TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS
Chapter 25
Translation and Transliteration of
Listen to this chapter in Hebrew:
- Commentary
- Buy E-book
- Buy the Israel Bible
1These too are proverbs of Shlomo, which the men of King Chizkiyahu of Yehuda copied:
אגַּם־אֵלֶּה מִשְׁלֵי שְׁלֹמֹה אֲשֶׁר הֶעְתִּיקוּ אַנְשֵׁי חִזְקִיָּה מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה׃
2It is the glory of Hashem to conceal a matter, And the glory of a king to plumb a matter.
k'-VOD e-lo-HEEM has-TAYR da-VAR ukh-VOD m'-la-KHEEM kha-KOR da-VAR
בכְּבֹד אֱלֹהִים הַסְתֵּר דָּבָר וּכְבֹד מְלָכִים חֲקֹר דָּבָר׃
25:2 It is the glory of Hashem to conceal a matter
The glory of earthly kings is made greater through scrutiny and investigation, both on their own part and when conducted by others. When the kings search out the truth in order to do justice, they bring honor to themselves, and when others look into their actions, they respect such leaders for their righteousness. Hashem’s glory, on the other hand, is made greater by concealment. His miracles and actions are beyond human understanding, and though they are recorded in the Bible, many are shrouded in mystery.
3Like the heavens in their height, like the earth in its depth, Is the mind of kings—unfathomable.
גשָׁמַיִם לָרוּם וָאָרֶץ לָעֹמֶק וְלֵב מְלָכִים אֵין חֵקֶר׃
4The dross having been separated from the silver, A vessel emerged for the smith.
דהָגוֹ סִיגִים מִכָּסֶף וַיֵּצֵא לַצֹּרֵף כֶּלִי׃
5Remove the wicked from the king's presence, And his throne will be established in justice.
ההָגוֹ רָשָׁע לִפְנֵי־מֶלֶךְ וְיִכּוֹן בַּצֶּדֶק כִּסְאוֹ׃
6Do not exalt yourself in the king's presence; Do not stand in the place of nobles.
ואַל־תִּתְהַדַּר לִפְנֵי־מֶלֶךְ וּבִמְקוֹם גְּדֹלִים אַל־תַּעֲמֹד׃
7For it is better to be told, “Step up here,” Than to be degraded in the presence of the great. Do not let what your eyes have seen
זכִּי טוֹב אֲמָר־לְךָ עֲלֵה הֵנָּה מֵהַשְׁפִּילְךָ לִפְנֵי נָדִיב אֲשֶׁר רָאוּ עֵינֶיךָ׃
8Be vented rashly in a quarrel; Think of what it will effect in the end, When your fellow puts you to shame.
חאַל־תֵּצֵא לָרִב מַהֵר פֶּן מַה־תַּעֲשֶׂה בְּאַחֲרִיתָהּ בְּהַכְלִים אֹתְךָ רֵעֶךָ׃
9Defend your right against your fellow, But do not give away the secrets of another,
טרִיבְךָ רִיב אֶת־רֵעֶךָ וְסוֹד אַחֵר אַל־תְּגָל׃
10Lest he who hears it reproach you, And your bad repute never end.
יפֶּן־יְחַסֶּדְךָ שֹׁמֵעַ וְדִבָּתְךָ לֹא תָשׁוּב׃
11Like golden apples in silver showpieces Is a phrase well turned.
יאתַּפּוּחֵי זָהָב בְּמַשְׂכִּיּוֹת כָּסֶף דָּבָר דָּבֻר עַל־אָפְנָיו׃
12Like a ring of gold, a golden ornament, Is a wise man's reproof in a receptive ear.
יבנֶזֶם זָהָב וַחֲלִי־כָתֶם מוֹכִיחַ חָכָם עַל־אֹזֶן שֹׁמָעַת׃
13Like the coldness of snow at harvesttime Is a trusty messenger to those who send him; He lifts his master's spirits.
יגכְּצִנַּת־שֶׁלֶג בְּיוֹם קָצִיר צִיר נֶאֱמָן לְשֹׁלְחָיו וְנֶפֶשׁ אֲדֹנָיו יָשִׁיב׃
14Like clouds, wind—but no rain— Is one who boasts of gifts not given.
ידנְשִׂיאִים וְרוּחַ וְגֶשֶׁם אָיִן אִישׁ מִתְהַלֵּל בְּמַתַּת־שָׁקֶר׃
15Through forbearance a ruler may be won over; A gentle tongue can break bones.
טובְּאֹרֶךְ אַפַּיִם יְפֻתֶּה קָצִין וְלָשׁוֹן רַכָּה תִּשְׁבָּר־גָּרֶם׃
16If you find honey, eat only what you need, Lest, surfeiting yourself, you throw it up.
טזדְּבַשׁ מָצָאתָ אֱכֹל דַּיֶּךָּ פֶּן־תִּשְׂבָּעֶנּוּ וַהֲקֵאתוֹ׃
17Visit your neighbor sparingly, Lest he have his surfeit of you and loathe you.
יזהֹקַר רַגְלְךָ מִבֵּית רֵעֶךָ פֶּן־יִשְׂבָּעֲךָ וּשְׂנֵאֶךָ׃
18Like a club, a sword, a sharpened arrow, Is a man who testifies falsely against his fellow.
יחמֵפִיץ וְחֶרֶב וְחֵץ שָׁנוּן אִישׁ עֹנֶה בְרֵעֵהוּ עֵד שָׁקֶר׃
19Like a loose tooth and an unsteady leg, Is a treacherous support in time of trouble.
יטשֵׁן רֹעָה וְרֶגֶל מוּעָדֶת מִבְטָח בּוֹגֵד בְּיוֹם צָרָה׃
20Disrobing on a chilly day, Like vinegar on natron, Is one who sings songs to a sorrowful soul.
כמַעֲדֶה בֶּגֶד בְּיוֹם קָרָה חֹמֶץ עַל־נָתֶר וְשָׁר בַּשִּׁרִים עַל לֶב־רָע׃
21If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
כאאִם־רָעֵב שֹׂנַאֲךָ הַאֲכִלֵהוּ לָחֶם וְאִם־צָמֵא הַשְׁקֵהוּ מָיִם׃
22You will be heaping live coals on his head, And Hashem will reward you.
כבכִּי גֶחָלִים אַתָּה חֹתֶה עַל־רֹאשׁוֹ וַיהֹוָה יְשַׁלֶּם־לָךְ׃
23A north wind produces rain, And whispered words, a glowering face.
כגרוּחַ צָפוֹן תְּחוֹלֵל גָּשֶׁם וּפָנִים נִזְעָמִים לְשׁוֹן סָתֶר׃
24Dwelling in the corner of a roof is better Than a contentious woman in a spacious house.
כדטוֹב שֶׁבֶת עַל־פִּנַּת־גָּג מֵאֵשֶׁת מדונים [מִדְיָנִים] וּבֵית חָבֶר׃
25Like cold water to a parched throat Is good news from a distant land.
כהמַיִם קָרִים עַל־נֶפֶשׁ עֲיֵפָה וּשְׁמוּעָה טוֹבָה מֵאֶרֶץ מֶרְחָק׃
26Like a muddied spring, a ruined fountain, Is a righteous man fallen before a wicked one.
כומַעְיָן נִרְפָּשׂ וּמָקוֹר מָשְׁחָת צַדִּיק מָט לִפְנֵי־רָשָׁע׃
27It is not good to eat much honey, Nor is it honorable to search for honor.
כזאָכֹל דְּבַשׁ הַרְבּוֹת לֹא־טוֹב וְחֵקֶר כְּבֹדָם כָּבוֹד׃
28Like an open city without walls Is a man whose temper is uncurbed.
כחעִיר פְּרוּצָה אֵין חוֹמָה אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר אֵין מַעְצָר לְרוּחוֹ׃
