1 כְּרָפְאִי לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וְנִגְלָה עֲוֹן אֶפְרַיִם וְרָעֹות שֹׁמְרֹון כִּי פָעֲלוּ שָׁקֶר וְגַנָּב יָבֹוא פָּשַׁט גְּדוּד בַּחוּץ | 1 Do no evil, and evil will not overtake you; |
2 וּבַל־יֹאמְרוּ לִלְבָבָם כָּל־רָעָתָם זָכָרְתִּי עַתָּה סְבָבוּם מַעַלְלֵיהֶם נֶגֶד פָּנַי הָיוּ | 2 avoid wickedness, and it will turn aside from you. |
3 בְּרָעָתָם יְשַׂמְּחוּ־מֶלֶךְ וּבְכַחֲשֵׁיהֶם שָׂרִים | 3 Sow not in the furrows of injustice, lest you harvest it sevenfold. |
4 כֻּלָּם מְנָאֲפִים כְּמֹו תַנּוּר בֹּעֵרָה מֵאֹפֶה יִשְׁבֹּות מֵעִיר מִלּוּשׁ בָּצֵק עַד־חֻמְצָתֹו | 4 Seek not from the LORD authority, nor from the king a place of honor. |
5 יֹום מַלְכֵּנוּ הֶחֱלוּ שָׂרִים חֲמַת מִיָּיִן מָשַׁךְ יָדֹו אֶת־לֹצְצִים | 5 Parade not your justice before the Lord, and before the king flaunt not your wisdom. |
6 כִּי־קֵרְבוּ כַתַּנּוּר לִבָּם בְּאָרְבָּם כָּל־הַלַּיְלָה יָשֵׁן אֹפֵהֶם בֹּקֶר הוּא בֹעֵר כְּאֵשׁ לֶהָבָה | 6 Seek not to become a judge if you have not strength to root out crime, Or you will show favor to the ruler and mar your integrity. |
7 כֻּלָּם יֵחַמּוּ כַּתַּנּוּר וְאָכְלוּ אֶת־שֹׁפְטֵיהֶם כָּל־מַלְכֵיהֶם נָפָלוּ אֵין־קֹרֵא בָהֶם אֵלָי | 7 Be guilty of no evil before the city's populace, nor disgrace yourself before the assembly. |
8 אֶפְרַיִם בָּעַמִּים הוּא יִתְבֹּולָל אֶפְרַיִם הָיָה עֻגָה בְּלִי הֲפוּכָה | 8 Do not plot to repeat a sin; not even for one will you go unpunished. |
9 אָכְלוּ זָרִים כֹּחֹו וְהוּא לֹא יָדָע גַּם־שֵׂיבָה זָרְקָה בֹּו וְהוּא לֹא יָדָע | 9 Say not: "He will appreciate my many gifts; the Most High will accept my offerings." |
10 וְעָנָה גְאֹון־יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּפָנָיו וְלֹא־שָׁבוּ אֶל־יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם וְלֹא בִקְשֻׁהוּ בְּכָל־זֹאת | 10 Be not impatient in prayers, and neglect not the giving of alms. |
11 וַיְהִי אֶפְרַיִם כְּיֹונָה פֹותָה אֵין לֵב מִצְרַיִם קָרָאוּ אַשּׁוּר הָלָכוּ | 11 Laugh not at an embittered man; be mindful of him who exalts and humbles. |
12 כַּאֲשֶׁר יֵלֵכוּ אֶפְרֹושׂ עֲלֵיהֶם רִשְׁתִּי כְּעֹוף הַשָּׁמַיִם אֹורִידֵם אַיְסִרֵם כְּשֵׁמַע לַעֲדָתָם׃ ס | 12 Plot no mischief against your brother, nor against your friend and companion. |
13 אֹוי לָהֶם כִּי־נָדְדוּ מִמֶּנִּי שֹׁד לָהֶם כִּי־פָשְׁעוּ בִי וְאָנֹכִי אֶפְדֵּם וְהֵמָּה דִּבְּרוּ עָלַי כְּזָבִים | 13 Delight not in telling lie after lie, for it never results in good. |
14 וְלֹא־זָעֲקוּ אֵלַי בְּלִבָּם כִּי יְיֵלִילוּ עַל־מִשְׁכְּבֹותָם עַל־דָּגָן וְתִירֹושׁ יִתְגֹּורָרוּ יָסוּרוּ בִי | 14 Thrust not yourself into the deliberations of princes, and repeat not the words of your prayer. |
15 וַאֲנִי יִסַּרְתִּי חִזַּקְתִּי זְרֹועֹתָם וְאֵלַי יְחַשְּׁבוּ־רָע | 15 Hate not laborious tasks, nor farming, which was ordained by the Most High. |
16 יָשׁוּבוּ ׀ לֹא עָל הָיוּ כְּקֶשֶׁת רְמִיָּה יִפְּלוּ בַחֶרֶב שָׂרֵיהֶם מִזַּעַם לְשֹׁונָם זֹו לַעְגָּם בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם | 16 Do not esteem yourself better than your fellows; remember, his wrath will not delay. |
| 17 More and more, humble your pride; what awaits man is worms. |
| 18 Barter not a friend for money, nor a dear brother for the gold of Ophir. |
| 19 Dismiss not a sensible wife; a gracious wife is more precious than corals. |
| 20 Mistreat not a servant who faithfully serves, nor a laborer who devotes himself to his task. |
| 21 Let a wise servant be dear to you as your own self; refuse him not his freedom. |
| 22 If you have livestock, look after them; if they are dependable, keep them. |
| 23 If you have sons, chastise them; bend their necks from childhood. |
| 24 If you have daughters, keep them chaste, and be not indulgent to them. |
| 25 Giving your daughter in marriage ends a great task; but give her to a worthy man. |
| 26 If you have a wife, let her not seem odious to you; but where there is ill-feeling, trust her not. |
| 27 With your whole heart honor your father; your mother's birthpangs forget not. |
| 28 Remember, of these parents you were born; what can you give them for all they gave you? |
| 29 With all your soul, fear God, revere his priests. |
| 30 With all your strength, love your Creator, forsake not his ministers. |
| 31 Honor God and respect the priest; give him his portion as you have been commanded: First fruits and contributions, due sacrifices and holy offerings. |
| 32 To the poor man also extend your hand, that your blessing may be complete; |
| 33 Be generous to all the living, and withhold not your kindness from the dead. |
| 34 Avoid not those who weep, but mourn with those who mourn; |
| 35 Neglect not to visit the sick-- for these things you will be loved. |
| 36 In whatever you do, remember your last days, and you will never sin. |