TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
Chapter 19
Translation and Transliteration of
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1Better a poor man who lives blamelessly Than one who speaks perversely and is a dullard.
TOV-RAsh ho-LEKH b'-tu-MO me-i-KEsh s'-fa-TAV v'-HU k'-SEEL
אטֽוֹב־רָ֭שׁ הוֹלֵ֣ךְ בְּתֻמּ֑וֹ מֵעִקֵּ֥שׁ שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו וְה֣וּא כְסִֽיל׃
2A person without knowledge is surely not good; He who moves hurriedly blunders.
gam b'-LO-da-at NE-fesh lo-TOV v'-ATZ b'-rag-la-YIM kho-TAY
בגַּ֤ם בְּלֹא־דַ֣עַת נֶ֣פֶשׁ לֹא־ט֑וֹב וְאָ֖ץ בְּרַגְלַ֣יִם חוֹטֵֽא׃
3A man's folly subverts his way, And his heart rages against Hashem.
ee-VE-let a-DAM t'-sa-LEF dar-KO, v'-al a-do-NAI yiz-AF li-BO
גאִוֶּ֣לֶת אָ֭דָם תְּסַלֵּ֣ף דַּרְכּ֑וֹ וְעַל־יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה יִזְעַ֥ף לִבּֽוֹ׃
4Wealth makes many friends, But a poor man loses his last friend.
HON yo-SIF re-EEM ra-BEEM v'-DAL me-re-E-hu yi-pa-RED
דה֗וֹן יֹ֭סִיף רֵעִ֣ים רַבִּ֑ים וְ֝דָ֗ל מֵרֵעֵ֥הוּ יִפָּרֵֽד׃
5A false witness will not go unpunished; He who testifies lies will not escape.
ED sh'-ka-REEM lo yi-NA-keh, v'-ya-FEE-akh k'-za-VEEM lo yi-ma-LET
העֵ֣ד שְׁ֭קָרִים לֹ֣א יִנָּקֶ֑ה וְיָפִ֥יחַ כְּ֝זָבִ֗ים לֹ֣א יִמָּלֵֽט׃
6Many court the favor of a great man, And all are the friends of a dispenser of gifts.
ra-BEEM ye-KHA-lu fe-NAY na-DEEV, v'-kol-ha-RE-a l'-EESH ma-TAN
ורַ֭בִּים יְחַלּ֣וּ פְנֵֽי־נָדִ֑יב וְכׇל־הָ֝רֵ֗עַ לְאִ֣ישׁ מַתָּֽן׃
7All the brothers of a poor man despise him; How much more is he shunned by his friends! He who pursues words—they are of no avail.
KOL a-KHEI ra-SHE, af KI me-RE-E-HU ra-cha-KU mi-ME-nu, me-ra-DEF a-ma-RIM (LO) [LO]-he-MAH.
זכׇּ֥ל־אֲחֵי־רָ֨שׁ ׀ שְֽׂנֵאֻ֗הוּ אַ֤ף כִּ֣י מְ֭רֵעֵהוּ רָחֲק֣וּ מִמֶּ֑נּוּ מְרַדֵּ֖ף אֲמָרִ֣ים (לא) [לוֹ־]הֵֽמָּה׃
8He who acquires wisdom is his own best friend; He preserves understanding and attains happiness.
KO-neh-LEEV o-HEV naf-SHO sho-MAYR te-VOO-nah lim-tzoh-TOV
חקֹֽנֶה־לֵּ֭ב אֹהֵ֣ב נַפְשׁ֑וֹ שֹׁמֵ֥ר תְּ֝בוּנָ֗ה לִמְצֹא־טֽוֹב׃
9A false witness will not go unpunished; He who testifies falsely is doomed.
AYD sh'-ka-REEM lo yi-NA-keh, va-ya-FEE-akh k'-za-VEEM yo-VED.
טעֵ֣ד שְׁ֭קָרִים לֹ֣א יִנָּקֶ֑ה וְיָפִ֖יחַ כְּזָבִ֣ים יֹאבֵֽד׃
10Luxury is not fitting for a dullard, Much less that a servant rule over princes.
lo-NA-veh lik-SIL ta-a-NOG, af KEE l'-E-ved me-SHOL b'-sa-REEM
ילֹא־נָאוֶ֣ה לִכְסִ֣יל תַּעֲנ֑וּג אַ֝֗ף כִּֽי־לְעֶ֤בֶד ׀ מְשֹׁ֬ל בְּשָׂרִֽים׃
11A man shows intelligence by his forebearance; It is his glory when he overlooks an offense.
SE-khel a-DAM he-e-REKH a-PO, v'-tif-A-ru-TO a-VOR al pa-SHA
יאשֵׂ֣כֶל אָ֭דָם הֶאֱרִ֣יךְ אַפּ֑וֹ וְ֝תִפְאַרְתּ֗וֹ עֲבֹ֣ר עַל־פָּֽשַׁע׃
12The rage of a king is like the roar of a lion; His favor is like dew upon the grass.
NA-ham ka-k'-FEER ZA-af ME-lekh ukh-TAL al AY-sev r'-tzo-NO
יבנַ֣הַם כַּ֭כְּפִיר זַ֣עַף מֶ֑לֶךְ וּכְטַ֖ל עַל־עֵ֣שֶׂב רְצוֹנֽוֹ׃
19:12 His favor is like dew upon the grass
Morning dew near Beit Shemesh
Often, when the Bible mentions a king, it is a metaphor for Hashem Himself. Here, God’s anger is likened to a lion’s roar. A roar is frightening, but serves as a warning to its prey that the lion is present, and clever prey can escape. So too, Hashem’s anger is intended to warn us to correct our ways before it is too late. His blessing, however, is like dew which nurtures the grass. Unlike rain, which is a blessing but can also be destructive, dew serves only to help the grass grow. Similarly, the Lord’s favor serves only to nurture, not to harm us.
13A stupid son is a calamity to his father; The nagging of a wife is like the endless dripping of water.
ha-VOT l'-a-VEEV ben k'-SEEL v'-DE-lef to-RED mid-Y'-nay i-SHAH
יגהַוֺּ֣ת לְ֭אָבִיו בֵּ֣ן כְּסִ֑יל וְדֶ֥לֶף טֹ֝רֵ֗ד מִדְיְנֵ֥י אִשָּֽׁה׃
14Property and riches are bequeathed by fathers, But an efficient wife comes from Hashem.
ba-YEET va-HON na-kha-LAT a-VOOT u-m'-yo-va a-SHA mas-KA-let
ידבַּ֣יִת וָ֭הוֹן נַחֲלַ֣ת אָב֑וֹת וּ֝מֵיְהֹוָ֗ה אִשָּׁ֥ה מַשְׂכָּֽלֶת׃
15Laziness induces sleep, And a negligent person will go hungry.
ATZ-lah ta-PEEL tar-DE-mah, v'-NE-fesh r'-mee-YAH tir-AV
טועַ֭צְלָה תַּפִּ֣יל תַּרְדֵּמָ֑ה וְנֶ֖פֶשׁ רְמִיָּ֣ה תִרְעָֽב׃
16He who has regard for his life pays regard to commandments; He who is heedless of his ways will die.
SHO-mer mitz-VAH SHO-mer naf-SHO bo-ZEH d'-ra-KHAV (yo-MUT) [ya-MUT]
טזשֹׁמֵ֣ר מִ֭צְוָה שֹׁמֵ֣ר נַפְשׁ֑וֹ בּוֹזֵ֖ה דְרָכָ֣יו (יומת) [יָמֽוּת]׃
17He who is generous to the poor makes a loan to Hashem; He will repay him his due.
mal-VEH a-do-NAI kho-NAYN dal u-g'-mu-LO y'-sha-LEM-lo
יזמַלְוֵ֣ה יְ֭הֹוָה ח֣וֹנֵֽן דָּ֑ל וּ֝גְמֻל֗וֹ יְשַׁלֶּם־לֽוֹ׃
18Discipline your son while there is still hope, And do not set your heart on his destruction.
ya-SER bin-KHA ki-YESH tik-VAH v'-el ha-MEE-to al-ti-SA naf-SHE-kha
יחיַסֵּ֣ר בִּ֭נְךָ כִּֽי־יֵ֣שׁ תִּקְוָ֑ה וְאֶל־הֲ֝מִית֗וֹ אַל־תִּשָּׂ֥א נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃
19A hot-tempered man incurs punishment; If you try to save him you will only make it worse.
(g'-DAL) [g'-DAL]khe-MAH no-SAY o-NESH kee im-ta-TSEEYL v'-OD to-SIF
יט(גרל) [גְּֽדָל־]חֵ֭מָה נֹ֣שֵׂא עֹ֑נֶשׁ כִּ֥י אִם־תַּ֝צִּ֗יל וְע֣וֹד תּוֹסִֽף׃
20Listen to advice and accept discipline In order that you may be wise in the end.
SH'-ma ETZAH v'-ka-BEL mu-SAR l'-ma-AN t'-KHAM b'-a-kha-REE-TE-kha
כשְׁמַ֣ע עֵ֭צָה וְקַבֵּ֣ל מוּסָ֑ר לְ֝מַ֗עַן תֶּחְכַּ֥ם בְּאַחֲרִיתֶֽךָ׃
21Many designs are in a man's mind, But it is Hashem's plan that is accomplished.
ra-VOT ma-ha-SHA-vot b'-lev EESH va-a-TZAT a-do-NAI hee ta-KUM
כארַבּ֣וֹת מַחֲשָׁב֣וֹת בְּלֶב־אִ֑ישׁ וַעֲצַ֥ת יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה הִ֣יא תָקֽוּם׃
22Greed is a reproach to a man; Better be poor than a liar.
ta-a-VAT a-DAM khas-DO v'-tov-RAsh me-EESH ka-ZAV
כבתַּאֲוַ֣ת אָדָ֣ם חַסְדּ֑וֹ וְטֽוֹב־רָ֝֗שׁ מֵאִ֥ישׁ כָּזָֽב׃
23He who fears Hashem earns life; He shall abide in contentment, Free from misfortune.
yir-AT a-do-NAI l'-kha-YIM, v'-sa-VAY-a ya-LEEN bal yi-PA-ked ra
כגיִרְאַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֣ה לְחַיִּ֑ים וְשָׂבֵ֥עַ יָ֝לִ֗ין בַּל־יִפָּ֥קֶד רָֽע׃
24The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; He will not even bring it to his mouth.
ta-MAN a-TSEL ya-DO ba-tza-LA-khat gam-el-pee-HU lo y'-shi-VE-nah
כדטָ֘מַ֤ן עָצֵ֣ל יָ֭דוֹ בַּצַּלָּ֑חַת גַּם־אֶל־פִּ֝֗יהוּ לֹ֣א יְשִׁיבֶֽנָּה׃
25Beat the scoffer and the simple will become clever; Reprove an intelligent man and he gains knowledge.
LETS TA-KEH u-PE-ti ya-ARIM v'-ho-KHEE-akh l'-na-VON ya-VIN DA-at
כהלֵ֣ץ תַּ֭כֶּה וּפֶ֣תִי יַעְרִ֑ם וְהוֹכִ֥יחַ לְ֝נָב֗וֹן יָבִ֥ין דָּֽעַת׃
26A son who causes shame and disgrace Plunders his father, puts his mother to flight.
m'-sha-DAYD av yav-REE-akh AYM ben me-VISH u-makh-PEER
כומְֽשַׁדֶּד־אָ֭ב יַבְרִ֣יחַ אֵ֑ם בֵּ֝֗ן מֵבִ֥ישׁ וּמַחְפִּֽיר׃
27My son, cease to stray from words of knowledge And receive discipline.
kha-DAL b'-NEE lish-MO-a mu-SAR lish-GOT may-im-ray-da-AT
כזחֲֽדַל־בְּ֭נִי לִשְׁמֹ֣עַ מוּסָ֑ר לִ֝שְׁג֗וֹת מֵאִמְרֵי־דָֽעַת׃
28A malicious witness scoffs at justice, And the speech of the wicked conceals mischief.
AYD b'-li-YA-al ya-LEETS mish-PAHT u-fee r'-sha-EEM y'-va-LA-a-a-VON
כחעֵ֣ד בְּ֭לִיַּעַל יָלִ֣יץ מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּפִ֥י רְ֝שָׁעִ֗ים יְבַלַּע־אָֽוֶן׃
29Punishments are in store for scoffers And blows for the backs of dullards.
na-KHO-nu la-LE-tzeeM sh'-fa-TEEM u-ma-ha-LU-mot l'-GEV ke-see-LEEM
כטנָכ֣וֹנוּ לַלֵּצִ֣ים שְׁפָטִ֑ים וּ֝מַהֲלֻמ֗וֹת לְגֵ֣ו כְּסִילִֽים׃
