TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
Chapter 17
Translation and Transliteration of
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1Better a dry crust with peace Than a house full of feasting with strife.
TOV PAT KHA-RE-VAH V'-SHAL-VAH-BAH, MI-BA-YIT MA-LE ZIV-KHEI-REEV
אט֤וֹב פַּ֣ת חֲ֭רֵבָה וְשַׁלְוָה־בָ֑הּ מִ֝בַּ֗יִת מָלֵ֥א זִבְחֵי־רִֽיב׃
2A capable servant will dominate an incompetent son And share the inheritance with the brothers.
e-ved mas-KIL yim-SHOL b'-ven me-VISH u-ve-TOKH a-KHEEM ya-cha-LOK na-cha-LAH
בעֶֽבֶד־מַשְׂכִּ֗יל יִ֭מְשֹׁל בְּבֵ֣ן מֵבִ֑ישׁ וּבְת֥וֹךְ אַ֝חִ֗ים יַחֲלֹ֥ק נַחֲלָֽה׃
3For silver—the crucible; For gold—the furnace, And Hashem tests the mind.
matz-REF la-KE-sef v'-KUR la-za-HAV u-BO-khen li-VOT a-do-NAI
גמַצְרֵ֣ף לַ֭כֶּסֶף וְכ֣וּר לַזָּהָ֑ב וּבֹחֵ֖ן לִבּ֣וֹת יְהֹוָֽה׃
4An evildoer listens to mischievous talk; A liar gives ear to malicious words.
me-RA mak-SHEEV al-se-FAT-a-VEN, SHE-ker me-ZEEN al-le-SHON ha-VOT.
דמֵ֭רַע מַקְשִׁ֣יב עַל־שְׂפַת־אָ֑וֶן שֶׁ֥קֶר מֵ֝זִ֗ין עַל־לְשׁ֥וֹן הַוֺּֽת׃
5He who mocks the poor affronts his Maker; He who rejoices over another's misfortune will not go unpunished.
LO-EG la-RASH KHE-ref o-SE-hu sa-ME-akh l'-EID lo yi-NA-keh
הלֹעֵ֣ג לָ֭רָשׁ חֵרֵ֣ף עֹשֵׂ֑הוּ שָׂמֵ֥חַ לְ֝אֵ֗יד לֹ֣א יִנָּקֶֽה׃
6Grandchildren are the crown of their elders, And the glory of children is their parents.
a-TE-ret z'-kay-NEEM b'-NAY va-NEEM v'-tif-E-ret ba-NEEM a-vo-TAM
ועֲטֶ֣רֶת זְ֭קֵנִים בְּנֵ֣י בָנִ֑ים וְתִפְאֶ֖רֶת בָּנִ֣ים אֲבוֹתָֽם׃
17:6 Children’s children are the crown of old men
This verse extols the blessing of grandchildren, much like the passage in Sefer Tehillim (128:6). In Sefer Tehillim, however, the blessing of grandchildren is couched between references to the well-being of Yerushalayim and Eretz Yisrael: “May you share the prosperity of Yerushalayim all the days of your life, and live to see your children’s children. May all be well with Yisrael (literally, ‘may peace be upon Yisrael’)” (Psalms 128:5- 6). What is the connection between children’s children and the welfare of Eretz Yisrael and Yerushalayim? It has been suggested that verse 5 should be understood as a command rather than a promise: See the good of Jerusalem. We must emphasize and talk about what is special and precious about the Land of Israel, instead of complaining and focusing on the negative. If that is how we relate to land, and that is what we convey and pass down to our children and grandchildren, then there is a hope for a future in which peace will be upon Israel.
7Lofty words are not fitting for a villain; Much less lying words for a great man.
lo-na-VAH l'-na-VAL s'-FAT ye-THER, af KEE l'-na-DEEV s'-FAT sha-KER
זלֹא־נָאוָ֣ה לְנָבָ֣ל שְׂפַת־יֶ֑תֶר אַ֝֗ף כִּֽי־לְנָדִ֥יב שְׂפַת־שָֽׁקֶר׃
8A bribe seems like a charm to him who uses it; He succeeds at every turn.
e-ven-KHEN ha-sho-KHAD b'-ay-NAY b'-a-la-YAV el kol a-SHER yif-NEH yas-KIL
חאֶבֶן־חֵ֣ן הַ֭שֹּׁחַד בְּעֵינֵ֣י בְעָלָ֑יו אֶֽל־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֖ר יִפְנֶ֣ה יַשְׂכִּֽיל׃
9He who seeks love overlooks faults, But he who harps on a matter alienates his friend.
m'-kha-SEH pe-SHA m'-va-KAYSH a-ha-VAH v'-sho-NEH v'-da-VAHR maf-REED a-LOOF
טמְֽכַסֶּה־פֶּ֭שַׁע מְבַקֵּ֣שׁ אַהֲבָ֑ה וְשֹׁנֶ֥ה בְ֝דָבָ֗ר מַפְרִ֥יד אַלּֽוּף׃
10A rebuke works on an intelligent man More than one hundred blows on a fool.
TE-khat g'-a-RAH b'-me-VIN me-ha-KOT k'-SIL me-AH.
יתֵּ֣חַת גְּעָרָ֣ה בְמֵבִ֑ין מֵהַכּ֖וֹת כְּסִ֣יל מֵאָֽה׃
11An evil man seeks only to rebel; A ruthless messenger will be sent against him.
akh m'-REE ye-va-KESH ra, u-mal-akh akh-za-REE ye-shu-LAKH bo
יאאַךְ־מְרִ֥י יְבַקֶּשׁ־רָ֑ע וּמַלְאָ֥ךְ אַ֝כְזָרִ֗י יְשֻׁלַּח־בּֽוֹ׃
12Sooner meet a bereaved she-bear Than a fool with his nonsense.
pa-GOSH DOV sha-KOOL b'-EESH v'-al k'-SEEL b'-i-vu-LA-to
יבפָּג֬וֹשׁ דֹּ֣ב שַׁכּ֣וּל בְּאִ֑ישׁ וְאַל־כְּ֝סִ֗יל בְּאִוַּלְתּֽוֹ׃
13Evil will never depart from the house Of him who repays good with evil.
m'-SHEEV ra-AH ta-KHAT to-VAH lo-ta-MOOSH ra-AH mi-BAY-to
יגמֵשִׁ֣יב רָ֭עָה תַּ֣חַת טוֹבָ֑ה לֹא־[תָמ֥וּשׁ] (תמיש) רָ֝עָ֗ה מִבֵּיתֽוֹ׃
14To start a quarrel is to open a sluice; Before a dispute flares up, drop it.
PO-ter MA-yim RE-shit MA-don ve-lif-NEI hit-ga-LA ha-REEV ne-TOsh
ידפּ֣וֹטֵֽר מַ֭יִם רֵאשִׁ֣ית מָד֑וֹן וְלִפְנֵ֥י הִ֝תְגַּלַּ֗ע הָרִ֥יב נְטֽוֹשׁ׃
15To acquit the guilty and convict the innocent— Both are an abomination to Hashem.
matz-DIK ra-SHA u-mar-SHI-a Tza-DIK to-a-VAT a-do-NAI gam-sh'-NE-hem
טומַצְדִּ֣יק רָ֭שָׁע וּמַרְשִׁ֣יעַ צַדִּ֑יק תּוֹעֲבַ֥ת יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה גַּם־שְׁנֵיהֶֽם׃
16What good is money in the hand of a fool To purchase wisdom, when he has no mind?
la-MAH zeh m'-KHEER b'-yad k'-SEEL lik-NOT k'-khokh-MAH v'-lev-a-YIN
טזלָמָּה־זֶּ֣ה מְחִ֣יר בְּיַד־כְּסִ֑יל לִקְנ֖וֹת חׇכְמָ֣ה וְלֶב־אָֽיִן׃
17A friend is devoted at all times; A brother is born to share adversity.
b'-KOL ET o-HEV ha-RE-a, v'-AKH l'-tza-RAH yi-va-LED
יזבְּכׇל־עֵ֭ת אֹהֵ֣ב הָרֵ֑עַ וְאָ֥ח לְ֝צָרָ֗ה יִוָּלֵֽד׃
18Devoid of sense is he who gives his hand To stand surety for his fellow.
a-DAM cha-SAR-LEV to-KE-a KAF o-REV a-ru-BAH lif-NEI re-E-hu
יחאָדָ֣ם חֲסַר־לֵ֭ב תּוֹקֵ֣עַ כָּ֑ף עֹרֵ֥ב עֲ֝רֻבָּ֗ה לִפְנֵ֥י רֵעֵֽהוּ׃
19He who loves transgression loves strife; He who builds a high threshold invites broken bones.
o-HEV pe-SHA o-HEV ma-TZA mag-BI-ha pit-KHO me-va-KE-sha-SHA-ver
יטאֹ֣הֵֽב פֶּ֭שַׁע אֹהֵ֣ב מַצָּ֑ה מַגְבִּ֥יהַּ פִּ֝תְח֗וֹ מְבַקֶּשׁ־שָֽׁבֶר׃
20Man of crooked mind comes to no good, And he who speaks duplicity falls into trouble.
IK-kesh-LEV lo yim-TZA-tov, v'-neh-PAKH bil-SHO-no yip-POL b'-ra-AH.
כעִקֶּשׁ־לֵ֭ב לֹ֣א יִמְצָא־ט֑וֹב וְנֶהְפָּ֥ךְ בִּ֝לְשׁוֹנ֗וֹ יִפּ֥וֹל בְּרָעָֽה׃
21One begets a dullard to one's own grief; The father of a villain has no joy.
yo-LED k'-SEEL l'-tu-GAH lo, v'-lo yis-MAKH a-VEE na-BAL
כאיֹלֵ֣ד כְּ֭סִיל לְת֣וּגָה ל֑וֹ וְלֹא־יִ֝שְׂמַ֗ח אֲבִ֣י נָבָֽל׃
22A joyful heart makes for good health; Despondency dries up the bones.
LEV sa-ME-akh ye-TIV GE-ha, ve-ROO-akh ne-KHE-a TE-ya-BESH GA-rem.
כבלֵ֣ב שָׂ֭מֵחַ יֵיטִ֣יב גֵּהָ֑ה וְר֥וּחַ נְ֝כֵאָ֗ה תְּיַבֶּשׁ־גָּֽרֶם׃
23The wicked man draws a bribe out of his bosom To pervert the course of justice.
SHO-KHAD me-KHEK ra-SHA yik-KAKH, l'-ha-TOt or-KHOt mish-PAT.
כגשֹׁ֣חַד מֵ֭חֵק רָשָׁ֣ע יִקָּ֑ח לְ֝הַטּ֗וֹת אׇרְח֥וֹת מִשְׁפָּֽט׃
24Wisdom lies before the intelligent man; The eyes of the dullard range to the ends of the earth.
et-p'-NEI me-VIN kho-KH'-mah v'-e-NEI k'-SEEL bi-k'-tzei-a-RETZ
כדאֶת־פְּנֵ֣י מֵבִ֣ין חׇכְמָ֑ה וְעֵינֵ֥י כְ֝סִ֗יל בִּקְצֵה־אָֽרֶץ׃
25A stupid son is vexation for his father And a heartache for the woman who bore him.
ka-AS l'-a-VEEV ben k'-SEEL u-ME-mer l'-yo-la-D'-to
כהכַּ֣עַס לְ֭אָבִיו בֵּ֣ן כְּסִ֑יל וּ֝מֶ֗מֶר לְיֽוֹלַדְתּֽוֹ׃
26To punish the innocent is surely not right, Or to flog the great for their uprightness.
gam a-NOSH la-tza-DIK lo-TOV l'-ha-KHOT ne-di-VIM al-yo-SHER
כוגַּ֤ם עֲנ֣וֹשׁ לַצַּדִּ֣יק לֹא־ט֑וֹב לְהַכּ֖וֹת נְדִיבִ֣ים עַל־יֹֽשֶׁר׃
27A knowledgeable man is sparing with his words; A man of understanding is reticent.
KHO-sekh a-ma-RAV yo-DAY-a da-AT (v'-KAR) [y'-KAR-]RU-akh eesh t'-vu-NAH
כזחוֹשֵׂ֣ךְ אֲ֭מָרָיו יוֹדֵ֣עַ דָּ֑עַת (וקר) [יְקַר־]ר֝֗וּחַ אִ֣ישׁ תְּבוּנָֽה׃
28Even a fool, if he keeps silent, is deemed wise; Intelligent, if he seals his lips.
gam e-VIL ma-cha-RISH cha-KHAM ye-cha-SHEV o-TEM s'-fa-TAV na-VON
כחגַּ֤ם אֱוִ֣יל מַ֭חֲרִישׁ חָכָ֣ם יֵחָשֵׁ֑ב אֹטֵ֖ם שְׂפָתָ֣יו נָבֽוֹן׃
