1 טוב רש הולך בתמו מעקש שפתיו והוא כסיל | 1 Better is the poor who walks in his simplicity, than the rich who twists his lips and is unwise. |
2 גם בלא דעת נפש לא טוב ואץ ברגלים חוטא | 2 Where there is no knowledge of the soul, there is no good. And whoever hurries with his feet will stumble. |
3 אולת אדם תסלף דרכו ועל יהוה יזעף לבו | 3 The foolishness of a man undermines his steps. And then he seethes in his soul against God. |
4 הון יסיף רעים רבים ודל מרעהו יפרד | 4 Riches adds many friends. But from the pauper, even those whom he had become separated. |
5 עד שקרים לא ינקה ויפיח כזבים לא ימלט | 5 A false witness shall not go unpunished. And whoever speaks lies will not escape. |
6 רבים יחלו פני נדיב וכל הרע לאיש מתן | 6 Many honor the character of one who is powerful, and there are friends for a giver of gifts. |
7 כל אחי רש שנאהו אף כי מרעהו רחקו ממנו מרדף אמרים לא המה | 7 The brothers of the poor man hate him. Moreover, even his friends have withdrawn far from him. Whoever pursues only words shall have nothing. |
8 קנה לב אהב נפשו שמר תבונה למצא טוב | 8 But whoever possesses reason loves his own soul. And one who guards prudence shall discover good things. |
9 עד שקרים לא ינקה ויפיח כזבים יאבד | 9 A false witness shall not go unpunished. And whoever speaks lies will perish. |
10 לא נאוה לכסיל תענוג אף כי לעבד משל בשרים | 10 Fine things are not fitting for the foolish, nor is it fitting for a servant to rule over princes. |
11 שכל אדם האריך אפו ותפארתו עבר על פשע | 11 The doctrine of a man is known through patience. And his glory is to pass beyond iniquities. |
12 נהם ככפיר זעף מלך וכטל על עשב רצונו | 12 Like the roaring of a lion, so also is the wrath of a king. And his cheerfulness is like the dew upon the grass. |
13 הות לאביו בן כסיל ודלף טרד מדיני אשה | 13 A foolish son is the grief of his father. And an argumentative wife is like a roof that is continually leaking. |
14 בית והון נחלת אבות ומיהוה אשה משכלת | 14 A house and its riches are given by parents. But a prudent wife is particularly from the Lord. |
15 עצלה תפיל תרדמה ונפש רמיה תרעב | 15 Laziness sends one into a deep sleep, and a dissolute soul will go hungry. |
16 שמר מצוה שמר נפשו בוזה דרכיו יומת | 16 Whoever guards a commandment guards his own soul. But whoever neglects his own way will die. |
17 מלוה יהוה חונן דל וגמלו ישלם לו | 17 Whoever is merciful to the poor lends to the Lord. And he will repay him for his efforts. |
18 יסר בנך כי יש תקוה ואל המיתו אל תשא נפשך | 18 Teach your son; do not despair. But do not set your soul toward putting him to death. |
19 גרל חמה נשא ענש כי אם תציל ועוד תוסף | 19 Whoever is impatient will sustain damage. And when it has been taken away, he will set up another. |
20 שמע עצה וקבל מוסר למען תחכם באחריתך | 20 Listen to counsel and take up discipline, so that you may be wise in your latter days. |
21 רבות מחשבות בלב איש ועצת יהוה היא תקום | 21 There are many intentions in the heart of a man. But the will of the Lord shall stand firm. |
22 תאות אדם חסדו וטוב רש מאיש כזב | 22 An indigent man is merciful. And a pauper is better than a deceitful man. |
23 יראת יהוה לחיים ושבע ילין בל יפקד רע | 23 The fear of the Lord is unto life. And he shall linger in plentitude, without being visited by disaster. |
24 טמן עצל ידו בצלחת גם אל פיהו לא ישיבנה | 24 The lazy conceals his hand under his arm, and he will not so much as bring it to his mouth. |
25 לץ תכה ופתי יערם והוכיח לנבון יבין דעת | 25 When the pestilent are scourged, the foolish will become wiser. But if you chastise the wise, he will understand discipline. |
26 משדד אב יבריח אם בן מביש ומחפיר | 26 Whoever afflicts his father and flees from his mother is disreputable and unhappy. |
27 חדל בני לשמע מוסר לשגות מאמרי דעת | 27 Son, do not cease listening to doctrine, and do not be ignorant of the sermons of knowledge. |
28 עד בליעל יליץ משפט ופי רשעים יבלע און | 28 An unjust witness ridicules judgment. And the mouth of the impious devours iniquity. |
29 נכונו ללצים שפטים ומהלמות לגו כסילים | 29 Judgments are prepared for those who ridicule. And striking hammers are prepared for the bodies of the foolish. |