תרגום קהלת ט׳

אֲרוּם יָת כָּל דֵּין יְהָבִית עַל לִבִּי וּלְמִבְלוֹשׁ יָת כָּל דֵּין דִי צַדִיקַיָא וְחַכִּימַיָּא וְתַלְמִידֵיהוֹן דְּמִשְׁתַּעְבְּדִין לְהוֹן עַל עֵיסַק אוּלְפַן אוֹרַיְתָא וּמְסִירִין בִּידָא דַּיָי וּמִנֵּיהּ אִתְגְּזַר עַל כָּל עַלְמָא כָּל מַה דִּיהֵי בְיוֹמֵיהוֹן אַף רְחִימְתָא דִי רַחֲמִינוּן אַף סְנִיאֲתָא דְסָנִינוּן גְּבַר לֵית נְבִיָּא בְּעַלְמָא דִי יִנְדַע מַה דִּיהֵי בֶאֱנָשָׁא כּוֹלָא בְּמַזָּלַיא יְיָ אִתְגְּזַר לְמֶהֱוֵי קֳדָמֵיהוֹן: Chapter9 line1 For all this I set my heart to investigate all this that the righteous and the wise and their students who serve them on the business of the study of Torah and are given in the hand of god and from him is decreed on all the world all what will be in their days even the mercy they will feel even the hatred they will feel, there is no person who is a prophet in the world who will know what will be in people: All in their mazal[luck or planet] God decrees to be ahead of them.

כּוֹלָא בְּמַזָּלַיא תַּלְיָא מִן שְׁמַיָּא אִתְגְּזַר מַה דַּעֲתִיד לְמֶהֱוֵי לְכוֹלָא אִרְעוּן חַד לְזַכָּאָה וּלְחַיָּבָא לִדְתַקְנָן אוֹרְחָתֵיהּ וְלִמְדַכֵּי נַפְשֵׁיהּ וְלִמְסָאִיב נַפְשֵׁיהּ וּלְמִקְרַיב נִכְסַת קוּדְשַׁיָּא וְלִדְלֵיתוֹהִי מַקְרִיב נִכְסַת קוּדְשִׁין כְּטָבָא כְּחַיָּבָא כִּגְבַר דְּיוֹמֵי לְשַׁקְרָא כִּגְבַר דְּמוֹמָתָא דָּחִיל: 2 Everything depends on mazal, from heaven it is decreed what will happen in the future to the entire earth, One to the innocent and the guilty, who fixes his way and makes modest his soul,and one who defiles his soul [makes himself impure] one who sacrifices a holy property and one who does not sacrifice a holy property, like the good like the guilty, like a man whose days are for lying like a man who fears an oath.

דֵּין מַזָּל בִּישׁ בְּכָל עַלְמָא דִי יִתְעֲבֵיד תְּחוֹת שִׁמְשָׁא אֲרוּם אִרְעוּן חָד לְכוֹלָא לְכָל דַיָירֵי עַלְמָא וְאַף לִבָּא דִּבְנֵי אֱנָשָׁא אִתְמְלֵי בִישׁ עַל דָּא וְחוּלְחוּלְתָּא בִּלְבָבֵיהוֹן כָּל יוֹמֵי חַיֵּהוֹן וּבָתַר סוֹפוֹהִי דֶּאֱנָשָׁא נְטִיר לֵיהּ לְאִתְוַכְּחָא עִם מֵתַיָּא בְּדִין חַיָּבַיָּא: 3 This is an evil mazal in all the world that is done under the sun, for one happening is for all, to all the inhabitants of the earth, even if the heart of people is filled with badness about this, and intrigues are in their heart, all the days of their life. and after a man’s end it is saved for him to argue with the dead about the judgement of the guilty.

אֲרוּם מַן גַבְרָא דִי אִתְחַבָּר לְכָל פִּתְגָמֵי אוֹרַיְתָא וּלְמִקְנֵי חַיֵי עַלְמָא דְּאָתֵי אִית לֵיהּ סְבַר אֲרוּם כַּלְבָּא חַיָא הוּא טָב מִן אַרְיָא דִי הוּא מִית: 4 For who is the man who adheres to all the words of the Torah to purchase the life of the world to come? He has hoper. For a live dog is better than a lion that is dead.

אֲרוּם צַדִּיקַיָּא יָדְעִין דְּאִין יְחוֹבוּן עֲתִידִין לְמֶהֱוֵיהוֹן חֲשִׁיבִין כְּמֵתַיָּא לְעַלְמָא דְּאָתֵי בְּגִין כֵּן נַטְרִין אוֹרְחֵיהוֹן וְלָא חַיָיבִין וְאִין יְחוֹבוּן תָּיְבִין בִּתְיוּבְתָּא וְחַיָּבַיָּא לֵיתֵיהוֹן יָדְעִין מִדַעַם טַב עַל דְּלָא אוֹטִיבוּ עוֹבָדֵיהוֹן בְּחַיֵּהוֹן וְלֵיתֵיהוֹן יָדְעִין מִדַעַם טַב לְעָלְמָא דְּאָתֵי וְלֵית לְהוֹן אֲגַר טַב בָּתַר מוֹתֵיהוֹן אֲרוּם אִתְנְשֵׁי דָכְרָנֵיהוֹן מִבְּנֵי צַדִּיקַיָּא: 5 For the righteous know that if they sin, they will be considered as dead in the world to come. Therefore, they guard their ways and do not sin and if they sin, they return in repentance. But the sinners do not know anything good because they do not make their deeds good in their lifetime and they do not know anything good in the world to come and they do not have a good reward after their death for their memory is forgotten from the righteous.

בָּתַר מוֹתֵיהוֹן דְּרַשִּׁיעַיָּא לֵית בְּהוֹן צְרוֹךְ אַף רְחִימְתְּהוֹן אַף סִנְאַתְהוֹן אַף קִנְאַתְהוֹן הִיא כְּבַר הוֹבְדוֹן מִן עַלְמָא וְחוּלַק טַב לֵית לְהוֹן עוֹד עִם צַדִּיקַיָּא לְעַלְמָא דְּאָתֵי וְלֵית לְהוֹן הֲנַיָיא מִן כָּל מַה דְּאִתְעֲבֵיד בְּעַלְמָא הָדֵין תְּחוֹת שִׁמְשָׁא: 6 After the death of the wicked they have no needs. Their love, their hatred, and their envy have already perished from the world and they no longer have a good portion with the righteous in the world to come. And they have no pleasure from anything that is done in this world under the sun.

אֲמַר שְׁלֹמֹה בְּרוּחַ נְבוּאָה מִן קֳדָם יְיָ עֲתִיד מָרֵי עָלְמָא לְמֵימַר לְכָל צַדִּיקַיָּא בְּאַנְפֵּי נַפְשֵׁיהּ אֱזֵיל טְעוֹם בְּחֶדְוָא לַחְמָךְ דְּאִתּוֹסַף לָךְ עַל לַחְמָךְ דִי יְהִיבְתָּא לַעֲנִיָא וְלַחֲשִׁיכָא דַהֲווֹ כָּפִין וְשָׁתֵי בְּלֵב טָב חַמְרָא דְּאִצְטְנַע לָךְ בְּגַן עֵדֶן חֲלַף חַמְרָךְ דִּמְזַגְתָּא לַעֲנִיָא וַחֲשִּׁיכָא דַהֲווֹ צָחֵי אֲרוּם הָא כְּבַר אִתְרְעִית [קֳדָם] יְיָ עוֹבָדָךְ טָבָא: 7 Solomon said by the spirit of prophecy from before the Lord, “The Master of the World will say to all the righteous ones individually, Go eat in joy your bread which was given to you for the bread which you gave to the poor and the needy who were hungry, and drink with a happy heart your wine which is hidden for you in the Garden of Eden in exchange for the wine which you mixed for the poor and needy who were thirsty. For God has already accepted your good deeds.

בְּכָל עִדָּן יֶהֶויָין כְּסוּתָךְ חִיוָרִין מִן כָּל סוֹאֲבוֹת חוֹבָתָא וּשְׁמָא טָבָא דִּמְתִיל לִמְשַׁח רְבוּתָא קְנֵי בְּגִין דִי יִמְטוּן בִּרְכָן עַל רֵישָׁךְ וְטִיבוּתָךְ אַל יֶחֱסַר: 8 At all times let your garments be white without all stain of sin and acquire a good name which is compared to anointing oil so that blessing may come upon your head and your goodness will not be lacking.

חֲזֵי חַיִין טָבִין עִם אִתְּתָא דִּרְחִימְתָּא כָּל יוֹמֵי חַיֵּי הֶבְלוּתָךְ דִי יְהַב יְיָ לָךְ בְּמַזָּלָא בְּעַלְמָא הָדֵין תְּחוֹת שִׁמְשָׁא אֲרוּם הוּא חוּלָקָךְ בְּחַיִין וּבְטוֹרְחוּתָךְ דִי אַנְתְּ טָרַחְתָּא בְּעַלְמָא הָדֵין תְּחוֹת שִׁמְשָׁא: 9 See a good life with a wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which the Lord gave you by your mazal in this world under the sun. For it is your portion in your life and in your labor wherein you labor in this world under the sun.

כָּל דִי מְסַפְּקָא יְדָךְ לְמֶעֱבַד טִיבוּ וּצְדַקְתָּא עִם מִסְכֵּינָא בְּכָל חֵילָךְ עֲבִיד אֲרוּם בָּתַר מוֹתָא לֵית לִגְבַר עוֹבָדָא וְחוּשְׁבַּנָא וּמַנְדְּעָא וְחוּכְמְתָא בְּבֵית קְבוּרְתָא דְּאַתְּ אָזִיל תַּמָּן וְלָא יְסַיְּעוּן לָךְ אֱלָהֵין עוֹבָדִין טָבִין וּצְדַקְתָּא לְחוֹדֵיהוֹן: 10. Whatever charity your hand finds to do, do for the needy with all your strength, for after death a man has neither work nor reckoning nor knowledge nor wisdom in the grave where you are going and nothing will help you but good deeds and charity alone.

אֲמַר שְׁלֹמֹה מַלְכָּא כַּד הֲוֵיתִי יָתִיב עַל כּוּרְסֵי מַלְכוּתִי אִסְתַּכָּלִית וַחֲזִית בְּעַלְמָא הָדֵין תְּחוֹת שִׁמְשָׁא אֲרוּם לָא גּוּבְרִין דְּאִנּוּן קַלִּילִין כְּנִשְׁרִין מִסְתַּיְּיעָן לְמִרְהַט לְאִשְׁתֵּיזָבָא מִן מוֹתָא בִּקְרָבָא וְלָא גִּבָּרַיָּא מִסְתַּיְּעִין בַּאֲגָחוּתְהוֹן קְרָבָא בִּגְבוּרָתֵיהוֹן וְאַף לָא חַכִּימַיָּא מִסְתַּיְּעִין בְּחוּכְמַתְהוֹן לְמִסְבַּע לַחְמָא בְּעִדָּן כַּפְנָא וְאַף לָא סוּכְלְתָנִין מִסְתַּיְּעִין בְּסוּכְלְתָנוּתְהוֹן לְמִכְנוֹשׁ עַתְרָא וְאַף לָא יָדְעֵי בִּינָה מִסְתַּיְּעִין בְּמַנְדָּעוּתְהוֹן לְמִשְׁכַּח רַחֲמִין בְּעֵינֵי מַלְכָּא אֲרוּם עִדָּן וְעַרְעִיתָא בְּמַזָּלֵיהוֹן יֶעְרַע יָת כּוּלְּהוֹן: 11. King Solomon said, “While I was sitting on my royal throne, I observed and saw in this world under the sun that not men who are swift as the eagle are helped to run to escape death in battle and heroes are not helped by their might when they instigate a war and also sages are not helped by their wisdom to be sated with bread in a time of famine and the intelligent are not helped by their intelligence to be sated with bread in a time of famine and even those who are wise are not assisted by their wisdom to gather the grain place and the discerning are not helped by their knowledge to find mercy in the eyes of the king. For time and chance happen to all of them according to their mazal.

אֲרוּם אַף לָא אִשְׁתָּמוֹדַע לִגְבַר יָת זִמְנֵיהּ בֵּין טָב לְבִישׁ מִן מַה דַּעֲתִיד לְמֶהֱוֵי בְּעַלְמָא וּלְמֵיתֵי עֲלוֹי כְּנוּנֵי יַמָּא דְּמִתְאַחֲדִין בְּחַכָּה וּכְצִפָּרֵי שְׁמַיָּא דְּמִתְאַחֲדִין בְּתִקוּלָא כְּוָתְהוֹן מוּתְקְלִין בְּנֵי אֱנָשָׁא לִזְמַן בִּישָׁתָא דְּאִתְעַתְּדַת לְמֶהֱוֵי נָפְלָא עֲלַוֵיהוֹן רִגְעָא חֲדָא מִשְׁמַיָּא: 12. For even it is not made known to a man his time, whether good or bad what will be in the world and come upon him. Like fish of the sea which are captured in a net and like birds of heaven which are captured in a snare, like them people are snared in an evil time which falls on them in one moment from the sky.

אַף דֵּין חֲזֵיתִי דְּהִיא חוּכְמְתָא בְּעַלְמָא הָדֵין תְּחוֹת שִׁמְשָׁא וְרַבְּתָא הִיא לְוָתִי: 13. Also this I saw, that she is wisdom in this world under the sun and it is much to me.

גּוּף בַּר נְשָׁא דִּמְתִיל לְקַרְתָּא זְעֵירְתָּא וְגִבָּרִין גַבְרֵי חֵילָא זְעֵיר בְּגַוַּהּ הֵיכְמָא דְּקַלִּילִין זְכוּתֵיהּ בְּגוֹ לִבָּא דֶּאֱנָשָׁא וְיֵעוּל לְוַת גּוּפָא יִצְרָא בִּישָׁא דִּמְתִיל לְמֶלֶךְ רַב וְתַקִּיף לְאִתְכַּנְעָא וְאַסְחַר יָתֵיה לְמִטְעֵי יָתֵיהּ וּבְנָא עֲלוֹהִי אֲתַר לְמֵיתַב עַל דִי יִצְבֵי לְאַסְטָיוּתֵיהּ מִן אוֹרְחָן דְּתָקְנָן קֳדָם יְיָ לְאַחָדָא יָתֵיהּ בִּמְצוֹדִין רַבְרְבִין דְּגֵיהִנָּם לְאַדְלָקוּתֵיהּ שְׁבַע זִמְנִין עַל חוֹבוֹהִי: 14. The body of a man is compared to a little city and heroes, a few soldiers are in its midst and are slight in its merit in the heart of man helpful to the body [against] the evil inclination which may be compared to a great and powerful king enters the body to conquer and it surrounds the heart in order to make it err and it builds against it a dwelling place because it wishes to cause him to depart from the way which is straight before the Lord to capture him in the great snares of Gehenna in order to burn him seven times for his sins.

וְאִשְׁתְּכַח בְּגוֹ גּוּף יִצְרָא טָבָא מַכִּיךְ וְחַכִּים וְאִתְגַּבַּר עֲלוֹהִי וּכְבַשׁ יָתֵיהּ בְּחוּכְמְתֵיהּ וְשֵׁיזֵיב יָת גּוּפָא מִן דִּינָא דְּגֵיהִנָּם בְּתוּקְפֵיהּ וּבְחוּכְמְתֵיהּ הֵיכְמָא דְגַבְרָא עֲבִיד לִקְרָבָא וּמְשֵׁיזִיב יָת יָתְבֵי קַרְתָּא בְּחוּכְמַת לְבָבֵיה וֶאֱנָשׁ לָא דְּכַר בָּתַר כֵּןֵ לְיִצְרָא טָבָא דְּשֵׁיזְבֵיהּ אֱלָהֵין יֵימַר בְּלִבְבֵיה זַכָּאָה אֲנָא הֵיכְמָא דְּיָתְבֵי קַרְתָּא הַהִיא לָא דְּכִירוּ יָת עַנְיָא הַהוּא דְּשֵׁיזִיב יָתְהוֹן: 15. And there was found in the body the good inclination humble and wise and it prevailed over it and conquered it by its wisdom and it saved the body from the judgment of Gehenna by its power and its wisdom just as the soldier does battle and saves the inhabitants of the city by the wisdom of his heart and no man remembered afterward the good inclination which saved him but says to himself “I am innocent just as the inhabitants of the city do not remember that poor man who saved them.

וַאֲמָרִית אֲנָא בְּמֵימְרִי טָבָא חָכְמַת צַדִּיקַיָא מִכֹּחַ גְּבוּרַת רַשִּׁיעַיָא דְּחוּכְמַת צַדִּיקַיָא וּזְכוּתֵיהּ מְשֵׁיזְבָא לֵיהּ וְלֶאֱנָשֵׁי דָּרֵיהּ וּתְקוֹף רַשִּׁיעָא דְּקָאִים בְּתוּקְפֵיה דְּלִבֵּיהּ בְּדִיל דְּלָא לְמֶהֱדַּר בִּתְיוּבְתָּא מְחַבְּלָא לֵיהּ בִּלְחוֹדוֹהִי וְחוּכְמַת צַדִּיקָא עַנְיָא מִזְדַּלְדְלָא בְעֵינֵי רַשִּׁיעֵי דָּרֵיהּ וּבְעִדָּן דְּיוֹכַח יָתְהוֹן עַל עוֹבָדֵיהוֹן בִּישַׁיָּא וּפִתְגָמֵיה אוֹכַחְתֵּיה לֵיתִנּוּן מִתְקַבְּלִין: 16. And I said ,the good words of the righteous are better than the force of the heroism of the sinner, for the wisdom of the righteous and his merit saves him and the people of his generation. But the strength of the wicked who persists in the stubbornness of his heart without returning in repentance destroys only him. And the wisdom of the righteous poor is despised in the eyes of the wicked of his generation and when he reproves them for their evil deeds the words of reprove are not accepted.

מִלֵּי דִּצְלוֹתָא דְּחַכִּימַיָּא בַחֲשַׁאי מִתְקַבְּלִין קֳדָם מָרֵי עָלְמָא יַתִּיר מִקִבְּלַת גַבְרָא רַשִּׁיעָא דְּהוּא שָׁלִיט עַל שָׁטְיָן דְּפַגִין וְלֵית מְקַבֵּיל: 17. The word of the silent prayer of the sages are accepted by the Master of World more than the acceptance of the wicked man who rules over fools who entreats but is not accepted.

טָבָא חוּכְמַת חַכִּימַיָא בְּעִדָּן עָקְתָא יַתִּיר מִן מָנֵי קְרָבָא בְּעִדָּן אַגִיחוּת קְרָבָא וְגַבְרָא חַיָּבָא חַד דְּאִיתֵיהּ בְּדָרָא גָּרֵים לְהוֹבָדָא טַבְתָּא רַבְּתָא מִן עַלְמָא: 18. The wisdom of the wise in the time of trouble is better than weapons when war breaks out one sinner in a generation causes much good to be destroyed from the world.