Proverbs 20

lets hayyayin homeh shekhar vekhol-shogeh bo lo yekhkam

Wine is a scoffer, strong drink a roisterer; No one who is muddled by them will ever grow wise.

naham kakkefir emat melekh mitabbero khote nafsho

The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion; Whoever provokes it forfeits life.

kavod la'ish shevet meriv vekhol-evil yitgalla

It is honorable for a man to desist from strife, But every fool becomes embroiled.

mekhoref atsel lo-yakharosh (yshl) [vesha'al] baqqatsir va'ayin

In winter sluggards do not plow; At harvesttime they seek, and find nothing.

mayim amuqqim etsah velev-ish ve'ish tevunah yidlennah

The designs in a person’s mind are deep waters, But a man of understanding can draw them out.

rov-adam yiqra ish khasdo ve'ish emunim mi yimtsa

He calls many a man his loyal friend, But who can find a faithful man?

mithallekh betummo tsaddiq ashre vanayw akharayw

The righteous live blamelessly; Happy are their children who come after them.

melekh yoshev al-kisse-din mezareh ve'enayw kol-ra

The king seated on the throne of judgment Can winnow out all evil by his glance.

mi-yomar zikkiti libbi taharti mekhattati

Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart, I am purged of my sin”?

even va'even efah ve'efah to'avat Adonai gam-shenehem

False weights and false measures— Both are an abomination to GOD.

gam bema'alalayw yitnakker-na'ar im-zakh ve'im-yashar po'olo

Children may be dissembling in their behavior Even though their actions are blameless and proper.

ozen shoma'at ve'ayin ro'ah Adonai asah gam-shenehem

The ear that hears, the eye that sees— GOD made them both.

al-te'ehav shenah pen-tivvaresh peqakh enekha seva-lakhem

Do not love sleep lest you be impoverished; Keep your eyes open and you will have plenty of food.

ra ra yomar haqqoneh ve'ozel lo az yithallal

“Bad, bad,” says the buyer, Then goes away in self-congratulation.

yesh zahav verov-peninim ukheli yeqar sifte-da'at

Gold is plentiful, jewels abundant, But wise speech is a precious object.

leqakh-bigdo ki-arav zar uve'ad (nkhrym) [nokhriyyah] khavlehu

Seize his garment, for he stood surety for another; Take it as a pledge, [for he stood surety] for an unfamiliar woman.

arev la'ish lekhem shaqer ve'akhar yimmale-fihu khatsats

Bread gained by fraud may be tasty to a man, But later his mouth will be filled with gravel.

makhashavot be'etsah tikkon uvetakhbulot aseh milkhamah

Plans laid in council will succeed; Wage war with stratagems.

goleh-ssod holekh rakhil ulefoteh sefatayw lo titarav

Whoever gives away secrets is base; Do not take up with a big-mouth.

meqallel aviv ve'immo yidakh nero (vyshvn) [be'eshun] khoshekh

Whoever reviles their father or mother, Will be without lamplight when darkness comes.

nakhalah (mvkhlt) [mevohelet] barishonah ve'akharitah lo tevorakh

An estate acquired in haste at the outset Will not be blessed in the end.

al-tomar ashallemah-ra qavveh la-Adonai veyosha lakh

Do not say, “I will requite evil”; Put your hope in GOD and you will be delivered.

to'avat Adonai even va'aven umozene mirmah lo-tov

False weights are an abomination to GOD; Dishonest scales are not right.

me-Adonai mitsade-gaver ve'adam mah-yyavin darko

People’s steps are decided by GOD; What do mortals know about their own way?

moqesh adam yala qodesh ve'akhar nedarim levaqqer

It is a snare for mortals to pledge a sacred gift rashly And after the vows to reconsider.

mezareh resha'im melekh khakham vayyashev alehem ofan

A wise king winnows out the wicked, And turns the wheel upon them.

ner Adonai nishmat adam khofes kol-khadre-vaten

A mortal’s lifebreath is GOD’s lamp Revealing all their inmost parts.

khesed ve'emet yitseru-melekh vesa'ad bakhesed kiso

Faithfulness and loyalty protect the king; He maintains his throne by faithfulness.

tiferet bakhurim kokham vahadar zeqenim sevah

The glory of young men is their strength; The majesty of elders is their gray hair.

khabburot petsa (tmryq) [tamruq] bera umakkot khadre-vaten

Bruises and wounds are repayment for evil, Striking at one’s inmost parts.