Chapter 16

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׃

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׃