Chapter 21

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׃