכסף וכור לזהב ובחן לבות יהוה׃ | 3 |
The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.
| מרע מקשיב על שפת און שקר מזין על לשון הות׃ | 4 |
A wrongdoer gives attention to evil lips, and a man of deceit gives ear to a damaging tongue.
| לעג לרש חרף עשהו שמח לאיד לא ינקה׃ | 5 |
Whoever makes sport of the poor puts shame on his Maker; and he who is glad because of trouble will not go free from punishment.
| עטרת זקנים בני בנים ותפארת בנים אבותם׃ | 6 |
Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers.
| לא נאוה לנבל שפת יתר אף כי לנדיב שפת שקר׃ | 7 |
Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler.
| אבן חן השחד בעיני בעליו אל כל אשר יפנה ישכיל׃ | 8 |
An offering of money is like a stone of great price in the eyes of him who has it: wherever he goes, he does well.
| מכסה פשע מבקש אהבה ושנה בדבר מפריד אלוף׃ | 9 |
He who keeps a sin covered is looking for love; but he who keeps on talking of a thing makes division between friends.
| תחת גערה במבין מהכות כסיל מאה׃ | 10 |
A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man.
| אך מרי יבקש רע ומלאך אכזרי ישלח בו׃ | 11 |
An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a cruel servant will be sent against him.
| פגוש דב שכול באיש ואל כסיל באולתו׃ | 12 |
It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly.
| משיב רעה תחת טובה לא תמיש רעה מביתו׃ | 13 |
If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house.
| פוטר מים ראשית מדון ולפני התגלע הריב נטוש׃ | 14 |
The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows.
| מצדיק רשע ומרשיע צדיק תועבת יהוה גם שניהם׃ | 15 |
He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord.
| למה זה מחיר ביד כסיל לקנות חכמה ולב אין׃ | 16 |
How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense?
| בכל עת אהב הרע ואח לצרה יולד׃ | 17 |
A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble.
| אדם חסר לב תוקע כף ערב ערבה לפני רעהו׃ | 18 |
A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour.
| אהב פשע אהב מצה מגביה פתחו מבקש שבר׃ | 19 |
The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction.
| עקש לב לא ימצא טוב ונהפך בלשונו יפול ברעה׃ | 20 |
Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble.
| ילד כסיל לתוגה לו ולא ישמח אבי נבל׃ | 21 |
He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy.
| לב שמח ייטב גהה ורוח נכאה תיבש גרם׃ | 22 |
A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry.
| שחד מחיק רשע יקח להטות ארחות משפט׃ | 23 |
A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause.
| את פני מבין חכמה ועיני כסיל בקצה ארץ׃ | 24 |
Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.
| כעס לאביו בן כסיל וממר ליולדתו׃ | 25 |
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth.
| גם ענוש לצדיק לא טוב להכות נדיבים על ישר׃ | 26 |
To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness.
| חושך אמריו יודע דעת וקר רוח איש תבונה׃ | 27 |
He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense.
| גם אויל מחריש חכם יחשב אטם שפתיו נבון׃ | 28 |
Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.
