
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 22
Translation and Transliteration of
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1Repute is preferable to great wealth Grace is better than silver and gold.
niv-KHAR shem me-o-SHER rav mi-KE-sef u-mi-ZA-hav KHEIN tov
אנִבְחָ֣ר שֵׁ֭ם מֵעֹ֣שֶׁר רָ֑ב מִכֶּ֥סֶף וּ֝מִזָּהָ֗ב חֵ֣ן טֽוֹב׃
2Rich man and poor man meet; Hashem made them both.
a-SHEER va-RAsh nif-GASH-u o-SEH ku-LAM a-do-NAI
בעָשִׁ֣יר וָרָ֣שׁ נִפְגָּ֑שׁוּ עֹשֵׂ֖ה כֻלָּ֣ם יְהֹוָֽה׃
3The shrewd man saw trouble and took cover; The simple kept going and paid the penalty.
a-RUM ra-AH ra-AH (vai-SATAR) [v'-nis-TAR] u-f'-TA-yim a-VO-ru v'-ne-e-NA-shu
געָר֤וּם ׀ רָאָ֣ה רָעָ֣ה (ויסתר) [וְנִסְתָּ֑ר] וּ֝פְתָיִ֗ים עָבְר֥וּ וְֽנֶעֱנָֽשׁוּ׃
4The effect of humility is fear of Hashem, Wealth, honor, and life.
AY-KEV a-NA-VAH yir-AT a-do-NAI, o-SHER v'-ka-VOD v'-kha-YIM.
דעֵ֣קֶב עֲ֭נָוָה יִרְאַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֑ה עֹ֖שֶׁר וְכָב֣וֹד וְחַיִּֽים׃
5Thorns and snares are in the path of the crooked; He who values his life will keep far from them.
TZI-nim PA-KHIM b'-DE-rekh i-KESH, sho-MER naf-SHO yir-KHAK may-HEM.
הצִנִּ֣ים פַּ֭חִים בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ עִקֵּ֑שׁ שׁוֹמֵ֥ר נַ֝פְשׁ֗וֹ יִרְחַ֥ק מֵהֶֽם׃
6Train a lad in the way he ought to go; He will not swerve from it even in old age.
kha-NOCH la-NA-ar al-PI dar-KO, gam KEE yaz-KEEN lo ya-SUR mi-ME-nah
וחֲנֹ֣ךְ לַ֭נַּעַר עַל־פִּ֣י דַרְכּ֑וֹ גַּ֥ם כִּי־יַ֝זְקִ֗ין לֹֽא־יָס֥וּר מִמֶּֽנָּה׃
7The rich rule the poor, And the borrower is a slave to the lender.
a-SHEER b'-ra-SHEEM yim-SHOL v'-E-ved lo-VEH l'-ISH mal-VEH
זעָ֭שִׁיר בְּרָשִׁ֣ים יִמְשׁ֑וֹל וְעֶ֥בֶד לֹ֝וֶ֗ה לְאִ֣ישׁ מַלְוֶֽה׃
8He who sows injustice shall reap misfortune; His rod of wrath shall fail.
zo-RE a-VLA (yik-TZOR) [yik-TZOR-]a-VEN v'-SHE-vet ev-RA-to yikh-LEH
חזוֹרֵ֣עַ עַ֭וְלָה (יקצור) [יִקְצׇר־]אָ֑וֶן וְשֵׁ֖בֶט עֶבְרָת֣וֹ יִכְלֶֽה׃
9The generous man is blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor.
TOV-A-YIN HU YE-VO-RACH, KEE-NA-TAN MI-LA-CHMO LA-DAL
טטֽוֹב־עַ֭יִן ה֣וּא יְבֹרָ֑ךְ כִּֽי־נָתַ֖ן מִלַּחְמ֣וֹ לַדָּֽל׃
10Expel the scoffer and contention departs, Quarrel and contumely cease.
ga-RESH LETS v'-ye-TSE ma-DON v'-yish-BOT DEEN v'-ka-LON
יגָּ֣רֵֽשׁ לֵ֭ץ וְיֵצֵ֣א מָד֑וֹן וְ֝יִשְׁבֹּ֗ת דִּ֣ין וְקָלֽוֹן׃
11A pure-hearted friend, His speech is gracious; He has the king for his companion.
o-HEV (t'-HOR) [t'-HAR-LEV] KHEIN s'-FA-ta-YAV re-E-HU me-LEKH
יאאֹהֵ֥ב (טהור) [טְהׇר־]לֵ֑ב חֵ֥ן שְׂ֝פָתָ֗יו רֵעֵ֥הוּ מֶֽלֶךְ׃
12The eyes of Hashem watch the wise man; He subverts the words of the treacherous.
AY-nay a-do-NAI na-TZE-ru da-AT va-y'-sa-LEF di-v'-RAY bo-GED
יבעֵינֵ֣י יְ֭הֹוָה נָ֣צְרוּ דָ֑עַת וַ֝יְסַלֵּ֗ף דִּבְרֵ֥י בֹגֵֽד׃
13The lazy man says, “There's a lion in the street; I shall be killed if I step outside.”
a-MAR a-TSEL a-REE va-KHUZ b'-TOKH r'-KHO-vot e-ra-TZE-akh
יגאָמַ֣ר עָ֭צֵל אֲרִ֣י בַח֑וּץ בְּת֥וֹךְ רְ֝חֹב֗וֹת אֵרָצֵֽחַ׃
14The mouth of a forbidden woman is a deep pit; He who is doomed by Hashem falls into it.
SHU-kha a-MU-kah PEE za-ROT ze-UM a-do-NAI (YI-POL) [YI-POL-]SHAM
ידשׁוּחָ֣ה עֲ֭מֻקָּה פִּ֣י זָר֑וֹת זְע֥וּם יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה (יפול) [יִפׇּל־]שָֽׁם׃
15If folly settles in the heart of a lad, The rod of discipline will remove it.
ee-VE-let k'-shu-RAH v'-lev na-AR, she-VET mu-SAHR yar-khee-KE-nah mi-ME-nu
טואִ֭וֶּלֶת קְשׁוּרָ֣ה בְלֶב־נָ֑עַר שֵׁ֥בֶט מ֝וּסָ֗ר יַרְחִיקֶ֥נָּה מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃
16To profit by withholding what is due to the poor Is like making gifts to the rich—pure loss.
o-SHEK dal l'-har-BOT lo, no-TAYN l'-a-SHEER akh l'-ma-KH-SOR
טזעֹ֣שֵֽׁק דָּ֭ל לְהַרְבּ֣וֹת ל֑וֹ נֹתֵ֥ן לְ֝עָשִׁ֗יר אַךְ־לְמַחְסֽוֹר׃
17Incline your ear and listen to the words of the sages; Pay attention to my wisdom.
ha-TA-zen-KHA u-sh'-MA di-v'-RAY kha-KHA-meem v'-li-B'-KHA ta-SHEET l'-da-a-TEE
יזהַ֥ט אׇזְנְךָ֗ וּ֭שְׁמַע דִּבְרֵ֣י חֲכָמִ֑ים וְ֝לִבְּךָ֗ תָּשִׁ֥ית לְדַעְתִּֽי׃
18It is good that you store them inside you, And that all of them be constantly on your lips,
ki-NA-im ki-tish-M'-REM b'-vit-NE-kha yi-KO-nu ya-KH'-dav al-s'-fa-TE-kha
יחכִּֽי־נָ֭עִים כִּֽי־תִשְׁמְרֵ֣ם בְּבִטְנֶ֑ךָ יִכֹּ֥נוּ יַ֝חְדָּ֗ו עַל־שְׂפָתֶֽיךָ׃
19That you may put your trust in Hashem. I let you know today—yes, you—
lih-YOT ba-do-NAI miv-ta-KHE-kha ho-da-TI-kha ha-YOM af-a-TA
יטלִֽהְי֣וֹת בַּ֭יהֹוָה מִבְטַחֶ֑ךָ הוֹדַעְתִּ֖יךָ הַיּ֣וֹם אַף־אָֽתָּה׃
20Indeed, I wrote down for you a threefold lore, Wise counsel,
ha-LO kha-TAV-tee le-KHA (sha-LE-shim) [sha-lee-SHEEM] b'-mo-E-tzot va-da-AT
כהֲלֹ֤א כָתַ֣בְתִּֽי לְ֭ךָ (שלשום) [שָׁלִשִׁ֑ים] בְּמֹ֖עֵצ֣וֹת וָדָֽעַת׃
21To let you know truly reliable words, That you may give a faithful reply to him who sent you.
l'-ho-di-A-kha KO-sht i-m'-RAY e-MET l'-ha-SHEEV a-ma-REEM e-MET l'-shol-khe-KHA
כאלְהוֹדִֽיעֲךָ֗ קֹ֭שְׁטְ אִמְרֵ֣י אֱמֶ֑ת לְהָשִׁ֥יב אֲמָרִ֥ים אֱ֝מֶ֗ת לְשֹׁלְחֶֽיךָ׃
22Do not rob the wretched because he is wretched; Do not crush the poor man in the gate;
al-tig-ZOL-dal KI dal-HU, v'-al-te-da-KE a-NEE ba-sha-AR
כבאַֽל־תִּגְזׇל־דָּ֭ל כִּ֣י דַל־ה֑וּא וְאַל־תְּדַכֵּ֖א עָנִ֣י בַשָּֽׁעַר׃
23For Hashem will take up their cause And despoil those who despoil them of life.
ki-a-do-NAI ya-REEV ree-BAM v'-ka-VA ayt ko-VE-em NA-fesh
כגכִּֽי־יְ֭הֹוָה יָרִ֣יב רִיבָ֑ם וְקָבַ֖ע אֶת־קֹבְעֵיהֶ֣ם נָֽפֶשׁ׃
24Do not associate with an irascible man, Or go about with one who is hot-tempered,
al-ti-tra ET-ba-AL AF v'-ET-ish KHE-mot lo ta-VO
כדאַל־תִּ֭תְרַע אֶת־בַּ֣עַל אָ֑ף וְאֶת־אִ֥ישׁ חֵ֝מ֗וֹת לֹ֣א תָבֽוֹא׃
25Lest you learn his ways And find yourself ensnared.
pen-te-a-LAF o-re-KHO-tav v'-la-ka-KHAT mo-KESH l'-naf-SHE-kha
כהפֶּן־תֶּאֱלַ֥ף אֹרְחֹתָ֑ו וְלָקַחְתָּ֖ מוֹקֵ֣שׁ לְנַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃
26Do not be one of those who give their hand, Who stand surety for debts,
al-t'-HI v'-to-K'-ei-KAF ba-o-r'-VEEM ma-sha-OT
כואַל־תְּהִ֥י בְתֹֽקְעֵי־כָ֑ף בַּ֝עֹרְבִ֗ים מַשָּׁאֽוֹת׃
27Lest your bed be taken from under you When you have no money to pay.
im-ein-le-KHA le-sha-LEM, la-MAH yi-KAKH mish-ka-VE-kha mit-takh-TE-kha
כזאִם־אֵֽין־לְךָ֥ לְשַׁלֵּ֑ם לָ֥מָּה יִקַּ֥ח מִ֝שְׁכָּבְךָ֗ מִתַּחְתֶּֽיךָ׃
28Do not remove the ancient boundary stone That your ancestors set up.
al ta-SAYG g'-VUL o-LAM a-SHER a-SU a-vo-TE-kha
כחאַל־תַּ֭סֵּג גְּב֣וּל עוֹלָ֑ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר עָשׂ֣וּ אֲבוֹתֶֽיךָ׃
22:28 Do not remove the ancient boundary stone
This verse reinforces the significance of a heritage in the Promised Land. When the Israelites arrived there after leaving Egypt, Hashem instructed Moshe to divide the land by drawing lots. Each tribe was given a region, and each family was assigned a portion of their tribe’s land to be passed down through the generations (Numbers 26:52-56). Israel’s family bonds to the land are so great, that when Tzelofchad died without sons, his daughters demanded the right to inherit their father’s portion (Numbers 27). They were granted the inheritance on condition that they marry within their tribe, so the land not be absorbed into another tribe’s portion (Numbers 36:6-7).
29See a man skilled at his work— He shall attend upon kings; He shall not attend upon obscure men.
cha-ZEE-ta eesh ma-HEER bim-la-akh-TO li-f'-nay m'-la-KHEEM yit-ya-TZAV bal yit-ya-TZEV li-f'-nay cha-shu-KIM.
כטחָזִ֡יתָ אִ֤ישׁ ׀ מָ֘הִ֤יר בִּמְלַאכְתּ֗וֹ לִֽפְנֵי־מְלָכִ֥ים יִתְיַצָּ֑ב בַּל־יִ֝תְיַצֵּ֗ב לִפְנֵ֥י חֲשֻׁכִּֽים׃