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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 27

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Do not boast of tomorrow For you do not know what the day will bring.

al-ti-t'-ha-LEL b'-YOM ma-KHAR, ki lo tay-DA ma-YE-led YOM

אאַֽל־תִּ֭תְהַלֵּל בְּי֣וֹם מָחָ֑ר כִּ֤י לֹֽא־תֵ֝דַ֗ע מַה־יֵּ֥לֶד יֽוֹם׃

2Let the mouth of another praise you, not yours, The lips of a stranger, not your own.

ye-ha-LEL-kha ZAR v'-lo-PI-kha no-KH'-ree v'-al s'-fa-TE-kha

ביְהַלֶּלְךָ֣ זָ֣ר וְלֹא־פִ֑יךָ נׇ֝כְרִ֗י וְאַל־שְׂפָתֶֽיךָ׃

3A stone has weight, sand is heavy, But a fool's vexation outweighs them both.

KO-ved E-VEN ve-NE-tel ha-KHOL ve-ka-AS e-VIL ka-VED mi-she-NE-hem

גכֹּֽבֶד־אֶ֭בֶן וְנֵ֣טֶל הַח֑וֹל וְכַ֥עַס אֱ֝וִ֗יל כָּבֵ֥ד מִשְּׁנֵיהֶֽם׃

4There is the cruelty of fury, the overflowing of anger, But who can withstand jealousy?

akh-ze-ree-YUT KHE-mah v'-she-TEF af u-mi ya-a-MOD lif-NEI kin-AH

דאַכְזְרִיּ֣וּת חֵ֭מָה וְשֶׁ֣טֶף אָ֑ף וּמִ֥י יַ֝עֲמֹ֗ד לִפְנֵ֥י קִנְאָֽה׃

5Open reproof is better than concealed love.

TO-va TO-kha-KHAT me-gu-LAH me-a-ha-VA me-su-TA-ret

הט֭וֹבָה תּוֹכַ֣חַת מְגֻלָּ֑ה מֵאַהֲבָ֥ה מְסֻתָּֽרֶת׃

6Wounds by a loved one are long lasting; The kisses of an enemy are profuse.

ne-e-ma-NEEM pitz-AY o-HAYV v'-na-ta-ROT n'-shee-KOT so-NAY

ונֶ֭אֱמָנִים פִּצְעֵ֣י אוֹהֵ֑ב וְ֝נַעְתָּר֗וֹת נְשִׁיק֥וֹת שׂוֹנֵֽא׃

27:6   The kisses of an enemy are profuse

With a trusted friend, even actions that seem hurtful ultimately turn out to be beneficial. A well-timed reprimand from someone who loves you can guide you to a better course of action. An enemy, however, should not be trusted. Even if he appears to offer love and support, he will ultimately lead you astray. This idea is reflected in the words of the prophets who rebuke the Israelites for putting their trust in other nations, such as Assyria and Egypt, instead of Hashem. Ultimately, they were let down by their enemies who determined they had nothing more to gain from helping the Jewish people (see Hosea 8:8-9).

7A sated person disdains honey, But to a hungry man anything bitter seems sweet.

NE-fesh se-VE-a TA-vus NO-fet, v'-NE-fesh r'-E-va KOL-mar MA-tok

זנֶ֣פֶשׁ שְׂ֭בֵעָה תָּב֣וּס נֹ֑פֶת וְנֶ֥פֶשׁ רְ֝עֵבָ֗ה כׇּל־מַ֥ר מָתֽוֹק׃

8Like a sparrow wandering from its nest Is a man who wanders from his home.

k'-tzi-POR no-DE-det min-KI-nah, KEN-ISH no-DED mi-m'-KO-mo.

חכְּ֭צִפּוֹר נוֹדֶ֣דֶת מִן־קִנָּ֑הּ כֵּֽן־אִ֝֗ישׁ נוֹדֵ֥ד מִמְּקוֹמֽוֹ׃

9Oil and incense gladden the heart, And the sweetness of a friend is better than one's own counsel.

SHE-men u-ke-TO-ret y'-sa-MAKH layv u-ME-tek ray-E-hu may-a-TZAT na-FESH

טשֶׁ֣מֶן וּ֭קְטֹרֶת יְשַׂמַּֽח־לֵ֑ב וּמֶ֥תֶק רֵ֝עֵ֗הוּ מֵעֲצַת־נָֽפֶשׁ׃

10Do not desert your friend and your father's friend; Do not enter your brother's house in your time of misfortune; A close neighbor is better than a distant brother.

RAY-a-KHA (v'-RAY-a) [v'-RAY-a] a-VEE-kha al-ta-a-ZOV u-VEYT a-KHEE-kha al-ta-VO b'-YOM e-YE-de-KHA TOV sha-KHAYN ka-ROV may-AKH ra-KHOK

ירֵ֥עֲךָ֨ (ורעה) [וְרֵ֪עַ] אָבִ֡יךָ אַֽל־תַּעֲזֹ֗ב וּבֵ֥ית אָחִ֗יךָ אַל־תָּ֭בוֹא בְּי֣וֹם אֵידֶ֑ךָ ט֥וֹב שָׁכֵ֥ן קָ֝ר֗וֹב מֵאָ֥ח רָחֽוֹק׃

11Get wisdom, my son, and gladden my heart, That I may have what to answer those who taunt me.

kh'-KHAM b'-NEE v'-sa-MACH li-BEE v'-a-SHI-va khor-FEE da-VAR

יאחֲכַ֣ם בְּ֭נִי וְשַׂמַּ֣ח לִבִּ֑י וְאָשִׁ֖יבָה חֹרְפִ֣י דָבָֽר׃

12The shrewd man saw trouble and took cover; The simple kept going and paid the penalty.

a-RUM ra-AH ra-AH nis-TAR pe-ta-YIM a-vo-ROO ne-e-NA-shu

יבעָר֤וּם ׀ רָאָ֣ה רָעָ֣ה נִסְתָּ֑ר פְּ֝תָאיִ֗ם עָבְר֥וּ נֶעֱנָֽשׁוּ׃

13Seize his garment, for he stood surety for another; Take it as a pledge, [for he stood surety] for an unfamiliar woman.

kakh-bi-G'-do ki-a-RAV zar u-v'-AD no-kh'-ri-YAH khav-l'-HU

יגקַח־בִּ֭גְדוֹ כִּי־עָ֣רַב זָ֑ר וּבְעַ֖ד נׇכְרִיָּ֣ה חַבְלֵֽהוּ׃

14He who greets his fellow loudly early in the morning Shall have it reckoned to him as a curse.

m'-va-REKH ray-E-hu b'-KOL ga-DOL ba-BO-kher ha-sh'-KHEEM, k'-la-LAH tay-KHA-shev LO

ידמְבָ֘רֵ֤ךְ רֵעֵ֨הוּ ׀ בְּק֣וֹל גָּ֭דוֹל בַּבֹּ֣קֶר הַשְׁכֵּ֑ים קְ֝לָלָ֗ה תֵּחָ֥שֶׁב לֽוֹ׃

15An endless dripping on a rainy day And a contentious wife are alike;

de-LEF to-RED b'-YOM sag-REER v'-E-SHET (mi-DU-nim) [mid-YA-nim] nish-TA-vah

טודֶּ֣לֶף ט֭וֹרֵד בְּי֣וֹם סַגְרִ֑יר וְאֵ֥שֶׁת (מדונים) [מִ֝דְיָנִ֗ים] נִשְׁתָּוָֽה׃

16As soon repress her as repress the wind, Or declare one's right hand to be oil.

tsof-NE-ha tsa-FAN-ru-AKH v'-SHE-men y'-mi-NO yik-RA

טזצֹפְנֶ֥יהָ צָפַן־ר֑וּחַ וְשֶׁ֖מֶן יְמִינ֣וֹ יִקְרָֽא׃

17As iron sharpens iron So a man sharpens the wit of his friend.

bar-ZEL b'-bar-ZEL ya-KHAD v'-ISH ya-KHAD p'-NEI-re-E-hu

יזבַּרְזֶ֣ל בְּבַרְזֶ֣ל יָ֑חַד וְ֝אִ֗ישׁ יַ֣חַד פְּנֵֽי־רֵעֵֽהוּ׃

18He who tends a fig tree will enjoy its fruit, And he who cares for his master will be honored.

no-TZER t'-AY-nah yo-KHAL pir-YAH v'-sho-MER a-do-NAI-y'-khu-BAD

יחנֹצֵ֣ר תְּ֭אֵנָה יֹאכַ֣ל פִּרְיָ֑הּ וְשֹׁמֵ֖ר אֲדֹנָ֣יו יְכֻבָּֽד׃

19As face answers to face in water, So does one man's heart to another.

ka-MA-yim ha-pa-NIM la-pa-NIM, KEN lev ha-a-DAM la-a-DAM

יטכַּ֭מַּיִם הַפָּנִ֣ים לַפָּנִ֑ים כֵּ֤ן לֵֽב־הָ֝אָדָ֗ם לָאָדָֽם׃

20Sheol and Abaddon cannot be satisfied, Nor can the eyes of man be satisfied.

SH'-OL va-a-VA-do LO tis-BA-na, v'-ay-NAY ha-a-DAM LO tis-BA-na.

כשְׁא֣וֹל וַ֭אֲבַדֹּה לֹ֣א תִשְׂבַּ֑עְנָה וְעֵינֵ֥י הָ֝אָדָ֗ם לֹ֣א תִשְׂבַּֽעְנָה׃

21For silver—the crucible, for gold—the furnace, And a man is tested by his praise.

matz-REF la-KE-sef v'-KUR la-za-HAV v'-ISH l'-fi ma-ha-la-LO

כאמַצְרֵ֣ף לַ֭כֶּסֶף וְכ֣וּר לַזָּהָ֑ב וְ֝אִ֗ישׁ לְפִ֣י מַהֲלָלֽוֹ׃

22Even if you pound the fool in a mortar With a pestle along with grain, His folly will not leave him.

im tikh-TOSH et ha-a-VIL ba-makh-TEsh b'-to-KH ha-ri-FOT ba-e-LI, lo-ta-SUR me-a-LAV i-vu-LA-to.

כבאִ֥ם תִּכְתּֽוֹשׁ־אֶת־הָאֱוִ֨יל ׀ בַּ֥מַּכְתֵּ֡שׁ בְּת֣וֹךְ הָ֭רִיפוֹת בַּעֱלִ֑י לֹא־תָס֥וּר מֵ֝עָלָ֗יו אִוַּלְתּֽוֹ׃

23Mind well the looks of your flock; Pay attention to your herds;

ya-DO-a tay-DA p'-NAY tzo-NE-kha, SHEET li-B'-kha la-a-da-REEM

כגיָדֹ֣עַ תֵּ֭דַע פְּנֵ֣י צֹאנֶ֑ךָ שִׁ֥ית לִ֝בְּךָ֗ לַעֲדָרִֽים׃

24For property does not last forever, Or a crown for all generations.

ki lo l'-o-LAM kho-SEN v'-im NE-zer l'-DOR (DOR) [va-DOR]

כדכִּ֤י לֹ֣א לְעוֹלָ֣ם חֹ֑סֶן וְאִם־נֵ֝֗זֶר לְד֣וֹר (דור) [וָדֽוֹר]׃

25Grass vanishes, new grass appears, And the herbage of the hills is gathered in.

ga-LAH kha-TZIR v'-nir-AH-de-SHE v'-ne-eS-PU i-s'-BOHT ha-REEM

כהגָּלָ֣ה חָ֭צִיר וְנִרְאָה־דֶ֑שֶׁא וְ֝נֶאֶסְפ֗וּ עִשְּׂב֥וֹת הָרִֽים׃

26The lambs will provide you with clothing, The he-goats, the price of a field.

k'-va-SEEM l'-l'-BU-she-KHA u-m'-KHEER sa-DEH a-tu-DEEM

כוכְּבָשִׂ֥ים לִלְבוּשֶׁ֑ךָ וּמְחִ֥יר שָׂ֝דֶ֗ה עַתּוּדִֽים׃

27The goats' milk will suffice for your food, The food of your household, And the maintenance of your maids.

v'-DEI kha-LEV i-ZEEM l'-la-kh'-ME-kha l'-LE-khem b'-TE-kha v'-kha-YEEM l'-na-a-RO-te-KHA

כזוְדֵ֤י ׀ חֲלֵ֬ב עִזִּ֗ים לְֽ֭לַחְמְךָ לְלֶ֣חֶם בֵּיתֶ֑ךָ וְ֝חַיִּ֗ים לְנַעֲרוֹתֶֽיךָ׃