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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 1

Translation and Transliteration of 

1The proverbs of Shlomo son of David, king of Yisrael:

Mish-lay Sh'-lo-MO ben da-VID, me-LEKH yis-ra-AYL.

אמִ֭שְׁלֵי שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה בֶן־דָּוִ֑ד מֶ֝֗לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

2For learning wisdom and discipline; For understanding words of discernment;

la-DA-at kho-KH'-mah u-mu-SAHR l'-ha-VEEN im-RAY vi-NAH

בלָדַ֣עַת חׇכְמָ֣ה וּמוּסָ֑ר לְ֝הָבִ֗ין אִמְרֵ֥י בִינָֽה׃

3For acquiring the discipline for success, Righteousness, justice, and equity;

la-ka-KHA-t musar ha-s'-KEL tse-DEK u-mish-PAT u-m'-sha-RIM

גלָ֭קַחַת מוּסַ֣ר הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל צֶ֥דֶק וּ֝מִשְׁפָּ֗ט וּמֵשָׁרִֽים׃

4For endowing the simple with shrewdness, The young with knowledge and foresight.

la-TEt lif-ta-YIM or-MAH, le-NA-ar da-AT u-m'-zi-MAH

דלָתֵ֣ת לִפְתָאיִ֣ם עׇרְמָ֑ה לְ֝נַ֗עַר דַּ֣עַת וּמְזִמָּֽה׃

5The wise man, hearing them, will gain more wisdom; The discerning man will learn to be adroit;

Yish-MA khah-KHAM v'-yo-SEF le-KHAKH v'-na-VON takh-BU-lot yik-NEH.

היִשְׁמַ֣ע חָ֭כָם וְי֣וֹסֶף לֶ֑קַח וְ֝נָב֗וֹן תַּחְבֻּל֥וֹת יִקְנֶֽה׃

6For understanding proverb and epigram, The words of the wise and their riddles.

l'-ha-VEEN ma-SHAL u-m'-lee-TZA di-V'-RAY kha-KHA-meem v'-khee-do-TAM

ולְהָבִ֣ין מָ֭שָׁל וּמְלִיצָ֑ה דִּבְרֵ֥י חֲ֝כָמִ֗ים וְחִידֹתָֽם׃

7The fear of Hashem is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and discipline.

yir-AT a-do-NAI ray-SHEET DA-at khokh-MAH u-mu-SAR e-vee-LEEM BA-zu

זיִרְאַ֣ת יְ֭הֹוָה רֵאשִׁ֣ית דָּ֑עַת חׇכְמָ֥ה וּ֝מוּסָ֗ר אֱוִילִ֥ים בָּֽזוּ׃

1:7   The fear of Hashem is the beginning of knowledge

Sefer Mishlei contains the collected wisdom of Shlomo, the wisest king to sit on the throne in Israel. This verse sets the tone for the entire book of Mishlei. Once King Solomon has set out his purpose — to impart wisdom — in writing, he begins by identifying fear of Hashem as the root of that wisdom. Without awe of God, knowledge is empty and can be twisted for any number of negative purposes.

8My son, heed the discipline of your father, And do not forsake the instruction of your mother;

SH'-ma b'-NEE mu-SAR a-VEE-KHA v'-al ti-TOSH to-RAT i-ME-kha

חשְׁמַ֣ע בְּ֭נִי מוּסַ֣ר אָבִ֑יךָ וְאַל־תִּ֝טֹּ֗שׁ תּוֹרַ֥ת אִמֶּֽךָ׃

9For they are a graceful wreath upon your head, A necklace about your throat.

ki li-VYAT kheyn HEM le-RO-she-KHA va-a-NA-kim le-gar-ge-RO-te-KHA

טכִּ֤י ׀ לִוְיַ֤ת חֵ֓ן הֵ֬ם לְרֹאשֶׁ֑ךָ וַ֝עֲנָקִ֗ים לְגַרְגְּרֹתֶֽךָ׃

10My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield;

b'-NEE im ya-fa-TOO-kha kha-TA-eem al to-VAY

יבְּנִ֡י אִם־יְפַתּ֥וּךָ חַ֝טָּאִ֗ים אַל־תֹּבֵֽא׃

11If they say, “Come with us, Let us set an ambush to shed blood, Let us lie in wait for the innocent (Without cause!)

im-yo-MRU le-KHA it-TA-nu ne-er-VAH le-DAM nitz-pe-NAH le-NA-ki KHI-nam

יאאִם־יֹאמְרוּ֮ לְכָ֢ה אִ֫תָּ֥נוּ נֶאֶרְבָ֥ה לְדָ֑ם נִצְפְּנָ֖ה לְנָקִ֣י חִנָּֽם׃

12Like Sheol, let us swallow them alive; Whole, like those who go down into the Pit.

niv-LA-em kish-OL cha-YEEM u-te-mi-MEEM ke-yor-DEI bor

יבנִ֭בְלָעֵם כִּשְׁא֣וֹל חַיִּ֑ים וּ֝תְמִימִ֗ים כְּי֣וֹרְדֵי בֽוֹר׃

13We shall obtain every precious treasure; We shall fill our homes with loot.

KOL-hon ya-KAR nim-TZA, ne-ma-LE ba-TE-nu sha-LAL

יגכׇּל־ה֣וֹן יָקָ֣ר נִמְצָ֑א נְמַלֵּ֖א בָתֵּ֣ינוּ שָׁלָֽל׃

14Throw in your lot with us; We shall all have a common purse.”

GO-ra-L'-KHA ta-PEEL b'-to-KHE-nu, KIS e-KHAD yi-HE-yeh l'-ku-LA-nu

ידגּ֭וֹרָ֣לְךָ תַּפִּ֣יל בְּתוֹכֵ֑נוּ כִּ֥יס אֶ֝חָ֗ד יִהְיֶ֥ה לְכֻלָּֽנוּ׃

15My son, do not set out with them; Keep your feet from their path.

b'-NEE al-te-LEKH b'-DE-rekh i-TAM m'-NA ra-g'-L'-KHA mi-n'-ti-va-TAM

טובְּנִ֗י אַל־תֵּלֵ֣ךְ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ אִתָּ֑ם מְנַ֥ע רַ֝גְלְךָ֗ מִנְּתִיבָתָֽם׃

16For their feet run to evil; They hurry to shed blood.

ki rag-LE-hem la-RA ya-RO-tzu vi-ma-ha-RU lish-POKH-dam

טזכִּ֣י רַ֭גְלֵיהֶם לָרַ֣ע יָר֑וּצוּ וִ֝ימַהֲר֗וּ לִשְׁפׇּךְ־דָּֽם׃

17In the eyes of every winged creature The outspread net means nothing.

ki-CHIN-nam m'-zo-RAH ha-RA-shet b'-ay-NAY kol-ba-AL ka-NAF

יזכִּֽי־חִ֭נָּם מְזֹרָ֣ה הָרָ֑שֶׁת בְּ֝עֵינֵ֗י כׇּל־בַּ֥עַל כָּנָֽף׃

18But they lie in ambush for their own blood; They lie in wait for their own lives.

v'-HEM l'-da-MAM ye-e-RO-vu, yitz-p'-NU l'-naf-sho-TAM

יחוְ֭הֵם לְדָמָ֣ם יֶאֱרֹ֑בוּ יִ֝צְפְּנ֗וּ לְנַפְשֹׁתָֽם׃

19Such is the fate of all who pursue unjust gain; It takes the life of its possessor.

KEN o-r'-KHOT kol-bo-TSE-a ba-TSE, et-NE-fesh b'-a-la-YAV yi-KACH. (Selah)

יטכֵּ֗ן אׇ֭רְחוֹת כׇּל־בֹּ֣צֵֽעַ בָּ֑צַע אֶת־נֶ֖פֶשׁ בְּעָלָ֣יו יִקָּֽח׃

20Wisdom cries aloud in the streets, Raises her voice in the squares.

KHOKH-mot ba-KHUTZ ta-RO-nah, ba-r'-KHOT ti-TEN ko-LAH.

כחׇ֭כְמוֹת בַּח֣וּץ תָּרֹ֑נָּה בָּ֝רְחֹב֗וֹת תִּתֵּ֥ן קוֹלָֽהּ׃

21At the head of the busy streets she calls; At the entrance of the gates, in the city, she speaks out:

b'-ROSH ho-mi-YOT tik-RA b'-fit-KHEI sh'-a-REEM ba-IYR a-ma-RE-ha to-MER

כאבְּרֹ֥אשׁ הֹמִיּ֗וֹת תִּ֫קְרָ֥א בְּפִתְחֵ֖י שְׁעָרִ֥ים בָּעִ֗יר אֲמָרֶ֥יהָ תֹאמֵֽר׃

22“How long will you simple ones love simplicity, You scoffers be eager to scoff, You dullards hate knowledge?

ad-ma-TAI p'-ta-YIM t'-e-ha-HA-vu-fe-TI v'-le-TZIM la-TZON cham-DOO la-HEM u-k'-see-LEEM yis-ne-U-da-AT

כבעַד־מָתַ֣י ׀ פְּתָיִם֮ תְּֽאֵהֲב֫וּ־פֶ֥תִי וְלֵצִ֗ים לָ֭צוֹן חָמְד֣וּ לָהֶ֑ם וּ֝כְסִילִ֗ים יִשְׂנְאוּ־דָֽעַת׃

23You are indifferent to my rebuke; I will now speak my mind to you, And let you know my thoughts.

ta-SHU-vu l'-to-KHAKH-tee, hi-NEH a-BEE-a LA-khem ru-KHEE, o-di-AH d'-va-RAI et-KHEM

כגתָּשׁ֗וּבוּ לְֽת֫וֹכַחְתִּ֥י הִנֵּ֤ה אַבִּ֣יעָה לָכֶ֣ם רוּחִ֑י אוֹדִ֖יעָה דְבָרַ֣י אֶתְכֶֽם׃

24Since you refused me when I called, And paid no heed when I extended my hand,

ya-AN ka-RA-tee va-t'-ma-E-nu na-TEE-tee ya-DEE v'-AYN mak-SHEEV

כדיַ֣עַן קָ֭רָאתִי וַתְּמָאֵ֑נוּ נָטִ֥יתִי יָ֝דִ֗י וְאֵ֣ין מַקְשִֽׁיב׃

25You spurned all my advice, And would not hear my rebuke,

va-tif-RE-u kol-a-tza-TEE v'-to-khakh-TEE lo a-vee-TEM

כהוַתִּפְרְע֥וּ כׇל־עֲצָתִ֑י וְ֝תוֹכַחְתִּ֗י לֹ֣א אֲבִיתֶֽם׃

26I will laugh at your calamity, And mock when terror comes upon you,

gam-a-NEE b'-ayd-KHEM es-KHAK el-AG b'-vo PACH-d'-KHEM

כוגַּם־אֲ֭נִי בְּאֵידְכֶ֣ם אֶשְׂחָ֑ק אֶ֝לְעַ֗ג בְּבֹ֣א פַחְדְּכֶֽם׃

27When terror comes like a disaster, And calamity arrives like a whirlwind, When trouble and distress come upon you.

b'-VO (k'-sha-OH) [k'-sho-AH] pakh-de-KHEM v'-ayd-KHEM k'-su-FAH ye-e-TEH b'-VO a-le-KHEM tza-RAH v'-tzu-KAH

כזבְּבֹ֤א (כשאוה) [כְשׁוֹאָ֨ה ׀] פַּחְדְּכֶ֗ם וְֽ֭אֵידְכֶם כְּסוּפָ֣ה יֶאֱתֶ֑ה בְּבֹ֥א עֲ֝לֵיכֶ֗ם צָרָ֥ה וְצוּקָֽה׃

28Then they shall call me but I will not answer; They shall seek me but not find me.

az yi-k'ra-u-n'-ni v'-lo e-e-ne, y'-sha-cha-ru-n'-ni v'-lo yim-tza-u-n'-ni

כחאָ֣ז יִ֭קְרָאֻנְנִי וְלֹ֣א אֶעֱנֶ֑ה יְ֝שַׁחֲרֻ֗נְנִי וְלֹ֣א יִמְצָאֻֽנְנִי׃

29Because they hated knowledge, And did not choose fear of Hashem;

ta-KHAT ki-sa-NE-u da-AT v'-yir-AT a-do-NAI lo ba-KHA-ru

כטתַּ֭חַת כִּֽי־שָׂ֣נְאוּ דָ֑עַת וְיִרְאַ֥ת יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה לֹ֣א בָחָֽרוּ׃

30They refused my advice, And disdained all my rebukes,

lo-a-VU la-a-tza-TEE, na-A-tzu kol-to-khakh-TEE

ללֹא־אָב֥וּ לַעֲצָתִ֑י נָ֝אֲצ֗וּ כׇּל־תּוֹכַחְתִּֽי׃

31They shall eat the fruit of their ways, And have their fill of their own counsels.

v'-yo-KH'-lu mi-p'-REE dar-KAM u-mi-mo-a-TZO-tei-HEM yis-ba-U

לאוְֽ֭יֹאכְלוּ מִפְּרִ֣י דַרְכָּ֑ם וּֽמִמֹּעֲצֹ֖תֵיהֶ֣ם יִשְׂבָּֽעוּ׃

32The tranquillity of the simple will kill them, And the complacency of dullards will destroy them.

ki me-SHU-vat p'-TA-yim ta-HAR-gem, v'-shal-VAT k'-si-LIM t'-a-b'-DEM.

לבכִּ֤י מְשׁוּבַ֣ת פְּתָיִ֣ם תַּהַרְגֵ֑ם וְשַׁלְוַ֖ת כְּסִילִ֣ים תְּאַבְּדֵֽם׃

33But he who listens to me will dwell in safety, Untroubled by the terror of misfortune.”

v'-sho-MAY-a LEE yish-KON be-TAKH v'-sha-a-NAN mi-pa-KHAD ra-AH.

לגוְשֹׁמֵ֣עַֽ לִ֭י יִשְׁכׇּן־בֶּ֑טַח וְ֝שַׁאֲנַ֗ן מִפַּ֥חַד רָעָֽה׃