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Mishle 19-21
Orthodox Jewish Bible
Mishle 19-21
Orthodox Jewish Bible
19 Better is the poor that walketh in his tohm (integrity, guilelessness), than he that is perverse in his sfatayim (lips), and is a kesil (fool).
2 Also, that the nefesh (desire) be without da’as, it is not tov, and he that hasteth with his raglayim (feet) sinneth.
3 The folly of adam maketh his derech crooked, yet his lev rages against Hashem.
4 Wealth maketh many friends, but the dal (poor) is separated from his re’a (neighbor).
5 An ed shekarim (false witness) shall not go unpunished, and he that speaketh kezavim (lies) shall not escape.
6 Rabbim (many) will entreat the favor of the ruler, and every ish is the re’a (friend) to him that giveth mattan (gifts).
7 All the kin of the rahsh (pauper) do hate him; how much more does his friend avoid him? He pursueth them with words, yet they are not there.
8 He that getteth lev [of understanding] loveth his own nefesh; he that is shomer over tevunah (understanding) shall find tov.
9 An ed shekarim (false witness) shall not go unpunished, and he that speaketh kezavim (lies) shall perish.
10 Luxury is not fitting for a kesil (fool); much less for an eved to have rule over sarim.
11 The seichel adam deferreth his anger, and it is his tiferet (glory) to pass over a peysha (transgression).
12 The wrath of a melech is like the roaring of a lion, but his ratzon (favor) is as tal (dew) upon the esev (grass).
13 A ben kesil is the calamity of aviv (his father), and the contentions of an isha are a constant dripping [i.e., an irritant].
14 Bais and hon (wealth) are the nachalah avot, and a prudent isha (wife) is from Hashem.
15 Atzlah (slothfulness, laziness) casteth into a tardemah (deep sleep), and a nefesh remiyyah (a deceitfully lazy soul) shall suffer hunger.
16 He that is shomer over the mitzvah is shomer over his own nefesh, but he that is reckless in his drakhim shall die.
17 He that hath compassion on the dal (poor) lendeth unto Hashem; and for his benefits He will repay him.
18 Chasten binecha (thy son) while there is yet tikvah, and give not in to thy nefesh (desire) to kill him.
19 One of gadol chemah (great temper) shall bear onesh (punishment), for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.
20 Hear etzah, and accept musar, that thou mayest be wise in thy acharit (latter end, future).
21 There are many plans in a lev ish; nevertheless it is the etzah of Hashem that shall stand.
22 The ta’avah (what is desirable) in an adam is his chesed, and a rahsh (pauper) is better than an ish kazav (liar).
23 The Yirat Hashem tendeth to chayyim, and he that hath it shall rest secure; he shall not be visited by rah.
24 An atzel (sluggard, lazy one) thrusteth his yad into his dish, and will not so much as bring it back to his peh (mouth) again.
25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn what is prudent, and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand da’as.
26 He that mistreateth his av, and driveth out his em, is a ben that causeth shame, and bringeth cherpah.
27 Cease, beni (my son), to hear musar and thou shalt go astray from the words of da’as.
28 An ed beliya’al (corrupt witness) scorneth mishpat (justice), and the peh (mouth) of the resha’im devoureth iniquity.
29 Shefatim (penalties, judgments) are prepared for scoffers, and for kesilim, beatings for the back.
20 The yayin is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; and whosoever is seduced to be led astray thereby is not wise.
2 The wrath of a melech is as the roaring of a lion; he who provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own nefesh.
3 It is kavod for an ish to cease from strife, but any fool can start a quarrel.
4 The atzel (sluggard, lazy one) will not plow by reason of choref (winter, cold); therefore shall he beg at katzir (harvest), and have nothing.
5 Etzah (purpose; see Yn 2:24-25 ) in the lev ish is like deep mayim, but an ish tevunah will draw it out.
6 Rav adam will proclaim every one his own chesed, but an ish emunim (faithful man, loyal man) who can find one?
7 The tzaddik walketh in his tohm (integrity, guilelessness); his banim after him are blessed.
8 A melech that sitteth in the kisse din (throne of judgment) winnows out all rah with his eynayim.
9 Who can say, I have made my lev pure, I am tahor from my chattat?
10 Differing weights, and differing measures, both of them are alike to’evah to Hashem.
11 Even a na’ar (child) is known by his ways, whether his conduct be pure, and whether it be yashar (right).
12 The hearing ozen, and the seeing ayin, Hashem hath made even both of them.
13 Love not sheynah (sleep), lest thou come to poverty; open thine eynayim, and thou shalt have enough lechem.
14 It is good for nothing, it is naught, saith the koneh (buyer), but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 There is zahav, and a multitude of rubies, but the sfatayim (lips) of da’as are a precious jewel.
16 Take his garment that is guaranty for a zar (stranger), and hold it as his pledge for a nokhriyah (foreign woman, strange woman, seductress).
17 Lechem from sheker (deceit) is sweet to an ish, but afterwards his peh (mouth) shall be filled with gravel.
18 Every plan is established by etzah, and with tachbulot (guidance) wage milchamah.
19 He that goeth about as a rakhil (gossip, slanderer, talebearer) revealeth secrets; therefore associate not with the babbler.
20 He who curseth aviv or immo, his ner (lamp) shall be put out in deep choshech.
21 A nachalah (inheritance) may be gotten hastily at the rishonah (beginning); but the acharit (latter end) thereof shall not have a bracha.
22 Say not thou, I will pay back rah; but wait on Hashem, and He shall save thee.
23 Differing weights are a to’evah unto Hashem, and scales of mirmah (deceit) are not tov.
24 The steps of a gever are from Hashem; how can an adam then understand his own derech (way, life’s course)?
25 It is a mokesh adam to devote rashly as kodesh, and after nedarim (vows) to reconsider his consecration.
26 A melech chacham winnows out the resha’im and bringeth the ofan (threshing wheel) over them.
27 The neshamah of adam is the ner (light) of Hashem, searching all the innermost beten.
28 Chesed and emes guard the Melech, and his kisse is upheld by chesed.
29 The tiferet (glory) of bochurim is their ko’ach (strength), and the hadar (splendor) of zekenim is the silvery head.
30 Blows that wound cleanseth away rah; so do beatings the innermost beten.
21 The lev melech is in the yad Hashem, as the channels of mayim; He directeth it wherever He will.
2 Every derech ish is yashar (right) in his own eynayim, but Hashem weigheth the hearts.
3 To do tzedakah and mishpat is more acceptable to Hashem than zevach.
4 A high and haughty eye, and a proud lev—ner resha’im (the lamp of the wicked ones)—are chattat (sin).
5 The plans of the kharutz (diligent) lead surely to profit; but of every one that is hasty surely to machsor (poverty, want).
6 The getting of otzarot by a lashon sheker is hevel (vain, empty, meaningless) and fleeting for them that seek mavet.
7 The violence of the resha’im shall drag them away; because they refuse to do mishpat (justice).
8 The derech of the guilty ish is hafachpach (crooked, tortuous), but as for the pure, his conduct is yashar (right).
9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the gag (roof), than with a quarrelsome isha in a shared bais.
10 The nefesh of the rashah desireth rah; his re’a findeth no mercy in his eynayim.
11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise, and when insight is disclosed to the chacham, he receiveth da’as.
12 The tzaddik (righteous one) wisely considereth the bais of the rashah, and hurleth the resha’im to rah.
13 He who stoppeth his ozen at the cry of the dal (poor), he also shall cry out himself, but shall not be heard.
14 A mattan (gift) in secret pacifieth af (anger), and a shochad (bribe) in the kheyk (bosom, i.e., a concealed bribe) strong wrath.
15 It is simchah to the tzaddik to do mishpat, but terror for the po’alei aven (workers of iniquity).
16 The adam that wandereth astray from the derech haseichel (road of understanding) shall rest in the kahal of the refa’im (congregation of the dead).
17 The ohev simchah (lover of pleasure) shall be an ish machsor (man of poverty, want, shortage); he that loveth yayin and shemen shall not be rich.
18 The reshah shall be a kofer (ransom) for the tzaddik, and the boged (the unfaithful) for the yesharim.
19 It is better to dwell in eretz midbar, than with a quarrelsome and an angry isha.
20 There is otzar to be desired and shemen in the naveh (dwelling) of the chacham; but a kesil adam squanders it.
21 He that pursueth tzedakah and chesed findeth chayyim, tzedakah, and kavod.
22 A chacham scaleth the city of the gibborim (mighty ones), and casteth down the trusted stronghold thereof.
23 He who is shomer over his peh (mouth) and his lashon (tongue) is shomer over his nefesh from tzoros.
24 Proud and haughty scoffer is shmo, who acteth in superfluity of zadon (pride).
25 The ta’avah (desire, craving) of the atzel (sluggard, lazy one) killeth him, for his yadayim refuse to work.
26 He craveth greedily kol hayom, but the tzaddik giveth and spareth not.
27 The zevach of the resha’im is to’evah (detestable, abomination); how much more, when he bringeth it with zimmah (evil intent).
28 An ed kezavim (lying witness) shall perish, but the ish that heareth [emes] speaketh lanetzach (unto eternity).
29 An ish rasha defiantly hardeneth his face, but as for the yashar (upright) he maketh his derech (road) sure.
30 There is no chochmah nor tevunah (understanding) nor etzah against Hashem.
31 The sus is prepared against the yom milchamah, but teshuah (victory, deliverance) is from Hashem.
Proverbs 19-21
New International Version
Proverbs 19-21
New International Version
19 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
than a fool whose lips are perverse.(A)
2 Desire without knowledge is not good—
how much more will hasty feet miss the way!(B)
4 Wealth attracts many friends,
but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.(E)
7 The poor are shunned by all their relatives—
how much more do their friends avoid them!(K)
Though the poor pursue them with pleading,
they are nowhere to be found.[a](L)
8 The one who gets wisdom loves life;
the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.(M)
9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and whoever pours out lies will perish.(N)
10 It is not fitting for a fool(O) to live in luxury—
how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!(P)
11 A person’s wisdom yields patience;(Q)
it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.
13 A foolish child is a father’s ruin,(U)
and a quarrelsome wife is like
the constant dripping of a leaky roof.(V)
15 Laziness brings on deep sleep,
and the shiftless go hungry.(Y)
16 Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life,
but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.(Z)
17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,(AA)
and he will reward them for what they have done.(AB)
18 Discipline your children, for in that there is hope;
do not be a willing party to their death.(AC)
19 A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty;
rescue them, and you will have to do it again.
20 Listen to advice and accept discipline,(AD)
and at the end you will be counted among the wise.(AE)
21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.(AF)
22 What a person desires is unfailing love[b];
better to be poor than a liar.
23 The fear of the Lord leads to life;
then one rests content, untouched by trouble.(AG)
24 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
he will not even bring it back to his mouth!(AH)
25 Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence;
rebuke the discerning,(AI) and they will gain knowledge.(AJ)
26 Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother(AK)
is a child who brings shame and disgrace.
27 Stop listening to instruction, my son,(AL)
and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 A corrupt witness mocks at justice,
and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.(AM)
29 Penalties are prepared for mockers,
and beatings for the backs of fools.(AN)
2 A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;(AS)
those who anger him forfeit their lives.(AT)
5 The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,(AY)
but one who has insight draws them out.
6 Many claim to have unfailing love,
but a faithful person who can find?(AZ)
10 Differing weights and differing measures—
the Lord detests them both.(BG)
11 Even small children are known by their actions,
so is their conduct really pure(BH) and upright?
12 Ears that hear and eyes that see—
the Lord has made them both.(BI)
13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;(BJ)
stay awake and you will have food to spare.
14 “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer—
then goes off and boasts about the purchase.
15 Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
hold it in pledge(BK) if it is done for an outsider.(BL)
18 Plans are established by seeking advice;
so if you wage war, obtain guidance.(BO)
19 A gossip betrays a confidence;(BP)
so avoid anyone who talks too much.
20 If someone curses their father or mother,(BQ)
their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.(BR)
21 An inheritance claimed too soon
will not be blessed at the end.
22 Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”(BS)
Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.(BT)
23 The Lord detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales do not please him.(BU)
24 A person’s steps are directed(BV) by the Lord.(BW)
How then can anyone understand their own way?(BX)
25 It is a trap to dedicate something rashly
and only later to consider one’s vows.(BY)
26 A wise king winnows out the wicked;
he drives the threshing wheel over them.(BZ)
29 The glory of young men is their strength,
gray hair the splendor of the old.(CE)
21 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water
that he channels toward all who please him.(CH)
2 A person may think their own ways are right,
but the Lord weighs the heart.(CI)
3 To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.(CJ)
4 Haughty eyes(CK) and a proud heart—
the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.
5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit(CL)
as surely as haste leads to poverty.
7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away,(CN)
for they refuse to do what is right.
8 The way of the guilty is devious,(CO)
but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
9 Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.(CP)
10 The wicked crave evil;
their neighbors get no mercy from them.
11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.(CQ)
14 A gift given in secret soothes anger,
and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.(CU)
15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
but terror to evildoers.(CV)
16 Whoever strays from the path of prudence
comes to rest in the company of the dead.(CW)
17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.(CX)
18 The wicked become a ransom(CY) for the righteous,
and the unfaithful for the upright.
19 Better to live in a desert
than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.(CZ)
20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
but fools gulp theirs down.
22 One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty(DC)
and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.
24 The proud and arrogant person(DF)—“Mocker” is his name—
behaves with insolent fury.
25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,(DG)
because his hands refuse to work.
26 All day long he craves for more,
but the righteous(DH) give without sparing.(DI)
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable(DJ)—
how much more so when brought with evil intent!(DK)
29 The wicked put up a bold front,
but the upright give thought to their ways.(DN)
31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the Lord.(DQ)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 19:7 The meaning of the Hebrew for this sentence is uncertain.
- Proverbs 19:22 Or Greed is a person’s shame
- Proverbs 20:27 Or A person’s words are
- Proverbs 21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death
- Proverbs 21:12 Or The righteous person
- Proverbs 21:21 Or righteousness
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