1
[ראש נבחרת אל תתרומם, ובראש גדולים אל תשב]. היה להם כאחד מהם, דאג להם ואחר תסב, הכן מרכם ואחר תרבץ.
Be to them as one of them; Take thought for them, and afterward be seated: Supply their want, and afterward recline.
Ἡγούμενων σε κατέστησαν; μὴ ἐπαίρου, γίνου ἐν αὐτοῖς ὡς εἷς ἐξ αὐτῶν· φρόντισον αὐτῶν, καὶ οὕτω κάθισον,
If thou be made the master [of a feast], lift not thyself up, But be among them as one of the rest; Take diligent care for them, and so sit down.
2
למען תשמח בכבודם, ועל מוסר תשא שכר. מלל שב כי הוא לך, והצנא שכל ואל תמנע שיר.
That thou mayest rejoice in their honour; And receive favour at the table (?). Speak, O elder, for it pertaineth to thee; And be carefully wise (?), and hinder not song.
καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν χρείαν σου ποιήσας ἀνάπεσε, ἵνα εὐφρανθῇς διʼ αὐτοὺς, καὶ εὐκοσμίας χάριν λάβῃς στέφανον.
And when thou hast done all thy office, take thy place, That thou mayest be merry with them, And receive a crown for thy well ordering of the feast.
3
Λάλησον πρεσβύτερε, πρέπει γάρ σοι, ἐν ἀκριβεῖ ἐπιστήμῃ, καὶ μὴ ἐμποδίσῃς μουσικά.
Speak, thou that art the elder, for it becometh thee, but with sound judgment; And hinder not music.
4
Ὅπου ἀκρόαμα, μὴ ἐκχέῃς λαλιὰν, καὶ ἀκαίρως μὴ σοφίζου.
Pour not out words where there is a musician, And show not forth wisdom out of time.
5
במקום היין אל תשפוך שיח, ובלא מזמור מה תשפוך שיר, ובל עת מה תתחכם. כחותם על כיס זהב, שיר אל על משתה היין. כזמן אודם על ניב זהב, משפט שיר על משתה היין. כרביד זהב ובו נפך וספיר, כך נאים דברים יפים, על משתה היין. מלואות פז וחותם ברקת, קול מזמור על נועם תירוש.
In a place for wine pour not forth talk; And in a place for music (?) pour not forth talk: And wherefore shouldest thou be always (S) wise? As a seal upon a purse of gold, Is a hymn to God at a banquet of wine. As a boss (?) of ruby on a circlet (M) of gold, Is a concert of music (?) at a banquet of wine. As a collar of gold wherein are emerald and sapphire; So are fine words comely at a banquet of wine. As settings of fine gold and a seal of carbuncle, Is the voice of music with the pleasance of mead.
Σφραγὶς ἄνθρακος ἐπὶ κόσμῳ χρυσῷ, σύγκριμα μουσικῶν ἐν συμποσίῳ οἴνου.
A concert of music in a banquet of wine Is as a signet of carbuncle set in gold.
6
Ἐν κατασκευάσματι χρυσῷ σφραγὶς σμαράγδου μέλος μουσικῶν ἐφʼ ἡδεῖ οἴνῳ.
As a signet of an emerald set in a work of gold, So is the melody of music with pleasant wine.
7
דבר נער אם צריך אתה, בחזק פעמים ושלש אם ישאלך.
Speak, O young man, if thou be wanted; With compulsion if one ask thee twice or thrice.
Λάλησον νεανίσκε εἰ χρεία σου, μόλις δὶς ἐὰν ἐπερωτηθῇς.
Speak, young man, if there be need of thee: And yet scarcely when thou art twice asked.
8
כל לאמר ומעט הרבה, ודמה ליודע ומחריש יחדו. בין זקנים אל תתקומם, ושרים אל תרב לטרד. לִפְנֵי בָרָד יִנְצַח בָּרָק, וְלִפְנֵי דַכָּא יִנְצַח חֵן.
Restrain speaking, and diminish it exceedingly; And be like to one that knoweth and holdeth his tongue. Among elders set not thyself up; And press not (?) much on princes.
Κεφαλαίωσον λόγον, ἐν ὀλίγοις πολλὰ, γίνου ὡς γινώσκων καὶ ἅμα σιωπῶν.
Let thy speech be short, comprehending much in few words; Be as one that knoweth and yet holdeth his tongue.
9
Ἐν μέσῳ μεγιστάνων μὴ ἐξισάζου, καὶ ἑτέρου λέγοντος μὴ πολλὰ ἀδολέσχει.
If thou be among great men, make not thyself equal with them; And when ancient men are in place, use not many words.
10
לִפְנֵי בָרָד יִנְצַח בָּרָק, וְלִפְנֵי בוֹשׁ יִנְצַח חֵן. בעת שלחן אל תרבה דברים, ואם עלה על לבך דבר. בעת מפקד אל תתאחר, פטר לביתך ושלם רצון. ושלם רצון ביראת אל, ולא בחסר כל.
Before hail (H) speedeth (?) lightning; And before one that is downcast speedeth favour. Before hail (H) speedeth (?) lightning; And before one that is shamefast favour. At the appointed time tarry not; Get thee home and do pleasure (?). At table time multiply not words; Even though a thing hath come into thy mind. ..in thy heart (?), and do pleasure; In the fear of God, and not with lack of understanding (H all).
Πρὸ βροντῆς κατασπεύδει ἀστραπὴ, καὶ πρὸ αἰσχυντηροῦ προελεύσεται χάρις.
Before the thunder goeth lightning; And before a shamefaced man shall go favor.
11
Ἐν ὥρᾳ ἐξεγείρου καὶ μὴ οὐράγει, ἀπότρεχε εἰς οἶκον καὶ μὴ ῥαθύμει.
Rise up betimes, and be not the last; But get thee home without delay.
12
Ἐκεῖ παῖζε καὶ ποίει τὰ ἐνθυμήματά σου, καὶ μὴ ἁμάρτῃς λόγῳ ὑπερηφάνῳ.
There take thy pastime, and do what thou wilt: But sin not by proud speech.
13
ועל כל אלה ברך עושך, המרוך מטובתו. דורש אל יקוה רצון, ומתלהלה יוקש בו.
And for all these things (?) bless thy Maker; Which satisfieth thee with his goodness. He that seeketh God may expect favour (?); And he that is a madman shall be snared thereby (?).
Καὶ ἐπὶ τούτοις εὐλόγησον τὸν ποιήσαντά σε, καὶ μεθύσκοντά σε ἀπὸ τῶν ἀγαθῶν αὐτοῦ.
And for these things bless him that made thee, And hath replenished thee with his good things.
14
דורש אל יקח מוסר, ומשחרהו ישיג מענה. דורש חפצי אל יקח לקח, ויענהו בתפלתו.
He that seeketh God will receive discipline; And he that seeketh him diligently shall obtain an answer. He that seeketh things pleasing to God shall receive instruction; And he will answer him in his prayer.
Ὁ φοβούμενος Κύριον ἐκδέξεται παιδείαν, καὶ οἱ ὀρθρίζοντες εὑρήσουσιν εὐδοκίαν.
Whoso feareth the Lord will receive his discipline; And they that seek him early shall find favor.
15
דורש תורה יפיקנה, ומתלהלה יוקש בו.
He that seeketh the law shall obtain her; And he that is a madman shall be snared thereby.
Ὁ ζητῶν νόμον ἐμπλησθήσεται αὐτοῦ, καὶ ὁ ὑποκρινόμενος σκανδαλισθήσεται ἐν αὐτῷ.
He that seeketh the law shall be filled therewith: But the hypocrite will be offended thereat.
16
ירא יהוה יבין משפט, ותחבולום מנשף יוציא. יראי יהוה יבינו משפטו, ובחכמות רבות יוציאו מלבם. איש חכם יטה תוכחות, ואחר צרכו ימשך נפתה. איש חכם לא יכסה כחמה, ולץ לא ישמר לשונו.
He that feareth the Lord shall discern judgement; And shall bring forth counsels from twilight (H). They that fear the Lord shall discern his judgement; And they shall bring forth much wisdom (M) from their heart. A man of violence (M) will wrest reproofs; And will draw the law (?) after his need. A wise man will not conceal wisdom (M); And a scorner will not keep his tongue.
Οἱ φοβούμενοι Κύριον εὑρήσουσι κρίμα, καὶ δικαιώματα ὡς φῶς ἐξάψουσιν.
They that fear the Lord shall find judgment, And shall kindle justice as a light.
17
Ἄνθρωπος ἁμαρτωλὸς ἐκκλίνει ἐλεγμὸν, καὶ κατὰ τὸ θέλημα αὐτοῦ εὑρήσει σύγκριμα.
A sinful man will not be reproved, But findeth an excuse according to his will.
18
איש חכם לא יקח שחד, זד ולץ לא ישמור תורה. איש חמס לא יקח שכל, וזד לץ לא יקח מצוה. בלא עצה אל תפעל דבר ואחר מעשיך אל תתקצף.
A wise man will not take a bribe (H): One that is proud and a scorner will not keep the law. Without counsel do not anything; And after thy doings vex not thyself.
Ἀνὴρ βουλῆς οὐ μὴ παρίδῃ διανόημα, ἀλλότριος καὶ ὑπερήφανος οὐ καταπτήξει φόβον, καὶ μετὰ τὸ ποιῆσαι μετʼ αὐτοῦ ἄνευ βουλῆς.
A man of counsel will be considerate; But a strange and proud man is not daunted with fear, Even when of himself he hath done without counsel.
19
Ἄνευ βουλῆς μηθὲν ποιήσῃς, καὶ ἐν τῷ ποιῆσαί σε μὴ μεταμελοῦ.
Do nothing without advice; And when thou hast once done, repent not.
20
בדרך מוקשות אל תלך, ואל תתקל בנגף פעמים.
Go not in a way set with snares; And stumble not at an offence twice.
Ἐν ὁδῷ ἀντιπτώματος μὴ πορεύου, καὶ μὴ προσκόψῃς ἐν λιθώδεσι.
Go not in a way wherein thou mayest fall, And stumble not among the stones.
21
אל תבטח בדרך מחתף, ובאחריתך השמר.
Trust not in the way of the spoiler (?); And be watchful of thy latter end.
Μὴ πιστεύσῃς ἐν ὁδῷ ἀπροσκόπῳ,
Be not confident in a plain way.
22
אל תבטח בדרך רשעים, ובארחותיך הזהר. בכל דרכיך שמור נפשך, כי כל עושה אלה שומר מצוה.
Trust not in the way of the wicked; And be ware in thy paths. In all thy ways keep thy soul; For whoso doeth these things keepeth a commandment.
καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν τέκνων σου φύλαξαι.
And beware of thine own children.
23
בכל מעשיך שמור נפשך, כי עושה זה שומר מצוה.
In all thy doings keep thy soul; For he that doeth this keepeth a commandment.
Ἐν παντὶ ἔργῳ πίστευε τῇ ψυχῇ σου, καὶ γὰρ τοῦτό ἐστι τήρησις ἐντολῶν.
In every good work trust thy own soul; For this is the keeping of the commandments.
24
נוצר תורה שומר נפשו, ובוטח ביהוה לא יבוש.
He that observeth the law keepeth his soul; And he that trusteth in the Lord shall not be ashamed.
Ὁ πιστεύων νόμῳ προσέχει ἐντολαῖς, καὶ ὁ πεποιθὼς Κυρίῳ οὐκ ἐλαττωθήσεται.
He that believeth in the Lord taketh heed to the commandment; And he that trusteth in him shall fare never the worse.