Contact Us

TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 14

Translation and Transliteration of 

1The wisest of women builds her house, But folly tears it down with its own hands.

khakh-MOT na-SHEEM ba-NE-tah v'-i-VE-let b'-ya-DE-ha te-HER-se-NU

אחַכְמ֣וֹת נָ֭שִׁים בָּנְתָ֣ה בֵיתָ֑הּ וְ֝אִוֶּ֗לֶת בְּיָדֶ֥יהָ תֶהֶרְסֶֽנּוּ׃

2He who maintains his integrity fears Hashem; A man of devious ways scorns Him.

ho-LEKH b'-yo-SHE-ro y'-RAY a-do-NAI u-n'-LOZ d'-ra-KHAV bo-ZE-hu

בהוֹלֵ֣ךְ בְּ֭יׇשְׁרוֹ יְרֵ֣א יְהֹוָ֑ה וּנְל֖וֹז דְּרָכָ֣יו בּוֹזֵֽהוּ׃

3In the mouth of a fool is a rod of haughtiness, But the lips of the wise protect them.

b'-fi e-VIL kho-TER ga-a-VAH v'-sif-TAY kha-ka-MEEM tish-mu-REM

גבְּֽפִי־אֱ֭וִיל חֹ֣טֶר גַּאֲוָ֑ה וְשִׂפְתֵ֥י חֲ֝כָמִ֗ים תִּשְׁמוּרֵֽם׃

4If there are no oxen the crib is clean, But a rich harvest comes through the strength of the ox.

b'-AYN a-la-FEEM e-VUS BAR v'-rov-t'-BU-ot b'-KHO-akh shor

דבְּאֵ֣ין אֲ֭לָפִים אֵב֣וּס בָּ֑ר וְרׇב־תְּ֝בוּא֗וֹת בְּכֹ֣חַ שֽׁוֹר׃

5An honest witness will not lie; A false witness testifies lies.

AYD e-MU-neem lo y'-kha-ZAYV, v'-ya-FEE-akh k'-za-VEEM AYD sha-KER.

העֵ֣ד אֱ֭מוּנִים לֹ֣א יְכַזֵּ֑ב וְיָפִ֥יחַ כְּ֝זָבִ֗ים עֵ֣ד שָֽׁקֶר׃

6A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, But knowledge comes easily to the intelligent man.

bi-KESH-letz KHOCH-ma va-A-yin v'-da-AT le-NA-von na-KAL

ובִּקֶּשׁ־לֵ֣ץ חׇכְמָ֣ה וָאָ֑יִן וְדַ֖עַת לְנָב֣וֹן נָקָֽל׃

7Keep your distance from a dullard, For you will not learn wise speech.

LEKH mi-NE-ged l'-ISH ke-SIL u-val-ya-DA-ta sif-tei-DA-at

זלֵ֣ךְ מִ֭נֶּגֶד לְאִ֣ישׁ כְּסִ֑יל וּבַל־יָ֝דַ֗עְתָּ שִׂפְתֵי־דָֽעַת׃

8It is the wisdom of a clever man to understand his course; But the stupidity of the dullard is delusion.

KHOKH-mat a-RUM ha-VEEN dar-KO v'-i-VE-let k'-see-LEEM mir-MAH

חחׇכְמַ֣ת עָ֭רוּם הָבִ֣ין דַּרְכּ֑וֹ וְאִוֶּ֖לֶת כְּסִילִ֣ים מִרְמָֽה׃

9Reparations mediate between fools, Between the upright, good will.

EVILIM YA-LITZ A-SHAM U-VEIN YE-SHA-RIM RA-TZON

טאֱ֭וִלִים יָלִ֣יץ אָשָׁ֑ם וּבֵ֖ין יְשָׁרִ֣ים רָצֽוֹן׃

10The heart alone knows its bitterness, And no outsider can share in its joy.

LEV yo-DE-a ma-RAT naf-SHO u-ve-sim-KHA-to lo-yit-a-RAV zar

ילֵ֗ב י֭וֹדֵעַ מָרַּ֣ת נַפְשׁ֑וֹ וּ֝בְשִׂמְחָת֗וֹ לֹא־יִתְעָ֥רַב זָֽר׃

11The house of the wicked will be demolished, But the tent of the upright will flourish.

BEIT RE-SHA-IM yish-MAID, v'-O-HEL ye-sha-REEM yaf-REE-ACH.

יאבֵּ֣ית רְ֭שָׁעִים יִשָּׁמֵ֑ד וְאֹ֖הֶל יְשָׁרִ֣ים יַפְרִֽיחַ׃

12A road may seem right to a man, But in the end it is a road to death.

YAYSH DE-rekh ya-SHAR lif-NEI-ish v'-a-kha-REE-tah dar-KAY-ma-VET

יביֵ֤שׁ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יָ֭שָׁר לִפְנֵי־אִ֑ישׁ וְ֝אַחֲרִיתָ֗הּ דַּרְכֵי־מָֽוֶת׃

13The heart may ache even in laughter, And joy may end in grief.

gam-bi-SHOK yikh-AV-lev, v'-a-kha-ree-TAH sim-KHA tu-GAH.

יגגַּם־בִּשְׂחֹ֥ק יִכְאַב־לֵ֑ב וְאַחֲרִיתָ֖הּ שִׂמְחָ֣ה תוּגָֽה׃

14An unprincipled man reaps the fruits of his ways; A good man, of his deeds.

mi-d'-ra-KHAV yis-BA suG le-VAV u-m'-a-la-VAYV eesh TOV

ידמִדְּרָכָ֣יו יִ֭שְׂבַּע ס֣וּג לֵ֑ב וּ֝מֵעָלָ֗יו אִ֣ישׁ טֽוֹב׃

15A simple person believes anything; A clever man ponders his course.

PE-ti ya-a-MIN le-KHOL da-VAR, v'-a-RUM ya-VIN la-a-SHU-ro.

טופֶּ֭תִי יַאֲמִ֣ין לְכׇל־דָּבָ֑ר וְ֝עָר֗וּם יָבִ֥ין לַאֲשֻׁרֽוֹ׃

16A wise man is diffident and shuns evil, But a dullard rushes in confidently.

KHA-kham ya-RAY v'-SAR may-RA, u-K'-SEEL mit-a-BAYR u-vo-TAY-akh.

טזחָכָ֣ם יָ֭רֵא וְסָ֣ר מֵרָ֑ע וּ֝כְסִ֗יל מִתְעַבֵּ֥ר וּבוֹטֵֽחַ׃

17An impatient man commits folly; A man of intrigues will be hated.

k'-TZAR a-PA-yim ya-a-SEH i-VE-let, v'-ISH m'-zi-MOT yi-sa-NE

יזקְֽצַר־אַ֭פַּיִם יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה אִוֶּ֑לֶת וְאִ֥ישׁ מְ֝זִמּ֗וֹת יִשָּׂנֵֽא׃

18Folly is the lot of the simple, But clever men glory in knowledge.

na-cha-LU f'-ta-YIM i-VE-let va-a-ru-MEEM yakh-ti-ru da-AT

יחנָחֲל֣וּ פְתָאיִ֣ם אִוֶּ֑לֶת וַ֝עֲרוּמִ֗ים יַכְתִּ֥רוּ דָֽעַת׃

19Evil men are brought low before the good, So are the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

sha-KHU ra-EEM lif-NEI to-VIM u-r'-sha-EEM al sha-a-REI tza-DEEK

יטשַׁח֣וּ רָ֭עִים לִפְנֵ֣י טוֹבִ֑ים וּ֝רְשָׁעִ֗ים עַֽל־שַׁעֲרֵ֥י צַדִּֽיק׃

20A pauper is despised even by his peers, But a rich man has many friends.

gam-le-re-e-HU yi-SA-ne RASH ve-o-ha-VEI a-SHEER ra-BEEM

כגַּם־לְ֭רֵעֵהוּ יִשָּׂ֣נֵא רָ֑שׁ וְאֹהֲבֵ֖י עָשִׁ֣יר רַבִּֽים׃

21He who despises his fellow is wrong; He who shows pity for the lowly is happy.

BOZ-le-RE-e-HU KHO-te U-m'-KHO-nen (a-NEE-yim) [a-NA-veem] ash-RA-yu

כאבׇּז־לְרֵעֵ֥הוּ חוֹטֵ֑א וּמְחוֹנֵ֖ן (עניים) [עֲנָוִ֣ים] אַשְׁרָֽיו׃

22Surely those who plan evil go astray, While those who plan good earn steadfast love.

ha-lo-yit-U khor-SHEI ra, v'-khe-SED ve-e-MET khor-SHEI tov

כבהֲֽלוֹא־יִ֭תְעוּ חֹ֣רְשֵׁי רָ֑ע וְחֶ֥סֶד וֶ֝אֱמֶ֗ת חֹ֣רְשֵׁי טֽוֹב׃

23From all toil there is some gain, But idle chatter is pure loss.

b'-KOL e-TSEV yi-HE-yeh mo-TAR u-d'-VAR s'-fa-TA-yim akh l'-makh-SOR

כגבְּכׇל־עֶ֭צֶב יִהְיֶ֣ה מוֹתָ֑ר וּדְבַר־שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם אַךְ־לְמַחְסֽוֹר׃

24The ornament of the wise is their wealth; The stupidity of dullards is stupidity.

a-te-RET cha-KHA-meem o-SHA-ram i-VE-let k'-see-LEEM i-VE-let

כדעֲטֶ֣רֶת חֲכָמִ֣ים עׇשְׁרָ֑ם אִוֶּ֖לֶת כְּסִילִ֣ים אִוֶּֽלֶת׃

25A truthful witness saves lives; He who testifies lies [spreads] deceit.

ma-TZIL n'-fa-SHOHT AYD e-MET v'-ya-FAKH k'-za-VIM mir-MAH

כהמַצִּ֣יל נְ֭פָשׁוֹת עֵ֣ד אֱמֶ֑ת וְיָפִ֖חַ כְּזָבִ֣ים מִרְמָֽה׃

26Fear of Hashem is a stronghold, A refuge for a man's children.

b'-yir-at a-do-NAI miv-TAKH oz u-l'-va-NAV yi-h'-yeh makh-SEH

כובְּיִרְאַ֣ת יְ֭הֹוָה מִבְטַח־עֹ֑ז וּ֝לְבָנָ֗יו יִהְיֶ֥ה מַחְסֶֽה׃

27Fear of Hashem is a fountain of life, Enabling one to avoid deadly snares.

YIR-at a-do-NAI m'-KOR kha-YIM la-SUR mi-mo-K'-shei ma-VET

כזיִרְאַ֣ת יְ֭הֹוָה מְק֣וֹר חַיִּ֑ים לָ֝ס֗וּר מִמֹּ֥קְשֵׁי מָֽוֶת׃

28A numerous people is the glory of a king; Without a nation a ruler is ruined.

b'-rov AM had-rat ME-lekh uv-E-fes l'-OM m'-khi-TAT ra-ZON

כחבְּרׇב־עָ֥ם הַדְרַת־מֶ֑לֶךְ וּבְאֶ֥פֶס לְ֝אֹ֗ם מְחִתַּ֥ת רָזֽוֹן׃

 14:28   A numerous people is the glory of a king

This verse is frequently understood in reference to Hashem Himself. His glory is increased when the multitudes of His people follow His ways, bringing Him a good name in the eyes of the world. Based on this verse, Jewish tradition teaches that if a person has a choice of houses of worship in which he could pray, it is preferable to worship God in the larger congregation, for “A numerous people is the glory of a king.” The ultimate expression of God’s glory, however, can be learned from its inverse: The greatest disgrace to Hashem’s glory is when the Children of Israel are isolated, scattered and exiled from the land. The greatest glory to the King of Kings, therefore, is the return of the People of Israel to the Land of Israel in large numbers. How fortunate is our generation that has seen millions of Jews from the four corners of the world return en masse to live in Israel, thereby bringing glory to the King of Kings.

29Patience results in much understanding; Impatience gets folly as its portion.

e-REKH a-PA-yim rav-te-VU-nah u-k'-TZAR-ru-akh me-RIM i-VE-let

כטאֶ֣רֶךְ אַ֭פַּיִם רַב־תְּבוּנָ֑ה וּקְצַר־ר֝֗וּחַ מֵרִ֥ים אִוֶּֽלֶת׃

30A calm disposition gives bodily health; Passion is rot to the bones.

kha-YAY v'-sa-REEM LAYV mar-PAY u-r'-KAV a-tza-MOT kin-AH

לחַיֵּ֣י בְ֭שָׂרִים לֵ֣ב מַרְפֵּ֑א וּרְקַ֖ב עֲצָמ֣וֹת קִנְאָֽה׃

31He who withholds what is due to the poor affronts his Maker; He who shows pity for the needy honors Him.

o-SHEK dal khe-REF o-SE-hu u-m'-kha-b'-DO kho-NAYN ev-YON

לאעֹ֣שֵֽׁק דָּ֭ל חֵרֵ֣ף עֹשֵׂ֑הוּ וּ֝מְכַבְּד֗וֹ חֹנֵ֥ן אֶבְיֽוֹן׃

32The wicked man is felled by his own evil; The righteous man finds security in his death.

b'-ra-A-to yi-DA-khe ra-SHA, v'-kho-SEH v'-mo-TO tza-DEEK

לבבְּֽ֭רָעָתוֹ יִדָּחֶ֣ה רָשָׁ֑ע וְחֹסֶ֖ה בְמוֹת֣וֹ צַדִּֽיק׃

33Wisdom rests quietly in the mind of a prudent man, But among dullards it makes itself known.

b'-LEV na-VON ta-NU-akh khokh-MAH u-v'-KE-rev k'-see-LEEM ti-va-DE-a

לגבְּלֵ֣ב נָ֭בוֹן תָּנ֣וּחַ חׇכְמָ֑ה וּבְקֶ֥רֶב כְּ֝סִילִ֗ים תִּוָּדֵֽעַ׃

34Righteousness exalts a nation; Sin is a reproach to any people.

Tz'-da-KAH te-ro-MEM go-YO, v'-khe-SED l'-u-MEEM kha-TAT

לדצְדָקָ֥ה תְרוֹמֵֽם־גּ֑וֹי וְחֶ֖סֶד לְאֻמִּ֣ים חַטָּֽאת׃

35The king favors a capable servant; He rages at an incompetent one.

r'-TZON me-LEKH l'-E-ved mas-KIL, v'-ev-RA-to tih-YE me-VISH

להרְֽצוֹן־מֶ֭לֶךְ לְעֶ֣בֶד מַשְׂכִּ֑יל וְ֝עֶבְרָת֗וֹ תִּהְיֶ֥ה מֵבִֽישׁ׃