
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 23
Translation and Transliteration of
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1When you sit down to dine with a ruler, Consider well who is before you.
ki-te-SHEV l'-khoM et-mo-SHEL be-TAYN ta-VEEN et-a-SHER l'-fa-NE-kha
אכִּֽי־תֵ֭שֵׁב לִלְח֣וֹם אֶת־מוֹשֵׁ֑ל בִּ֥ין תָּ֝בִ֗ין אֶת־אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְפָנֶֽיךָ׃
2Thrust a knife into your gullet If you have a large appetite.
v'-sam-TA sa-KIN b'-lo-E-kha im-ba-AL NE-fesh a-TAH
בוְשַׂמְתָּ֣ שַׂכִּ֣ין בְּלֹעֶ֑ךָ אִם־בַּ֖עַל נֶ֣פֶשׁ אָֽתָּה׃
3Do not crave for his dainties, For they are counterfeit food.
al-tit-AV l'-mat-a-mo-TAV v'-HU le-KHEM k'-za-VIM
גאַל־תִּ֭תְאָו לְמַטְעַמּוֹתָ֑יו וְ֝ה֗וּא לֶ֣חֶם כְּזָבִֽים׃
4Do not toil to gain wealth; Have the sense to desist.
al-ti-GA l'-ha-a-SHEER mi-bi-NA-te-KHA cha-DAL
דאַל־תִּיגַ֥ע לְֽהַעֲשִׁ֑יר מִֽבִּינָתְךָ֥ חֲדָֽל׃
5You see it, then it is gone; It grows wings and flies away, Like an eagle, heavenward.
ha-ta-EEF ay-NE-kha BO v'-ay-NE-nu KEE a-SOH ya-a-seh LO kh'-na-FA-yim k'-NE-sher ya-UF ha-sha-MA-yim
ה(התעוף) [הֲתָ֤עִיף] עֵינֶ֥יךָ בּ֗וֹ וְֽאֵ֫ינֶ֥נּוּ כִּ֤י עָשֹׂ֣ה יַעֲשֶׂה־לּ֣וֹ כְנָפַ֑יִם כְּ֝נֶ֗שֶׁר (ועיף) [יָע֥וּף] הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃
23:5 Like an eagle, heavenward
The eagle flies higher than other birds. According to the medieval commentator Rashi, this is the reason why Hashem uses the metaphor of an eagle when describing the Exodus from Egypt: “I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Me” (Exodus 19:4). As opposed to other birds who carry their young between their legs to protect them from predators flying above them, an eagle carries its young on its back (see Deuteronomy 32:11). Since the eagle flies higher than other birds, it fears no other flying predators. Its only concern comes from people who might shoot at its young from below, so it uses its own body to protect its children from the arrows. Similarly, the Lord placed His angel between the Israelites and the Egyptians (Exodus 14:19-20) in order to protect His children by absorbing the Egyptian arrows and stones.

An eagle in flight in the Golan Heights

An eagle native to the Land of Israel.
6Do not eat of a stingy man's food; Do not crave for his dainties;
al-TIL-kham et-LE-khem RA a-YIN v'-al-tit-aV l'-mat-a-mo-TAV
ואַל־תִּלְחַ֗ם אֶת־לֶ֭חֶם רַ֣ע עָ֑יִן וְאַל־תִּ֝תְאָ֗ו לְמַטְעַמֹּתָֽיו׃
7He is like one keeping accounts; “Eat and drink,” he says to you, But he does not really mean it.
ki k'-MO sha-AR b'-NAF-sho k'-N-HU e-KHOL u-SH'-teh yo-MAR LAKH v'-li-BO bal-i-MAKH
זכִּ֤י ׀ כְּמ֥וֹ שָׁעַ֥ר בְּנַפְשׁ֗וֹ כֶּ֫ן־ה֥וּא אֱכ֣וֹל וּ֭שְׁתֵה יֹ֣אמַר לָ֑ךְ וְ֝לִבּ֗וֹ בַּל־עִמָּֽךְ׃
8The morsel you eat you will vomit; You will waste your courteous words.
pi-t'-KHA a-KHAL-ta t'-ki-E-nah v'-shi-KHA-ta d'-va-RE-kha ha-ne-i-MEEM
חפִּֽתְּךָ־אָכַ֥לְתָּ תְקִיאֶ֑נָּה וְ֝שִׁחַ֗תָּ דְּבָרֶ֥יךָ הַנְּעִימִֽים׃
9Do not speak to a dullard, For he will disdain your sensible words.
b'-o-Z'-nay k'-SEEL al t'-da-BAYR, kee-ya-VOZ l'-SE-khel mi-LE-kha
טבְּאׇזְנֵ֣י כְ֭סִיל אַל־תְּדַבֵּ֑ר כִּֽי־יָ֝ב֗וּז לְשֵׂ֣כֶל מִלֶּֽיךָ׃
10Do not remove ancient boundary stones; Do not encroach upon the field of orphans,
al-ta-SEIG g'-VUL o-LAM u-vi-s'-DEI ye-TO-mim al-ta-VO
יאַל־תַּ֭סֵּג גְּב֣וּל עוֹלָ֑ם וּבִשְׂדֵ֥י יְ֝תוֹמִ֗ים אַל־תָּבֹֽא׃
11For they have a mighty Kinsman, And He will surely take up their cause with you.
ki-go-a-LAM cha-ZAK, HU ya-REEV et-ree-BAM i-TAKH
יאכִּֽי־גֹאֲלָ֥ם חָזָ֑ק הֽוּא־יָרִ֖יב אֶת־רִיבָ֣ם אִתָּֽךְ׃
12Apply your mind to discipline And your ears to wise sayings.
ha-vee-AH la-mu-SAHR li-BE-kha v'-az-NE-kha l'-im-ray-da-AT
יבהָבִ֣יאָה לַמּוּסָ֣ר לִבֶּ֑ךָ וְ֝אׇזְנֶ֗ךָ לְאִמְרֵי־דָֽעַת׃
13Do not withhold discipline from a child; If you beat him with a rod he will not die.
al-tim-NA mi-NA-ar mu-SAR, ki-ta-KE-nu va-SHE-vet lo ya-MUT
יגאַל־תִּמְנַ֣ע מִנַּ֣עַר מוּסָ֑ר כִּֽי־תַכֶּ֥נּוּ בַ֝שֵּׁ֗בֶט לֹ֣א יָמֽוּת׃
14Beat him with a rod And you will save him from the grave.
a-TAH ba-SHE-vet ta-KE-nu, v'-naf-SHO mi-she-OL ta-TZIL
ידאַ֭תָּה בַּשֵּׁ֣בֶט תַּכֶּ֑נּוּ וְ֝נַפְשׁ֗וֹ מִשְּׁא֥וֹל תַּצִּֽיל׃
15My son, if your mind gets wisdom, My mind, too, will be gladdened.
b'-NI im-KHA-kam li-BEKHA yis-MAKH li-BEE gam-a-NEE
טובְּ֭נִי אִם־חָכַ֣ם לִבֶּ֑ךָ יִשְׂמַ֖ח לִבִּ֣י גַם־אָֽנִי׃
16I shall rejoice with all my heart When your lips speak right things.
v'-ta-a-LOZ-na khil-YO-tai b'-da-BAYR s'-fa-TE-kha may-sha-REEM
טזוְתַעְלֹ֥זְנָה כִלְיוֹתָ֑י בְּדַבֵּ֥ר שְׂ֝פָתֶ֗יךָ מֵישָׁרִֽים׃
17Do not envy sinners in your heart, But only Hashem-fearing men, at all times,
al-y'-ka-NAY li-B'-kha ba-kha-ta-EEM, ki im b'-yir-at-a-do-NAI kol ha-YOM
יזאַל־יְקַנֵּ֣א לִ֭בְּךָ בַּחַטָּאִ֑ים כִּ֥י אִם־בְּיִרְאַת־יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה כׇּל־הַיּֽוֹם׃
18For then you will have a future, And your hope will never fail.
ki im-YESH a-cha-REET v'-ti-k'va-TE-kha lo ti-ka-RET
יחכִּ֭י אִם־יֵ֣שׁ אַחֲרִ֑ית וְ֝תִקְוָתְךָ֗ לֹ֣א תִכָּרֵֽת׃
19Listen, my son, and get wisdom; Lead your mind in a [proper] path.
sh'-MA a-TAH v'-kha-KHAM v'-a-SHER ba-DE-rekh li-BE-kha
יטשְׁמַע־אַתָּ֣ה בְנִ֣י וַחֲכָ֑ם וְאַשֵּׁ֖ר בַּדֶּ֣רֶךְ לִבֶּֽךָ׃
20Do not be of those who guzzle wine, Or glut themselves on meat;
al-t'-HEE b'-so-ve-EI ya-YIN b'-zol-LEI va-SAR la-MO
כאַל־תְּהִ֥י בְסֹֽבְאֵי־יָ֑יִן בְּזֹלְלֵ֖י בָשָׂ֣ר לָֽמוֹ׃
21For guzzlers and gluttons will be impoverished, And drowsing will clothe you in tatters.
ki-so-VAY v'-zo-LAY yee-va-RAYSH u-k'-ra-EEM tal-BEESH noo-MAH
כאכִּֽי־סֹבֵ֣א וְ֭זוֹלֵל יִוָּרֵ֑שׁ וּ֝קְרָעִ֗ים תַּלְבִּ֥ישׁ נוּמָֽה׃
22Listen to your father who begot you; Do not disdain your mother when she is old.
sh'-MA l'-a-VEE-kha ZEH y'-la-DE-kha v'-al-ta-VOZ kee-za-K'-NAH i-ME-kha
כבשְׁמַ֣ע לְ֭אָבִיךָ זֶ֣ה יְלָדֶ֑ךָ וְאַל־תָּ֝ב֗וּז כִּֽי־זָקְנָ֥ה אִמֶּֽךָ׃
23Buy truth and never sell it, And wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
e-MET k'-NEH v'-al-tim-KOR, kha-KH'-mah u-mu-SAR u-vee-NAH.
כגאֱמֶ֣ת קְ֭נֵה וְאַל־תִּמְכֹּ֑ר חׇכְמָ֖ה וּמוּסָ֣ר וּבִינָֽה׃
24The father of a righteous man will exult; He who begets a wise son will rejoice in him.
(gol) [g'-YIL] ya-GIL a-VEE tza-DEEK (yolad) [v'-yo-LED] cha-KHAM (vai-SAM-ach) [yis-MAKH-]BO
כד(גול) [גִּ֣יל] יָ֭גִיל אֲבִ֣י צַדִּ֑יק (יולד) [וְיוֹלֵ֥ד] חָ֝כָ֗ם (וישמח) [יִשְׂמַח־]בּֽוֹ׃
25Your father and mother will rejoice; She who bore you will exult.
yis-MAKH a-VEE-kha v'-i-ME-kha v'-ta-GEL yo-LAD-te-kha
כהיִֽשְׂמַח־אָבִ֥יךָ וְאִמֶּ֑ךָ וְ֝תָגֵ֗ל יוֹלַדְתֶּֽךָ׃
26Give your mind to me, my son; Let your eyes watch my ways.
te-na ve-NEE li-BE-kha li, ve-ei-NE-kha d'-ra-KHAI (ti-tzo-re-NA) [ti-tzo-re-NA]
כותְּנָה־בְנִ֣י לִבְּךָ֣ לִ֑י וְ֝עֵינֶ֗יךָ דְּרָכַ֥י (תרצנה) [תִּצֹּֽרְנָה]׃
27A harlot is a deep pit; A forbidden woman is a narrow well.
ki-SHU-kha a-MU-ka ZO-na u-VE-er tza-RAH no-kh'-ree-YAH
כזכִּֽי־שׁוּחָ֣ה עֲמֻקָּ֣ה זוֹנָ֑ה וּבְאֵ֥ר צָ֝רָ֗ה נׇכְרִיָּֽה׃
28She too lies in wait as if for prey, And destroys the unfaithful among men.
af-hi ke-KHE-tef te-e-ROV u-vo-g'-DEEM b'-a-DAM to-SIF
כחאַף־הִ֭יא כְּחֶ֣תֶף תֶּאֱרֹ֑ב וּ֝בוֹגְדִ֗ים בְּאָדָ֥ם תּוֹסִֽף׃
29Who cries, “Woe!” who, “Alas!”; Who has quarrels, who complaints; Who has wounds without cause; Who has bleary eyes?
l'-MI oy l'-MI a-VOY l'-MI (mid-ON-im) [mid-YA-nim] l'-MI see-AKH l'-MI p'-TSA-im khin-NAM l'-MI khakh-li-LUT ay-NA-yim
כטלְמִ֨י א֥וֹי לְמִ֢י אֲב֡וֹי לְמִ֤י (מדונים) [מִדְיָנִ֨ים ׀] לְמִ֥י שִׂ֗יחַ לְ֭מִי פְּצָעִ֣ים חִנָּ֑ם לְ֝מִ֗י חַכְלִל֥וּת עֵינָֽיִם׃
30Those whom wine keeps till the small hours, Those who gather to drain the cups.
la-m'-a-kha-REEM al ha-ya-YIN la-ba-EEM la-kh'-KOR mim-SAkh
ללַֽמְאַחֲרִ֥ים עַל־הַיָּ֑יִן לַ֝בָּאִ֗ים לַחְקֹ֥ר מִמְסָֽךְ׃
31Do not ogle that red wine As it lends its color to the cup, As it flows on smoothly;
al-TE-ret ya-YIN ki yit-a-DAM ki-yi-TEN (ba-KHIS) [ba-KHOS] e-NO yit-ha-LEKH b'-me-sha-REEM
לאאַל־תֵּ֥רֶא יַיִן֮ כִּ֤י יִתְאַ֫דָּ֥ם כִּֽי־יִתֵּ֣ן (בכיס) [בַּכּ֣וֹס] עֵינ֑וֹ יִ֝תְהַלֵּ֗ךְ בְּמֵֽישָׁרִֽים׃
32In the end, it bites like a snake; It spits like a basilisk.
a-cha-ree-TO k'-na-KHASH yi-SHAKH u-k'-tzif-o-NEE yaf-RISH
לבאַ֭חֲרִיתוֹ כְּנָחָ֣שׁ יִשָּׁ֑ךְ וּֽכְצִפְעֹנִ֥י יַפְרִֽשׁ׃
33Your eyes will see strange sights; Your heart will speak distorted things.
EY-ne-KHA yir-U za-ROT v'-li-BE-kha y'-da-BER tah-PU-khot
לגעֵ֭ינֶיךָ יִרְא֣וּ זָר֑וֹת וְ֝לִבְּךָ֗ יְדַבֵּ֥ר תַּהְפֻּכֽוֹת׃
34You will be like one lying in bed on high seas, Like one lying on top of the rigging.
v'-ha-YI-ta k'-sho-KHEV b'-LEV-yam u-k'-sho-KHEV b'-ROSH chi-BEL
לדוְ֭הָיִיתָ כְּשֹׁכֵ֣ב בְּלֶב־יָ֑ם וּ֝כְשֹׁכֵ֗ב בְּרֹ֣אשׁ חִבֵּֽל׃
35“They struck me, but I felt no hurt; They beat me, but I was unaware; As often as I wake, I go after it again.”
hi-KU-nee val-kha-lee-TEE ha-la-MU-nee bal-ya-DA-tee ma-TAI a-KEETS o-SEEF a-va-KHE-sh'-NU OD
לההִכּ֥וּנִי בַל־חָלִיתִי֮ הֲלָמ֗וּנִי בַּל־יָ֫דָ֥עְתִּי מָתַ֥י אָקִ֑יץ א֝וֹסִ֗יף אֲבַקְשֶׁ֥נּוּ עֽוֹד׃