TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
Chapter 27
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1Do not boast of tomorrow For you do not know what the day will bring.
אאַל־תִּתְהַלֵּל בְּיוֹם מָחָר כִּי לֹא־תֵדַע מַה־יֵּלֶד יוֹם׃
2Let the mouth of another praise you, not yours, The lips of a stranger, not your own.
ביְהַלֶּלְךָ זָר וְלֹא־פִיךָ נָכְרִי וְאַל־שְׂפָתֶיךָ׃
3A stone has weight, sand is heavy, But a fool's vexation outweighs them both.
גכֹּבֶד־אֶבֶן וְנֵטֶל הַחוֹל וְכַעַס אֱוִיל כָּבֵד מִשְּׁנֵיהֶם׃
4There is the cruelty of fury, the overflowing of anger, But who can withstand jealousy?
דאַכְזְרִיּוּת חֵמָה וְשֶׁטֶף אָף וּמִי יַעֲמֹד לִפְנֵי קִנְאָה׃
5Open reproof is better than concealed love.
הטוֹבָה תּוֹכַחַת מְגֻלָּה מֵאַהֲבָה מְסֻתָּרֶת׃
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
ונֶאֱמָנִים פִּצְעֵי אוֹהֵב וְנַעְתָּרוֹת נְשִׁיקוֹת שׂוֹנֵא׃
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.
זנֶפֶשׁ שְׂבֵעָה תָּבוּס נֹפֶת וְנֶפֶשׁ רְעֵבָה כָּל־מַר מָתוֹק׃
8Like a sparrow wandering from its nest Is a man who wanders from his home.
חכְּצִפּוֹר נוֹדֶדֶת מִן־קִנָּהּ כֵּן־אִישׁ נוֹדֵד מִמְּקוֹמוֹ׃
9Oil and incense gladden the heart, And the sweetness of a friend is better than one's own counsel.
טשֶׁמֶן וּקְטֹרֶת יְשַׂמַּח־לֵב וּמֶתֶק רֵעֵהוּ מֵעֲצַת־נָפֶשׁ׃
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.
ירֵעֲךָ ורעה [וְרֵעַ] אָבִיךָ אַל־תַּעֲזֹב וּבֵית אָחִיךָ אַל־תָּבוֹא בְּיוֹם אֵידֶךָ טוֹב שָׁכֵן קָרוֹב מֵאָח רָחוֹק׃
11Get wisdom, my son, and gladden my heart, That I may have what to answer those who taunt me.
יאחֲכַם בְּנִי וְשַׂמַּח לִבִּי וְאָשִׁיבָה חֹרְפִי דָבָר׃
12The shrewd man saw trouble and took cover; The simple kept going and paid the penalty.
יבעָרוּם רָאָה רָעָה נִסְתָּר פְּתָאיִם עָבְרוּ נֶעֱנָשׁוּ׃
13Seize his garment, for he stood surety for another; Take it as a pledge, [for he stood surety] for an unfamiliar woman.
יגקַח־בִּגְדוֹ כִּי־עָרַב זָר וּבְעַד נָכְרִיָּה חַבְלֵהוּ׃
14He who greets his fellow loudly early in the morning Shall have it reckoned to him as a curse.
ידמְבָרֵךְ רֵעֵהוּ בְּקוֹל גָּדוֹל בַּבֹּקֶר הַשְׁכֵּים קְלָלָה תֵּחָשֶׁב לוֹ׃
15An endless dripping on a rainy day And a contentious wife are alike;
טודֶּלֶף טוֹרֵד בְּיוֹם סַגְרִיר וְאֵשֶׁת מדונים [מִדְיָנִים] נִשְׁתָּוָה׃
16As soon repress her as repress the wind, Or declare one's right hand to be oil.
טזצֹפְנֶיהָ צָפַן־רוּחַ וְשֶׁמֶן יְמִינוֹ יִקְרָא׃
17As iron sharpens iron So a man sharpens the wit of his friend.
יזבַּרְזֶל בְּבַרְזֶל יָחַד וְאִישׁ יַחַד פְּנֵי־רֵעֵהוּ׃
18He who tends a fig tree will enjoy its fruit, And he who cares for his master will be honored.
יחנֹצֵר תְּאֵנָה יֹאכַל פִּרְיָהּ וְשֹׁמֵר אֲדֹנָיו יְכֻבָּד׃
19As face answers to face in water, So does one man's heart to another.
יטכַּמַּיִם הַפָּנִים לַפָּנִים כֵּן לֵב־הָאָדָם לָאָדָם׃
20Sheol and Abaddon cannot be satisfied, Nor can the eyes of man be satisfied.
כשְׁאוֹל ואבדה [וַאֲבַדּוֹ] לֹא תִשְׂבַּעְנָה וְעֵינֵי הָאָדָם לֹא תִשְׂבַּעְנָה׃
21For silver—the crucible, for gold—the furnace, And a man is tested by his praise.
כאמַצְרֵף לַכֶּסֶף וְכוּר לַזָּהָב וְאִישׁ לְפִי מַהֲלָלוֹ׃
22Even if you pound the fool in a mortar With a pestle along with grain, His folly will not leave him.
כבאִם תִּכְתּוֹשׁ־אֶת־הָאֱוִיל בַּמַּכְתֵּשׁ בְּתוֹךְ הָרִיפוֹת בַּעֱלִי לֹא־תָסוּר מֵעָלָיו אִוַּלְתּוֹ׃
23Mind well the looks of your flock; Pay attention to your herds;
כגיָדֹעַ תֵּדַע פְּנֵי צֹאנֶךָ שִׁית לִבְּךָ לַעֲדָרִים׃
24For property does not last forever, Or a crown for all generations.
כדכִּי לֹא לְעוֹלָם חֹסֶן וְאִם־נֵזֶר לְדוֹר דור [וָדוֹר׃]
25Grass vanishes, new grass appears, And the herbage of the hills is gathered in.
כהגָּלָה חָצִיר וְנִרְאָה־דֶשֶׁא וְנֶאֶסְפוּ עִשְּׂבוֹת הָרִים׃
26The lambs will provide you with clothing, The he-goats, the price of a field.
כוכְּבָשִׂים לִלְבוּשֶׁךָ וּמְחִיר שָׂדֶה עַתּוּדִים׃
27The goats' milk will suffice for your food, The food of your household, And the maintenance of your maids.
כזוְדֵי חֲלֵב עִזִּים לְלַחְמְךָ לְלֶחֶם בֵּיתֶךָ וְחַיִּים לְנַעֲרוֹתֶיךָ׃
