1
בְּנִי אִם־עָרַבְתָּ לְרֵעֶךָ תָּקַעְתָּ לַזָּר כַּפֶּיךָ
My son, if thou art become surety for thy neighbour, if thou hast struck thy hands for a stranger--
Υἱὲ, ἐὰν ἐγγυήσῃ σὸν φίλον, παραδώσεις σὴν χεῖρα ἐχθρῷ.
[My] son, if thou become surety for thy friend, Thou shalt deliver thy hand to an enemy.
2
נוֹקַשְׁתָּ בְאִמְרֵי־פִיךָ נִלְכַּדְתָּ בְּאִמְרֵי־פִיךָ
Thou art snared by the words of thy mouth, thou art caught by the words of thy mouth--
Παγὶς γὰρ ἰσχυρὰ ἀνδρὶ τὰ ἴδια χείλη, καὶ ἁλίσκεται χείλεσιν ἰδίου στόματος.
For a man’s own lips become a strong snare to him, And he is caught with the lips of his own mouth.
3
עֲשֵׂה זֹאת אֵפוֹא בְּנִי וְהִנָּצֵל כִּי בָאתָ בְכַף־רֵעֶךָ לֵךְ הִתְרַפֵּס וּרְהַב רֵעֶיךָ
Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, seeing thou art come into the hand of thy neighbour; go, humble thyself, and urge thy neighbour.
Ποίει υἱὲ ἃ ἐγώ σοι ἐντέλλομαι, καὶ σώζου· ἥκεις γὰρ εἰς χεῖρας κακῶν διὰ σὸν φίλον· ἴσθι μὴ ἐκλυόμενος, παρόξυνε δὲ καὶ τὸν φίλον σου ὃν ἐνεγγυήσω.
[My] son, do what I command thee, and deliver thyself; For on thy friend’s account thou art come into the power of evil [men]: Faint not, But stir up even thy friend for whom thou art become surety.
4
אַל־תִּתֵּן שֵׁנָה לְעֵינֶיךָ וּתְנוּמָה לְעַפְעַפֶּיךָ
Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.
Μὴ δῷς ὕπνον σοῖς ὄμμασι, μηδὲ ἐπινυστάξῃς σοῖς βλεφάροις,
Give not sleep to thine eyes, Nor slumber with thine eyelids;
5
הִנָּצֵל כִּצְבִי מִיָּד וּכְצִפּוֹר מִיַּד יָקוּשׁ
Deliver thyself as a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
ἵνα σώζῃ ὥσπερ δορκὰς ἐκ βρόχων, καὶ ὥσπερ ὄρνεον ἐκ παγίδος.
That thou mayest deliver thyself as a doe out of the toils, And as a bird out of a snare.
6
לֵךְ־אֶל־נְמָלָה עָצֵל רְאֵה דְרָכֶיהָ וַחֲכָם
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise;
Ἴθι πρὸς τὸν μύρμηκα ὦ ὀκνηρὲ, καὶ ζήλωσον ἰδὼν τὰς ὁδοὺς αὐτοῦ, καὶ γενοῦ ἐκείνου σοφώτερος.
Go to the ant, O sluggard; And see, and emulate his ways, And become wiser than he.
7
אֲשֶׁר אֵין־לָהּ קָצִין שֹׁטֵר וּמֹשֵׁל
Which having no chief, overseer, or ruler,
Ἐκείνῳ γὰρ γεωργίου μὴ ὑπάρχοντος, μηδὲ τὸν ἀναγκάζοντα ἔχων, μηδὲ ὑπὸ δεσπότην ὢν,
For whereas he has no husbandry, Nor anyone to compel him, And is under no master,
8
תָּכִין בַּקַּיִץ לַחְמָהּ אָגְרָה בַקָּצִיר מַאֲכָלָהּ
Provideth her bread in the summer, and gatherest her food in the harvest.
ἐτοιμάζεται θέρους τὴν τροφὴν, πολλήν τε ἐν τῷ ἀμητῷ ποιεῖται τὴν παράθεσιν· 8aἢ πορεύθητι πρὸς τὴν μέλισσαν, καὶ μάθε ὡς ἐργάτις ἐστὶ, τήν τε ἐργασίαν ὡς σεμνὴν ποιεῖται· 8bἧς τοὺς πόνους βασιλεῖς καὶ ἰδιῶται πρὸς ὑγίειαν προσφέρονται· ποθεινὴ δέ ἐστι πᾶσι καὶ ἐπίδοξος, 8cκαίπερ οὖσα τῇ ῥώμῃ ἀσθενὴς, τὴν σοφίαν τιμήσασα προήχθη.
He prepares food for himself in the summer, And lays by abundant store in harvest.
9
עַד־מָתַי עָצֵל תִּשְׁכָּב מָתַי תָּקוּם מִשְּׁנָתֶךָ
How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
Ἕως τίνος ὀκνηρὲ κατάκεισαι; πότε δὲ ἐξ ὕπνου ἐγερθήσῃ;
How long wilt thou lie, O sluggard? And when wilt thou awake out of sleep?
10
מְעַט שֵׁנוֹת מְעַט תְּנוּמוֹת מְעַט חִבֻּק יָדַיִם לִשְׁכָּב
'Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep'--
ὀλίγον μὲν ὑπνοῖς, ὀλίγον δὲ κάθησαι, μικρὸν δὲ νυστάζεις, ὀλίγον δὲ ἐναγκαλίζῃ χερσὶ στήθη.
Thou sleepest a little, and thou restest a little, and thou slumberest a short [time], And thou foldest thine arms over thy breast a little.
11
וּבָא־כִמְהַלֵּךְ רֵאשֶׁךָ וּמַחְסֹרְךָ כְּאִישׁ מָגֵן
So shall thy poverty come as a runner, and thy want as an armed man.
Εἶτʼ ἐνπαραγίνεταί σοι ὥσπερ κακὸς ὁδοιπόρος ἡ πενία, καὶ ἡ ἔνδεια ὥσπερ ἀγαθὸς δρομεύς· 11aἐὰν δὲ ἄοκνος ᾖς, ἥξει ὥσπερ πηγὴ ὁ ἀμητός σου· ἡ δὲ ἔνδεια, ὥσπερ κακὸς δρομεὺς ἀπαυτομολήσει.
Then poverty comes upon thee as an evil traveler, And want as a swift courier:
12
אָדָם בְּלִיַּעַל אִישׁ אָוֶן הוֹלֵךְ עִקְּשׁוּת פֶּה
A base person, a man of iniquity, is he that walketh with a froward mouth;
Ἀνὴρ ἄφρων καὶ παράνομος πορεύεται ὁδοὺς οὐκ ἀγαθάς.
A foolish man and a transgressor Goes in ways that are not good.
13
קֹרֵץ בְּעֵינָו מֹלֵל בְּרַגְלָו מֹרֶה בְּאֶצְבְּעֹתָיו
That winketh with his eyes, that scrapeth with his feet, that pointeth with his fingers;
Ὁ δʼ αὐτὸς ἐννεύει ὀφθαλμῷ, σημαίνει δὲ ποδὶ, διδάσκει δὲ ἐννεύμασι δακτύλων.
And the same winks with the eye, and makes a sign with his foot, And teaches with the beckonings of his fingers.
14
תַּהְפֻּכוֹת בְּלִבּוֹ חֹרֵשׁ רָע בְּכָל־עֵת מדנים מִדְיָנִים יְשַׁלֵּחַ
Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth evil continually; he soweth discord.
Διεστραμμένη καρδία τεκταίνεται κακὰ, ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ ὁ τοιοῦτος ταραχὰς συνίστησιν πόλει.
[His] perverse heart devises evils: At all times such a one causes troubles to a city.
15
עַל־כֵּן פִּתְאֹם יָבוֹא אֵידוֹ פֶּתַע יִשָּׁבֵר וְאֵין מַרְפֵּא
Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; on a sudden shall he be broken, and that without remedy.
Διὰ τοῦτο ἐξαπίνης ἔρχεται ἡ ἀπώλεια αὐτοῦ, διακοπὴ καὶ συντριβὴ ἀνίατος.
Therefore his destruction shall come suddenly; Overthrow and irretrievable ruin.
16
שֶׁשׁ־הֵנָּה שָׂנֵא יְהוָה וְשֶׁבַע תועבות תּוֹעֲבַת נַפְשׁוֹ
There are six things which HaShem hateth, yea, seven which are an abomination unto Him:
Ὅτι χαίρει πᾶσιν οἷς μισεῖ ὁ Θεὸς, συντρίβεται δὲ διʼ ἀκαθαρσίαν ψυχῆς.
For he rejoices in all things which God hates, And he is ruined by reason of impurity of soul.
17
עֵינַיִם רָמוֹת לְשׁוֹן שָׁקֶר וְיָדַיִם שֹׁפְכוֹת דָּם־נָקִי
Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood;
Ὀφθαλμὸς ὑβριστοῦ, γλῶσσα ἄδικος· χεῖρες ἐκχέουσαι αἷμα δικαίου,
The eye of the haughty, a tongue unjust, Hands shedding the blood of the just;
18
לֵב חֹרֵשׁ מַחְשְׁבוֹת אָוֶן רַגְלַיִם מְמַהֲרוֹת לָרוּץ לָרָעָה
A heart that deviseth wicked thoughts, feet that are swift in running to evil;
καὶ καρδία τεκταινομένη λογισμοὺς κακοὺς, καὶ πόδες ἐπισπεύδοντες κακοποιεῖν.
And a heart devising evil thoughts, And feet hastening to do evil—[are hateful to God].
19
יָפִיחַ כְּזָבִים עֵד שָׁקֶר וּמְשַׁלֵּחַ מְדָנִים בֵּין אַחִים
A false witness that breatheth out lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Ἐκκαίει ψευδῆ μάρτυς ἄδικος, καὶ ἐπιπέμπει κρίσεις ἀναμέσον ἀδελφῶν.
An unjust witness kindles falsehoods, And brings on quarrels between brethren.
20
נְצֹר בְּנִי מִצְוַת אָבִיךָ וְאַל־תִּטֹּשׁ תּוֹרַת אִמֶּךָ
My son, keep the commandment of thy father, and forsake not the teaching of thy mother;
Υἱὲ, φύλασσε νόμους πατρός σου, καὶ μὴ ἀπώσῃ θεσμοὺς μητρός σου·
[My] son, keep the laws of thy father, And reject not the ordinances of thy mother:
21
קָשְׁרֵם עַל־לִבְּךָ תָמִיד עָנְדֵם עַל־גַּרְגְּרֹתֶךָ
Bind them continually upon thy heart, tie them about thy neck.
Ἄφαψαι δὲ αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ σῇ ψυχῇ διαπαντὸς, καὶ ἐλκλοίωσαι περὶ σῷ τραχήλῳ·
But bind them upon thy soul continually, And hang them as a chain about thy neck.
22
בְּהִתְהַלֶּכְךָ תַּנְחֶה אֹתָךְ בְּשָׁכְבְּךָ תִּשְׁמֹר עָלֶיךָ וַהֲקִיצוֹתָ הִיא תְשִׂיחֶךָ
When thou walkest, it shall lead thee, when thou liest down, it shall watch over thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
Ἡνίκα ἂν περιπατῇς, ἐπάγου αὐτὴν καὶ μετὰ σοῦ ἔστω, ὡς δʼ ἂν καθεύδῃς φυλασσέτω σε, ἵνα ἐγειρομένῳ συλλαλῇ σοι.
Whensoever thou walkest, lead this along and let it be with thee; And when thou sleepest let it keep thee; That it may talk with thee when thou wakest.
23
כִּי נֵר מִצְוָה וְתוֹרָה אוֹר וְדֶרֶךְ חַיִּים תּוֹכְחוֹת מוּסָר
For the commandment is a lamp, and the teaching is light, and reproofs of instruction are the way of life;
Ὅτι λύχνος ἐντολὴ νόμου καὶ φῶς, ὁδὸς ζωῆς, καὶ ἔλεγχος καὶ παιδεία,
For the commandment of the law is a lamp and a light; A way of life; reproof also and correction:
24
לִשְׁמָרְךָ מֵאֵשֶׁת רָע מֵחֶלְקַת לָשׁוֹן נָכְרִיָּה
To keep thee from the evil woman, from the smoothness of the alien tongue.
τοῦ διαφυλάσσειν σε ἀπὸ γυναικὸς ὑπάνδρου, καὶ ἀπὸ διαβολῆς γλώσσης ἀλλοτρίας.
To keep thee continually from a married woman, And from the calumny of a strange tongue.
25
אַל־תַּחְמֹד יָפְיָהּ בִּלְבָבֶךָ וְאַל־תִּקָּחֲךָ בְּעַפְעַפֶּיהָ
Lust not after her beauty in thy heart; neither let her captivate thee with her eyelids.
Μή σε νικήσῃ κάλλους ἐπιθυμία, μηδὲ ἀγρευθῇς σοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς, μηδὲ συναρπασθῇς ἀπὸ τῶν αὐτῆς βλεφάρων.
Let not the desire of beauty overcome thee, Neither be thou caught by thine eyes, Neither be captivated with her eyelids.
26
כִּי בְעַד־אִשָּׁה זוֹנָה עַד־כִּכַּר לָחֶם וְאֵשֶׁת אִישׁ נֶפֶשׁ יְקָרָה תָצוּד
For on account of a harlot a man is brought to a loaf of bread, but the adulteress hunteth for the precious life.
Τιμὴ γὰρ πόρνης ὅση καὶ ἑνὸς ἄρτου, γυνὴ δὲ ἀνδρῶν τιμίας ψυχὰς ἀγρεύει.
For the value of a harlot is as much as of one loaf; And a woman hunts for the precious souls of men.
27
הֲיַחְתֶּה אִישׁ אֵשׁ בְּחֵיקוֹ וּבְגָדָיו לֹא תִשָּׂרַפְנָה
Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
Ἀποδήσει τις πῦρ ἐν κόλπῳ, τὰ δὲ ἱμάτια οὐ κατακαύσει;
Shall anyone bind fire in his bosom, And not burn his garments?
28
אִם־יְהַלֵּךְ אִישׁ עַל־הַגֶּחָלִים וְרַגְלָיו לֹא תִכָּוֶינָה
Or can one walk upon hot coals, and his feet not be scorched?
ἢ περιπατήσει τις ἐπʼ ἀνθράκων πυρὸς, τοὺς δὲ πόδας οὐ κατακαύσει;
Or will anyone walk on coals of fire, And not burn his feet?
29
כֵּן הַבָּא אֶל־אֵשֶׁת רֵעֵהוּ לֹא יִנָּקֶה כָּל־הַנֹּגֵעַ בָּהּ
So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not go unpunished.
Οὕτως ὁ εἰσελθὼν πρὸς γυναῖκα ὕπανδρον, οὐκ ἀθωωθήσεται, οὐδὲ πᾶς ὁ ἁπτόμενος αὐτῆς.
So is he that goes in to a married woman; He shall not be held guiltless, neither anyone that touches her.
30
לֹא־יָבוּזוּ לַגַּנָּב כִּי יִגְנוֹב לְמַלֵּא נַפְשׁוֹ כִּי יִרְעָב
Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;
Οὐ θαυμαστὸν ἐὰν ἁλῷ τις κλέπτων, κλέπτει γὰρ ἵνα ἐμπλήσῃ τὴν ψυχὴν πεινῶν.
It is not to be wondered at if one should be taken stealing, For he steals that when hungry he may satisfy his soul:
31
וְנִמְצָא יְשַׁלֵּם שִׁבְעָתָיִם אֶת־כָּל־הוֹן בֵּיתוֹ יִתֵּן
But if he be found, he must restore sevenfold, he must give all the substance of his house.
Ἐὰν δὲ ἁλῷ, ἀποτίσει ἑπταπλάσια, καὶ πάντα τὰ ὑπάρχοντα αὐτοῦ δοὺς ῥύσεται ἑσυτόν.
But if he should be taken, he shall repay sevenfold, And shall deliver himself by giving all his goods.
32
נֹאֵף אִשָּׁה חֲסַר־לֵב מַשְׁחִית נַפְשׁוֹ הוּא יַעֲשֶׂנָּה
He that committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding; he doeth it that would destroy his own soul.
Ὁ δὲ μοιχὸς διʼ ἔνδειαν φρενῶν ἀπώλειαν τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτοῦ περιποιεῖται,
But the adulterer through want of sense procures destruction to his soul.
33
נֶגַע־וְקָלוֹן יִמְצָא וְחֶרְפָּתוֹ לֹא תִמָּחֶה
Wounds and dishonour shall he get, and his reproach shall not be wiped away.
ὀδύνας τε καὶ ἀτιμίας ὑποφέρει, τὸ δὲ ὄνειδος αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἐξαλειφθήσεται εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα.
He endures both pain and disgrace, And his reproach shall never be wiped off.
34
כִּי־קִנְאָה חֲמַת־גָּבֶר וְלֹא־יַחְמוֹל בְּיוֹם נָקָם
For jealousy is the rage of a man, and he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
Μεστὸς γὰρ ζήλου θυμὸς ἀνδρὸς αὐτῆς, οὐ φείσεται ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κρίσεως.
For the soul of her husband is full of jealousy: He will not spare in the day of vengeance.
35
לֹא־יִשָּׂא פְּנֵי כָל־כֹּפֶר וְלֹא־יֹאבֶה כִּי תַרְבֶּה־שֹׁחַד
He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.
Οὐκ ἀνταλλάξεται οὐδενὸς λύτρου τὴν ἔχθραν, οὐδὲ μὴ διαλυθῇ πολλῶν δώρων.
He will not forego [his] enmity for any ransom: Neither will he be reconciled for many gifts.