
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 30
Translation and Transliteration of
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1The words of Agur son of Yakeh, [man of] Massa; The speech of the man to Itiel, to Itiel and Ukal:
di-V'-RAY a-GUR ben ya-KEH ha-ma-SA n'-UM ha-GE-ver l'-i-ti-EL l'-i-ti-EL v'-u-KHAL
אדִּבְרֵ֤י ׀ אָג֥וּר בִּן־יָקֶ֗ה הַמַּ֫שָּׂ֥א נְאֻ֣ם הַ֭גֶּבֶר לְאִֽיתִיאֵ֑ל לְאִ֖יתִיאֵ֣ל וְאֻכָֽל׃
2I am brutish, less than a man; I lack common sense.
ki va-AR a-NO-khi me-EESH v'-lo vi-NAT a-DAM li
בכִּ֤י בַ֣עַר אָנֹכִ֣י מֵאִ֑ישׁ וְלֹֽא־בִינַ֖ת אָדָ֣ם לִֽי׃
3I have not learned wisdom, Nor do I possess knowledge of the Holy One.
v'-LO-la-MAD-tee khokh-MAH v'-da-AT k'-do-SHEEM ay-DA
גוְלֹֽא־לָמַ֥דְתִּי חׇכְמָ֑ה וְדַ֖עַת קְדֹשִׁ֣ים אֵדָֽע׃
4Who has ascended heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hand? Who has wrapped the waters in his garment? Who has established all the extremities of the earth? What is his name or his son's name, if you know it?
mi a-LAH sha-MA-yim, va-YE-rad, mi a-SAF ru-ACH, b'-kho-FNA-yav, mi tza-RAR ma-YIM, ba-sim-LAH, mi he-KIM kol af-SEI-a-RETZ, ma-sh'-MO u-ma-sh'-EM b'-NO, ki te-DA
דמִ֤י עָלָֽה־שָׁמַ֨יִם ׀ וַיֵּרַ֡ד מִ֤י אָֽסַף־ר֨וּחַ ׀ בְּחׇפְנָ֡יו מִ֤י צָֽרַר־מַ֨יִם ׀ בַּשִּׂמְלָ֗ה מִ֭י הֵקִ֣ים כׇּל־אַפְסֵי־אָ֑רֶץ מַה־שְּׁמ֥וֹ וּמַֽה־שֶּׁם־בְּ֝נ֗וֹ כִּ֣י תֵדָֽע׃
5Every word of Hashem is pure, A shield to those who take refuge in Him.
KOL-i-MAR-at e-lo-HA tze-ROO-fa, ma-GEN HU la-KHO-sim BO.
הכׇּל־אִמְרַ֣ת אֱל֣וֹהַּ צְרוּפָ֑ה מָגֵ֥ן ה֝֗וּא לַחֹסִ֥ים בּֽוֹ׃
6Do not add to His words, Lest He indict you and you be proved a liar.
al-TO-sef al d'-va-RAV, PEN yo-KHEE-akh b'-KHA v'-nikh-za-V'-TA.
ואַל־תּ֥וֹסְףְּ עַל־דְּבָרָ֑יו פֶּן־יוֹכִ֖יחַ בְּךָ֣ וְנִכְזָֽבְתָּ׃
7Two things I ask of you; do not deny them to me before I die:
sh'-TA-yim sha-AL-tee me-i-TAKH al-tim-NA mi-ME-ni b'-TE-rem a-MUT
זשְׁ֭תַּיִם שָׁאַ֣לְתִּי מֵאִתָּ֑ךְ אַל־תִּמְנַ֥ע מִ֝מֶּ֗נִּי בְּטֶ֣רֶם אָמֽוּת׃
8Keep lies and false words far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches, But provide me with my daily bread,
SHAV ud-var ka-ZAV har-KHAYK mi-ME-nee RAYSH va-O-sher al TI-ten LEE hat-ree-FAY-nee LE-khem khu-KEE
חשָׁ֤וְא ׀ וּֽדְבַר־כָּזָ֡ב הַרְחֵ֬ק מִמֶּ֗נִּי רֵ֣אשׁ וָ֭עֹשֶׁר אַל־תִּֽתֶּן־לִ֑י הַ֝טְרִיפֵ֗נִי לֶ֣חֶם חֻקִּֽי׃
30:8 Give me neither poverty nor riches
We often think how grateful we would be to have wealth or abundance. This verse points out that often, riches do not lead people to gratitude, but rather to smugness and self-satisfaction. If we have too much of a good thing, we may come to believe we have earned it, and forget Hashem’s hand in our lives. In fact, the Bible warns that forgetting the Lord and attributing one’s wealth to his own power and might is one of the dangers of the blessing of bounty in the Land of Israel (Deuteronomy 8:7-18). Conversely, if we lack something in our lives, we may come to curse God, forgetting He has our best interests at heart. Hence, we should hope to always have just enough for our needs – not to feel the strain of lack, but also not the pride of luxury.
9Lest, being sated, I renounce, saying, “Who is Hashem?” Or, being impoverished, I take to theft And profane the name of my God.
pen es-BA v'-khi-KHAS-ti v'-a-mar-TI, mee a-do-NAI u-pen i-vu-RESH v'-ga-NAV-ti v'-ta-FA-s'-TI, shem e-lo-HAI.
טפֶּ֥ן אֶשְׂבַּ֨ע ׀ וְכִחַשְׁתִּי֮ וְאָמַ֗רְתִּי מִ֥י יְ֫הֹוָ֥ה וּפֶֽן־אִוָּרֵ֥שׁ וְגָנַ֑בְתִּי וְ֝תָפַ֗שְׂתִּי שֵׁ֣ם אֱלֹהָֽי׃
10Do not inform on a slave to his master, Lest he curse you and you incur guilt.
al-tal-SHEN e-VED el a-do-NAV, PEN y'-ka-LEL-kha v'-a-SHAM-ta.
יאַל־תַּלְשֵׁ֣ן עֶ֭בֶד אֶל־אֲדֹנָ֑ו פֶּֽן־יְקַלֶּלְךָ֥ וְאָשָֽׁמְתָּ׃
11There is a breed of men that brings a curse on its fathers And brings no blessing to its mothers,
DOR a-VEE-o ye-ka-LEL v'-et i-MO lo ye-va-REKH
יאדּ֭וֹר אָבִ֣יו יְקַלֵּ֑ל וְאֶת־אִ֝מּ֗וֹ לֹ֣א יְבָרֵֽךְ׃
12A breed that thinks itself pure, Though it is not washed of its filth;
DOR ta-HOR b'-ei-NAV u-mi-tzo-A-to lo ru-KHATZ
יבדּ֭וֹר טָה֣וֹר בְּעֵינָ֑יו וּ֝מִצֹּאָת֗וֹ לֹ֣א רֻחָֽץ׃
13A breed so haughty of bearing, so supercilious;
DOR ma-RA-mu e-NAI-v, v'-a-fa-PA-v yi-na-SE-u
יגדּ֭וֹר מָה־רָמ֣וּ עֵינָ֑יו וְ֝עַפְעַפָּ֗יו יִנָּשֵֽׂאוּ׃
14A breed whose teeth are swords, Whose jaws are knives, Ready to devour the poor of the land, The needy among men.
DOR kha-RA-vot shi-NAV u-ma-a-KHA-lot m'-ta-l'-O-tav le-e-KHOL a-nee-YEEM me-E-retz v'-ev-yo-NEEM me-a-DAM. (Selah)
ידדּ֤וֹר ׀ חֲרָב֣וֹת שִׁנָּיו֮ וּֽמַאֲכָל֢וֹת מְֽתַלְּעֹ֫תָ֥יו לֶאֱכֹ֣ל עֲנִיִּ֣ים מֵאֶ֑רֶץ וְ֝אֶבְיוֹנִ֗ים מֵאָדָֽם׃
15The leech has two daughters, “Give!” and “Give!” Three things are insatiable; Four never say, “Enough!”:
la-a-lu-KAH, sh'-TEI ba-NOT ha-V ha-V, sha-LOSH he-Nah, lo tis-BA-nah, ar-BA lo-a-M'-RU hon
טולַ֥עֲלוּקָ֨ה ׀ שְׁתֵּ֥י בָנוֹת֮ הַ֤ב ׀ הַ֥֫ב שָׁל֣וֹשׁ הֵ֭נָּה לֹ֣א תִשְׂבַּ֑עְנָה אַ֝רְבַּ֗ע לֹא־אָ֥מְרוּ הֽוֹן׃
16Sheol, a barren womb, Earth that cannot get enough water, And fire which never says, “Enough!”
SH'-ol v'-o-TZER ra-KHAM E-retz lo-sa-VE-a MA-yim v'-AYSH lo-a-M'-RAH HON
טזשְׁאוֹל֮ וְעֹ֢צֶ֫ר־רָ֥חַם אֶ֭רֶץ לֹא־שָׂ֣בְעָה מַּ֑יִם וְ֝אֵ֗שׁ לֹא־אָ֥מְרָה הֽוֹן׃
17The eye that mocks a father And disdains the homage due a mother— The ravens of the brook will gouge it out, Young eagles will devour it.
AYN TIL-aG l'-AV v'-ta-BUZ li-KE-hat-EM yi-KE-ru-HA or-VEI-na-KHAL v'-yo-KHE-lu-HA v'-NAY-na-SHER. (P)
יזעַ֤יִן ׀ תִּ֥לְעַ֣ג לְאָב֮ וְתָבֻ֢ז לִֽיקְּהַ֫ת־אֵ֥ם יִקְּר֥וּהָ עֹֽרְבֵי־נַ֑חַל וְֽיֹאכְל֥וּהָ בְנֵי־נָֽשֶׁר׃
18Three things are beyond me; Four I cannot fathom:
sh'-lo-SHA he-ME nif-l'-U mi-ME-ni (v'-ar-BA) [v'-ar-ba-AH] lo ya-da-TIYM
יחשְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה הֵ֭מָּה נִפְלְא֣וּ מִמֶּ֑נִּי (וארבע) [וְ֝אַרְבָּעָ֗ה] לֹ֣א יְדַעְתִּֽים׃
19How an eagle makes its way over the sky; How a snake makes its way over a rock; How a ship makes its way through the high seas; How a man has his way with a maiden.
de-REKH ha-NE-sher ba-sha-MA-yim, de-REKH na-KHASH a-lei-TZUR, de-REKH-o-nee-YAH b'-lev-YAM, v'-de-REKH GE-ver b'-al-MAH
יטדֶּ֤רֶךְ הַנֶּ֨שֶׁר ׀ בַּשָּׁמַיִם֮ דֶּ֥רֶךְ נָחָ֗שׁ עֲלֵ֫י־צ֥וּר דֶּֽרֶךְ־אֳנִיָּ֥ה בְלֶב־יָ֑ם וְדֶ֖רֶךְ גֶּ֣בֶר בְּעַלְמָֽה׃
20Such is the way of an adulteress: She eats, wipes her mouth, And says, “I have done no wrong.”
KEN, DE-rekh i-SHA me-NA-a-FET a-KHO-la u-ma-KHA-ta fi-HA, v'-a-M'RAH lo fa-AHL-tee a-VON.
ככֵּ֤ן ׀ דֶּ֥רֶךְ אִשָּׁ֗ה מְנָ֫אָ֥פֶת אָ֭כְלָה וּמָ֣חֲתָה פִ֑יהָ וְ֝אָמְרָ֗ה לֹא־פָעַ֥לְתִּי אָֽוֶן׃
21The earth shudders at three things, At four which it cannot bear:
ta-KHAT sha-LOSH ra-G'-ZAH e-RETZ v'-ta-KHAT ar-BA lo-tu-KHAL se-ET
כאתַּ֣חַת שָׁ֭לוֹשׁ רָ֣גְזָה אֶ֑רֶץ וְתַ֥חַת אַ֝רְבַּ֗ע לֹא־תוּכַ֥ל שְׂאֵֽת׃
22A slave who becomes king; A scoundrel sated with food;
ta-KHAT e-VED ki yim-LOKH, ve-NA-val ki yis-BA-lakh-em.
כבתַּֽחַת־עֶ֭בֶד כִּ֣י יִמְל֑וֹךְ וְ֝נָבָ֗ל כִּ֣י יִֽשְׂבַּֽע־לָֽחֶם׃
23A loathsome woman who gets married; A slave-girl who supplants her mistress.
ta-KHAT se-NU-a ki ti-ba-EL, v'-shi-f'-KHA ki ti-RASH g'-vir-TAH. (P)
כגתַּ֣חַת שְׂ֭נוּאָה כִּ֣י תִבָּעֵ֑ל וְ֝שִׁפְחָ֗ה כִּֽי־תִירַ֥שׁ גְּבִרְתָּֽהּ׃
24Four are among the tiniest on earth, Yet they are the wisest of the wise:
ar-BA-a HEM k'-ta-NEI a-RETZ v'-he-MA kha-ka-MEEM m'-khu-ka-MEEM
כדאַרְבָּ֣עָה הֵ֭ם קְטַנֵּי־אָ֑רֶץ וְ֝הֵ֗מָּה חֲכָמִ֥ים מְחֻכָּמִֽים׃
25Ants are a folk without power, Yet they prepare food for themselves in summer;
ha-n'-ma-LEEM am lo-AZ va-ya-KHI-nu va-ka-YITZ lakh-MAM
כההַ֭נְּמָלִים עַ֣ם לֹא־עָ֑ז וַיָּכִ֖ינוּ בַקַּ֣יִץ לַחְמָֽם׃
26The badger is a folk without strength, Yet it makes its home in the rock;
sh'-fa-NIM am lo-a-TZUM va-ya-si-MU va-se-LA be-TAM
כושְׁ֭פַנִּים עַ֣ם לֹא־עָצ֑וּם וַיָּשִׂ֖ימוּ בַסֶּ֣לַע בֵּיתָֽם׃
27The locusts have no king, Yet they all march forth in formation;
me-LEKH AYN la-ar-BEH va-YAY-tzAY kho-TZAY kol-O
כזמֶ֭לֶךְ אֵ֣ין לָאַרְבֶּ֑ה וַיֵּצֵ֖א חֹצֵ֣ץ כֻּלּֽוֹ׃
28You can catch the lizard in your hand, Yet it is found in royal palaces.
se-MA-meet b'-ya-DA-yim te-ta-PES, v'-HEE b'-he-k'-LEI me-LEKH.
כחשְׂ֭מָמִית בְּיָדַ֣יִם תְּתַפֵּ֑שׂ וְ֝הִ֗יא בְּהֵ֣יכְלֵי מֶֽלֶךְ׃
29There are three that are stately of stride, Four that carry themselves well:
sh'-LO-sha he-ME-ha mei-TI-vei tza-AD v'-ar-ba-AH mei-TI-vei la-KHET
כטשְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה הֵ֭מָּה מֵיטִ֣יבֵי צָ֑עַד וְ֝אַרְבָּעָ֗ה מֵיטִ֥בֵי לָֽכֶת׃
30The lion is mightiest among the beasts, And recoils before none;
la-YISH gi-BOR ba-be-HE-mah, v'-lo ya-SHUv mi-p'-NEI-kol
ללַ֭יִשׁ גִּבּ֣וֹר בַּבְּהֵמָ֑ה וְלֹא־יָ֝שׁ֗וּב מִפְּנֵי־כֹֽל׃
31The greyhound, the he-goat, The king whom none dares resist.
zar-ZEER mot-NA-yim o-TA-yish u-ME-lekh al-KUM i-MO
לאזַרְזִ֣יר מׇתְנַ֣יִם אוֹ־תָ֑יִשׁ וּ֝מֶ֗לֶךְ אַלְק֥וּם עִמּֽוֹ׃
32If you have been scandalously arrogant, If you have been a schemer, Then clap your hand to your mouth.
im-na-BAL-ta v'-hit-na-SE, v'-im-za-MO-ta yad l'-PEH
לבאִם־נָבַ֥לְתָּ בְהִתְנַשֵּׂ֑א וְאִם־זַ֝מּ֗וֹתָ יָ֣ד לְפֶֽה׃
33As milk under pressure produces butter, And a nose under pressure produces blood, So patience under pressure produces strife.
KI MITS KHA-LAV YO-TZI KHEM-AH U-MITS-AF YO-TZI DAM U-MITS AP-A-YIM YO-TZI RIV. (PA)
לגכִּ֤י מִ֪יץ חָלָ֡ב י֘וֹצִ֤יא חֶמְאָ֗ה וּֽמִיץ־אַ֭ף י֣וֹצִיא דָ֑ם וּמִ֥יץ אַ֝פַּ֗יִם י֣וֹצִיא רִֽיב׃