
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 16
Translation and Transliteration of
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1A man may arrange his thoughts, But what he says depends on Hashem.
l'-a-DAM ma-a-r'-KHEI-LEV u-m'-a-do-NAI ma-a-NEH la-SHON
אלְאָדָ֥ם מַעַרְכֵי־לֵ֑ב וּ֝מֵיְהֹוָ֗ה מַעֲנֵ֥ה לָשֽׁוֹן׃
2All the ways of a man seem right to him, But Hashem probes motives.
KOL-dar-KHEI-ish ZAKH b'-ay-NAV v'-to-KHEN ru-KHOt a-do-NAI
בכׇּֽל־דַּרְכֵי־אִ֭ישׁ זַ֣ךְ בְּעֵינָ֑יו וְתֹכֵ֖ן רוּח֣וֹת יְהֹוָֽה׃
3Entrust your affairs to Hashem, And your plans will succeed.
GOL el a-do-NAI ma-a-SE-kha, v'-yi-KO-nu ma-kh'-she-VO-te-kha
גגֹּ֣ל אֶל־יְהֹוָ֣ה מַעֲשֶׂ֑יךָ וְ֝יִכֹּ֗נוּ מַחְשְׁבֹתֶֽיךָ׃
4Hashem made everything for a purpose, Even the wicked for an evil day.
KOL pa-AL a-do-NAI l'-ma-a-NAY-hu v'-gam ra-SHA l'-YOM ra-AH
דכֹּ֤ל פָּעַ֣ל יְ֭הֹוָה לַֽמַּעֲנֵ֑הוּ וְגַם־רָ֝שָׁ֗ע לְי֣וֹם רָעָֽה׃
16:4 Hashem made everything for a purpose
Since we know that Hashem is good, sometimes we assume that bad things happen despite Him. This verse reminds us that everything, even that which we perceive as evil, was created by God for a purpose. Though the reason is not always clear, we must look for the good that comes from every situation. The slavery in Egypt, for example, led to the formation of the Nation of Israel, the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, and ultimately the acquisition of the Land of Israel. With this verse in mind, we can rest assured that Israel’s many enemies and the threats facing the Jewish state today are also part of Hashem’s divine plan and will lead to the greatest good: The redemption of Israel and the world.
5Every haughty person is an abomination to Hashem; Assuredly, he will not go unpunished.
TO-a-VAT a-do-NAI kol g'-VAH-lev, yad l'-ya-D lo yi-NA-keh.
התּוֹעֲבַ֣ת יְ֭הֹוָה כׇּל־גְּבַהּ־לֵ֑ב יָ֥ד לְ֝יָ֗ד לֹ֣א יִנָּקֶֽה׃
6Iniquity is expiated by loyalty and faithfulness, And evil is avoided through fear of Hashem.
b'-khe-SED ve-e-MET y'-ku-PAR a-VON u-vi-r'-AT a-do-NAI SUUR me-RA
ובְּחֶ֣סֶד וֶ֭אֱמֶת יְכֻפַּ֣ר עָוֺ֑ן וּבְיִרְאַ֥ת יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה ס֣וּר מֵרָֽע׃
7When Hashem is pleased with a man's conduct, He may turn even his enemies into allies.
bi-RTZOT a-do-NAI dar-KHEI iSH gam-o-y'-va-VAYV yash-LIM i-TO
זבִּרְצ֣וֹת יְ֭הֹוָה דַּרְכֵי־אִ֑ישׁ גַּם־א֝וֹיְבָ֗יו יַשְׁלִ֥ם אִתּֽוֹ׃
8Better a little with righteousness Than a large income with injustice.
TOV-ME-at bi-TZ-da-KAH me-ROV te-VU-OT be-LO mish-PAT
חטוֹב־מְ֭עַט בִּצְדָקָ֑ה מֵרֹ֥ב תְּ֝בוּא֗וֹת בְּלֹ֣א מִשְׁפָּֽט׃
9A man may plot out his course, But it is Hashem who directs his steps.
LEV a-DAM ye-KHA-sheV DAR-kO va-a-do-NAI ya-KHEEN tza-a-DO
טלֵ֣ב אָ֭דָם יְחַשֵּׁ֣ב דַּרְכּ֑וֹ וַ֝יהֹוָ֗ה יָכִ֥ין צַעֲדֽוֹ׃
10There is magic on the lips of the king; He cannot err in judgment.
KE-sem al-SIF-tei ME-lekh, b'-mish-PAT lo yim-A-al-PIV.
יקֶ֤סֶם ׀ עַֽל־שִׂפְתֵי־מֶ֑לֶךְ בְּ֝מִשְׁפָּ֗ט לֹ֣א יִמְעַל־פִּֽיו׃
11Honest scales and balances are Hashem's; All the weights in the bag are His work.
PE-les u-mo-Z'-nei mish-PAT la-a-do-NAI ma-a-SE-hu kol av-NEI-khis
יאפֶּ֤לֶס ׀ וּמֹאזְנֵ֣י מִ֭שְׁפָּט לַיהֹוָ֑ה מַ֝עֲשֵׂ֗הוּ כׇּל־אַבְנֵי־כִֽיס׃
12Wicked deeds are an abomination to kings, For the throne is established by righteousness.
TO-a-VAT m'-la-KHEEM a-SOT re-SHA, KEE bi-tz'-da-KA yi-KON ki-SE
יבתּוֹעֲבַ֣ת מְ֭לָכִים עֲשׂ֣וֹת רֶ֑שַׁע כִּ֥י בִ֝צְדָקָ֗ה יִכּ֥וֹן כִּסֵּֽא׃
13Truthful speech wins the favor of kings; They love those who speak honestly.
r'-TZON m'-la-KHEEM sif-TEY-tze-DEK v'-do-VAYR ye-sha-REEM ye-e-HAV
יגרְצ֣וֹן מְ֭לָכִים שִׂפְתֵי־צֶ֑דֶק וְדֹבֵ֖ר יְשָׁרִ֣ים יֶאֱהָֽב׃
14The king's wrath is a messenger of death, But a wise man can appease it.
kha-MAT me-LEKH mal-a-KHEI ma-VET v'-ISH kha-KHAM ye-ka-pe-RE-nah
ידחֲמַת־מֶ֥לֶךְ מַלְאֲכֵי־מָ֑וֶת וְאִ֖ישׁ חָכָ֣ם יְכַפְּרֶֽנָּה׃
15The king's smile means life; His favor is like a rain cloud in spring.
b'-OR p'-NEI me-LEKH cha-YIM u-r'-TZO-no k'-AV mal-KOSH
טובְּאוֹר־פְּנֵי־מֶ֥לֶךְ חַיִּ֑ים וּ֝רְצוֹנ֗וֹ כְּעָ֣ב מַלְקֽוֹשׁ׃
16How much better to acquire wisdom than gold; To acquire understanding is preferable to silver.
k'-NOH-khokh-MAH mah-TOV me-kha-RUTZ u-k'-NOT bi-NAH niv-KHAR mi-ka-SEF
טזקְֽנֹה־חׇכְמָ֗ה מַה־טּ֥וֹב מֵחָר֑וּץ וּקְנ֥וֹת בִּ֝ינָ֗ה נִבְחָ֥ר מִכָּֽסֶף׃
17The highway of the upright avoids evil; He who would preserve his life watches his way.
m'-si-LAT ye-sha-REEM SUUR me-RA sh'-MAYR naf-SHO no-TSAYR dar-KO
יזמְסִלַּ֣ת יְ֭שָׁרִים ס֣וּר מֵרָ֑ע שֹׁמֵ֥ר נַ֝פְשׁ֗וֹ נֹצֵ֥ר דַּרְכּֽוֹ׃
18Pride goes before ruin, Arrogance, before failure.
li-f'-NEI she-VAYR ga-ON, v'-li-f'-NEI khee-SHA-lon go-BAH ru-ACH
יחלִפְנֵי־שֶׁ֥בֶר גָּא֑וֹן וְלִפְנֵ֥י כִ֝שָּׁל֗וֹן גֹּ֣בַהּ רֽוּחַ׃
19Better to be humble and among the lowly Than to share spoils with the proud.
TOV sh'-FAL-ru-AKH et a-NA-vim (a-NAY-im) me-kha-LEK sha-LAL et ge-EEM
יטט֣וֹב שְׁפַל־ר֭וּחַ אֶת־[עֲנָוִ֑ים] (עניים) מֵחַלֵּ֥ק שָׁ֝לָ֗ל אֶת־גֵּאִֽים׃
20He who is adept in a matter will attain success; Happy is he who trusts in Hashem.
mas-KIL al-DA-var yim-TZA-tov u-vo-TE-akh ba-do-NAI ash-RA-yo
כמַשְׂכִּ֣יל עַל־דָּ֭בָר יִמְצָא־ט֑וֹב וּבוֹטֵ֖חַ בַּיהֹוָ֣ה אַשְׁרָֽיו׃
21The wise-hearted is called discerning; One whose speech is pleasing gains wisdom.
la-cha-KHAM-lev yi-ka-RE na-VON u-ME-tek se-fa-TA-yim yo-SIF le-KACH
כאלַֽחֲכַם־לֵ֭ב יִקָּרֵ֣א נָב֑וֹן וּמֶ֥תֶק שְׂ֝פָתַ֗יִם יֹסִ֥יף לֶֽקַח׃
22Good sense is a fountain of life to those who have it, And folly is the punishment of fools.
m'-KOR kha-YEEM SE-khel b'-a-LA-yav u-mu-SAR e-vi-LEEM i-VE-let
כבמְק֣וֹר חַ֭יִּים שֵׂ֣כֶל בְּעָלָ֑יו וּמוּסַ֖ר אֱוִלִ֣ים אִוֶּֽלֶת׃
23The mind of the wise man makes his speech effective And increases the wisdom on his lips.
LEV kha-KHAM yas-KIL pi-HU v'-al s'-fa-TAV yo-SIF le-KAKH
כגלֵ֣ב חָ֭כָם יַשְׂכִּ֣יל פִּ֑יהוּ וְעַל־שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו יֹסִ֥יף לֶֽקַח׃
24Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweet to the palate and a cure for the body.
Tzuf-d'vash im-rei-no-am ma-tok la-ne-fesh u-mar-peh la-a-tzem.
כדצוּף־דְּ֭בַשׁ אִמְרֵי־נֹ֑עַם מָת֥וֹק לַ֝נֶּ֗פֶשׁ וּמַרְפֵּ֥א לָעָֽצֶם׃
25A road may seem right to a man, But in the end it is a road to death.
yesh DE-rekh ya-SHAR lif-NEI ish v'-a-kha-REE-tah dar-khay ma-VET
כהיֵ֤שׁ דֶּ֣רֶךְ יָ֭שָׁר לִפְנֵי־אִ֑ישׁ וְ֝אַחֲרִיתָ֗הּ דַּרְכֵי־מָֽוֶת׃
26The appetite of a laborer labors for him, Because his hunger forces him on.
NE-fesh a-MEL a-ME-la LO, KI-a-KHAF a-LA-yu PI-hu.
כונֶ֣פֶשׁ עָ֭מֵל עָ֣מְלָה לּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־אָכַ֖ף עָלָ֣יו פִּֽיהוּ׃
27A scoundrel plots evil; What is on his lips is like a scorching fire.
eeSH be-lee-YA-al ko-REH ra-AH v'-al [s'-fa-TO] (s'-fa-TAV) k'-AYSH tza-RA-vet
כזאִ֣ישׁ בְּ֭לִיַּעַל כֹּרֶ֣ה רָעָ֑ה וְעַל־[שְׂ֝פָת֗וֹ] (שפתיו) כְּאֵ֣שׁ צָרָֽבֶת׃
28A shifty man stirs up strife, And a querulous one alienates his friend.
eeSH ta-PU-khot y'-sha-LAKH ma-DON v'-nir-GAN maf-REED a-LOOF
כחאִ֣ישׁ תַּ֭הְפֻּכוֹת יְשַׁלַּ֣ח מָד֑וֹן וְ֝נִרְגָּ֗ן מַפְרִ֥יד אַלּֽוּף׃
29A lawless man misleads his friend, Making him take the wrong way.
eeSH kha-MAS ye-fa-TEH re-E-hu v'-ho-LEE-kho b'-de-REKH lo-TOV
כטאִ֣ישׁ חָ֭מָס יְפַתֶּ֣ה רֵעֵ֑הוּ וְ֝הוֹלִיכ֗וֹ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ לֹא־טֽוֹב׃
30He closes his eyes while meditating deception; He purses his lips while deciding upon evil.
o-TZEH e-NAV lakh-SHOV tah-PU-khot ko-RETZ se-fa-TAV KI-lah ra-AH
לעֹצֶ֣ה עֵ֭ינָיו לַחְשֹׁ֣ב תַּהְפֻּכ֑וֹת קֹרֵ֥ץ שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו כִּלָּ֥ה רָעָֽה׃
31Gray hair is a crown of glory; It is attained by the way of righteousness.
a-te-RET tif-E-ret se-VAH, b'-de-REKH tze-da-KAH ti-ma-TZE
לאעֲטֶ֣רֶת תִּפְאֶ֣רֶת שֵׂיבָ֑ה בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ צְ֝דָקָ֗ה תִּמָּצֵֽא׃
32Better to be forbearing than mighty, To have self-control than to conquer a city.
TOV e-REKH a-PA-yim mi-GI-bor u-mo-SHEL be-ru-KHO mi-lo-KHED ir.
לבט֤וֹב אֶ֣רֶךְ אַ֭פַּיִם מִגִּבּ֑וֹר וּמֹשֵׁ֥ל בְּ֝רוּח֗וֹ מִלֹּכֵ֥ד עִֽיר׃
33Lots are cast into the lap; The decision depends on Hashem.
ba-KHEEK yu-TAL et ha-go-RAL u-mei-a-do-NAI kol-mish-PA-to
לגבַּ֭חֵיק יוּטַ֣ל אֶת־הַגּוֹרָ֑ל וּ֝מֵיְהֹוָ֗ה כׇּל־מִשְׁפָּטֽוֹ׃