
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 21
Translation and Transliteration of
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1Like channeled water is the mind of the king in Hashem's hand; He directs it to whatever He wishes.
pal-GEY-ma-YIM lev-ME-lekh b'-yad a-do-NAI al-KOL a-SHER yakh-POTZ ya-TE-nu
אפַּלְגֵי־מַ֣יִם לֶב־מֶ֭לֶךְ בְּיַד־יְהֹוָ֑ה עַֽל־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֖ר יַחְפֹּ֣ץ יַטֶּֽנּוּ׃
2All the ways of a man seem right to him, But Hashem probes the mind.
KOL-de-REKH-ISH ya-SHAR b'-ay-NAV, v'-TO-khen li-BOT a-do-NAI.
בכׇּֽל־דֶּרֶךְ־אִ֭ישׁ יָשָׁ֣ר בְּעֵינָ֑יו וְתֹכֵ֖ן לִבּ֣וֹת יְהֹוָֽה׃
3To do what is right and just Is more desired by Hashem than sacrifice.
a-SO tz'-DA-ka u-mish-PAHT niv-KHAR la-a-do-NAI mi-ZA-vakh
געֲ֭שֹׂה צְדָקָ֣ה וּמִשְׁפָּ֑ט נִבְחָ֖ר לַיהֹוָ֣ה מִזָּֽבַח׃
4Haughty looks, a proud heart— The tillage of the wicked is sinful.
rum-ei-NA-yim u-r'-khav-LEV nir r'-sha-EEM kha-TAT
דרוּם־עֵ֭ינַיִם וּרְחַב־לֵ֑ב נִ֖ר רְשָׁעִ֣ים חַטָּֽאת׃
5The plans of the diligent make only for gain; All rash haste makes only for loss.
ma-kh'-she-VOT kha-RUTZ akh l'-mo-TAR v'-kol-ATS akh l'-makh-SOR
המַחְשְׁב֣וֹת חָ֭רוּץ אַךְ־לְמוֹתָ֑ר וְכׇל־אָ֝֗ץ אַךְ־לְמַחְסֽוֹר׃
6Treasures acquired by a lying tongue Are like driven vapor, heading for extinction.
PO-AL o-TZA-ROT bil-SHON sha-KER, HE-VEL ni-DAF me-VAK-sheh ma-VET.
ופֹּ֣עַל אֹ֭צָרוֹת בִּלְשׁ֣וֹן שָׁ֑קֶר הֶ֥בֶל נִ֝דָּ֗ף מְבַקְשֵׁי־מָֽוֶת׃
7The violence of the wicked sweeps them away, For they refuse to act justly.
SHOD-r'-sha-EEM ye-go-REM, KEE me-a-NU la-a-SOT mish-PAT
זשֹׁד־רְשָׁעִ֥ים יְגוֹרֵ֑ם כִּ֥י מֵ֝אֲנ֗וּ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת מִשְׁפָּֽט׃
8The way of a man may be tortuous and strange, Though his actions are blameless and proper.
ha-FAKH-pakh DE-rekh EESH va-ZAR v'-ZAKH ya-SHAR po-A-lo
חהֲפַכְפַּ֬ךְ דֶּ֣רֶךְ אִ֣ישׁ וָזָ֑ר וְ֝זַ֗ךְ יָשָׁ֥ר פׇּעֳלֽוֹ׃
9Dwelling in the corner of a roof is better Than a contentious wife in a spacious house.
TOV la-SHE-vet al-pi-NAT-gag me-E-shet mi-dya-NIM u-VEIT cha-VER
טט֗וֹב לָשֶׁ֥בֶת עַל־פִּנַּת־גָּ֑ג מֵאֵ֥שֶׁת מִ֝דְיָנִ֗ים וּבֵ֥ית חָֽבֶר׃
10The desire of the wicked is set upon evil; His fellowman finds no favor in his eyes.
NE-fesh RA-sha i-vu-TAH-RA lo yu-KHAN b'-ay-NAI-vu ray-E-hu
ינֶ֣פֶשׁ רָ֭שָׁע אִוְּתָה־רָ֑ע לֹֽא־יֻחַ֖ן בְּעֵינָ֣יו רֵעֵֽהוּ׃
11When a scoffer is punished, the simple man is edified; When a wise man is taught, he gains insight.
ba-a-NASH-lets ye-kham PE-tee, u-ve-ha-skil le-kha-KHAM yi-kakh-DA-at.
יאבַּֽעֲנׇשׁ־לֵ֭ץ יֶחְכַּם־פֶּ֑תִי וּבְהַשְׂכִּ֥יל לְ֝חָכָ֗ם יִקַּח־דָּֽעַת׃
12The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked man; He subverts the wicked to their ruin.
mas-KIL tza-DIK l'-VEIT ra-SHA, m'-sa-LEF r'-sha-EEM la-RA
יבמַשְׂכִּ֣יל צַ֭דִּיק לְבֵ֣ית רָשָׁ֑ע מְסַלֵּ֖ף רְשָׁעִ֣ים לָרָֽע׃
13Who stops his ears at the cry of the wretched, He too will call and not be answered.
o-TEM a-ZE-no mi-za-a-KAT-dal, gam-HU yik-RA v'-lo ye-a-NEH
יגאֹטֵ֣ם אׇ֭זְנוֹ מִזַּעֲקַת־דָּ֑ל גַּֽם־ה֥וּא יִ֝קְרָ֗א וְלֹ֣א יֵעָנֶֽה׃
14A gift in secret subdues anger, A present in private, fierce rage.
ma-TAN ba-SE-ter yikh-PEH-aF, ve-SHO-khad ba-KHEK khe-MAH a-ZAH.
ידמַתָּ֣ן בַּ֭סֵּתֶר יִכְפֶּה־אָ֑ף וְשֹׁ֥חַד בַּ֝חֵ֗ק חֵמָ֥ה עַזָּֽה׃
15Justice done is a joy to the righteous, To evildoers, ruination.
siM-khah la-tza-DIYK a-SOT mish-PAT u-m'-khi-TAH l'-po-a-lay a-VEN
טושִׂמְחָ֣ה לַ֭צַּדִּיק עֲשׂ֣וֹת מִשְׁפָּ֑ט וּ֝מְחִתָּ֗ה לְפֹ֣עֲלֵי אָֽוֶן׃
16A man who strays from the path of prudence Will rest in the company of ghosts.
a-DAM to-EH mi-DE-rekh ha-s'-KEL bi-KHAL r'-fa-EEM ya-NU-akh
טזאָדָ֗ם תּ֭וֹעֶה מִדֶּ֣רֶךְ הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל בִּקְהַ֖ל רְפָאִ֣ים יָנֽוּחַ׃
17He who loves pleasure comes to want; He who loves wine and oil does not grow rich.
eeSH makh-SOR o-HEV sim-KHA o-HEV ya-YIN va-SHE-men lo ya-a-SHEER
יזאִ֣ישׁ מַ֭חְסוֹר אֹהֵ֣ב שִׂמְחָ֑ה אֹהֵ֥ב יַֽיִן־וָ֝שֶׁ֗מֶן לֹ֣א יַעֲשִֽׁיר׃
18The wicked are the ransom of the righteous; The traitor comes in place of the upright.
KOFER la-TZAD-DEEK ra-SHA, v'-TA-khat ye-SHA-reem BO-ged.
יחכֹּ֣פֶר לַצַּדִּ֣יק רָשָׁ֑ע וְתַ֖חַת יְשָׁרִ֣ים בּוֹגֵֽד׃
19It is better to live in the desert Than with a contentious, vexatious wife.
TOV she-VET b'-E-retz miD-BAR me-E-SHET (mi-DU-NIM) [miD-YA-NIM] va-KA-as.
יטט֗וֹב שֶׁ֥בֶת בְּאֶֽרֶץ־מִדְבָּ֑ר מֵאֵ֖שֶׁת (מדונים) [מִדְיָנִ֣ים] וָכָֽעַס׃
20Precious treasure and oil are in the house of the wise man, And a fool of a man will run through them.
o-TZAR nekh-MAD va-SHE-men bin-VEH kha-KHAM u-k'-SEEL a-DAM ye-va-LE-u
כאוֹצָ֤ר ׀ נֶחְמָ֣ד וָ֭שֶׁמֶן בִּנְוֵ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וּכְסִ֖יל אָדָ֣ם יְבַלְּעֶֽנּוּ׃
21He who strives to do good and kind deeds Attains life, success, and honor.
ro-DEF tze-da-KAH va-KHA-sed yim-TZA kha-YIM tze-da-KAH ve-ka-VOD
כארֹ֭דֵף צְדָקָ֣ה וָחָ֑סֶד יִמְצָ֥א חַ֝יִּ֗ים צְדָקָ֥ה וְכָבֽוֹד׃
22One wise man prevailed over a city of warriors And brought down its mighty stronghold.
EEr gi-BO-reem a-LAH kha-KHAM va-YO-red OZ miv-TE-kha.
כבעִ֣יר גִּ֭בֹּרִים עָלָ֣ה חָכָ֑ם וַ֝יֹּ֗רֶד עֹ֣ז מִבְטֶחָֽהֿ׃
23He who guards his mouth and tongue Guards himself from trouble.
SHO-mer PEE-vav u-le-SHO-no, SHO-mer mitz-RAVOT naf-SHO.
כגשֹׁמֵ֣ר פִּ֭יו וּלְשׁוֹנ֑וֹ שֹׁמֵ֖ר מִצָּר֣וֹת נַפְשֽׁוֹ׃
24The proud, insolent man, scoffer is his name, Acts in a frenzy of insolence.
ZED ya-HIR leTZ sh'-MO o-SEH b'-e-v'-RAT za-DON
כדזֵ֣ד יָ֭הִיר לֵ֣ץ שְׁמ֑וֹ ע֝וֹשֶׂ֗ה בְּעֶבְרַ֥ת זָדֽוֹן׃
25The craving of a lazy man kills him, For his hands refuse to work.
ta-a-VAT a-TSEL te-MI-te-NU, ki me-a-NU ya-DAV la-a-SOT
כהתַּאֲוַ֣ת עָצֵ֣ל תְּמִיתֶ֑נּוּ כִּֽי־מֵאֲנ֖וּ יָדָ֣יו לַעֲשֽׂוֹת׃
26All day long he is seized with craving While the righteous man gives without stint.
kol ha-YOM hit-a-VAH ta-a-VAH, v'-tza-DIK yi-TEN v'-lo yakh-SOKH
כוכׇּל־הַ֭יּוֹם הִתְאַוָּ֣ה תַאֲוָ֑ה וְצַדִּ֥יק יִ֝תֵּ֗ן וְלֹ֣א יַחְשֹֽׂךְ׃
27The sacrifice of the wicked man is an abomination, The more so as he offers it in depravity.
ZEV-akh r'-sha-EEM to-EY-VAH, AF kee-b'-zi-MAH y'-vee-E-nu.
כזזֶ֣בַח רְ֭שָׁעִים תּוֹעֵבָ֑ה אַ֝֗ף כִּֽי־בְזִמָּ֥ה יְבִיאֶֽנּוּ׃
28A false witness is doomed, But one who really heard will testify with success.
ED-K'-za-VIM yo-BED, v'-ISH sho-ME-a la-NE-tsakh y'-da-BER.
כחעֵד־כְּזָבִ֥ים יֹאבֵ֑ד וְאִ֥ישׁ שׁ֝וֹמֵ֗עַ לָנֶ֥צַח יְדַבֵּֽר׃
29The wicked man is brazen-faced; The upright man discerns his course.
he-EZ ish ra-SHA b'-fa-NAV v'-ya-SHAR HU (ya-KIN dar-KA-v) [ya-VIN dar-KO]
כטהֵעֵ֬ז אִ֣ישׁ רָשָׁ֣ע בְּפָנָ֑יו וְ֝יָשָׁ֗ר ה֤וּא ׀ (יכין דרכיו) [יָבִ֬ין דַּרְכּֽוֹ]׃
30No wisdom, no prudence, and no counsel Can prevail against Hashem.
AYN KHOKH-MAH v'-AYN t'-VU-NAH v'-AYN ay-TZAH l'-NE-ged a-do-NAI.
לאֵ֣ין חׇ֭כְמָה וְאֵ֣ין תְּבוּנָ֑ה וְאֵ֥ין עֵ֝צָ֗ה לְנֶ֣גֶד יְהֹוָֽה׃
31The horse is readied for the day of battle, But victory comes from Hashem.
SUS mu-KHAN l'-YOM mil-kha-MAH v'-la-do-NAI ha-t'-shu-AH
לאס֗וּס מ֭וּכָן לְי֣וֹם מִלְחָמָ֑ה וְ֝לַיהֹוָ֗ה הַתְּשׁוּעָֽה׃
21:31 But victory is of the LORD
Throughout the Bible, horses are mentioned as animals of war. Here, King Shlomo is emphasizing an important lesson that is no less true today than it was when he said it centuries ago: Man prepares as much as possible, but ultimately, all victory and success comes only from Hashem.