מִשְׁלֵי 18
| לתאוה יבקש נפרד בכל תושיה יתגלע׃ | 1 |
Whoever has a will to withdraw from a friend, seeks occasions; he shall be reproached at all times.
| לא יחפץ כסיל בתבונה כי אם בהתגלות לבו׃ | 2 |
The foolish do not accept words of prudence, unless you say what is already turning in his heart.
| בבוא רשע בא גם בוז ועם קלון חרפה׃ | 3 |
The impious, when he has arrived within the depths of sin, thinks little of it. But ill repute and disgrace follow him.
| מים עמקים דברי פי איש נחל נבע מקור חכמה׃ | 4 |
Words from the mouth of a man are deep waters. And the fountain of wisdom is a torrent overflowing.
| שאת פני רשע לא טוב להטות צדיק במשפט׃ | 5 |
It is not good to accept the character of the impious, so as to turn away from true judgment.
| שפתי כסיל יבאו בריב ופיו למהלמות יקרא׃ | 6 |
The lips of the foolish meddle in disputes. And his mouth provokes conflicts.
| פי כסיל מחתה לו ושפתיו מוקש נפשו׃ | 7 |
The mouth of the foolish is his destruction, and his own lips are the ruin of his soul.
| דברי נרגן כמתלהמים והם ירדו חדרי בטן׃ | 8 |
The words of the double-tongued seem simple. And they reach even to the interior of the gut. Fear casts down the lazy, but the souls of the effeminate shall go hungry.
| גם מתרפה במלאכתו אח הוא לבעל משחית׃ | 9 |
Whoever is dissolute and slack in his work is the brother of him who wastes his own works.
| מגדל עז שם יהוה בו ירוץ צדיק ונשגב׃ | 10 |
The name of the Lord is a very strong tower. The just one rushes to it, and he shall be exalted.
| הון עשיר קרית עזו וכחומה נשגבה במשכיתו׃ | 11 |
The substance of the wealthy is the city of his strength, and it is like a strong wall encircling him.
| לפני שבר יגבה לב איש ולפני כבוד ענוה׃ | 12 |
The heart of a man is exalted before it is crushed and humbled before it is glorified.
| משיב דבר בטרם ישמע אולת היא לו וכלמה׃ | 13 |
Whoever responds before he listens, demonstrates himself to be foolish and deserving of confusion.
| רוח איש יכלכל מחלהו ורוח נכאה מי ישאנה׃ | 14 |
The spirit of a man sustains his weakness. Yet who can sustain a spirit that is easily angered?
| לב נבון יקנה דעת ואזן חכמים תבקש דעת׃ | 15 |
A prudent heart shall possess knowledge. And the ear of the wise seeks doctrine.
| מתן אדם ירחיב לו ולפני גדלים ינחנו׃ | 16 |
A man’s gift expands his way and makes space for him before leaders.
| צדיק הראשון בריבו יבא רעהו וחקרו׃ | 17 |
The just is the first accuser of himself; his friend arrives and shall investigate him.
| מדינים ישבית הגורל ובין עצומים יפריד׃ | 18 |
Casting a lot suppresses contentions and passes judgment, even among the powerful.
| אח נפשע מקרית עז ומדונים כבריח ארמון׃ | 19 |
A brother who is helped by a brother is like a reinforced city, and judgments are like the bars of cities.
| מפרי פי איש תשבע בטנו תבואת שפתיו ישבע׃ | 20 |
From the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be filled. And the harvest of his own lips shall satisfy him.
| מות וחיים ביד לשון ואהביה יאכל פריה׃ | 21 |
Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Whoever values it shall eat from its fruits.
| מצא אשה מצא טוב ויפק רצון מיהוה׃ | 22 |
He who has found a good wife has found goodness, and he shall draw contentment from the Lord. He who expels a good wife expels goodness. But he who holds on to an adulteress is foolish and impious.
| תחנונים ידבר רש ועשיר יענה עזות׃ | 23 |
The poor will speak with supplications. And the rich will express themselves roughly.
| איש רעים להתרעע ויש אהב דבק מאח׃ | 24 |
A man amiable to society shall be more friendly than a brother.
