Proverbs 10-12
Complete Jewish Bible
10 The proverbs of Shlomo:
A wise son is a joy to his father,
but a foolish son is a grief to his mother.
2 No good comes from ill-gotten wealth,
but righteousness rescues from death.
3 Adonai does not let the righteous go hungry,
but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
4 Idle hands bring poverty;
diligent hands bring wealth.
5 A sensible person gathers in summer,
but he who sleeps during harvest is an embarrassment.
6 Blessings are for the head of the righteous,
but the speech of the wicked is a cover for violence.
7 The memory of the righteous will be for a blessing,
but the reputation of the wicked will rot.
8 Wise-hearted people take orders,
but a babbling fool will have trouble.
9 He who walks purely walks securely,
but he who walks in crooked ways will be found out.
10 He who winks his eye [instead of rebuking] causes pain,
yet a babbling fool will have trouble.
11 The speech of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the speech of the wicked is a cover for violence.
12 Hate stirs up disputes,
but love covers all kinds of transgressions.
13 On the lips of the intelligent is found wisdom,
but a stick is in store for the back of a fool.
14 Wise people hide their knowledge,
but when a fool speaks, ruin is imminent.
15 The wealth of the rich is his fortified city;
the ruin of the poor is their poverty.
16 The activity of the righteous is for life;
the income of the wicked is for sin.
17 He who observes discipline is on the way to life;
but he who ignores correction is making a mistake.
18 He who covers up hate has lips that lie,
and anyone who slanders is a fool.
19 When words are many, sin is not lacking;
so he who controls his speech is wise.
20 The tongue of the righteous is like pure silver,
but the mind of the wicked is worth little.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for lack of sense.
22 The blessing of Adonai is what makes people rich,
and he doesn’t mix sorrow with it.
23 To a fool, vileness is like a game,
as is wisdom to a person of discernment.
24 What a fool dreads will overtake him,
but the righteous will be given his desire.
25 When the storm has passed, the wicked are gone;
but the righteous are firmly established forever.
26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes
is a lazy person to his employer.
27 The fear of Adonai adds length to life,
but the years of the wicked are cut short.
28 What the righteous hope for will end in joy;
what the wicked expect will come to nothing.
29 The way of Adonai is a stronghold to the upright
but ruin to those who do evil.
30 The righteous will never be moved,
but the wicked will not remain in the land.
31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
32 The lips of the righteous know what is wanted,
but the mouth of the wicked [knows] deceit.
11 False scales are an abomination to Adonai,
but accurate weights please him.
2 First comes pride, then disgrace;
but with the humble is wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the duplicity of the treacherous destroys them.
4 On the day of wrath, wealth doesn’t help;
but righteousness rescues from death.
5 The righteousness of the innocent levels their way,
but wickedness of the wicked makes them fall.
6 The righteousness of the upright rescues them,
but the treacherous are trapped by their own intrigues.
7 When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes;
what he hopes for from evil comes to nothing.
8 The righteous is delivered from trouble,
and the wicked comes to take his place.
9 With his mouth the hypocrite can ruin his neighbor,
but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;
and when the wicked perish, there is joy.
11 By the blessing of the upright, a city is raised up;
but the words of the wicked tear it down.
12 He who belittles another lacks good sense,
whereas a person of discernment stays silent.
13 A gossip goes around revealing secrets,
but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.
14 Without clever tactics an army is defeated,
and victory comes from much planning.
15 He who guarantees a loan for a stranger will suffer,
but refusing to underwrite is safe.
16 A gracious woman obtains honor;
aggressive men obtain wealth.
17 A man who is kind does himself good,
but the cruel does harm to himself.
18 The profits of the wicked are illusory;
but those who sow righteousness gain a true reward.
19 Genuine righteousness leads to life,
but the pursuer of evil goes to his own death.
20 The crooked-hearted are an abomination to Adonai,
but those sincere in their ways are his delight.
21 Depend on it: the evil will not go unpunished;
but the offspring of the righteous will escape.
22 Like a gold ring in the snout of a pig
is a beautiful woman who lacks good sense.
23 The righteous desire only good,
but what the wicked hope for brings wrath.
24 Some give freely and still get richer,
while others are stingy but grow still poorer.
25 The person who blesses others will prosper;
he who satisfies others will be satisfied himself.
26 The people will curse him who withholds grain;
but if he sells it, blessings will be on his head.
27 He who strives for good obtains favor,
but he who searches for evil — it comes to him!
28 He who trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like sprouting leaves.
29 Those who trouble their families inherit the wind,
and the fool becomes slave to the wise.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and he who is wise wins souls.
31 If the righteous are paid what they deserve here on earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner!
12 He who loves knowledge loves discipline,
but he who hates correction is a boor.
2 A good man obtains Adonai’s favor,
but the schemer his condemnation.
3 No one is made secure by wickedness,
but the roots of the righteous will never be moved.
4 A capable wife is a crown for her husband,
but a shameful one is like rot in his bones.
5 The plans of the righteous are just,
but the schemes of the wicked are deceitful.
6 The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush,
but the speech of the upright rescues them.
7 Once the wicked are down, it’s the end of them;
but the house of the upright endures.
8 A person wins praise in keeping with his common sense,
but a person with a warped mind is treated with contempt.
9 Better to be despised and have a servant
than to boast of one’s status but have nothing to eat.
10 A righteous man takes care of his animal,
but the wicked? Even his compassion is cruel.
11 He who farms his land will have plenty of food,
but he who follows futilities has no sense.
12 The wicked covet the loot of evil men,
but the root of the righteous gives forth of itself.
13 The wicked is trapped by his own sinful speech,
but the righteous finds a way out of trouble.
14 One can be filled with good as the result of one’s words,
and one gets the reward one’s deeds deserve.
15 Fools suppose their way is straight,
but the wise pay attention to advice.
16 A fool’s anger is known at once,
but a cautious person slighted conceals his feelings.
17 He who tells the truth furthers justice,
but a false witness furthers deceit.
18 Idle talk can pierce like a sword,
but the tongue of the wise can heal.
19 Truthful words will stand forever,
lying speech but a moment.
20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
but for those advising peace there is joy.
21 No harm can come to the righteous,
but the wicked are overwhelmed with disaster.
22 Lying lips are an abomination to Adonai,
but those who deal faithfully are his delight.
23 A cautious person conceals knowledge,
but the heart of a fool blurts out folly.
24 The diligent will rule,
while the lazy will be put to forced labor.
25 Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs him down,
but a kind word cheers him up.
26 The righteous guides his friend’s way rightly,
but the way of the wicked will lead them astray.
27 A lazy man doesn’t roast what he hunted;
but when a man is diligent, his wealth is precious.
28 In the road of righteousness is life;
no death is in its pathway.
Mishle 10-12
Orthodox Jewish Bible
10 The mishle (proverbs) of Sh’lomo. A ben chacham maketh glad an av, but a ben kesil is the grief of his em.
2 Otzarot resha profit nothing, but tzedakah (righteousness) saveth from mavet.
3 Hashem will not suffer the nefesh of the tzaddik to famish, but He thwarteth the craving of the resha’im.
4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a negligent palm, but the yad of the diligent maketh wealth.
5 He that gathereth in kayitz is a ben maskil (son of wisdom), but he that sleepeth in katzir (harvest) is a ben that causeth shame.
6 Brakhot are upon the head of the tzaddik, but chamas covereth the peh (mouth) of the resha’im.
7 The memory of the tzaddik is as bracha, but the shem resha’im shall rot.
8 The chacham lev will receive mitzvot, but one with foolish sfatayim (lips) shall be thrust down.
9 He that walketh uprightly walketh securely, but he that perverteth his drakhim shall be known.
10 He that winketh with the ayin causeth trouble, but one with foolish sfatayim shall come to ruin.
11 The peh (mouth) of a tzaddik is a Makor Chayyim, but chamas covereth the peh (mouth) of the resha’im.
12 Sin’ah (hatred) stirreth up medanim (dissensions), but ahavah covereth all peysha’im.
13 In the sfatayim (lips) of him that hath understanding chochmah is found, but a shevet (rod) is for the back of him that is devoid of lev [understanding].
14 Chachamim treasure up da’as (knowledge); but the peh (mouth) of the foolish is near destruction.
15 The oisher’s wealth is his strong city; the destruction of the poor ones is their poverty.
16 The wage of the tzaddik leadeth to Chayyim; the wage of the rashah is for chattat [Ro 6:23].
17 He is in the orach (path) of Chayyim that is shomer over musar, but he that abandoneth tokhakhat (reproof) goes astray.
18 He that hideth sin’ah with sfatayim sheker, and he that uttereth a slander, is a kesil (fool).
19 In the multitude of devarim there wanteth not sin, but he that restraineth his sfatayim (lips) is maskil (wise).
20 The lashon of the tzaddik is as choice kesef; the lev of the resha’im is of little worth.
21 The sfatayim (lips) of the tzaddik feed rabbim (many), but fools die for lack of lev [of chochmah].
22 The Birkat Hashem, it maketh wealthy, and He addeth no sorrow with it.
23 It is as sport to a kesil to do zimmah (evil design), but an ish tevunah (man of understanding) hath chochmah.
24 What the rashah dreads, it shall come upon him, but the ta’avat tzaddikim shall be granted.
25 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the rashah no more, but the tzaddik is a yesod olam (an everlasting foundation).
26 As chometz to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the atzel (sluggard, lazy one) to them that send him.
27 The Yirat Hashem prolongeth yamim; but the shanot of the resha’im shall be cut short.
28 The prospect of the tzaddikim shall be simchah, but the tikveh of the resha’im shall perish.
29 The Derech Hashem is maoz to the blameless, but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
30 The tzaddik shall never be removed, but the resha’im shall not inhabit Eretz.
31 The peh (mouth) of the tzaddik bringeth forth chochmah, but the lashon tahpukhot (tongue of perversion, distortion) shall be cut off.
32 The sfatayim (lips) of the tzaddik know what is ratzon (acceptable), but the peh (mouth) of the resha’im speaketh tahpukhot (perversity).
11 A balance of mirmah (dishonesty, deception) is abomination to Hashem, but an even shelemah (perfect stone, just weight) is His ratzon.
2 When zadon (pride) cometh, then cometh kalon (shame, disgrace), but with the humble is chochmah.
3 The integrity of the yesharim (upright ones) shall guide them, but the deceit of the bogedim (treacherous ones) shall destroy them.
4 Hon (riches) profit not in the yom evrah (day of wrath), but tzedakah (righteousness) delivereth from mavet.
5 The tzidkat tamim (righteousness of the blameless) shall make his derech straight, but the rasha shall fall by his own evil.
6 The tzidkat yesharim shall deliver them, but bogedim (treacherous ones) shall be caught in their own evil desire.
7 At the mot adam rasha, his tikveh shall perish, and the expectation of his [surviving] strong ones perisheth.
8 The tzaddik is delivered out of tzoros, but the rashah cometh on to take his place.
9 A chanef (hypocrite, man without G-d) with his peh (mouth) destroyeth his re’a, but through da’as (knowledge) shall the tzaddikim be delivered.
10 When it goeth well with the tzaddikim, the city rejoiceth, and when the resha’im perish, there is rinnah (joyful shouting).
11 By the birkat yesharim the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the peh (mouth) of the resha’im.
12 He that is devoid of lev [of understanding] despiseth his re’a, but an ish tevunot holdeth his peace.
13 A bringer of rekhil (gossip, rekhilut) revealeth sod (secrets, confidences), but he that is of a ne’eman ruach concealeth the matter.
14 Where no strategic policy is, the nation falls, but in the multitude of yoetz (counsellors, advisors) there is teshu’ah (victory, safety).
15 He that is guaranty for a zar shall suffer for it, and he that hateth pledging collateral is secure.
16 An eshet chen retaineth kavod (honor, respect), but ruthless men retain osher.
17 The ish chesed (merciful man) doeth good to his own nefesh, but he that is cruel harmeth his own self.
18 The reshah worketh a wage of sheker, but to him that soweth tzedakah (righteousness) shall be a sachar emes (sure reward).
19 As tzedakah (righteousness) leadeth to Chayyim, so he that pursueth ra’ah pursueth it to his own mot (death).
20 They that are of a perverse lev are an abomination to Hashem, but such as are upright in their derech are His delight.
21 Though yad join in yad, the rah shall not go unpunished, but the zera of the tzaddikim shall be delivered.
22 As a ring of zahav in the snout of a chazir, so is an isha yafah which is without ta’am (judgment, discretion).
23 The ta’avat tzaddikim is only tov, but the tikveh of the resha’im is wrath.
24 There is that which scattereth, and yet increaseth more; and there is that which withholdeth more than is yosher, but it leadeth to machsor (want, need, poverty).
25 The nefesh brocha (generous person) shall be made to prosper, and he that watereth shall be refreshed also himself.
26 He that withholdeth grain, the people shall curse him, but brocha shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
27 He that diligently seeketh tov procureth ratzon, but he that seeketh ra’ah, it shall come unto him.
28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the tzaddik shall flourish like the green leaf.
29 He that troubleth his own bais shall inherit the ruach (wind), and the fool shall be eved to the chacham lev.
30 The p’ri tzedek is Etz Chayyim, and he that winneth nefashot is chacham (wise).
31 If the tzaddik are recompensed on ha’aretz (the earth), much more the rashah and the choteh (sinner).
12 He who loveth musar loveth da’as, but he that hateth tokhakhat (reproof, correction) is ba’ar (a boorish, ignorant person).
2 A tov (good man) obtaineth ratzon (favor) from Hashem, but an ish mezimor (a man of crafty devices) will He condemn.
3 An adam shall not be made secure by resha, but the shoresh tzaddikim (root of the righteous ones) shall not be moved. [T.N. Cf 12:4 and 31:10.]
4 An aishes chayil (a woman of valor, an excellent wife) is an ateret to her ba’al, but she that bringeth shame is like rottenness in his atzmot.
5 The thoughts of the tzaddikim are right, but the tachbulot (guidance) of the resha’im are mirmah (deceitful).
6 The devarim of the resha’im are to lie in wait for dahm, but the peh (mouth) of the yesharim (upright ones) shall deliver them.
7 The resha’im are overthrown, and are no more, but the bais tzaddikim shall stand.
8 An ish shall be commended according to his seichel, but he that is of a perverse mind shall be despised.
9 He that is lightly esteemed, and hath an eved, is better than he that honoreth himself, and lacketh lechem.
10 A tzaddik regardeth the nefesh (life) of his behemah (beast), but the compassion of the reshaim is cruel.
11 He that worketh his adamah shall be satisfied with lechem, but he that chaseth after worthless persons is devoid of lev [of understanding].
12 The resha coveteth the catch of ra’im (evil men), but the shoresh (root) of the tzaddikim yieldeth fruit.
13 The rah is ensnared by the peysha (transgression) of his sfatayim (lips), but the tzaddik shall escape from tzoros.
14 An ish shall be filled with tov by the fruit of his peh (mouth), and the recompence of the hands of adam shall be rendered unto him.
15 The derech of a fool is yashar (right) in his own eynayim, but he that payeth heed unto etzah is chacham (wise).
16 A fool’s wrath is known immediately, but a prudent man covereth kalon (shame, disgrace, shameful nakedness).
17 He that speaketh emunah declareth tzedek, but an ed shekarim, mirmah.
18 There is one who speaketh rash words like the wounding of a cherev, but the lashon of the chachamim promotes marpeh (healing).
19 The lip of emes shall be established forever, but a lashon sheker is but for a moment.
20 Mirmah (deceit) is in the lev of them that plot rah, but to the counsellors of shalom is simchah.
21 There shall no harm befall the tzaddik, but the resha’im shall be filled with rah.
22 Sfatayim (lips) of sheker are to’evah to Hashem, but they that deal emunah (faithfully, truthfully) are His delight.
23 A prudent man concealeth da’as, but the lev kesilim (mind of fools) preaches folly.
24 The yad of the kharutzim (diligent ones) shall rule, but the remiyyah (deceitfully lazy man) shall be put to forced labor.
25 Anxiety in the lev ish causeth depression, but a davar tov cheers it up.
26 The tzaddik prevaileth advantageously over his neighbor, but the derech resha’im leads them astray.
27 The remiyyah (deceitfully lazy man) roasteth not that which he took in hunting, but diligence is the precious possession of man.
28 In the orach tzedakah (way of righteousness) is chayyim, and in the derech netivot (pathway) thereof there is no mavet.
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
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