1 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. |
2 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. |
3 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. |
4 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. |
5 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. |
6 שפתי כסיל יבאו בריב ופיו למהלמות יקרא | 6 The lips of the foolish meddle in disputes. And his mouth provokes conflicts. |
7 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. |
8 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. |
9 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. |
10 מגדל עז שם יהוה בו ירוץ צדיק ונשגב | 10 The name of the Lord is very strong tower. The just one rushes to it, and he shall be exalted. |
11 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. |
12 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. |
13 משיב דבר בטרם ישמע אולת היא לו וכלמה | 13 Whoever responds before he listens, demonstrates himself to be foolish and deserving of confusion. |
14 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? |
15 לב נבון יקנה דעת ואזן חכמים תבקש דעת | 15 A prudent heart shall possess knowledge. And the ear of the wise seeks doctrine. |
16 מתן אדם ירחיב לו ולפני גדלים ינחנו | 16 A man’s gift expands his way and makes space for him before leaders. |
17 צדיק הראשון בריבו יבא רעהו וחקרו | 17 The just is the first accuser of himself; his friend arrives and shall investigate him. |
18 מדינים ישבית הגורל ובין עצומים יפריד | 18 Casting a lot suppresses contentions and passes judgment, even among the powerful. |
19 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. |
20 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. |
21 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. |
22 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. |
23 תחנונים ידבר רש ועשיר יענה עזות | 23 The poor will speak with supplications. And the rich will express themselves roughly. |
24 איש רעים להתרעע ויש אהב דבק מאח | 24 A man amiable to society shall be more friendly than a brother. |