1
רעי רופא לפני צרכו, כי עם אותו חלק אל.
Honour a physician before need of him (H): Him also hath God apportioned.
Τίμα ἰατρὸν πρὸς τὰς χρείας τιμαῖς αὐτοῦ, καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸν ἔκτισε Κύριος.
Honor a physician with the honor due unto him for the uses which ye may have of him: For the Lord hath created him.
2
מאת אל יחכם רופא, ומאת מלך ישא משאות.
From God a physician getteth wisdom; And from a king he shall receive gifts.
Παρὰ γὰρ ὑψίστου ἐστὶν ἴασις, καὶ παρὰ βασιλέως λήψεται δόμα.
For of the most High cometh healing, And he shall receive honor of the king.
3
דעת רופא תרים קרנו, ולפני נדיבים יתיצב.
The skill of a physician shall lift up his head; And he shall stand before nobles.
Ἐπιστήμη ἰατροῦ ἀνυψώσει κεφαλὴν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔναντι μεγιστάνων θαυμασθήσεται.
The skill of the physician shall lift up his head: And in the sight of great men he shall be in admiration.
4
אל מארץ מצוציא תרופות, וגבר מבין אל ימאס בם.
God bringeth out medicines from the earth; And let a prudent man not refuse them.
Κύριος ἔκτισεν ἐκ γῆς φάρμακα, καὶ ἀνὴρ φρόνιμος οὐ προσοχθιεῖ αὐτοῖς.
The Lord hath created medicines out of the earth; And he that is wise will not abhor them.
5
הלא בעץ המתיקו מים, בעבור להודיע כל אנוש כחו.
Was not water made sweet with wood, For to acquaint every man with his (M their) power?
Οὐκ ἀπὸ ξύλου ἐγλυκάνθη ὕδωρ, εἰς τὸ γνωσθῆναι τὴν ἰσχὺν αὐτοῦ;
Was not the water made sweet with wood, That the virtue thereof might be known?
6
ויתן לאנוש בינה, להתפאר בגבורתו.
And he gave man understanding; To glory in his (M their) might.
Καὶ αὐτὸς ἔδωκεν ἀνθρώποις ἐπιστήμην ἐνδοξάζεσθαι ἐν τοῖς θαυμασίοις αὐτοῦ.
And he hath given men skill, That he might be honored in his marvelous works.
7
Ἐν αὐτοῖς ἐθεράπευσε, καὶ ᾖρε τὸν πόνον αὐτοῦ.
With such doth he heal [men,] And taketh away their pains.
8
בהם רופא יניח מכאוב, וכן רוקח עושה מרקחת. למען לא ישבות מעשהו, ותושיה מבני אדם.
By them doth the physician assuage pain; And likewise the apothecary maketh a confection: That his work may not fail (?); Nor health from among the sons of men (M his earth).
Μυρεψὸς ἐν τούτοις ποιήσει μίγμα, καὶ οὐ μὴ συντελέσῃ ἔργα αὐτοῦ, καὶ εἰρήνη παρʼ αὐτοῦ ἐστιν ἐπὶ προσώπου τῆς γῆς.
Of such doth the apothecary make a confection; And of his works there is no end; And from him is peace over all the earth.
9
בני בחולי על תתעבר, התפלל אל אל כי הוא ירפא.
My son, in sickness be not negligent (?): Pray unto God, for he will heal.
Τέκνον, ἐν ἀῤῥωστήματί σου μὴ παράβλεπε, ἀλλʼ εὖξαι Κυρίῳ, καὶ αὐτὸς ἰάσεταί σε.
My son, in thy sickness be not negligent: But pray unto the Lord, and he will make thee whole.
10
נום מעול ומהכר פנים, ומכל פשעים טהר לב.
Flee from iniquity, and from respect of persons; And from all transgressions cleanse thy heart.
Ἀπόστησον πλημμέλειαν, καὶ εὔθυνον χεῖρας, καὶ ἀπὸ πάσης ἁμαρτίας καθάρισον καρδίαν.
Leave off from sin, and order thy hands aright, And cleanse thy heart from all wickedness.
11
הגש ניחוח אזכרה, ודשן ערוך בכנפי הוניך.
Offer a sweet savour (?) as a memorial; And fatness estimated according to thy substance (?).
Δὸς εὐωδίαν, καὶ μνημόσυνον σεμιδάλεως, καὶ λίπανον προσφορὰν, ὡς μὴ ὑπάρχων.
Give a sweet savor, and a memorial of fine flour; And make a fat offering, as not being.
12
וגם לרופא תן מקום, ולא ימוש כי גם בו צורך.
And to the physician also give (?) a place; And he shall not remove, for there is need of him likewise.
Καὶ ἰατρῷ δὸς τόπον, καὶ γὰρ αὐτὸν ἔκτισε Κύριος· καὶ μὴ ἀποστήτω σου, καὶ γὰρ αὐτοῦ χρεία.
Then give place to the physician, for the Lord hath created him: Let him not go from thee, for thou hast need of him.
13
כי יש עתם אשר בידו מצלחת, כי גם הוא אל אל יעתיר.
For there is a time when in his hand is good success (?): For he too will supplicate unto God,
Ἔστι καιρὸς ὅτε καὶ ἐν χερσὶν αὐτῶν εὐωδία.
There is a time when in their hands there is good success.
14
אשר יצלח לו פשרה, ורפאות למען מחיה.
That he will prosper (H) to him the treatment ( or draught), And the healing, for the sake of his (?) living.
Καὶ γὰρ αὐτοὶ Κυρίου δεηθήσονται, ἵνα εὐοδώσῃ αὐτοῖς ἀνάπαυσιν καὶ ἴασιν χάριν ἐμβιώσεως.
For they shall also pray unto the Lord, that he would prosper That which they give for ease and remedy to prolong life.
15
אשר חואט לפני עושהו, יתנכר לפני רופא.
He that sinneth against his Maker Will behave himself proudly (H) against a physician.
Ὁ ἁμαρτάνων ἔναντι τοῦ ποιήσαντος αὐτὸν, ἐμπέσοι εἰς χεῖρας ἰατροῦ.
He that sinneth before his Maker, Let him fall into the hand of the physician.
16
בני על המת הזיב דמעה, התמרר וגהה קינה.
My son, let tears fall over the dead: Be in bitterness, and wail with lamentation.
Τέκνον, ἐπὶ νεκρῷ κατάγαγε δάκρυα, καὶ ὡς δεινὰ πάσχων ἔναρξε θρήνου· κατὰ δὲ τὴν κρίσιν αὐτοῦ περίστειλον τὸ σῶμα αὐτοῦ, καὶ μὴ ὑπερίδῃς τὴν ταφὴν αὐτοῦ.
My son, let tears fall down over the dead, And begin to lament, as if thou hadst suffered great harm thyself; And then cover his body according to the custom, And neglect not his burial.
17
כמשפטו אסוף שארו, ואל תתעלם בגויעתו. המר בני והתם מספד, ושית אבלו כיוצא בו. יום ושנים בעבור דמעה, הנחם בעבור עון.
According to the manner of each, bury his (M their) flesh; And hide not thyself when they die (?). Weep bitterly, and make grievous wailing; And appoint mourning accordingly (?): A day or two because of hearsay (?); And be comforted for the sake of health (?).
Πίκρανον κλαυθμὸν, καὶ θέρμανον κοπετὸν, καὶ ποίησον τὸ πένθος κατὰ τὴν ἀξίαν αὐτοῦ ἡμέραν μίαν καὶ δύο χάριν διαβολῆς, καὶ παρακλήθητι λύπης ἕνεκα·
Weep bitterly, and make great moan, And use lamentation, as he is worthy, And that a day or two, lest thou be evil spoken of: And then comfort thyself for thy heaviness;
18
מדין יוצא אסון, כן רע לבב יכלה עצבה.
Out of sorrow (?) cometh harm; So the sad of heart buildeth up trouble (?).
ἀπὸ λύπης γὰρ ἐκβαίνει θάνατος, καὶ λύπη καρδίας κάμψει ἰσχύν.
For of heaviness cometh death, And the heaviness of the heart breaketh strength.
19
Ἐν ἀπαγωγῇ παραβαίνει καὶ λύπη, καὶ βίος πτωχοῦ κατὰ καρδίας.
In affliction also sorrow remaineth: And the life of the poor is the curse of the heart.
20
אל תשים אליו לב עוד, פרע זכרו וזכור אחרית. זכור חקו כי הוא חקך, לו אתמול ולך היום.
Set not the heart upon him (M) any more; Dismiss his remembrance, and remember the end. Remember his sentence, for it is thy sentence; His yesterday, and thine to day.
Μὴ δῷς εἰς λύπην τὴν καρδίαν σου, ἀπόστησον αὐτὴν μνησθεὶς τὰ ἔσχατα.
Take no heaviness to heart: Drive it away, and remember the last end.
21
אל תזכרנו כי אין לו תקוה, מה תועיל ולך תרע.
Remember him not, for there is no hope for him; What shalt thou profit him (?)? and thou shalt hurt thyself.
Μὴ ἐπιλαθῇ, οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ἐπάνοδος, καὶ τοῦτον οὐκ ὠφελήσεις, καὶ σεαυτὸν κακώσεις.
Forget him not, for there is no turning again: Thou shalt not do him good, but hurt thyself.
22
מושבת מתו שבת זכרו, והנחם עם צאת נפשו.
When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest; And be comforted when his soul departeth.
Μνήσθητι τὸ κρίμα αὐτοῦ, ὅτι οὕτω ὡς καὶ τὸ σόν· ἐμοὶ χθὲς, καὶ σοὶ σήμερον.
Remember his judgment: for thine also shall be so; Yesterday for me, and today for thee.
23
Ἐν ἀναπαύσει νεκροῦ κατάπαυσον τὸ μνημόσυνον αὐτοῦ, καὶ παρακλήθητι ἐν αὐτῷ ἐν ἐξόδῳ πνεύματος αὐτοῦ.
When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest; And be comforted for him when his spirit is departed from him.
24
חכמת סופר תרבה חכמה, וחסר עסק הוא יתחכם. מה יתחכם תומך מלמד, ומתפאר בחתנית מסעיר.
The wisdom of the scribe increaseth wisdom (H); And he that hath little business shall become wise. How shall he get wisdom that holdeth the plough ( or goad), And glorieth in the stimulant (?) spear?
Σοφία γραμματέως ἐν εὐκαιρίᾳ σχολῆς, καὶ ὁ ἐλασσούμενος πράξει αὐτοῦ σοφισθήσεται.
The wisdom of a learned man cometh by opportunity of leisure: And he that hath little business shall become wise.
25
אלוף ינהג ישובב לשדד בשור, ושעיותיו עם בני בקר.
He is busied with oxen, and leadeth about cattle (?); And his discourses are with bullocks.
Τί σοφισθήσεται ὁ κρατῶν ἀροτροῦ, καὶ καυχώμενος ἐν δόρατι κέντρου, βόας ἐλαύνων καὶ ἀναστρεφόμενος ἐν ἔργοις αὐτῶν, καὶ ἡ διήγησις αὐτοῦ ἐν υἱοῖς ταυρῶν;
How can he get wisdom that holdeth the plow, And that glorieth in the goad, That driveth oxen, and is occupied in their labors, And whose talk is of bullocks?
26
ושקידתו לכלות מרבק, לב ישית לשדד בתלמים.
And his wakefulness is to victual (?) the stall: He setteth his heart to plough furrows.
Καρδίαν αὐτοῦ δώσει ἐκδοῦναι αὔλακας, καὶ ἡ ἀγρυπνία αὐτοῦ εἰς χορτάσματα δαμάλεων.
He giveth his mind to make furrows; And is diligent to give the kine fodder.
27
אף עשה חרש וחשב, אשר לילה כיום יגיע.
Likewise the artificer..... Which by night is busied (M)... *******
Οὕτως πᾶς τέκτων καὶ ἀρχιτέκτων, ὅστις νύκτωρ ὡς ἡμέρᾳ διάγει· οἱ γλύφοντες γλύμματα σφραγίδων, καὶ ἡ ὑπομονὴ αὐτοῦ ἀλλοιῶσαι ποικιλίαν· καρδίαν αὐτοῦ δώσει εἰς τὸ ὁμοιῶσαι ζωγραφίαν, καὶ ἡ ἀγρυπνία αὐτοῦ τελέσαι ἔργον.
So every carpenter and workmaster, That laboreth night and day: And they that cut and grave seals, And are diligent to make great variety, And give themselves to counterfeit imagery, And watch to finish a work:
28
Οὕτως χαλκεὺς καθήμενος ἐγγὺς ἄκμονος, καὶ καταμανθάνων ἀργῷ σιδήρῳ· ἀτμὶς πυρὸς πήξει σάρκας αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν θέρμῃ καμίνου διαμαχήσεται· φωνὴ σφύρης καινιεῖ τὸ οὖς αὐτοῦ, καὶ κατέναντι ὁμοιώματος σκεύους οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ αὐτοῦ· καρδίαν αὐτοῦ δώσει εἰς συντέλειαν ἔργων, καὶ ἡ ἀγρυπνία αὐτοῦ κοσμῆσαι ἐπὶ συντελείας.
The smith also sitting by the anvil, And considering the iron work, The vapor of the fire wasteth his flesh, And he fighteth with the heat of the furnace: The noise of the hammer and the anvil is ever in his ears, And his eyes look still upon the pattern of the thing that he maketh; He setteth his mind to finish his work, And watcheth to polish it perfectly:
29
Οὕτω κεραμεὺς καθήμενος ἐν ἔργῳ αὐτοῦ, καὶ συστρέφων ἐν ποσὶν αὐτοῦ τροχὸν, ὃς ἐν μεριμνῃ κεῖται διαπαντὸς ἐπὶ τὸ ἔργον αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐναρίθμιος πᾶσα ἡ ἐργασία αὐτοῦ.
So doth the potter sitting at his work, And turning the wheel about with his feet, Who is always carefully set at his work, And maketh all his work by number;
30
Ἐν βραχίονι αὐτοῦ τυπώσει πηλὸν, καὶ πρὸ ποδῶν κάμψει ἰσχὺν αὐτοῦ· καρδίαν ἐπιδώσει συντελέσαι τὸ χρίσμα, καὶ ἡ ἀγρυπνία αὐτοῦ καθαρίσαι κάμινον.
He fashioneth the clay with his arm, And boweth down his strength before his feet; He applieth himself to lead it over; And he is diligent to make clean the furnace:
31
Πάντες οὗτοι εἰς χεῖρας αὐτῶν ἐνεπίστευσαν, καὶ ἕκαστος ἐν τῷ ἔργῳ αὐτοῦ σοφίζεται.
All these trust to their hands; And every one is wise in his work.
32
Ἄνευ αὐτῶν οὐκ οἰκισθήσεται πόλις, καὶ οὐ παροικήσουσιν, οὐδὲ περιπατήσουσι·
Without these cannot a city be inhabited: And they shall not dwell where they will, nor go up and down:
33
καὶ ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ οὐχ ὑπεραλοῦνται· ἐπὶ δίφρον δικαστοῦ οὐ καθιοῦνται, καὶ διαθήκην κρίματος οὐ διανοηθήσονται, οὐδὲ μὴ ἐκφανῶσι δικαιοσύνην καὶ κρίμα· καὶ ἐν παραβολαῖς οὐχ εὑρεθήσονται.
They shall not be sought for in public counsel, Nor sit high in the congregation: They shall not sit on the judges’ seat, Nor understand the sentence of judgment: They cannot declare justice and judgment; And they shall not be found where parables are spoken.
34
Ἀλλὰ κτίσμα αἰῶνος στηρίσουσι· καὶ ἡ δέησις αὐτῶν ἐν ἐργασίᾳ τέχνης. Πλὴν τοῦ ἐπιδόντος τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ, καὶ διανοουμένου ἐν νόμῳ ὑψίστου,
But they will maintain the state of the world, And [all] their desire is in the work of their craft. But he that giveth his mind to the law of the most High, And is occupied in the meditation thereof,