מִשְׁלֵי 22

1 נבחר שם מעשר רב מכסף ומזהב חן טוב׃

A good name is better than many riches. And good esteem is above silver and gold.

2 עשיר ורש נפגשו עשה כלם יהוה׃

The rich and poor have met one another. The Lord is the maker of them both.

3 ערום ראה רעה ויסתר ופתיים עברו ונענשו׃

The clever saw evil and hid himself. The innocent continued on and was afflicted with damage.

4 עקב ענוה יראת יהוה עשר וכבוד וחיים׃

The end of moderation is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.

5 צנים פחים בדרך עקש שומר נפשו ירחק מהם׃

Weapons and swords are on the way of the perverse. But he who guards his own soul withdraws far from them.

6 חנך לנער על פי דרכו גם כי יזקין לא יסור ממנה׃

The proverb is: A youth is close to his way; even when he is old, he will not withdraw from it.

7 עשיר ברשים ימשול ועבד לוה לאיש מלוה׃

The rich rule over the poor. And the borrower is servant to the lender.

8 זורע עולה יקצור און ושבט עברתו יכלה׃

Whoever sows iniquity will reap evils, and by the rod of his own wrath he will be consumed.

9 טוב עין הוא יברך כי נתן מלחמו לדל׃

Whoever is inclined to mercy shall be blessed, for from his bread he has given to the poor. Whoever gives gifts will acquire victory and honor. But he carries away the soul of the receiver.

10 גרש לץ ויצא מדון וישבת דין וקלון׃

Cast out the one who ridicules, and conflict will go out with him, and accusations and insults will cease.

11 אהב טהור לב חן שפתיו רעהו מלך׃

Whoever loves cleanness of heart, because of the grace of his lips, will have the king as his friend.

12 עיני יהוה נצרו דעת ויסלף דברי בגד׃

The eyes of the Lord watch over knowledge. And the words of the iniquitous are supplanted.

13 אמר עצל ארי בחוץ בתוך רחבות ארצח׃

The lazy one says: “There is a lion outside. I might be slain in the midst of the streets.”

14 שוחה עמקה פי זרות זעום יהוה יפול שם׃

The mouth of a foreign woman is a deep pit; the Lord was angry with him who will fall into it.

15 אולת קשורה בלב נער שבט מוסר ירחיקנה ממנו׃

Foolishness has been bound to the heart of a child, and a rod of discipline shall cause it to flee.

16 עשק דל להרבות לו נתן לעשיר אך למחסור׃

Whoever slanders the poor, so as to augment his own riches, will give it away to one who is richer, and will be in need.

17 הט אזנך ושמע דברי חכמים ולבך תשית לדעתי׃

Incline your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Then apply your heart to my doctrine.

18 כי נעים כי תשמרם בבטנך יכנו יחדו על שפתיך׃

It shall be beautiful to you, if you preserve it in your inner self, and it shall overflow from your lips,

19 להיות ביהוה מבטחך הודעתיך היום אף אתה׃

so that your confidence may be in the Lord. Therefore, I also have revealed it to you this day.

20 הלא כתבתי לך שלשום במועצות ודעת׃

Behold, I have written it for you in three ways, and with meditations and knowledge,

21 להודיעך קשט אמרי אמת להשיב אמרים אמת לשלחיך׃

so that I might reveal to you, firmly and with words of truth, in order to respond about these things to those who sent you.

22 אל תגזל דל כי דל הוא ואל תדכא עני בשער׃

Do not act with violence toward the pauper because he is poor. And do not weary the needy at the gate.

23 כי יהוה יריב ריבם וקבע את קבעיהם נפש׃

For the Lord will judge his case, and he will pierce those who have pierced his soul.

24 אל תתרע את בעל אף ואת איש חמות לא תבוא׃

Do not be willing to be a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man,

25 פן תאלף ארחתו ולקחת מוקש לנפשך׃

lest perhaps you learn his ways, and take up a stumbling block to your soul.

26 אל תהי בתקעי כף בערבים משאות׃

Do not be willing to be with those who certify with their hands, and who offer themselves as a guarantee against debts.

27 אם אין לך לשלם למה יקח משכבך מתחתיך׃

For if you do not have the means to restore, what reason should there be for him to take the covering from your bed?

28 אל תסג גבול עולם אשר עשו אבותיך׃

Do not cross beyond the ancient limits that your fathers have set.

29 חזית איש מהיר במלאכתו לפני מלכים יתיצב בל יתיצב לפני חשכים׃

Have you seen a man swift in his work? He shall stand in the sight of kings, and not before those who are disreputable.