TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
Chapter 15
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1A gentle response allays wrath; A harsh word provokes anger.
אמַעֲנֶה־רַּךְ יָשִׁיב חֵמָה וּדְבַר־עֶצֶב יַעֲלֶה־אָף׃
2The tongue of the wise produces much knowledge, But the mouth of dullards pours out folly.
בלְשׁוֹן חֲכָמִים תֵּיטִיב דָּעַת וּפִי כְסִילִים יַבִּיעַ אִוֶּלֶת׃
3The eyes of Hashem are everywhere, Observing the bad and the good.
גבְּכָל־מָקוֹם עֵינֵי יְהֹוָה צֹפוֹת רָעִים וטוֹבִים׃
4A healing tongue is a tree of life, But a devious one makes for a broken spirit.
דמַרְפֵּא לָשׁוֹן עֵץ חַיִּים וְסֶלֶף בָּהּ שֶׁבֶר בְּרוּחַ׃
5A fool spurns the discipline of his father, But one who heeds reproof becomes clever.
האֱוִיל יִנְאַץ מוּסַר אָבִיו וְשֹׁמֵר תּוֹכַחַת יַעְרִם׃
6In the house of the righteous there is much treasure, But in the harvest of the wicked there is trouble.
ובֵּית צַדִּיק חֹסֶן רָב וּבִתְבוּאַת רָשָׁע נֶעְכָּרֶת׃
7The lips of the wise disseminate knowledge; Not so the minds of dullards.
זשִׂפְתֵי חֲכָמִים יְזָרוּ דָעַת וְלֵב כְּסִילִים לֹא־כֵן׃
8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Hashem, But the prayer of the upright pleases Him.
חזֶבַח רְשָׁעִים תּוֹעֲבַת יְהֹוָה וּתְפִלַּת יְשָׁרִים רְצוֹנוֹ׃
9The way of the wicked is an abomination to Hashem, But He loves him who pursues righteousness.
טתּוֹעֲבַת יְהֹוָה דֶּרֶךְ רָשָׁע וּמְרַדֵּף צְדָקָה יֶאֱהָב׃
10Discipline seems bad to him who forsakes the way; He who spurns reproof will die.
ימוּסָר רָע לְעֹזֵב אֹרַח שׂוֹנֵא תוֹכַחַת יָמוּת׃
11Sheol and Abaddon lie exposed to Hashem, How much more the minds of men!
יאשְׁאוֹל וַאֲבַדּוֹן נֶגֶד יְהֹוָה אַף כִּי־לִבּוֹת בְּנֵי־אָדָם׃
12The scoffer dislikes being reproved; He will not resort to the wise.
יבלֹא יֶאֱהַב־לֵץ הוֹכֵחַ לוֹ אֶל־חֲכָמִים לֹא יֵלֵךְ׃
13A joyful heart makes a cheerful face; A sad heart makes a despondent mood.
יגלֵב שָׂמֵחַ יֵיטִב פָּנִים וּבְעַצְּבַת־לֵב רוּחַ נְכֵאָה׃
14The mind of a prudent man seeks knowledge; The mouth of the dullard pursues folly.
ידלֵב נָבוֹן יְבַקֶּשׁ־דָּעַת ופני [וּפִי] כְסִילִים יִרְעֶה אִוֶּלֶת׃
15All the days of a poor man are wretched, But contentment is a feast without end.
טוכָּל־יְמֵי עָנִי רָעִים וְטוֹב־לֵב מִשְׁתֶּה תָמִיד׃
16Better a little with fear of Hashem Than great wealth with confusion.
tov m'-AT b'-yir-AT a-do-NAI may-o-TZAR RAV um-HU-mah VO
טזטוֹב־מְעַט בְּיִרְאַת יְהֹוָה מֵאוֹצָר רָב וּמְהוּמָה בוֹ׃
15:16 Better a little with fear of Hashem
Shlomo presents the reader an understanding of true value. It is better to have only a little, accompanied by faith in Hashem, than to have much wealth, but suffer from inner turmoil and doubt. This eternal truth is especially evident in today’s celebrity culture, where so many people who seem to have it all suffer publicly from depression and family instability. In contrast to the constant and empty pursuit of fame and fortune, King Shlomo teaches “better a little with fear of Hashem.”
17Better a meal of vegetables where there is love Than a fattened ox where there is hate.
יזטוֹב אֲרֻחַת יָרָק וְאַהֲבָה־שָׁם מִשּׁוֹר אָבוּס וְשִׂנְאָה־בוֹ׃
18A hot-tempered man provokes a quarrel; A patient man calms strife.
יחאִישׁ חֵמָה יְגָרֶה מָדוֹן וְאֶרֶך אַפַּיִם יַשְׁקִיט רִיב׃
19The way of a lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, But the path of the upright is paved.
יטדֶּרֶךְ עָצֵל כִּמְשֻׂכַת חָדֶק וְאֹרַח יְשָׁרִים סְלֻלָה׃
20A wise son makes his father happy; A fool of a man humiliates his mother.
כבֵּן חָכָם יְשַׂמַּח־אָב וּכְסִיל אָדָם בּוֹזֶה אִמּוֹ׃
21Folly is joy to one devoid of sense; A prudent man walks a straight path.
כאאִוֶּלֶת שִׂמְחָה לַחֲסַר־לֵב וְאִישׁ תְּבוּנָה יְיַשֶׁר־לָכֶת׃
22Plans are foiled for want of counsel, But they succeed through many advisers.
כבהָפֵר מַחֲשָׁבוֹת בְּאֵין סוֹד וּבְרֹב יוֹעֲצִים תָּקוּם׃
23A ready response is a joy to a man, And how good is a word rightly timed!
כגשִׂמְחָה לָאִישׁ בְּמַעֲנֵה־פִיו וְדָבָר בְּעִתּוֹ מַה־טּוֹב׃
24For an intelligent man the path of life leads upward, In order to avoid Sheol below.
כדאֹרַח חַיִּים לְמַעְלָה לְמַשְׂכִּיל לְמַעַן סוּר מִשְּׁאוֹל מָטָּה׃
25Hashem will tear down the house of the proud, But He will establish the homestead of the widow.
כהבֵּית גֵּאִים יִסַּח יְהֹוָה וְיַצֵּב גְּבוּל אַלְמָנָה׃
26Evil thoughts are an abomination to Hashem, But pleasant words are pure.
כותּוֹעֲבַת יְהֹוָה מַחְשְׁבוֹת רָע וּטְהֹרִים אִמְרֵי־נֹעַם׃
27He who pursues ill-gotten gain makes trouble for his household; He who spurns gifts will live long.
כזעֹכֵר בֵּיתוֹ בּוֹצֵעַ בָּצַע וְשׂוֹנֵא מַתָּנֹת יִחְיֶה׃
28The heart of the righteous man rehearses his answer, But the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil things.
כחלֵב צַדִּיק יֶהְגֶּה לַעֲנוֹת וּפִי רְשָׁעִים יַבִּיעַ רָעוֹת׃
29Hashem is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.
כטרָחוֹק יְהֹוָה מֵרְשָׁעִים וּתְפִלַּת צַדִּיקִים יִשְׁמָע׃
30What brightens the eye gladdens the heart; Good news puts fat on the bones.
למְאוֹר־עֵינַיִם יְשַׂמַּח־לֵב שְׁמוּעָה טוֹבָה תְּדַשֶּׁן־עָצֶם׃
31He whose ear heeds the discipline of life Lodges among the wise.
לאאֹזֶן שֹׁמַעַת תּוֹכַחַת חַיִּים בְּקֶרֶב חֲכָמִים תָּלִין׃
32He who spurns discipline hates himself; He who heeds reproof gains understanding.
לבפּוֹרֵעַ מוּסָר מוֹאֵס נַפְשׁוֹ וְשׁוֹמֵעַ תּוֹכַחַת קוֹנֶה לֵּב׃
33The fear of Hashem is the discipline of wisdom; Humility precedes honor.
לגיִרְאַת יְהֹוָה מוּסַר חָכְמָה וְלִפְנֵי כָבוֹד עֲנָוָה׃
