Tanach · Writings
Proverbs 18/משלי י״ח
אלְֽ֭תַאֲוָה יְבַקֵּ֣שׁ נִפְרָ֑ד בְּכׇל־תּ֝וּשִׁיָּ֗ה יִתְגַּלָּֽע׃
1a Those who isolate themselves pursue their desires;They disdain all competence.
בלֹא־יַחְפֹּ֣ץ כְּ֭סִיל בִּתְבוּנָ֑ה כִּ֝֗י אִֽם־בְּהִתְגַּלּ֥וֹת לִבּֽוֹ׃
2Fools do not desire understanding,But only to air their thoughts.
גבְּֽבוֹא־רָ֭שָׁע בָּ֣א גַם־בּ֑וּז וְֽעִם־קָל֥וֹן חֶרְפָּֽה׃
3Along with the wicked comes derision,And with rogues, contempt.
דמַ֣יִם עֲ֭מֻקִּים דִּבְרֵ֣י פִי־אִ֑ישׁ נַ֥חַל נֹ֝בֵ֗עַ מְק֣וֹר חׇכְמָֽה׃
4The words a person speaks are deep waters,A flowing stream, a fountain of wisdom.
השְׂאֵ֣ת פְּנֵי־רָשָׁ֣ע לֹא־ט֑וֹב לְהַטּ֥וֹת צַ֝דִּ֗יק בַּמִּשְׁפָּֽט׃
5It is not right to be partial to the guiltyAnd subvert the innocent in judgment.
ושִׂפְתֵ֣י כְ֭סִיל יָבֹ֣אוּ בְרִ֑יב וּ֝פִ֗יו לְֽמַהֲלֻמ֥וֹת יִקְרָֽא׃
6The words of fools lead to strife;Their speech invites blows.
זפִּֽי־כְ֭סִיל מְחִתָּה־ל֑וֹ וּ֝שְׂפָתָ֗יו מוֹקֵ֥שׁ נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃
7The fools’ speech is their ruin;Their words are a trap for them.
חדִּבְרֵ֣י נִ֭רְגָּן כְּמִֽתְלַהֲמִ֑ים וְ֝הֵ֗ם יָרְד֥וּ חַדְרֵי־בָֽטֶן׃
8The words of a grumbler are bruising;b They penetrate one’s inmost parts.
טגַּ֭ם מִתְרַפֶּ֣ה בִמְלַאכְתּ֑וֹ אָ֥ח ה֝֗וּא לְבַ֣עַל מַשְׁחִֽית׃
9One who is slack at workIs akinc to a vandal.
ימִגְדַּל־עֹ֭ז שֵׁ֣ם יְהֹוָ֑ה בּֽוֹ־יָר֖וּץ צַדִּ֣יק וְנִשְׂגָּֽב׃
10
GOD’s name is a tower of strengthTo which the righteous run and are safe.
יאה֣וֹן עָ֭שִׁיר קִרְיַ֣ת עֻזּ֑וֹ וּכְחוֹמָ֥ה נִ֝שְׂגָּבָ֗ה בְּמַשְׂכִּתֽוֹ׃
11The wealth of the rich is their fortress;In their fancyd it is a protective wall.
יבלִפְנֵי־שֶׁ֭בֶר יִגְבַּ֣הּ לֶב־אִ֑ישׁ וְלִפְנֵ֖י כָב֣וֹד עֲנָוָֽה׃
12Before ruin a person’s heart is proud;Humility goes before honor.
יגמֵשִׁ֣יב דָּ֭בָר בְּטֶ֣רֶם יִשְׁמָ֑ע אִוֶּ֥לֶת הִיא־ל֝֗וֹ וּכְלִמָּֽה׃
13To answer before listening—This is foolish and disgraceful.
ידרֽוּחַ־אִ֭ישׁ יְכַלְכֵּ֣ל מַחֲלֵ֑הוּ וְר֥וּחַ נְ֝כֵאָ֗ה מִ֣י יִשָּׂאֶֽנָּה׃
14A person’s spirit can endure an illness;But low spirits—who can bear them?
טולֵ֣ב נָ֭בוֹן יִקְנֶה־דָּ֑עַת וְאֹ֥זֶן חֲ֝כָמִ֗ים תְּבַקֶּשׁ־דָּֽעַת׃
15The mind of an intelligent person acquires knowledge;The ears of the wise seek out knowledge.
טזמַתָּ֣ן אָ֭דָם יַרְחִ֣יב ל֑וֹ וְלִפְנֵ֖י גְדֹלִ֣ים יַנְחֶֽנּוּ׃
16A gift eases a person’s wayAnd gives access to the great.
יזצַדִּ֣יק הָרִאשׁ֣וֹן בְּרִיב֑וֹ (יבא) [וּבָֽא־]רֵ֝עֵ֗הוּ וַחֲקָרֽוֹ׃
17The first to speak in court seems rightTill the other party cross-examines.
יחמִ֭דְיָנִים יַשְׁבִּ֣ית הַגּוֹרָ֑ל וּבֵ֖ין עֲצוּמִ֣ים יַפְרִֽיד׃
18The lot puts an end to strifeAnd separates those locked in dispute.
יטאָ֗ח נִפְשָׁ֥ע מִקִּרְיַת־עֹ֑ז (ומדונים) [וּ֝מִדְיָנִ֗ים] כִּבְרִ֥יחַ אַרְמֽוֹן׃
19A sibling offended is more formidable than a stronghold;Such strife is like the bars of a fortress.
כמִפְּרִ֣י פִי־אִ֭ישׁ תִּשְׂבַּ֣ע בִּטְנ֑וֹ תְּבוּאַ֖ת שְׂפָתָ֣יו יִשְׂבָּֽע׃
20A man’s belly is filled by the fruit of his mouth;He will be filled by the produce of his lips.
כאמָ֣וֶת וְ֭חַיִּים בְּיַד־לָשׁ֑וֹן וְ֝אֹהֲבֶ֗יהָ יֹאכַ֥ל פִּרְיָֽהּ׃
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue;Those who love it will eat its fruit.
כבמָצָ֣א אִ֭שָּׁה מָ֣צָא ט֑וֹב וַיָּ֥פֶק רָ֝צ֗וֹן מֵיְהֹוָֽה׃
22He who finds a wife has found happinessAnd has won GOD’s favor.
כגתַּחֲנוּנִ֥ים יְדַבֶּר־רָ֑שׁ וְ֝עָשִׁ֗יר יַעֲנֶ֥ה עַזּֽוֹת׃
23The pauper speaks in terms of mercy;The rich person’s answer is harsh.
כדאִ֣ישׁ רֵ֭עִים לְהִתְרֹעֵ֑עַ וְיֵ֥שׁ אֹ֝הֵ֗ב דָּבֵ֥ק מֵאָֽח׃
24There are companions to keep one company,And there is a friend more devoted than a sibling.