1
אַל־תְּקַנֵּא בְּאַנְשֵׁי רָעָה וְאַל־תתאו תִּתְאָיו לִהְיוֹת אִתָּם
Be not thou envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them.
Υἱέ, μὴ ζηλώσῃς κακοὺς ἄνδρας, μηδὲ ἐπιθυμήσῃς εἶναι μετʼ αὐτῶν.
[My] son, envy not bad men, Nor desire to be with them.
2
כִּי־שֹׁד יֶהְגֶּה לִבָּם וְעָמָל שִׂפְתֵיהֶם תְּדַבֵּרְנָה
For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
Ψευδῆ γὰρ μελετᾷ ἡ καρδία αὐτῶν, καὶ πόνους τὰ χείλη αὐτῶν λαλεῖ.
For their heart meditates falsehoods, And their lips speak mischiefs.
3
בְּחָכְמָה יִבָּנֶה בָּיִת וּבִתְבוּנָה יִתְכּוֹנָן
Through wisdom is a house builded; and by understanding it is established;
Μετὰ σοφίας οἰκοδομεῖται οἶκος, καὶ μετὰ συνέσεως ἀνορθοῦται.
A house is built by wisdom, And is set up by understanding.
4
וּבְדַעַת חֲדָרִים יִמָּלְאוּ כָּל־הוֹן יָקָר וְנָעִים
And by knowledge are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
Μετὰ αἰσθήσεως ἐμπίμπλανται ταμιεῖα ἐκ παντὸς πλούτου τιμίου καὶ καλοῦ.
By discretion the chambers are filled With all precious and excellent wealth.
5
גֶּבֶר־חָכָם בַּעוֹז וְאִישׁ־דַּעַת מְאַמֶּץ־כֹּחַ
A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
Κρείσσων σοφὸς ἰσχυροῦ, καὶ ἀνὴρ φρόνησιν ἔχων γεωργίου μεγάλου.
A wise man is better than a strong man; And a man who has prudence than a large estate.
6
כִּי בְתַחְבֻּלוֹת תַּעֲשֶׂה־לְּךָ מִלְחָמָה וּתְשׁוּעָה בְּרֹב יוֹעֵץ
For with wise advice thou shalt make thy war; and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
Μετὰ κυβερνήσεως γίνεται πόλεμος, βοήθεια δὲ μετὰ καρδίας βουλευτικῆς.
War is carried on with generalship, And aid is supplied to the heart of a counselor.
7
רָאמוֹת לֶאֱוִיל חָכְמוֹת בַּשַּׁעַר לֹא יִפְתַּח־פִּיהוּ
Wisdom is as unattainable to a fool as corals; he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
Σοφία καὶ ἔννοια ἀγαθὴ ἐν πύλαις σοφῶν· σοφοὶ οὐκ ἐκκλίνουσιν ἐκ στόματος Κυρίου,
Wisdom and good understanding are in the gates of the wise: The wise turn not aside from the mouth of the Lord,
8
מְחַשֵּׁב לְהָרֵעַ לוֹ בַּעַל־מְזִמּוֹת יִקְרָאוּ
He that deviseth to do evil, men shall call him a mischievous person.
ἀλλὰ λογίζονται ἐν συνεδρίοις· ἀπαιδεύτοις συναντᾷ θάνατος,
But deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed [men].
9
זִמַּת אִוֶּלֶת חַטָּאת וְתוֹעֲבַת לְאָדָם לֵץ
The thought of foolishness is sin; and the scorner is an abomination to men.
ἀποθνήσκει δὲ ἄφρων ἐν ἁμαρτίαις· ἀκαθαρσία δὲ ἀνδρὶ λοιμῷ,
The fool also dies in sins; And uncleanness [attaches] to a pestilent man.
10
הִתְרַפִּיתָ בְּיוֹם צָרָה צַר כֹּחֶכָה
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small indeed.
ἐμμολυνθήσεται ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κακῇ, καὶ ἐν ἡμέρᾳ θλίψεως ἕως ἂν ἐκλίπῃ.
He shall be defiled in the evil day, And in the day of affliction, until he be utterly consumed.
11
הַצֵּל לְקֻחִים לַמָּוֶת וּמָטִים לַהֶרֶג אִם־תַּחְשׂוֹךְ
Deliver them that are drawn unto death; and those that are ready to be slain wilt thou forbear to rescue?
Ῥῦσαι ἀγομένους εἰς θάνατον, καὶ ἐκπρίου κτεινομένους, μὴ φείσῃ.
Deliver them that are led away to death, And redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not [thy help].
12
כִּי־תֹאמַר הֵן לֹא־יָדַעְנוּ זֶה הֲלֹא־תֹכֵן לִבּוֹת הוּא־יָבִין וְנֹצֵר נַפְשְׁךָ הוּא יֵדָע וְהֵשִׁיב לְאָדָם כְּפָעֳלוֹ
If thou sayest: 'Behold, we knew not this', doth not He that weigheth the hearts consider it? And He that keepeth thy soul, doth not He know it? And shall not He render to every man according to his works?
Ἐὰν δὲ εἴπῃς, οὐκ οἶδα τοῦτον, γίνωσκε, ὅτι Κύριος καρδίας πάντων γινώσκει· καὶ ὁ πλάσας πνοὴν πᾶσιν, αὐτὸς οἶδε πάντα, ὃς ἀποδίδωσιν ἑκάστῳ κατὰ τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ.
But if thou shouldest say, I know not this man; Know that the Lord knows the hearts of all; And he that formed breath for all, he knows all things, Who renders to every man according to his works.
13
אֱכָל־בְּנִי דְבַשׁ כִּי־טוֹב וְנֹפֶת מָתוֹק עַל־חִכֶּךָ
My son, eat thou honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to thy taste;
Φάγε μέλι υἱὲ, ἀγαθὸν γὰρ κηρίον, ἵνα γλυκανθῇ σου ὁ φάρυγξ.
[My] son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, That thy throat may be sweetened.
14
כֵּן דְּעֶה חָכְמָה לְנַפְשֶׁךָ אִם־מָצָאתָ וְיֵשׁ אַחֲרִית וְתִקְוָתְךָ לֹא תִכָּרֵת
So know thou wisdom to be unto thy soul; if thou hast found it, then shall there be a future, and thy hope shall not be cut off.
Οὕτως αἰσθητήσῃ σοφίαν τῇ σῇ ψυχῇ· ἐὰν γὰρ εὕρῃς, ἔσται καλὴ ἡ τελευτή σου, καὶ ἐλπίς σε οὐκ ἐγκαταλείψει.
Thus shalt thou perceive wisdom in thy soul: For if thou find it, thine end shall be good, And hope shall not fail thee.
15
אַל־תֶּאֱרֹב רָשָׁע לִנְוֵה צַדִּיק אַל־תְּשַׁדֵּד רִבְצוֹ
Lie not in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous, spoil not his resting-place;
Μὴ προσαγάγῃς ἀσεβῆ νομῇ δικαίων, μηδὲ ἀπατηθῇς χορτασίᾳ κοιλίας.
Bring not an ungodly man into the dwelling of the righteous: Neither be deceived by the feeding of the belly.
16
כִּי שֶׁבַע יִפּוֹל צַדִּיק וָקָם וּרְשָׁעִים יִכָּשְׁלוּ בְרָעָה
For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again, but the wicked stumble under adversity.
Ἑπτάκις γὰρ πεσεῖται δίκαιος καὶ ἀναστήσεται, οἱ δὲ ἀσεβεῖς ἀσθενήσουσιν ἐν κακοῖς.
For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise [again]: But the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles.
17
בִּנְפֹל אויביך אוֹיִבְךָ אַל־תִּשְׂמָח וּבִכָּשְׁלוֹ אַל־יָגֵל לִבֶּךָ
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth;
Ἐὰν πέσῃ ὁ ἐχθρός σου, μὴ ἐπιχαρῇς αὐτῷ, ἐν δὲ τῷ ὑποσκελίσματι αὐτοῦ μὴ ἐπαίρου.
If thine enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, Neither be elated at his overthrow.
18
פֶּן־יִרְאֶה יְהוָה וְרַע בְּעֵינָיו וְהֵשִׁיב מֵעָלָיו אַפּוֹ
Lest HaShem see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him.
Ὅτι ὄψεται Κύριος καὶ οὐκ ἀρέσει αὐτῷ, καὶ ἀποστρέψει τὸν θυμὸν αὐτοῦ ἀπʼ αὐτοῦ.
For the Lord will see [it], and it will not please him, And he will turn away his wrath from him.
19
אַל־תִּתְחַר בַּמְּרֵעִים אַל־תְּקַנֵּא בָּרְשָׁעִים
Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
Μὴ χαῖρε ἐπὶ κακοποιοῖς, μηδὲ ζήλου ἁμαρτωλούς.
Rejoice not in evildoers, Neither be envious of sinners.
20
כִּי לֹא־תִהְיֶה אַחֲרִית לָרָע נֵר רְשָׁעִים יִדְעָךְ
For there will be no future to the evil man, the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
Οὐ γὰρ μὴ γένηται ἔκγονα πονηρῷ, λαμπτὴρ δὲ ἀσεβῶν σβεσθήσεται.
For the evil man shall have no posterity: And the light of the wicked shall be put out.
21
יְרָא־אֶת־יְהוָה בְּנִי וָמֶלֶךְ עִם־שׁוֹנִים אַל־תִּתְעָרָב
My son, fear thou HaShem and the king, and meddle not with them that are given to change;
Φοβοῦ τὸν Θεὸν υἱὲ, καὶ βασιλέα, καὶ μηθʼ ἑτέρῳ αὐτῶν ἀπειθήσῃς.
[My] son, fear God and the king; And do not disobey either of them.
22
כִּי־פִתְאֹם יָקוּם אֵידָם וּפִיד שְׁנֵיהֶם מִי יוֹדֵעַ
For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin from them both?
Ἐξαίφνης γὰρ τίσονται τοὺς ἀσεβεῖς, τὰς δὲ τιμωρίας ἀμφοτέρων τίς γνώσεται; 22aΛόγον φυλασσόμενος υἱὸς ἀπωλείας ἐκτὸς ἔσται, [δεχόμενος δὲ ἐδέξατο αὐτόν· 22bμηδὲν ψεῦδος ἀπὸ γλώσσης βασιλεῖ λεγέσθω, καὶ οὐδὲν ψεῦδος ἀπὸ γλώσσης αὐτοῦ οὐ μή ἐξέλθῃ· 22cμάχαιρα γλῶσσα βασιλέως καὶ οὐ σαρκίνη, ὃς δʼ ἂν παραδοθῇ συντριβήσεται· 22dἐὰν γὰρ ὀξυνθῇ ὁ θυμὸς αὐτοῦ, σὺν νεύροις ἀνθρώπους ἀναλίσκει, 22eκαὶ ὀστᾶ ἀνθρώπων κατατρώγει, καὶ συγκαίει ὥσπερ φλὸξ, ὥστε ἄβρωτα εἶναι νεοσσοῖς ἀετῶν· 22fτοὺς ἐμοὺς λόγους υἱὲ φοβήθητι, καὶ δεξάμενος αὐτοὺς μετανόει.] Τάδε λέγει ὁ ἀνὴρ τοῖς πιστεύουσι Θεῷ, καὶ παύομαι. 22gἈφρονέστατος γάρ εἰμι ἁπάντων ἀνθρώπων, καὶ φρόνησις ἀνθρώπων οὐκ ἔστιν ἐν ἐμοί. 22hΘεὸς δεδίδαχέ με σοφίαν, καὶ γνῶσιν ἁγίων ἔγνωκα. 22iΤίς ἀνέβη εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν καὶ κατέβη; τίς συνήγαγεν ἀνέμους ἐν κόλπῳ; τίς συνέστρεψεν ὕδωρ ἐν ἱματίῳ; τίς ἐκράτησε πάντων τῶν ἄκρων τῆς γῆς; τί ὄνομα αὐτῷ; ἢ τί ὄνομα τοῖς τέκνοις αὐτοῦ; 22kΠάντες γὰρ λόγοι Θεοῦ πεπυρωμένοι, ὑπερασπίζει δὲ αὐτὸς τῶν εὐλαβουμένων αὐτόν. 22lΜὴ προσθῇς τοῖς λόγοις αὐτοῦ, ἵνα μὴ ἐλέγξῃ σε, καὶ ψευδὴς γένῃ. 22mΔύο αἰτοῦμαι παρὰ σοῦ, μὴ ἀφέλῃς μου χάριν πρὸ τοῦ ἀποθανεῖν με. 22nΜάταιον λόγον καὶ ψευδῆ μακράν μου ποίησον, πλοῦτον δὲ καὶ πενίαν μή μοι δῷς, σύνταξον δέ μοι τὰ δέοντα καὶ τὰ αὐτάρκη· 22oἽνα μὴ πλησθεὶς ψευδὴς γένωμαι, καὶ εἴπω, τίς με ὁρᾷ; ἢ πενηθεὶς κλέψω, καὶ ὀμόσω τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Θεοῦ. 22pΜὴ παραδῷς οἰκέτην εἰς χεῖρας δεσπότου, μήποτε καταράσηταί σε καὶ ἀφανισθῇς. 22qἜκγονον κακὸν πατέρα καταρᾶται, τὴς δὲ μητέρα οὐκ εὐλογεῖ. 22rἜκγονον κακὸν δίκαιον ἑαυτὸν κρίνει, τὴν δʼ ἔξοδον αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἀπένιψεν. 22sἜκγονον κακὸν ὑψηλοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἔχει, τοῖς δὲ βλεφάροις αὐτοῦ ἐπαίρεται. 22tἜκγονον κακὸν μαχαίρας τοὺς ὀδόντας ἔχει, καὶ τὰς μύλας, τομίδας, ὥστε ἀναλίσκειν καὶ κατεσθίειν τοὺς ταπεινοὺς ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς, καὶ τοὺς πένητας αὐτῶν ἐξ ἀνθρώπων.
For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, And who can know the vengeance [inflicted] by both?
23
גַּם־אֵלֶּה לַחֲכָמִים הַכֵּר־פָּנִים בְּמִשְׁפָּט בַּל־טוֹב
These also are sayings of the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.
Ταῦτα δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν τοῖς σοφοῖς ἐπιγινώσκειν· αἰδεῖσθαι πρόσωπον ἐν κρίσει οὐ καλόν.
And this thing I say to you that are wise [for you] to learn: It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24
אֹמֵר לְרָשָׁע צַדִּיק אָתָּה יִקְּבֻהוּ עַמִּים יִזְעָמוּהוּ לְאֻמִּים
He that saith unto the wicked: 'Thou art righteous', peoples shall curse him, nations shall execrate him;
Ὁ εἰπὼν τὸν ἀσεβῆ, δίκαιός ἐστιν, ἐπικατάρατος λαοῖς ἔσται καὶ μισητὸς εἰς ἔθνη.
He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, Shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful among the nations.
25
וְלַמּוֹכִיחִים יִנְעָם וַעֲלֵיהֶם תָּבוֹא בִרְכַּת־טוֹב
But to them that decide justly shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
Οἱ δὲ ἐλέγχοντες βελτίους φανοῦνται, ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς δὲ ἥξει εὐλογία·
But they that reprove [him] shall appear more excellent, And blessing shall come upon them;
26
שְׂפָתַיִם יִשָּׁק מֵשִׁיב דְּבָרִים נְכֹחִים
He kisseth the lips that giveth a right answer.
χείλη δὲ φιλήσουσιν ἀποκρινόμενα λόγους ἀγαθούς.
And [men] will kiss lips that answer well.
27
הָכֵן בַּחוּץ מְלַאכְתֶּךָ וְעַתְּדָהּ בַּשָּׂדֶה לָךְ אַחַר וּבָנִיתָ בֵיתֶךָ
Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thy house.
Ἑτοίμαζε εἰς τὴν ἔξοδον τὰ ἔργα σου, καὶ παρασκευάζου εἰς τὸν ἀγρὸν, καὶ πορεύου κατόπισθέν μου, καὶ ἀνοικοδομήσεις τὸν οἶκόν σου.
Prepare thy works for [thy] going forth, And prepare thyself for the field; And come after me, And thou shalt rebuild thy house.
28
אַל־תְּהִי עֵד־חִנָּם בְּרֵעֶךָ וַהֲפִתִּיתָ בִּשְׂפָתֶיךָ
Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
Μὴ ἴσθι ψευδὴς μάρτυς ἐπὶ σὸν πολίτην, μηδὲ πλατύνου σοῖς χείλεσι.
Be not a false witness against thy [fellow] citizen, Neither exaggerate with thy lips.
29
אַל־תֹּאמַר כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה־לִי כֵּן אֶעֱשֶׂה־לּוֹ אָשִׁיב לָאִישׁ כְּפָעֳלוֹ
Say not: 'I will do so to him as he hath done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.'
Μὴ εἴπῃς, ὃν τρόπον ἐχρήσατό μοι, χρήσομαι αὐτῷ, τίσομαι δὲ αὐτὸν ἅ με ἠδίκησεν.
Say not, As he has treated me, so will I treat him, And I will avenge myself on him for that wherein he has injured me.
30
עַל־שְׂדֵה אִישׁ־עָצֵל עָבַרְתִּי וְעַל־כֶּרֶם אָדָם חֲסַר־לֵב
I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
Ὥσπερ γεώργιον ἀνὴρ ἄφρων, καὶ ὥσπερ ἀμπελὼν ἄνθρωπος ἐνδεὴς φρενῶν.
A foolish man is like a farm, And a senseless man is like a vineyard.
31
וְהִנֵּה עָלָה כֻלּוֹ קִמְּשֹׂנִים כָּסּוּ פָנָיו חֲרֻלִּים וְגֶדֶר אֲבָנָיו נֶהֱרָסָה
And, lo, it was all grown over with thistles, the face thereof was covered with nettles, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
Ἐὰν ἀφῇς αὐτὸν, χερσωθήσεται καὶ χορτομανήσει ὅλος, καὶ γίνεται ἐκλελειμμένος, οἱ δὲ φραγμοὶ τῶν λίθων αὐτοῦ κατασκάπτονται.
If thou let him alone, he will altogether remain barren and covered with weeds; And he becomes destitute, And his stone walls are broken down.
32
וָאֶחֱזֶה אָנֹכִי אָשִׁית לִבִּי רָאִיתִי לָקַחְתִּי מוּסָר
Then I beheld, and considered well; I saw, and received instruction.
Ὕστερον ἐγὼ μετενόησα, ἐπέβλεψα τοῦ ἐκλέξασθαι παιδείαν.
Afterward I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction.
33
מְעַט שֵׁנוֹת מְעַט תְּנוּמוֹת מְעַט חִבֻּק יָדַיִם לִשְׁכָּב
'Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep'--
Ὀλίγον νυστάζω, ὀλίγον δὲ καθυπνῶ, ὀλίγον δὲ ἐναγκαλίζομαι χερσὶ στήθη.
[The sluggard says], I slumber a little, and I sleep a little, And for a little while I fold my arms across [my] breast.
34
וּבָא־מִתְהַלֵּךְ רֵישֶׁךָ וּמַחְסֹרֶיךָ כְּאִישׁ מָגֵן
So shall thy poverty come as a runner, and thy want as an armed man.
Ἐὰν δὲ τοῦτο ποιῇς, ἥξει προπορευομένη ἡ πενία σου, καὶ ἡ ἔνδειά σου ὥσπερ ἀγαθὸς δρομεύς.
But if thou do this, thy poverty will come speedily; And thy want like a swift courier.