TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
Chapter 7
Translation and Transliteration of
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1A good name is better than fragrant oil, and the day of death than the day of birth.
TOV SHEM MI-SHEMEN TOV V'-YOM HA-MA-VET MI-YOM HI-VOL-DO
אט֥וֹב שֵׁ֖ם מִשֶּׁ֣מֶן ט֑וֹב וְי֣וֹם הַמָּ֔וֶת מִיּ֖וֹם הִוָּלְדֽוֹ׃
2It is better to go to a house of mourning than to a house of feasting; for that is the end of every man, and a living one should take it to heart.
TOV la-LE-khet el BEIT-e-VEL, mil-LE-khet el BEIT mis-TEH, ba-a-SHER HU SOF kol-ha-A-dam, v'-ha-KHAI yi-TEN el li-BO.
בט֞וֹב לָלֶ֣כֶת אֶל־בֵּֽית־אֵ֗בֶל מִלֶּ֙כֶת֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית מִשְׁתֶּ֔ה בַּאֲשֶׁ֕ר ה֖וּא ס֣וֹף כׇּל־הָאָדָ֑ם וְהַחַ֖י יִתֵּ֥ן אֶל־לִבּֽוֹ׃
3Vexation is better than revelry; for though the face be sad, the heart may be glad.
TOV ka-AS mi-s'-KHOK, KI-ve-RO-a pa-NIM yi-TAV lev.
גט֥וֹב כַּ֖עַס מִשְּׂח֑וֹק כִּֽי־בְרֹ֥עַ פָּנִ֖ים יִ֥יטַב לֵֽב׃
4Wise men are drawn to a house of mourning, and fools to a house of merrymaking.
LEV ha-KHA-mim b'-BEIT e-VEL v'-LEV ke-SEE-leem b'-BEIT sim-KHAH
דלֵ֤ב חֲכָמִים֙ בְּבֵ֣ית אֵ֔בֶל וְלֵ֥ב כְּסִילִ֖ים בְּבֵ֥ית שִׂמְחָֽה׃
5It is better to listen to a wise man's reproof than to listen to the praise of fools.
TOV li-SHO-mo-a ga-a-RAT cha-KHAM me-EESH sho-ME-a SHIR ke-SEE-leem.
הט֕וֹב לִשְׁמֹ֖עַ גַּעֲרַ֣ת חָכָ֑ם מֵאִ֕ישׁ שֹׁמֵ֖עַ שִׁ֥יר כְּסִילִֽים׃
6For the levity of the fool is like the crackling of nettles under a kettle. But that too is illusory;
ki k'-KOL ha-see-REEM ta-KHAT ha-seeR, KEN se-KHOK ha-ke-SEEL, v'-GAM zeh ha-VEL.
וכִּ֣י כְק֤וֹל הַסִּירִים֙ תַּ֣חַת הַסִּ֔יר כֵּ֖ן שְׂחֹ֣ק הַכְּסִ֑יל וְגַם־זֶ֖ה הָֽבֶל׃
7for cheating may rob the wise man of reason and destroy the prudence of the cautious.
ki ha-o-SHEK ye-ho-LEL kha-KHAM, vi-ya-BED et-LEV ma-TA-na
זכִּ֥י הָעֹ֖שֶׁק יְהוֹלֵ֣ל חָכָ֑ם וִֽיאַבֵּ֥ד אֶת־לֵ֖ב מַתָּנָֽה׃
8The end of a matter is better than the beginning of it. Better a patient spirit than a haughty spirit.
TOV a-kha-REET da-VAR may-ray-SHEE-to, TOV e-REKH-ru-akh mi-ge-VAH-ru-akh
חט֛וֹב אַחֲרִ֥ית דָּבָ֖ר מֵֽרֵאשִׁית֑וֹ ט֥וֹב אֶֽרֶךְ־ר֖וּחַ מִגְּבַהּ־רֽוּחַ׃
9Don't let your spirit be quickly vexed, for vexation abides in the breasts of fools.
al-t'-va-HEL b'-ru-KHA-kha li-k'-OS, ki kha-AS b'-kha-YEK k'-see-LEEM ya-NU-akh
טאַל־תְּבַהֵ֥ל בְּרֽוּחֲךָ֖ לִכְע֑וֹס כִּ֣י כַ֔עַס בְּחֵ֥יק כְּסִילִ֖ים יָנֽוּחַ׃
10Don't say, “How has it happened that former times were better than these?” For it is not wise of you to ask that question.
al-TO-mar, meh ha-YAH she-ha-ya-MEEM ha-ree-SHO-neem ha-YU to-VEEM me-E-leh, kee lo me-khokh-MAH sha-al-TA al-ZEH
יאַל־תֹּאמַר֙ מֶ֣ה הָיָ֔ה שֶׁ֤הַיָּמִים֙ הָרִ֣אשֹׁנִ֔ים הָי֥וּ טוֹבִ֖ים מֵאֵ֑לֶּה כִּ֛י לֹ֥א מֵחׇכְמָ֖ה שָׁאַ֥לְתָּ עַל־זֶֽה׃
11Wisdom is as good as a patrimony, and even better, for those who behold the sun.
to-VAH khokh-MAH im na-kha-LAH v'-yo-TAYR l'-ro-AY ha-SHA-mesh
יאטוֹבָ֥ה חׇכְמָ֖ה עִֽם־נַחֲלָ֑ה וְיֹתֵ֖ר לְרֹאֵ֥י הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃
7:11 Wisdom is as good as a patrimony
Students studying Talmud in Tiveria
The Sages teach that the wisdom in this verse is the knowledge of the Torah, and the patrimony refers to the Land of Israel, which is the eternal inheritance of the Jewish people. Tova chochma im nachala (טובה חכמה עם נחלה), translated here as ‘Wisdom is as good as a patrimony,’ literally means “Wisdom is good with an inheritance.” This means that the wisdom of the Torah is enhanced by the “inheritance” that is Eretz Yisrael. The Sages further teach that “there is no Torah like the Torah of the Land of Israel,” since the very air of Israel makes a person wise. Israel is the Jews’ “natural habitat,” and it is therefore the place in which they can flourish and reach their spiritual potential. Mizrachi, the religious-Zionist movement founded in nineteenth century Vilna, reflected this sentiment in their motto: “The Land of Israel for the People of Israel, according to the Torah of Israel.” Among other things, Mizrachi’s mission, from its inception until today, has been working towards the economic and spiritual development of Eretz Yisrael.
12For to be in the shelter of wisdom is to be also in the shelter of money, and the advantage of intelligence is that wisdom preserves the life of him who possesses it.
KI b'-TZEL ha-KHO-kh'-MAH b'-TZEL ha-KA-sef v'-yi-t'-RON da-AT ha-KHO-kh'-MAH t'-kha-YE b'-a-LE-ha
יבכִּ֛י בְּצֵ֥ל הַֽחׇכְמָ֖ה בְּצֵ֣ל הַכָּ֑סֶף וְיִתְר֣וֹן דַּ֔עַת הַֽחׇכְמָ֖ה תְּחַיֶּ֥ה בְעָלֶֽיהָ׃
13Consider Hashem's doing! Who can straighten what He has twisted?
REH et-ma-a-SEH ha-e-lo-HEEM, KEE mee yu-KHAL l'-ta-KEN AYT a-SHER i-v'-TO.
יגרְאֵ֖ה אֶת־מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים כִּ֣י מִ֤י יוּכַל֙ לְתַקֵּ֔ן אֵ֖ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עִוְּתֽוֹ׃
14So in a time of good fortune enjoy the good fortune; and in a time of misfortune, reflect: The one no less than the other was Hashem's doing; consequently, man may find no fault with Him.
b'-YOM to-VAH he-YEH b'-TOV u-v'-YOM ra-AH r'-EH gam et-ZEH l'-u-MAT-ZEH a-SAH ha-e-lo-HEEM al di-B'-rat sh'-LO yim-TZA ha-a-DAM a-cha-RAV m'-U-MAH
ידבְּי֤וֹם טוֹבָה֙ הֱיֵ֣ה בְט֔וֹב וּבְי֥וֹם רָעָ֖ה רְאֵ֑ה גַּ֣ם אֶת־זֶ֤ה לְעֻמַּת־זֶה֙ עָשָׂ֣ה הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים עַל־דִּבְרַ֗ת שֶׁלֹּ֨א יִמְצָ֧א הָֽאָדָ֛ם אַחֲרָ֖יו מְאֽוּמָה׃
15In my own brief span of life, I have seen both these things: sometimes a good man perishes in spite of his goodness, and sometimes a wicked one endures in spite of his wickedness.
et-ha-KOL ra-EE-tee bi-MAY hev-LEE, YAYSH tza-DEEK o-VED b'-tzid-KO, v'-YAYSH ra-SHA ma-a-REEKH b'-ra-A-to.
טואֶת־הַכֹּ֥ל רָאִ֖יתִי בִּימֵ֣י הֶבְלִ֑י יֵ֤שׁ צַדִּיק֙ אֹבֵ֣ד בְּצִדְק֔וֹ וְיֵ֣שׁ רָשָׁ֔ע מַאֲרִ֖יךְ בְּרָעָתֽוֹ׃
16So don't overdo goodness and don't act the wise man to excess, or you may be dumfounded.
al-t'-HEE tza-DEEK har-BAY v'-al tit-cha-KAM yo-TAYR la-MAH tish-O-MEM
טזאַל־תְּהִ֤י צַדִּיק֙ הַרְבֵּ֔ה וְאַל־תִּתְחַכַּ֖ם יוֹתֵ֑ר לָ֖מָּה תִּשּׁוֹמֵֽם׃
17Don't overdo wickedness and don't be a fool, or you may die before your time.
al-tir-SHA har-BEH v'-al-te-HI sa-KHAL, la-MA ta-MUT b'-LO i-TE-kha
יזאַל־תִּרְשַׁ֥ע הַרְבֵּ֖ה וְאַל־תְּהִ֣י סָכָ֑ל לָ֥מָּה תָמ֖וּת בְּלֹ֥א עִתֶּֽךָ׃
18It is best that you grasp the one without letting go of the other, for one who fears Hashem will do his duty by both.
TOV a-SHER te-e-KHOZ BA-ZEH v'-GAM mi-ZEH al-TA-nakh et-YA-de-KHA KI-y'-RAY e-lo-HEEM ye-TSE et-KU-LAM
יחט֚וֹב אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֶּאֱחֹ֣ז בָּזֶ֔ה וְגַם־מִזֶּ֖ה אַל־תַּנַּ֣ח אֶת־יָדֶ֑ךָ כִּֽי־יְרֵ֥א אֱלֹהִ֖ים יֵצֵ֥א אֶת־כֻּלָּֽם׃
19Wisdom is more of a stronghold to a wise man than ten magnates that a city may contain.
ha-KHO-kh'-MAH ta-OZ le-KHA-kham, me-a-sa-RAH sha-LEE-teem a-SHER ha-YU ba-EER
יטהַֽחׇכְמָ֖ה תָּעֹ֣ז לֶחָכָ֑ם מֵֽעֲשָׂרָה֙ שַׁלִּיטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָי֖וּ בָּעִֽיר׃
20For there is not one good man on earth who does what is best and doesn't err.
kee a-DAM AYN tza-DEEK ba-A-retz a-SHER ya-a-SEH TOV v'-LO ye-khe-TA
ככִּ֣י אָדָ֔ם אֵ֥ין צַדִּ֖יק בָּאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲשֶׂה־טּ֖וֹב וְלֹ֥א יֶחֱטָֽא׃
21Finally, don't pay attention to everything that is said, so that you may not hear your slave reviling you;
gam le-khol ha-de-va-REEM a-SHER y'-da-VE-ru al ti-TEN li-BE-kha a-SHER lo ti-SH'-ma et a-v'-DE-kha m'-kal-LE-kha
כאגַּ֤ם לְכׇל־הַדְּבָרִים֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יְדַבֵּ֔רוּ אַל־תִּתֵּ֖ן לִבֶּ֑ךָ אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹֽא־תִשְׁמַ֥ע אֶֽת־עַבְדְּךָ֖ מְקַלְלֶֽךָ׃
22for well you remember the many times that you yourself have reviled others.
ki gam-pe-a-MEEM ra-VOT ya-DA l'-BE-kha a-SHER gam [a-TAH] (AT) ki-la-LA-ta a-KHE-reem
כבכִּ֛י גַּם־פְּעָמִ֥ים רַבּ֖וֹת יָדַ֣ע לִבֶּ֑ךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר גַּם־[אַתָּ֖ה] (את) קִלַּ֥לְתָּ אֲחֵרִֽים׃
23All this I tested with wisdom. I thought I could fathom it, but it eludes me.
kol-ZO ni-SI-tee va-KHOKH-ma, a-MAR-tee ekh-KA-ma, v'-hee re-KHO-ka mi-ME-ni
כגכׇּל־זֹ֖ה נִסִּ֣יתִי בַֽחׇכְמָ֑ה אָמַ֣רְתִּי אֶחְכָּ֔מָה וְהִ֖יא רְחוֹקָ֥ה מִמֶּֽנִּי׃
24[The secret of] what happens is elusive and deep, deep down; who can discover it?
ra-KHOK mah-she-ha-YAH v'-a-MOK a-MOK mi yim-tza-E-nu
כדרָח֖וֹק מַה־שֶּׁהָיָ֑ה וְעָמֹ֥ק ׀ עָמֹ֖ק מִ֥י יִמְצָאֶֽנּוּ׃
25I put my mind to studying, exploring, and seeking wisdom and the reason of things, and to studying wickedness, stupidity, madness, and folly.
sa-BO-ti a-NEE v'-li-BEE la-DA-at v'-la-TUR u-va-KESH kho-KH'-mah v'-khe-sh'-BON v'-la-DA-at re-SHA ke-SEL v'-ha-sik-lo-TOT
כהסַבּ֨וֹתִֽי אֲנִ֤י וְלִבִּי֙ לָדַ֣עַת וְלָת֔וּר וּבַקֵּ֥שׁ חׇכְמָ֖ה וְחֶשְׁבּ֑וֹן וְלָדַ֙עַת֙ רֶ֣שַׁע כֶּ֔סֶל וְהַסִּכְל֖וּת הוֹלֵלֽוֹת׃
26Now, I find woman more bitter than death; she is all traps, her hands are fetters and her heart is snares. He who is pleasing to Hashem escapes her, and he who is displeasing is caught by her.
u-mo-TZE a-NEE mar mi-MA-vet et ha-i-SHA a-SHER hi m'-tzo-DEEM va-cha-ra-MEEM li-BAH a-su-REEM ya-DE-ha, TOV lif-NEI ha-e-lo-HEEM yi-ma-LET mi-ME-nah, v'-cho-TE yil-LA-khed BAH.
כווּמוֹצֶ֨א אֲנִ֜י מַ֣ר מִמָּ֗וֶת אֶת־הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ אֲשֶׁר־הִ֨יא מְצוֹדִ֧ים וַחֲרָמִ֛ים לִבָּ֖הּ אֲסוּרִ֣ים יָדֶ֑יהָ ט֞וֹב לִפְנֵ֤י הָאֱלֹהִים֙ יִמָּלֵ֣ט מִמֶּ֔נָּה וְחוֹטֵ֖א יִלָּ֥כֶד בָּֽהּ׃
27See, this is what I found, said Kohelet, item by item in my search for the reason of things.
RE-eh ZEH ma-TZA-tee, a-M'RAH ko-HE-let, a-KHAT l'-a-KHAT lim-TZO khe-SH'VON
כזרְאֵה֙ זֶ֣ה מָצָ֔אתִי אָמְרָ֖ה קֹהֶ֑לֶת אַחַ֥ת לְאַחַ֖ת לִמְצֹ֥א חֶשְׁבּֽוֹן׃
28As for what I sought further but did not find, I found only one human being in a thousand, and the one I found among so many was never a woman.
a-SHER od-bik-SHAH naf-SHEE v'-LO ma-TZA-tee a-DAM e-KHAD may-E-lef ma-TZA-tee v'-i-SHAH v'-KOL e-LEH lo ma-TZA-tee
כחאֲשֶׁ֛ר עוֹד־בִּקְשָׁ֥ה נַפְשִׁ֖י וְלֹ֣א מָצָ֑אתִי אָדָ֞ם אֶחָ֤ד מֵאֶ֙לֶף֙ מָצָ֔אתִי וְאִשָּׁ֥ה בְכׇל־אֵ֖לֶּה לֹ֥א מָצָֽאתִי׃
29But, see, this I did find: Hashem made men plain, but they have engaged in too much reasoning.
l'-VAD r'-AY z'-MA-ta-TEE, a-SHER a-SA ha-e-lo-HEEM et ha-a-DAM ya-SHAR, v'-HE-ma vik-SHU khish-vo-NOT ra-BEEM
כטלְבַד֙ רְאֵה־זֶ֣ה מָצָ֔אתִי אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֧ה הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים אֶת־הָאָדָ֖ם יָשָׁ֑ר וְהֵ֥מָּה בִקְשׁ֖וּ חִשְּׁבֹנ֥וֹת רַבִּֽים׃
