1The preparations of the heart are man's, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. |
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אלְאָדָ֥ם מַֽעַרְכֵי־לֵ֑ב וּ֜מֵיְהוָ֗ה מַעֲנֵ֥ה לָשֽׁוֹן: |
The preparations of the heart are man’s: He arranges his counsel and his words in his heart. |
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but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord: When he comes to answer, the Holy One, blessed be He, causes him to stumble with his words-or if he merits, He prepares a good reply for him. |
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2All ways of man are pure in his eyes, but the Lord counts the spirits. |
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בכָּֽל־דַּרְכֵי־אִ֖ישׁ זַ֣ךְ בְּעֵינָ֑יו וְתֹכֵ֖ן רוּח֣וֹת יְהוָֽה: |
but the Lord counts the spirits: and counts the hearts; who is the good one, and who is the bad one. |
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3Commit your affairs to the Lord, and your plans will be established. |
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גגֹּ֣ל אֶל־יְהוָ֣ה מַעֲשֶֹ֑יךָ וְ֜יִכֹּ֗נוּ מַחְשְׁבֹתֶֽיךָ: |
Commit your affairs to the Lord: גל. Roll and cast your necessities upon Him, and your plans will be established. Another explanation: |
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Commit your affairs to the Lord: pray to Him for all your necessities. |
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will be established: Will be founded and will endure. |
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4The Lord made everything for His praise-even the wicked man for the day of evil. |
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דכֹּ֤ל פָּעַ֣ל יְ֖הוָה לַֽמַּעֲנֵ֑הוּ וְגַם־רָ֜שָׁ֗ע לְי֣וֹם רָעָֽה: |
The Lord made everything for His praise: Heb. למענהו. He made everything for His praise, as in (Ps. 147:7): “Praise (ענו) the Lord with thanksgiving.” Another explanation: To testify concerning Him. That is to say that His work testifies concerning Him, about His mighty acts. Both are in the Aggadah of Psalms (Midrash Tehillim 19:1). |
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even the wicked man: He made, to leave him for the day of evil. All this is for His praise. |
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5Everyone of haughty heart is an abomination of the Lord; hand to hand he will not go unpunished. |
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התּוֹעֲבַ֣ת יְ֖הוָה כָּל־גְּבַהּ־לֵ֑ב יָ֥ד לְ֜יָ֗ד לֹ֣א יִנָּקֶֽה: |
hand to hand he will not go unpunished: From hand to hand the punishment for his haughtiness will come to him. |
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6With loving-kindness and truth will iniquity be expiated, and through fear of the Lord turn away from evil. |
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ובְּחֶ֣סֶד וֶ֖אֱמֶת יְכֻפַּ֣ר עָוֹ֑ן וּבְיִרְאַ֥ת יְ֜הוָ֗ה ס֣וּר מֵרָֽע: |
and through fear of the Lord turn away from evil: Through the fear of the Lord turn away from evil. |
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7When the Lord accepts a person's ways, He will cause even his enemies to make peace with him. |
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זבִּרְצ֣וֹת יְ֖הוָה דַּרְכֵי־אִ֑ישׁ גַּם־א֜וֹיְבָ֗יו יַשְׁלִ֥ם אִתּֽוֹ: |
When the Lord accepts a person’s ways, He will cause even his enemies to make peace with him: He will appease [them] for him that they should make peace with him. |
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8Better a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice. |
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חטוֹב־מְ֖עַט בִּצְדָקָ֑ה מֵרֹ֥ב תְּ֜בוּא֗וֹת בְּלֹ֣א מִשְׁפָּֽט: |
9A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord prepares his step. |
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טלֵ֣ב אָ֖דָם יְחַשֵּׁ֣ב דַּרְכּ֑וֹ וַֽ֜יהוָ֗ה יָכִ֥ין צַעֲדֽוֹ: |
A man’s heart plans his way: to walk on the straight way. |
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but the Lord prepares his step: as we learned: He who comes to purify himself is granted assistance. |
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10There is magic on a king's lips; his mouth commits no treachery in judgment. |
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יקֶ֤סֶם עַֽל־שִׂפְתֵי־מֶ֑לֶךְ בְּ֜מִשְׁפָּ֗ט לֹ֣א יִמְעַל־פִּֽיו: |
There is magic on a king’s lips: On the lips of a wise man sitting in judgment. |
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11The balance and scales of justice are the Lord's; all the weights in the bag are His work. |
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יאפֶּ֤לֶס וּמֹאזְנֵ֣י מִ֖שְׁפָּט לַֽיהוָ֑ה מַ֜עֲשֵֹ֗הוּ כָּל־אַבְנֵי־כִֽיס: |
The balance and scales of justice are the Lord’s etc.: to requite a person according to his deed. משפט is (justice in French, in German Gerechtigkeit, and so in Isaiah 7,) the retribution for a person’s sins with a balance and scales. |
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all the weights in the bag: Just as among the weights in the bag, there are large weights and small ones, so is everything according to a person’s deeds. |
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12It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness, for with righteousness the throne is established. |
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יבתּוֹעֲבַ֣ת מְ֖לָכִים עֲשֹ֣וֹת רֶ֑שַׁע כִּ֥י בִ֜צְדָקָ֗ה יִכּ֥וֹן כִּסֵּֽא: |
It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: It is an abominable thing for judges, and it is not proper for them to commit wickedness. |
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13Righteous lips are the delight of kings, and he loves the one who speaks honestly. |
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יגרְצ֣וֹן מְ֖לָכִים שִׂפְתֵי־צֶ֑דֶק וְדֹבֵ֖ר יְשָׁרִ֣ים יֶאֱהָֽב: |
14The king's wrath is [like] messengers of death, but a wise man will pacify it. |
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ידחֲמַת־מֶ֥לֶךְ מַלְאֲכֵי־מָ֑וֶת וְאִ֖ישׁ חָכָ֣ם יְכַפְּרֶֽנָּה: |
The king’s wrath: is like messengers of death, like messengers of death [but not angels of death]. |
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will pacify it: Will placate it. |
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15In the light of the King's countenance is life, and His delight is like a cloud of the late rain. |
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טובְּאוֹר־פְּנֵי־מֶ֥לֶךְ חַיִּ֑ים וּ֜רְצוֹנ֗וֹ כְּעָ֣ב מַלְקֽוֹשׁ: |
In the light of the King’s countenance is life: The one to whom the Holy One, blessed be He, shows a bright countenance-it is life to him. Therefore, a person must straighten his way before Him. |
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and His delight is like a cloud of the late rain: Whoever is accepted by Him-His delight is beneficial to him like the cloud that brings the rain. |
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16How much better is it to acquire wisdom than gold! And to acquire understanding is preferable to silver. |
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טזקְֽנֹה־חָכְמָ֗ה מַה־טּ֥וֹב מֵחָר֑וּץ וּקְנ֥וֹת בִּ֜ינָ֗ה נִבְחָ֥ר מִכָּֽסֶף: |
17The highway of the upright is to turn away from evil; he who guards his soul watches his way. |
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יזמְסִלַּ֣ת יְ֖שָׁרִים ס֣וּר מֵרָ֑ע שֹׁמֵ֥ר נַ֜פְשׁ֗וֹ נֹצֵ֥ר דַּרְכּֽוֹ: |
18Before destruction comes pride, and before stumbling [comes] a haughty spirit. |
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יחלִפְנֵי־שֶׁ֥בֶר גָּא֑וֹן וְלִפְנֵ֥י כִ֜שָּׁל֗וֹן גֹּ֣בַהּ רֽוּחַ: |
19It is better to be of humble spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoils with the haughty. |
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יטט֣וֹב שְׁפַל־ר֖וּחַ אֶת־עֲנָיִ֑ים עֲנָוִ֑ים מֵֽחַלֵּ֥ק שָׁ֜לָ֗ל אֶת־גֵּאִֽים: |
It is better to be of humble spirit: It is better to join the lowly and to be of humble spirit with them than to divide spoils with the haughty. |
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20He who considers a matter will find good, and he who trusts in the Lord is fortunate. |
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כמַשְׂכִּ֣יל עַל־דָּ֖בָר יִמְצָא־ט֑וֹב וּבוֹטֵ֖חַ בַּיהוָ֣ה אַשְׁרָֽיו: |
He who considers a matter: One who sets his heart to consider his matters, to weigh his ways, will find good. |
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and he who trusts in the Lord is fortunate: When he weighs his ways and sees that a commandment involves danger or monetary loss, but he trusts in the Holy One, blessed be He, and [still] does that good deed. |
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is fortunate: They are his fortunes. |
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21The wise-hearted shall be called understanding; and the sweetness of speech increases learning. |
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כאלַחֲכַם־לֵ֖ב יִקָּרֵ֣א נָב֑וֹן וּמֶ֥תֶק שְׂ֜פָתַ֗יִם יֹסִ֥יף לֶֽקַח: |
The wise- hearted shall be called understanding: He who learned wisdom from his teacher shall be called understanding. Ultimately, he will be understanding in matters and keen in his wisdom, and they will call him understanding. |
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and the sweetness of speech increases learning: When a person explains his words to a pupil and makes his words sweet with reasons, he increases learning. |
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22Intelligence is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the chastisement of the fools is folly. |
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כבמְק֣וֹר חַ֖יִּים שֵֹ֣כֶל בְּעָלָ֑יו וּמוּסַ֖ר אֱוִלִ֣ים אִוֶּֽלֶת: |
Intelligence is a fountain of life to one who has it: lit. a fountain of life is the intelligence of its possessor. And this is the interpretation of the verse: The intelligence of the one who has it is a fountain of life to him. |
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but the chastisement of the fools is folly: But the chastisement of the fools comes to them because of folly. And this is the apparent meaning: Folly is chastisement to the fools. |
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23The heart of a wise man give his mouth intelligence and adds learning to his lips. |
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כגלֵ֣ב חָ֖כָם יַשְׂכִּ֣יל פִּ֑יהוּ וְעַל־שְׂ֜פָתָ֗יו יֹסִ֥יף לֶֽקַח: |
The heart of a wise man gives his mouth intelligence: His heart teaches his mouth to speak lucidly. |
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24Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. |
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כדצוּף־דְּ֖בַשׁ אִמְרֵי־נֹ֑עַם מָת֥וֹק לַ֜נֶּפֶשׁ וּמַרְפֵּ֥א לָעָֽצֶם: |
a honeycomb: Heb. צוף דבש, sweet as honey (bresche in O.F.). |
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Pleasant words: Words of Torah. |
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25There is a way [that is] straight in a man's view, but its end is ways of death. |
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כהיֵ֤שׁ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יָ֖שָׁר לִפְנֵי־אִ֑ישׁ וְ֜אַחֲרִיתָ֗הּ דַּרְכֵי־מָֽוֶת: |
There is a way: that is straight in a man’s view. |
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26The soul of a laborer labors for him, when his mouth forces him. |
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כונֶ֣פֶשׁ עָ֖מֵל עָ֣מְלָה לּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־אָכַ֖ף עָלָ֣יו פִּֽיהוּ: |
labors for him: It labors for his needs. |
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when his mouth forces him: When his mouth forces him and demands food, then his labor stands up for him, for he eats what he has already worked for. |
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27An ungodly man digs up evil, and on his lips is a kind of searing fire. |
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כזאִ֣ישׁ בְּ֖לִיַּעַל כֹּרֶ֣ה רָעָ֑ה וְעַל־שְׂ֜פָתֹ֗יו שְׂפָת֗וֹ כְּאֵ֣שׁ צָרָֽבֶת: |
digs up evil: In his heart, he plots evil. |
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and on his lips is a kind of searing fire: The evil burns on his lips until he expresses it with his mouth and executes it. |
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a kind of searing fire: Heb. צרבת burning, as in (Ezek. 21:3): “And all faces shall be scorched (ונצרבו) by it.” |
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28A perverse man incites quarrel, and a grumbler alienates the Lord. |
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כחאִ֣ישׁ תַּ֖הְפֻּכוֹת יְשַׁלַּ֣ח מָד֑וֹן וְ֜נִרְגָּ֗ן מַפְרִ֥יד אַלּֽוּף: |
and a grumbler alienates the Lord: And through his grumbling, he alienates the Lord of the world from himself. |
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29A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him on a way that is not good. |
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כטאִ֣ישׁ חָ֖מָס יְפַתֶּ֣ה רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְ֜הוֹלִיכ֗וֹ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ לֹא־טֽוֹב: |
30He winks his eyes to think perverse thoughts; he purses his lips, bringing evil to pass. |
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לעֹצֶ֣ה עֵ֖ינָיו לַחְשֹׁ֣ב תַּהְפֻּכ֑וֹת קֹרֵ֥ץ שְׂ֜פָתָ֗יו כִּלָּ֥ה רָעָֽה: |
He winks his eyes: Heb. עצה, an expression of winking, and so (Ps. 32:8): “I will wink (איעצה) to you my eye.” |
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bringing evil to pass: כלה, as in (Esther 7:7) “that the evil was determined (כלתה) against him by the king.” He causes evil to come to the world. |
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31A hoary head is a crown of glory; it will be found in the way of righteousness. |
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לאעֲטֶ֣רֶת תִּפְאֶ֣רֶת שֵׂיבָ֑ה בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ צְ֜דָקָ֗ה תִּמָּצֵֽא: |
it will be found in the way of righteousness: Through righteousness, they live long. |
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32One who is slow to anger is better than a mighty man, and one who rules over his spirit [is better] than one who conquers a city. |
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לבט֤וֹב אֶ֣רֶךְ אַ֖פַּיִם מִגִּבּ֑וֹר וּמשֵׁ֥ל בְּ֜רוּח֗וֹ מִלֹּכֵ֥ד עִֽיר: |
and one who rules over his spirit: He conquers his evil inclination. |
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33The lot is cast in the lap, but all his judgment is from the Lord. |
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לגבַּחֵיק יוּטַ֣ל אֶת־הַגּוֹרָ֑ל וּ֜מֵיְהוָ֗ה כָּל־מִשְׁפָּטֽוֹ: |
The lot is cast in the lap: By himself, a person cast lots. |
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but all his judgment: to choose for each one his share. |
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