מִשְׁלֵי 9
| חכמות בנתה ביתה חצבה עמודיה שבעה׃ | 1 |
Wisdom has built a house for herself, and set up seven pillars.
| טבחה טבחה מסכה יינה אף ערכה שלחנה׃ | 2 |
She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine in a bowl, and prepared her table.
| שלחה נערתיה תקרא על גפי מרמי קרת׃ | 3 |
She has sent forth her servants, calling with a loud proclamation to the feast, saying,
| מי פתי יסר הנה חסר לב אמרה לו׃ | 4 |
Whoso is foolish, let him turn aside to me: and to them that lack understanding she says,
| לכו לחמו בלחמי ושתו ביין מסכתי׃ | 5 |
Come, eat of my bread, and drink wine which I have mingled for you.
| עזבו פתאים וחיו ואשרו בדרך בינה׃ | 6 |
Leave folly, that you may reign for ever; and seek wisdom, and improve understanding by knowledge.
| יסר לץ לקח לו קלון ומוכיח לרשע מומו׃ | 7 |
He that reproves evil [men] shall get dishonour to himself; and he that rebukes an ungodly [man] shall disgrace himself.
| אל תוכח לץ פן ישנאך הוכח לחכם ויאהבך׃ | 8 |
Rebuke not evil [men], lest they should hate you: rebuke a wise [man], and he will love you.
| תן לחכם ויחכם עוד הודע לצדיק ויוסף לקח׃ | 9 |
Give an opportunity to a wise [man], and he will be wiser: instruct a just man, and he will receive more [instruction].
| תחלת חכמה יראת יהוה ודעת קדשים בינה׃ | 10 |
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the counsel of saints is understanding: for to know the law is [the character] of a sound mind.
| כי בי ירבו ימיך ויוסיפו לך שנות חיים׃ | 11 |
For in this way you shall live long, and years of your life shall be added to you.
| אם חכמת חכמת לך ולצת לבדך תשא׃ | 12 |
Son, if you be wise for yourself, you shall also be wise for your neighbours; and if you should prove wicked, you alone will bear the evil. He that stays himself upon falsehoods, attempts to rule the winds, and the same will pursue birds in their fight: for he has forsaken the ways of his own vineyard, and he has caused the axles of his own husbandry to go astray; and he goes through a dry desert, and a [land] appointed to drought, and he gathers barrenness with his hands.
| אשת כסילות המיה פתיות ובל ידעה מה׃ | 13 |
A foolish and bold woman, who knows not modesty, comes to lack a morsel.
| וישבה לפתח ביתה על כסא מרמי קרת׃ | 14 |
She sits at the doors of her house, on a seat openly in the streets,
| לקרא לעברי דרך המישרים ארחותם׃ | 15 |
calling to passers by, and to those that are going right on their ways;
| מי פתי יסר הנה וחסר לב ואמרה לו׃ | 16 |
[saying], Whoso is most senseless of you, let him turn aside to me; and I exhort those that lack prudence, saying,
| מים גנובים ימתקו ולחם סתרים ינעם׃ | 17 |
Take and enjoy secret bread, and the sweet water of theft.
