Mishley - Structure, Themes, Selections - Part II

(א) בְּ֭נִי שְׁמֹ֣ר אֲמָרָ֑י וּ֝מִצְוֺתַ֗י תִּצְפֹּ֥ן אִתָּֽךְ׃ (ב) שְׁמֹ֣ר מִצְוֺתַ֣י וֶחְיֵ֑ה וְ֝תוֹרָתִ֗י כְּאִישׁ֥וֹן עֵינֶֽיךָ׃ (ג) קׇשְׁרֵ֥ם עַל־אֶצְבְּעֹתֶ֑יךָ כׇּ֝תְבֵ֗ם עַל־ל֥וּחַ לִבֶּֽךָ׃

(ד) אֱמֹ֣ר לַ֭חׇכְמָה אֲחֹ֣תִי אָ֑תְּ וּ֝מֹדָ֗ע לַבִּינָ֥ה תִקְרָֽא׃

(ה) לִ֭שְׁמׇרְךָ מֵאִשָּׁ֣ה זָרָ֑ה מִ֝נׇּכְרִיָּ֗ה אֲמָרֶ֥יהָ הֶחֱלִֽיקָה׃ (ו) כִּ֭י בְּחַלּ֣וֹן בֵּיתִ֑י בְּעַ֖ד אֶשְׁנַבִּ֣י נִשְׁקָֽפְתִּי׃ (ז) וָאֵ֤רֶא בַפְּתָאיִ֗ם אָ֘בִ֤ינָה בַבָּנִ֗ים נַ֣עַר חֲסַר־לֵֽב׃ (ח) עֹבֵ֣ר בַּ֭שּׁוּק אֵ֣צֶל פִּנָּ֑הּ וְדֶ֖רֶךְ בֵּיתָ֣הּ יִצְעָֽד׃ (ט) בְּנֶֽשֶׁף־בְּעֶ֥רֶב י֑וֹם בְּאִישׁ֥וֹן לַ֝֗יְלָה וַאֲפֵלָֽה׃ (י) וְהִנֵּ֣ה אִ֭שָּׁה לִקְרָאת֑וֹ שִׁ֥ית ז֝וֹנָ֗ה וּנְצֻ֥רַת לֵֽב׃ (יא) הֹמִיָּ֣ה הִ֣יא וְסֹרָ֑רֶת בְּ֝בֵיתָ֗הּ לֹא־יִשְׁכְּנ֥וּ רַגְלֶֽיהָ׃ (יב) פַּ֤עַם ׀ בַּח֗וּץ פַּ֥עַם בָּרְחֹב֑וֹת וְאֵ֖צֶל כׇּל־פִּנָּ֣ה תֶאֱרֹֽב׃ (יג) וְהֶחֱזִ֣יקָה בּ֭וֹ וְנָ֣שְׁקָה לּ֑וֹ הֵעֵ֥זָה פָ֝נֶ֗יהָ וַתֹּ֣אמַר לֽוֹ׃

(יד) "זִבְחֵ֣י שְׁלָמִ֣ים עָלָ֑י הַ֝יּ֗וֹם שִׁלַּ֥מְתִּי נְדָרָֽי׃ (טו) עַל־כֵּ֭ן יָצָ֣אתִי לִקְרָאתֶ֑ךָ לְשַׁחֵ֥ר פָּ֝נֶ֗יךָ וָאֶמְצָאֶֽךָּ׃ (טז) מַ֭רְבַדִּים רָבַ֣דְתִּי עַרְשִׂ֑י חֲ֝טֻב֗וֹת אֵט֥וּן מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (יז) נַ֥פְתִּי מִשְׁכָּבִ֑י מֹ֥ר אֲ֝הָלִ֗ים וְקִנָּמֽוֹן׃ (יח) לְכָ֤ה נִרְוֶ֣ה דֹ֭דִים עַד־הַבֹּ֑קֶר נִ֝תְעַלְּסָ֗ה בׇּאֳהָבִֽים׃ (יט) כִּ֤י אֵ֣ין הָאִ֣ישׁ בְּבֵית֑וֹ הָ֝לַ֗ךְ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ מֵרָחֽוֹק׃ (כ) צְֽרוֹר־הַ֭כֶּסֶף לָקַ֣ח בְּיָד֑וֹ לְי֥וֹם הַ֝כֵּ֗סֶא יָבֹ֥א בֵיתֽוֹ׃"

(כא) הִ֭טַּתּוּ בְּרֹ֣ב לִקְחָ֑הּ בְּחֵ֥לֶק שְׂ֝פָתֶ֗יהָ תַּדִּיחֶֽנּוּ׃ (כב) ה֤וֹלֵ֥ךְ אַחֲרֶ֗יהָ פִּ֫תְאֹ֥ם כְּ֭שׁוֹר אֶל־טֶ֣בַח יָבֹ֑א וּ֝כְעֶ֗כֶס אֶל־מוּסַ֥ר אֱוִֽיל׃ (כג) עַ֤ד יְפַלַּ֪ח חֵ֡ץ כְּֽבֵד֗וֹ כְּמַהֵ֣ר צִפּ֣וֹר אֶל־פָּ֑ח וְלֹא־יָ֝דַ֗ע כִּֽי־בְנַפְשׁ֥וֹ הֽוּא׃

(כד) וְעַתָּ֣ה בָ֭נִים שִׁמְעוּ־לִ֑י וְ֝הַקְשִׁ֗יבוּ לְאִמְרֵי־פִֽי׃ (כה) אַל־יֵ֣שְׂטְ אֶל־דְּרָכֶ֣יהָ לִבֶּ֑ךָ אַל־תֵּ֝֗תַע בִּנְתִיבוֹתֶֽיהָ׃ (כו) כִּֽי־רַבִּ֣ים חֲלָלִ֣ים הִפִּ֑ילָה וַ֝עֲצֻמִ֗ים כׇּל־הֲרֻגֶֽיהָ׃ (כז) דַּרְכֵ֣י שְׁא֣וֹל בֵּיתָ֑הּ יֹ֝רְד֗וֹת אֶל־חַדְרֵי־מָֽוֶת׃ {פ}

Proverbs 7:1-27

(1) My son, heed my words;
And store up my commandments with you. (2) Keep my commandments and live,
My teaching, as the apple of your eye. (3) Bind them on your fingers;
Write them on the tablet of your mind. (4) Say to Wisdom, “You are my sister,”
And call Understanding a kinswoman. (5) She will guard you from a forbiddenaLit. “strange.” woman;
From an alien woman whose talk is smooth.
(6) From the window of my house,
Through my lattice, I looked out (7) And saw among the simple,
Noticed among the youths,
A lad devoid of sense. (8) He was crossing the street near her corner,
Walking toward her house (9) In the dusk of evening,
In the dark hours of night. (10) A woman comes toward him
bMeaning of Heb. uncertain.Dressed like a harlot, with set purpose.-b (11) She is bustling and restive;
She is never at home. (12) Now in the street, now in the square,
She lurks at every corner. (13) She lays hold of him and kisses him;
Brazenly she says to him,

(14) “I had to make a sacrifice of well-being;
Today I fulfilled my vows. (15) Therefore I have come out to you,
Seeking you, and have found you. (16) I have decked my couch with covers
Of dyed Egyptian linen; (17) I have sprinkled my bed
With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. (18) Let us drink our fill of love till morning;
Let us delight in amorous embrace. (19) For the man of the house is away;
He is off on a distant journey. (20) He took his bag of money with him
And will return only at mid-month.”

(21) She sways him with her eloquence,
Turns him aside with her smooth talk. (22) Thoughtlessly he follows her,
Like an ox going to the slaughter,
bMeaning of Heb. uncertain.Like a fool to the stocks for punishment-b— (23) Until the arrow pierces his liver.
He is like a bird rushing into a trap,
Not knowing his life is at stake. (24) Now, sons, listen to me;
Pay attention to my words; (25) Let your mind not wander down her ways;
Do not stray onto her paths. (26) For many are those she has struck dead,
And numerous are her victims. (27) Her house is a highway to Sheol
Leading down to Death’s inner chambers.

משלי א׳:א׳-ז׳

(א) מִ֭שְׁלֵי שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה בֶן־דָּוִ֑ד מֶ֝֗לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

(ב) לָדַ֣עַת חׇכְמָ֣ה וּמוּסָ֑ר לְ֝הָבִ֗ין אִמְרֵ֥י בִינָֽה׃ (ג) לָ֭קַחַת מוּסַ֣ר הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל צֶ֥דֶק וּ֝מִשְׁפָּ֗ט וּמֵשָׁרִֽים׃ (ד) לָתֵ֣ת לִפְתָאיִ֣ם עׇרְמָ֑ה לְ֝נַ֗עַר דַּ֣עַת וּמְזִמָּֽה׃ (ה) יִשְׁמַ֣ע חָ֭כָם וְי֣וֹסֶף לֶ֑קַח וְ֝נָב֗וֹן תַּחְבֻּל֥וֹת יִקְנֶֽה׃ (ו) לְהָבִ֣ין מָ֭שָׁל וּמְלִיצָ֑ה דִּבְרֵ֥י חֲ֝כָמִ֗ים וְחִידֹתָֽם׃

(ז) יִרְאַ֣ת יְ֭הֹוָה רֵאשִׁ֣ית דָּ֑עַת, חׇכְמָ֥ה וּ֝מוּסָ֗ר אֱוִילִ֥ים בָּֽזוּ׃ {פ}

Proverbs 1:1-7

(1) The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
(2) For learning wisdom and discipline;
For understanding words of discernment; (3) For acquiring the discipline for success,
Righteousness, justice, and equity; (4) For endowing the simple with shrewdness,
The young with knowledge and foresight. (5) —The wise man, hearing them, will gain more wisdom;
The discerning man will learn to be adroit; (6) For understanding proverb and epigram,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
(7) The fear of the LORD is the beginningaOr “best part.” of knowledge;
Fools despise wisdom and discipline.

מלכים א ה׳:ט׳-י״ד

(ט) וַיִּתֵּן֩ אֱלֹהִ֨ים חׇכְמָ֧ה לִשְׁלֹמֹ֛ה וּתְבוּנָ֖ה הַרְבֵּ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד וְרֹ֣חַב לֵ֔ב כַּח֕וֹל אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־שְׂפַ֥ת הַיָּֽם׃ (י) וַתֵּ֙רֶב֙ חׇכְמַ֣ת שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה מֵחׇכְמַ֖ת כׇּל־בְּנֵי־קֶ֑דֶם וּמִכֹּ֖ל חׇכְמַ֥ת מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (יא) וַיֶּחְכַּם֮ מִכׇּל־הָאָדָם֒ מֵאֵיתָ֣ן הָאֶזְרָחִ֗י וְהֵימָ֧ן וְכַלְכֹּ֛ל וְדַרְדַּ֖ע בְּנֵ֣י מָח֑וֹל וַיְהִֽי־שְׁמ֥וֹ בְכׇֽל־הַגּוֹיִ֖ם סָבִֽיב׃ (יב) וַיְדַבֵּ֕ר שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֖ים מָשָׁ֑ל וַיְהִ֥י שִׁיר֖וֹ חֲמִשָּׁ֥ה וָאָֽלֶף׃ (יג) וַיְדַבֵּר֮ עַל־הָעֵצִים֒ מִן־הָאֶ֙רֶז֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּלְּבָנ֔וֹן וְעַד֙ הָאֵז֔וֹב אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֹצֵ֖א בַּקִּ֑יר וַיְדַבֵּר֙ עַל־הַבְּהֵמָ֣ה וְעַל־הָע֔וֹף וְעַל־הָרֶ֖מֶשׂ וְעַל־הַדָּגִֽים׃ (יד) וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ מִכׇּל־הָ֣עַמִּ֔ים לִשְׁמֹ֕עַ אֵ֖ת חׇכְמַ֣ת שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה מֵאֵת֙ כׇּל־מַלְכֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָֽׁמְע֖וּ אֶת־חׇכְמָתֽוֹ׃ {ס}

I Kings 5:9-14

(9) God endowed Solomon with wisdom and discernment in great measure, with understanding as vast as the sands on the seashore. (10) Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the Kedemites and than all the wisdom of the Egyptians. (11) He was wiser than anybody else—including Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Chalkol, and Darda the sons of Mahol. His fame spread among all the surrounding nations. (12) He composed three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered one thousand and five. (13) He discoursed about trees, from the cedar in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall; and he discoursed about beasts, birds, creeping things, and fishes. (14) EnvoyscEnvoys Heb. “They.” came from all peoples to hear Solomon’s wisdom, [sent] by all the monarchs of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.

מלכים א י׳:א׳-ז׳

(א) וּמַֽלְכַּת־שְׁבָ֗א שֹׁמַ֛עַת אֶת־שֵׁ֥מַע שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה לְשֵׁ֣ם יְהֹוָ֑ה וַתָּבֹ֥א לְנַסֹּת֖וֹ בְּחִידֽוֹת׃ (ב) וַתָּבֹ֣א יְרוּשָׁלַ֗͏ְמָה בְּחַ֘יִל֮ כָּבֵ֣ד מְאֹד֒ גְּ֠מַלִּ֠ים נֹשְׂאִ֨ים בְּשָׂמִ֧ים וְזָהָ֛ב רַב־מְאֹ֖ד וְאֶ֣בֶן יְקָרָ֑ה וַתָּבֹא֙ אֶל־שְׁלֹמֹ֔ה וַתְּדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלָ֔יו אֵ֛ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיָ֖ה עִם־לְבָבָֽהּ׃ (ג) וַיַּגֶּד־לָ֥הּ שְׁלֹמֹ֖ה אֶת־כׇּל־דְּבָרֶ֑יהָ לֹֽא־הָיָ֤ה דָבָר֙ נֶעְלָ֣ם מִן־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹ֦א הִגִּ֖יד לָֽהּ׃ (ד) וַתֵּ֙רֶא֙ מַֽלְכַּת־שְׁבָ֔א אֵ֖ת כׇּל־חׇכְמַ֣ת שְׁלֹמֹ֑ה וְהַבַּ֖יִת אֲשֶׁ֥ר בָּנָֽה׃ (ה) וּמַאֲכַ֣ל שֻׁלְחָנ֡וֹ וּמוֹשַׁ֣ב עֲבָדָיו֩ וּמַעֲמַ֨ד מְשָׁרְתָ֜ו וּמַלְבֻּֽשֵׁיהֶם֙ וּמַשְׁקָ֔יו וְעֹ֣לָת֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר יַעֲלֶ֖ה בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֑ה וְלֹא־הָ֥יָה בָ֛הּ ע֖וֹד רֽוּחַ׃ (ו) וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֱמֶת֙ הָיָ֣ה הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמַ֖עְתִּי בְּאַרְצִ֑י עַל־דְּבָרֶ֖יךָ וְעַל־חׇכְמָתֶֽךָ׃ (ז) וְלֹא־הֶאֱמַ֣נְתִּי לַדְּבָרִ֗ים עַ֤ד אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֙אתִי֙ וַתִּרְאֶ֣ינָה עֵינַ֔י וְהִנֵּ֥ה לֹֽא־הֻגַּד־לִ֖י הַחֵ֑צִי הוֹסַ֤פְתָּ חׇכְמָה֙ וָט֔וֹב אֶל־הַשְּׁמוּעָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁמָֽעְתִּי׃

I Kings 10:1-7

(1) The queen of Sheba heard of Solomon’s fame, through the name of GOD,athrough the name of GOD The force of the phrase is uncertain. and she came to test him with hard questions. (2) She arrived in Jerusalem with a very large retinue, with camels bearing spices, a great quantity of gold, and precious stones. When she came to Solomon, she asked him all that she had in mind. (3) Solomon had answers for all her questions; there was nothing that the king did not know, [nothing] to which he could not give her an answer. (4) When the queen of Sheba observed all of Solomon’s wisdom, and the palace he had built, (5) the fare of his table, the seating of his courtiers, the service and attire of his attendants, and his wine service, and the burnt offerings that he offered atband the burnt offerings that he offered at Cf. 2 Chron. 9.4 “and the procession with which he went up to.…” the House of GOD, she was left breathless. (6) She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own land about you and your wisdom was true. (7) But I did not believe the reports until I came and saw with my own eyes that not even the half had been told me; your wisdom and wealth surpass the reports that I heard.

משלי ג׳:א׳-ז׳

(א) בְּ֭נִי תּוֹרָתִ֣י אַל־תִּשְׁכָּ֑ח וּ֝מִצְוֺתַ֗י יִצֹּ֥ר לִבֶּֽךָ׃ (ב) כִּ֤י אֹ֣רֶךְ יָ֭מִים וּשְׁנ֣וֹת חַיִּ֑ים וְ֝שָׁל֗וֹם יוֹסִ֥יפוּ לָֽךְ׃ (ג) חֶ֥סֶד וֶאֱמֶ֗ת אַֽל־יַ֫עַזְבֻ֥ךָ קׇשְׁרֵ֥ם עַל־גַּרְגְּרוֹתֶ֑יךָ כׇּ֝תְבֵ֗ם עַל־ל֥וּחַ לִבֶּֽךָ׃ (ד) וּמְצָא־חֵ֥ן וְשֵֽׂכֶל־ט֑וֹב בְּעֵינֵ֖י אֱלֹהִ֣ים וְאָדָֽם׃ (ה) בְּטַ֣ח אֶל־יְ֭הֹוָה בְּכׇל־לִבֶּ֑ךָ וְאֶל־בִּ֥֝ינָתְךָ֗ אַל־תִּשָּׁעֵֽן׃ (ו) בְּכׇל־דְּרָכֶ֥יךָ דָעֵ֑הוּ וְ֝ה֗וּא יְיַשֵּׁ֥ר אֹֽרְחֹתֶֽיךָ׃ (ז) אַל־תְּהִ֣י חָכָ֣ם בְּעֵינֶ֑יךָ יְרָ֥א אֶת־יְ֝הֹוָ֗ה וְס֣וּר מֵרָֽע׃

Proverbs 3:1-7

(1) My son, do not forget my teaching,
But let your mind retain my commandments; (2) For they will bestow on you length of days,
Years of life and well-being. (3) Let fidelity and steadfastness not leave you;
Bind them about your throat,
Write them on the tablet of your mind, (4) And you will find favor and approbation
In the eyes of God and man. (5) Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And do not rely on your own understanding. (6) In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths smooth. (7) Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the LORD and shun evil.

משלי ג׳:י״ז-י״ח

(יז) דְּרָכֶ֥יהָ דַרְכֵי־נֹ֑עַם וְֽכׇל־נְתִ֖יבוֹתֶ֣יהָ שָׁלֽוֹם׃

(יח) עֵץ־חַיִּ֣ים הִ֭יא לַמַּחֲזִיקִ֣ים בָּ֑הּ וְֽתֹמְכֶ֥יהָ מְאֻשָּֽׁר׃ {פ}

Proverbs 3:17-18

(17) Her ways are pleasant ways,
And all her paths, peaceful. (18) She is a tree of life to those who grasp her,
And whoever holds on to her is happy.

משלי י״ז:ט״ז

(טז) לָמָּה־זֶּ֣ה מְחִ֣יר בְּיַד־כְּסִ֑יל

לִקְנ֖וֹת חׇכְמָ֣ה וְלֶב־אָֽיִן׃

Proverbs 17:16

(16) What good is money in the hand of a fool
To purchase wisdom, when he has no mind?

משלי י״א:כ״ב

(כב) נֶ֣זֶם זָ֭הָב בְּאַ֣ף חֲזִ֑יר

אִשָּׁ֥ה יָ֝פָ֗ה וְסָ֣רַת טָֽעַם׃

Proverbs 11:22

(22) Like a gold ring in the snout of a pig
Is a beautiful woman bereft of sense.

רש"י על משלי י״א:כ״ב:א׳

נזם זהב באף חזיר. שמלכלך אותה באשפות, כן תלמיד חכם הסר מן הדרך הטובה:

Rashi on Proverbs 11:22:1

[As] a gold ring in a swine’s snout that bemires it in the dungheap, so is a Torah scholar who turns away from the good way.

רש"י על משלי י״א:כ״ב:ב׳

וסרת טעם. פורש מן התורה:

Rashi on Proverbs 11:22:2

from whom sense has departed Who has departed from the Torah.

WISDOM:

Guidance regarding ethical behavior, proper conduct;

logical, not philosophical, down-to-earth;

universal - not Israel-focused;

does not focus upon ritual acts or religious behavior;

does not focus on law or mitzvot, which are presented as divine imperatives