Proverbs 22
1A shem tov is rather to be desired than osher rav, 1 and chen (grace) rather than kesef and zahav. 1
2The oisher (rich man) and the rahsh (pauper) have this in common: 1 Hashem is the Oseh (Maker) of them all. 1
3A prudent man foreseeth the ra'ah, and hideth himself, 1 but the naïve trudge on, and are punished. 1
4By anavah (humility) and the Yirat Hashem 1 are osher, and kavod, and chayyim. 1
5Thorns and pachim (snares) are in the derech of the crooked; 1 he that is shomer over his nefesh shall be far from them. 1
6Train up a na'ar in the derech (road) he should go, 1 and when he is old, he will not depart from it. 1
7The oisher ruleth over the rahshim (paupers), 1 and the loveh (borrower, debtor) is eved (slave) to the ish malveh (lender). 1
8He that soweth iniquity shall reap aven (iniquity), 1 and the shevet (rod) of his wrath shall disappear. 1
9He that hath a tov ayin (generous eye) shall have a bracha; 1 for he giveth of his lechem to the dal (poor). 1
10Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall leave; 1 indeed, strife and kalon (shame) shall cease. 1
11He that loveth tahor lev (a pure heart), 1 for the chen (grace) on his sfatayim (lips) the Melech shall be his re'a (friend). 1
12The eynayim of Hashem preserve da'as, 1 and He overthroweth the devarim of the boged (unfaithful, treacherous, traitor). 1
13The atzel (sluggard, lazy one) saith, There is an ari (lion) outside; 1 I shall be murdered in the streets. 1
14The peh (mouth) of zarot (strange women) is a deep pit; 1 he that is under the wrath of Hashem shall fall therein. 1
15Folly is bound in the lev na'ar, 1 but the shevet musar (rod of correction) shall drive it far from him. 1
16He that oppresseth the dal (poor) in order to increase, 1 and he that giveth to the oisher, shall surely come to machsor (poverty, want). 1
17Bow down thine ozen, and hear the devarim of chachamim, 1 and apply thine lev (mind, heart) unto my da'as. 1
18For it is a pleasant thing if thou be shomer over them within thee; 1 they shall therewith abide ready upon thy sfatayim (lips). 1
19That thy trust may be in Hashem, 1 I have made thee know this yom, even thee! 1
20Have not I written to thee shloshim (thirty sayings) 1 in mo'etzot (counsels) and da'as, 1
21That I might make thee know the certain truth of the words of emes; 1 that thou mightest bring back words of emes to them that send thee? 1
22Exploit not the dal (poor), because he is dal (poor); 1 neither oppress the oni (afflicted) in the sha'ar, 1
23For Hashem will plead their cause, 1 and plunder the nefesh of those that plundered them. 1
24Make no friendship with a ba'al af (angry man), 1 and with an ish chemot (man of wrath) thou shalt not go, 1
25Lest thou learn his orkhot (ways), 1 and take a mokesh (snare) for thy nefesh. 1
26Be not thou one of them that shake hands in a pledge, 1 or of them that are collateral for masha'ot (debts, loans). 1
27If thou hast nothing with which to pay, 1 why should he take away thy mishkav (bed) from under thee? 1
28Remove not the gevul olam (ancient landmark), 1 which avoteicha have set. 1
29Seest thou an ish mahir (diligent, one who excells) in his work? 1 He shall stand before melachim; 1 he shall not stand before obscure men.