1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. 2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. 3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD. 4 Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour. 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
6 Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. 7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him . 8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish. 10 Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. 12 The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass. 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping. 14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD. 15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die. 17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. 18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. 19 A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him , yet thou must do it again. 20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. 21 There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand. 22 The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil. 24 A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge. 26 He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach. 27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge. 28 An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity. 29 Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.
1 الفقيرُ السَّالكُ طريقَ الكمالِ
خَيرٌ مِنْ غنيٍّ طريقُهُ مُعوَجَّةٌ.
2 الحماسةُ بلا مَعرِفةٍ لا خَيرَ فيها،
ومَنْ عجَّلَ في السَّيرِ زَلَّتْ قدَماهُ.
3 حماقَةُ الإنسانِ تـتَقَدَّمُهُ في طريقِهِ.
وهوَ في قلبِهِ يَحنَقُ على الرّبِّ.
4 المالُ يَزيدُ عدَدَ الأصحابِ،
والفقيرُ يُفارِقُهُ حتّى صاحِبُهُ.
5 شاهدُ الزُّورِ لا عُذْرَ لهُ،
وناشرُ الأكاذيـبِ لا يَنجُو.
6 كثيرونَ يَستَعطِفونَ وجهَ الكريمِ،
وكُلٌّ يُصاحِبُ واهِبَ العَطايا.
7 إخوَةُ الفقيرِ جميعا يُبغِضونَهُ،
فكيفَ لا يـبتَعِدُ أصحابُهُ عَنهُ؟
يُناشِدُهُم مِرارا فلا يُبالُونَ.
8 مَنْ كانَ لبـيبا أحبَّ نفْسَهُ،
ومَنْ لَزِمَ الفَهْمَ وجَدَ خَيرا.
9 شاهِدُ الزُّورِ لا عُذْرَ لهُ،
وناشِرُ الأكاذيـبِ يَبـيدُ.
10 التَّرَفُ لا يَليقُ بالكسلانِ،
ولا سيادَةُ العبدِ على رؤسائِهِ.
11 الإنسانُ العاقِلُ طويلُ البالِ،
وفَخْرُهُ أنْ يصفَحَ عَنِ الخطأِ.
12 غَيظُ المَلِكِ كزئيرِ الشِّبْلِ،
ورضاهُ مِثلَ نَدىً على الشُّعوبِ.
13 الابنُ البليدُ خَسارَةٌ لأبـيهِ،
والمَرأةُ النَقَّاقَةُ وَكْفٌ لا يَنقَطِـعُ.
14 البَيتُ والمالُ ميراثٌ مِنَ الآباءِ،
والمَرأةُ العاقِلَةُ مِنْ عِندِ الرّبِّ.
15 العاطلُ عَنِ العمَلِ لا خَيرَ فيهِ،
والإنسانُ البَطَّالُ يجوعُ.
16 مَنْ يَحفَظْ وصيَّةَ الرّبِّ يَحفَظْ نفْسَهُ،
والمُستَهينُ بِطُرُقِهِ يموتُ.
17 مَنْ يتَحَنَّنْ على الفقيرِ يُحسِنْ إلى الرّبِّ،
والرّبُّ على إحسانِهِ يُكافِئُهُ.
18 أدِّبِ ابنَكَ ما دُمتَ قادرا،
ولا تـتَأَخَّرْ لِئلاَّ تَفقِدَهُ.
19 الغَضُوبُ يتَعَرَّضُ لِلعِقابِ،
وإنْ سايَرتَهُ ازْدادَ وعيدا.
20 إسمعِ النَّصيحةَ واقْبلِ المَشورَةَ،
تكُنْ في آخرِ الأمرِ حكيما.
21 في قلبِ الإنسانِ مَقاصِدُ كثيرةٌ.
ونصيحَةُ الرّبِّ هيَ الّتي تَثبُتُ.
22 جشَعُ الإنسانِ عارُهُ،
والفقيرُ خَيرٌ مِنَ الكَذَّابِ.
23 مَخافةُ الرّبِّ تؤدِّي إلى الحياةِ،
وصاحبُها يشبَعُ ولا يَحِلُّ بهِ سُوءٌ.
24 البَطَّالُ يَغمِسُ يَدَهُ في صَحْنِهِ،
ولا يَرُدُّها حتّى إلى فَمِهِ.
25 إضربِ السَّاخِرَ فيَتَنَبَّهَ الجاهِلُ،
ووبِّخِ الفهيمَ فيَتَبَيَّنَ المَعرِفةَ.
26 مَنْ يُضَيِّقْ على أبـيهِ ويَطرُدْ أمَّهُ،
فهوَ وليدُ العَيـبِ والعارِ معا.
27 لا تسمَعْ يا ابني أيَّةَ مَشورَةٍ،
تُضَلِّلُكَ عَنْ كَلامِ المَعرِفةِ.
28 الشَّاهِدُ اللَّئيمُ يَسخَرُ بالقضاءِ،
وأفواهُ الأشرارِ تَبتَلِـعُ الإثْمَ.
29 العِقابُ للقومِ السَّاخرينَ،
والضَّرْبُ لِظُهورِ الكَسالى.
