1
שֵׁם רַע וְקָלוֹן תּוֹרִישׁ חֶרְפָּה, כֵּן אִישׁ רַע בַּעַל שְׁתָּיִם.
Reproach shall inherit (H) an evil name and disgrace: So an evil man that is a double dealer.
Instead of a friend become not an enemy; For [thereby] thou shalt inherit an ill name, shame, and reproach: Even so shall a sinner that hath a double tongue.
2
אַל תִּפּוֹל בְּיַד נַפְשְׁךָ, וּתְעַבֶּה חֵילֵךָ עָלֶיךָ.
Fall not into the hand of thine appetite; That it should consume thy strength like an ox (?).
Extol not thyself in the counsel of thine own heart: That thy soul be not torn in pieces as a bull [straying alone].
3
עָלֶיךָ תֹּאכַל וּפֶרְיְךָ תְּשָׁרֵשׁ, וְהִנִיחַתְךָ כְּעֵץ יָבֵשׁ.
It shall eat thy leaves and uproot thy fruit; And leave thee like a dry tree.
Τὰ φύλλα σου καταφάγεσαι, καὶ τοὺς καρπούς σου ἀπολέσεις, καὶ ἀφήσεις σεαυτὸν ὡς ξύλον ξηρόν.
Thou shalt eat up thy leaves, And lose thy fruit, And leave thyself as a dry tree.
4
כִּי נֶפֶש עַזָה תַּשְׁחִית בְּעָלֶיהָ, וְשִׂמְחַת שׂוֹנֵא תַּשִּׂיגֵם.
For fierce appetite corrupteth them that have it; And the joy of an enemy overtaketh (H) them.
Ψυχὴ πονηρὰ ἀπολεῖ τὸν κτησάμενον αὐτήν, καὶ ἐπίχαρμα ἐχθρῶν ποιήσει αὐτόν.
A wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, And shall make him to be laughed to scorn of his enemies.
5
חֵךְ עָרֵב יַרְבֶּה אוֹהֵב, וּשִׂפְתֵי חֵן שׁוֹאֲלֵי שָׁלוֹם.
Many a friend doth a sweet palate make; And gracious lips that greet (?) with peace.
Λάρυγξ γλυκὺς πληθυνεῖ φίλους αὐτοῦ, καὶ γλῶσσα εὔλαλος πληθυνεῖ εὐπροσήγορα.
Sweet language will multiply friends: And a fair-speaking tongue will increase kind greetings.
6
אַנְשֵׁי שְׁלוֹמְךָ יִהְיוּ רַבִּים, וּבַעַל סוֹדְךָ אֶחַד מֵאָלֶף.
Be they that are at peace with thee many; But he that hath thy secret one of a thousand.
Οἱ εἰρηνεύοντές σοι ἔστωσαν πολλοὶ, οἱ δὲ σύμβουλοί σου εἷς ἀπὸ χιλίων.
Be in peace with many: Nevertheless have but one counselor of a thousand.
7
קָנִיתָ אוֹהֵב בְּנִסָּיוֹן קְנֵהוּ, וְאַל תְּמַהֵר לִבְטוֹחַ עָלָיו.
Hast thou gotten a friend? get him in trial (?); And be not in haste to trust on him.
Εἰ κτᾶσαι φίλον, ἐν πειρασμῷ κτῆσαι αὐτόν, καὶ μὴ ταχὺ ἐμπιστεύσῃς αὐτῷ.
If thou wouldest get a friend, prove him first, And be not hasty to credit him.
8
כִּי יֵשׁ אוֹהֵב כְּפִי עֵת, וְאַל יַעֲמוֹד בְּיוֹם צָרָה.
For there is a friend that is for a season; And that will not (?) continue in the day of affliction.
Ἔστι γὰρ φίλος ἐν καιρῷ αὐτοῦ, καὶ οὐ μὴ παραμείνῃ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θλίψεώς σου.
For some man is a friend for his own occasion, And will not abide in the day of thy trouble.
9
יֵשׁ אוֹהֵב נֶהְפָּךְ לְשׂוֹנֵא, וְאֶת רִיב חֶרְפָּתְךָ יַחְשֹׂף.
There is a friend that turneth to an enemy; And he will make bare the strife to thy reproach.
Καὶ ἔστι φίλος μετατιθέμενος εἰς ἔχθραν, καὶ μάχην ὀνειδισμοῦ σου ἀποκαλύψει.
And there is a friend, who being turned to enmity and strife Will discover thy reproach.
10
יֵשׁ אוֹהֵב חָבֵר שֻׁלְחָן, וְלֹא יִמָּצֵא בְּיוֹם רָעָה.
There is a friend that is a companion at the table; But he will not be found in the day of adversity.
Καὶ ἔστι φίλος κοινωνὸς τραπεζῶν, καὶ οὐ μὴ παραμείνῃ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θλίψεώς σου.
Again, some friend is a companion at the table, And will not continue in the day of thy affliction.
11
בְּטוֹבָתְךָ הוּא כָמוֹךָ, וּבְרָעָתְךָ יִתְנַדֶּה מִמֶּךָּ.
In thy prosperity he is as thou art; And in thine adversity he will remove away from thee.
Καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἀγαθοῖς σου ἔσται ὡς σὺ, καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς οἰκέτας σου παῤῥησιάσεται.
But in thy prosperity he will be as thyself, And will be bold over thy servants.
12
אִם תַּשִּׂיגְךָ רָעָה, יֵהָפֵךְ בְּךָ וּמִפָּנֶיךָ יִסָּתֵר.
If evil overtake thee, he will turn against thee; And will hide himself from thy face.
Ἐὰν ταπεινωθῇς, ἔσται κατὰ σοῦ, καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ προσώπου σου κρυβήσεται.
If thou be brought low, he will be against thee, And will hide himself from thy face.
13
מִשֹּׂנְאֶיךָ הִבָּדֵל, וּמֵאֹהֲבֶיָך הֵשָּׁמֵר.
Separate thyself from thine enemies; And beware of thy friends.
Ἀπὸ τῶν ἐχθρῶν σου διαχωρίσθητι, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν φίλων σου πρόσεχε.
Separate thyself from thine enemies, And take heed of thy friends.
14
אוֹהֵב אֱמוּנָה אוֹהֵב תְּקוֹף, וּמוֹצְאוֹ מָצָא הוֹן.
A faithful friend is a firm friend; And he that findeth him hath found a treasure.
Φίλος πιστὸς σκέπη κραταιὰ, ὁ δὲ εὑρὼν αὐτὸν εὗρε θησαυρόν.
A faithful friend is a strong defense: And he that hath found such a one hath found a treasure.
15
לְאוֹהֵב אֱמוּנָה אֵין מְחִיר, וְאֵין מִשְׁקָל לְטוֹבָתוֹ.
There is no exchange for a faithful friend; Nor price that can be weighed for his goodness.
Φίλου πιστοῦ οὐκ ἔστιν ἀντάλλαγμα, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι σταθμὸς τῆς καλλονῆς αὐτοῦ.
Nothing doth countervail a faithful friend, And his excellency is invaluable.
16
צְרוֹר חַיִּים אוֹהֵב אֱמוּנָה, יְרֵא וְאַל יַשִּׂיגֵם.
A faithful friend is a balm (G S) of life; He that feareth God shall obtain it.
Φίλος πιστὸς φάρμακον ζωῆς, καὶ οἱ φοβούμενοι Κύριον εὑρήσουσιν αὐτόν.
A faithful friend is the medicine of life; And they that fear the Lord shall find him.
17
כִּי כָמוֹהוּ כֵּן רֵעֵהוּ, וּכִשְׁמוֹ כֵּן מַעֲשָׂיו.
For as he is, so is his neighbour; And as his name, so are his works.
Ὁ φοβούμενος Κύριον εὐθύνει φιλίαν αὐτοῦ, ὅτι κατʼ αὐτὸν οὕτως καὶ ὁ πλησίον αὐτοῦ.
Whoso feareth the Lord shall direct his friendship aright: For as he is, so shall his neighbor be also.
18
בְּנִי מִנְּעוּרֶיךָ קַח לֶקַח, וְעַד שֵׂיבָה תַּשִּׂיג חָכְמָה.
Child, from your youth acquire learning, and until gray hairs reach for wisdom.
Τέκνον, ἐκ νεότητός σου ἐπίλεξαι παιδείαν, καὶ ἕως πολιῶν εὑρήσεις σοφίαν.
My son, gather instruction from thy youth up: So shalt thou find wisdom till thine old age.
19
כְּחוֹרֵשׁ וּכְקוֹצֵר קְרַב אֵלֶיהָ, וְקַוֵּה לְרֹב תְּבוּאָתָהּ. כִּי בַעֲבֹדָתָהּ מְעַט תַּעֲבוֹד, וּלְמָחָר תֹּאכַל פִּרְיָהּ.
As one that plougheth and as one that reapeth approach unto her; And wait for the abundance of her increase. For in the tillage of her thou shalt toil a little; And on the morrow (H) thou shalt eat her fruit.
Ὡς ὁ ἀροτριῶν καὶ ὁ σπείρων πρόσελθε αὐτῇ, καὶ ἀνάμενε τοὺς ἀγαθοὺς καρποὺς αὐτῆς· ἐν γὰρ τῇ ἐργασίᾳ αὐτῆς ὀλίγον κοπιάσεις, καὶ ταχὺ φάγεσαι γεννημάτων αὐτῆς.
Come unto her as one that ploweth and soweth, And wait for her good fruits: For thou shalt not toil much in laboring about her, But thou shalt eat of her fruits right soon.
20
עֲקֻבָּה הִיא לָאֱוִיל, וְלֹא יְכַלְכְּלֶנָּה חֲסַר לֵב.
Rough is she to the fool; And he that is void of understanding cannot bear her.
Ὡς τραχεῖά ἐστι σφόδρα τοῖς ἀπαιδεύτοις, καὶ οὐκ ἐμμενεῖ ἐν αὐτῇ ἀκάρδιος.
She is very unpleasant to the unlearned: He that is without understanding will not remain with her.
21
כְּאֶבֶן מַשָּׂא תִּהְיֶה עָלָיו, וְלֹא יְאַחֵר לְהַשְׁלִיכָה.
As a burdensome weight shall she be upon him; And he will not tarry to cast her away.
Ὡς λίθος δοκιμασίας ἰσχυρὸς ἔσται ἐπʼ αὐτῷ, καὶ οὐ χρονιεῖ ἀποῤῥίψαι αὐτήν.
She will lie upon him as a mighty stone of trial; And he will cast her from him ere it be long.
22
כִּי הַמּוּסָר בִּשְׁמָהּ כֵּן הִיא, וְלֹא לְרַבִּים הִיא נְכוֹחָה.
For discipline is according to its (?) name; And to the more part she is not plain ( or right).
Σοφία γὰρ κατὰ τὸ ὄνομα αὐτῆς ἐστι, καὶ οὐ πολλοῖς ἐστι φανερά.
For wisdom is according to her name, And she is not manifest unto many.
23
כלי יוצר לבער כבשן וכמהו איש על חשבונו:
A potter's vessel is for the furnace to bake (?); And like unto it, a man is according to his thought.
Ἄκουσον, τέκνον, καὶ δέξαι γνώμην μου, καὶ μὴ ἀπαναίνου τὴν συμβουλίαν μου.
Give ear, my son, receive my advice, And refuse not my counsel,
24
על עבודת עץ יהי פרי כן חשבון על יצר אחד:
Upon the bough (?) of a tree will be its fruit; So the thought of a man is according to his mind (?).
Καὶ εἰσένεγκον τοὺς πόδας σου εἰς τὰς πέδας αὐτῆς, καὶ εἰς τὸν κλοίον αὐτῆς τὸν τράχηλόν σου.
And put thy feet into her fetters, And thy neck into her chain.
25
הַט שִׁכְמְךָ וְשָׂאֶהָ, וְאַל תָּקוֹץ בְּתַחְבּוּלוֹתֶיהָ.
Incline thy shoulder, and carry her; And loathe not her cords (?).
Ὑπόθες τὸν ὦμόν σοῦ, καὶ βάσταξον αὐτὴν, καὶ μὴ προσοχθίσῃς τοῖς δεσμοῖς αὐτῆς.
Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, And be not grieved with her bonds.
26
Ἐν πάσῃ ψυχῇ σου πρόσελθε αὐτῇ, καὶ ἐν ὅλῃ δυνάμει σου συντήρησον τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτῆς.
Come unto her with thy whole heart, And keep her ways with all thy power.
27
דְּרֹש וַחֲקֹר בַּקֵּש וּמְצָא, וְהֶחֱזַקְתָהּ וְאַל תַּרְפֶּהָ.
Search and examine, seek and find; And hold her fast, and let her not go.
Ἐξίχνεύσον καὶ ζήτησον, καὶ γνωσθήσεταί σοι, καὶ ἐγκρατὴς γενόμενος μὴ ἀφῇς αὐτήν.
Search, and seek, and she shall be made known unto thee: And when thou hast gotten hold of her, let her not go.
28
כִּי לְאָחוֹר תִּמְצָא מְנוּחָתָהּ, וְתֵהָפֵךְ לְךָ לְתַעֲנוּג.
For afterward thou shalt find her rest; And she (?) shall turn to a delight unto thee.
Ἐπʼ ἐσχάτων γὰρ εὑρήσεις τὴν ἀνάπαυσιν αὐτῆς, καὶ στραφήσεταί σοι εἰς εὐφροσύνην.
For at the last thou shalt find her rest, And that shall be turned to thy joy.
29
וְהָיְתָה לְךָ רִשְׁתָּהּ מְכוֹן עֹז, וְחַבְלֹתֶיהָ בִּגְדֵי כָתֶם.
And her net shall be to thee a strong defence; And her cordage robes of fine gold.
Καὶ ἔσονταί σοι αἱ πέδαι εἰς σκέπην ἰσχύος, καὶ οἱ κλοιοὶ αὐτῆς εἰς στολὴν δόξης.
Then shall her fetters be a strong defense for thee, And her chains a robe of glory.
30
עֻלֵּי זָהָב עֻלָּהּ, וּמוֹסְרוֹתֶיהָ פְּתִיל תְּכֵלֶת.
Her yoke (G Upon her) is an ornament (G) of gold; And her bands are thread of purple.
Κόσμος γὰρ χρύσεός ἐστιν ἐπʼ αὐτῆς, καὶ οἱ δεσμοὶ αὐτῆς κλῶσμα ὑακίνθινον.
For there is a golden ornament upon her, And her bands are purple lace.
31
בִּגְדֵי כָבוֹד תִלְבְּשֶׁנָּה, וַעֲטֶרֶת תִּפְאֶרֶת תְּעַטְּרֶנָּה.
Thou shalt put her on as robes of honour; And crown thyself with her as a crown of beauty.
Στολὴν δόξης ἐνδύσῃ αὐτὴν, καὶ στέφανον ἀγαλλιάματος περιθήσεις σεαυτῷ.
Thou shalt put her on as a robe of honor, And shalt put her about thee as a crown of joy.
32
אִם תַּחְפּוֹץ בְּנִי תִּתְחַכָּם, וְאִם תָּשִׂים לִבְּךָ תַּעֲרֹם.
If thou be desirous, my son, thou mayest become wise; And if thou apply thy heart, thou shalt be prudent.
Ἐὰν θέλῃς, τέκνον, παιδευθήσῃ, καὶ ἐὰν δῷς τὴν ψυχήν σου, πανοῦργος ἔσῃ.
My son, if thou wilt, thou shalt be taught: And if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be prudent.
33
אִם תּוֹבֵא לִשְׁמֹעַ, וְתֵט אָזְנְךָ תִּוָּסֵר.
If thou art wishful to hear (H); And incline thine ear (H), thou shalt be instructed.
Ἐὰν ἀγαπήσῃς ἀκούειν ἐκδέξῃ, καὶ ἐὰν κλίνῃς τὸ οὖς σου σοφὸς ἔσῃ.
If thou love to hear, thou shalt receive understanding: And if thou bow thine ear, thou shalt be wise.
34
Ἐν πλήθει πρεσβυτέρων στῆθι, καὶ, τίς σοφός; αὐτῷ προσκολλήθητι.
Stand in the multitude of the elders; And cleave unto him that is wise.
35
כָּל שִׂיחָה חֲפוֹץ לִשְׁמֹעַ, וּמְשַׁל בִּינָה אַל יֵצְאֶךָּ.
Be desirous to hear all discourse; And let no proverb of understanding escape thee.
Πᾶσαν διήγησιν θείαν θέλε ἀκούειν, καὶ παροιμίαι συνέσεως μὴ ἐκφευγέτωσάν σε.
Be willing to hear every godly discourse: And let not the parables of understanding escape thee.
36
רְאֵה מִי יָבִין וְשַׁחֲרֵהוּ, וְתִשְׁחוֹק בְּסִפּוֹ רַגְלְךָ.
See who (?) hath understanding, and seek him early; And let thy foot wear my (H) threshold.
Ἐὰν ἴδῃς συνετὸν, ὄρθριζε πρὸς αὐτὸν, καὶ βαθμοὺς θυρῶν αὐτοῦ ἐκτριβέτω ὁ πούς σου.
And if thou seest a man of understanding, get thee betimes unto him, And let thy foot wear the steps of his door.
37
וְהִתְבּוֹנַנְתָּ בְּיִרְאַת עֶלְיוֹן וּבְמִצוֹתָיו, וֶהְגֵה תָמִיד. וְהוּא יָבִין לִבֶּךָ, וַאֲשֶׁר אִוִּיתָה יְחַכְּמֶךָּ.
And let thy mind be upon the fear of the Most High; And meditate (?) in his commandments continually. And he shall make thy heart discerning (H); And make thee wise according as thou desirest.
Διανοοῦ ἐν τοῖς προστάγμασιν Κυρίου, καὶ ἐν ταῖς ἐντολαῖς αὐτοῦ μελέτα διαπαντός· αὐτὸς στηριεῖ τὴν καρδίαν σου, καὶ ἡ ἐπιθυμία τῆς σοφίας σου δοθήσεταί σοι.
Let thy mind be upon the ordinances of the Lord, And meditate continually in his commandments: He shall establish thy heart, And give thee wisdom at thine own desire.