אֹהֵב מוּסָר אֹהֵב דָּעַת וְשׂוֹנֵא תוֹכַחַת בָּעַר

He who loves admonition loves knowledge. Since he wants to increase his knowledge and understanding, he listens to criticism and amends his ways. And he who hates rebuke is a boor. Since he does not comprehend that criticism is an aid to self-improvement and the acquisition of knowledge, he remains as brutish as before.

טוֹב יָפִיק רָצוֹן מֵה' וְאִישׁ מְזִמּוֹת יַרְשִׁעַ

The good will elicit favor from the Lord, as he will receive God’s blessing and kindness; but a man of evil schemes, He will condemn; alternatively: A man of wicked devices will condemn the good man.

לֹא־יִכּוֹן אָדָם בְּרֶשַׁע ושֹׁרֶשׁ צַדִּיקִים בַּל־יִמּוֹט

A person will not be established by wickedness, but conversely, the root of the righteous will not collapse. Even if they occasionally falter, their roots will grow again.

אֵשֶׁת־חַיִל עֲטֶרֶת בַּעְלָהּ וּכְרָקָב בְּעַצְמוֹתָיו מְבִישָׁה

A woman of valor is like the crown on the head of her husband, but a shameful one is like rot in his bones. Like many wise sayings, this is more a description of reality than a piece of practical advice, although the perceptive will take this observation to heart and act accordingly.

מַחְשְׁבוֹת צַדִּיקִים מִשְׁפָּט תַּחְבֻּלוֹת רְשָׁעִים מִרְמָה

Thoughts of the righteous are always of justice, honesty, and righteousness, but the strategies of the wicked are deceit. The thoughts of the wicked invariably center on how to cheat and deceive others.

דִּבְרֵי רְשָׁעִים אֱרָב־דָּם וּפִי יְשָׁרִים יַצִּילֵם

Sometimes wicked people seem to be speaking and acting properly. However, the words and preoccupations of the wicked are really an ambush for blood, as they are invariably considering how to take advantage of others. And the mouth of the upright will deliver them from the wicked. Alternatively, the mouth of the upright will rescue others from the wicked.

הָפוֹךְ רְשָׁעִים וְאֵינָם וּבֵית צַדִּיקִים יַעֲמֹד

Overturn the wicked and they are no more. The wicked appear stable, but as soon as they lose power, nothing remains of them. But the house of the righteous will stand, even if it faces difficulties.

לְפִי־שִׂכְלוֹ יְהֻלַּל־אִישׁ וְנַעֲוֵה־לֵב יִהְיֶה לָבוּז

According to his sense a man will be praised. A person’s reputation is determined in accordance with his measure of intelligence. But the bent of heart will incur contempt. In the book of Proverbs and elsewhere in the Bible, the heart is the seat of understanding, not only emotion.

טוֹב נִקְלֶה וְעֶבֶד לוֹ מִמִּתְכַּבֵּד חֲסַר־לָחֶם

Better is the disgraceful, one who is considered inferior from a social perspective, with a servant, but has someone to perform his labor for him, than the self-important, and important in the eyes of others, who in fact is lacking bread. One who is not too proud to work hard, just as a servant does, even if the labor is demeaning according to his social status, is better than one who refuses to lower himself by working, and maintains his high social status but eventually is lacking even his necessities.

יוֹדֵעַ צַדִּיק נֶפֶשׁ בְּהֶמְתּוֹ וְרַחֲמֵי רְשָׁעִים אַכְזָרִי

The righteous knows the nature of his animal, he knows and takes care of the urges and needs of his animals; and the mercies of the wicked are cruel. Even when a wicked person appears to show mercy to people or animals and spoils them, his actions are tainted with cruelty. Sometimes wicked people can be seen playing with their pets, and yet they do so in a sadistic manner that causes pain.

עֹבֵד אַדְמָתוֹ יִשְׂבַּע־לָחֶם ומְרַדֵּף רֵיקִים חֲסַר־לֵב

He who works his own land will have bread to satisfaction, and he who pursues emptiness, wasteful, unsubstantial matters, lacks a heart, and of course will lack bread as well.

חָמַד רָשָׁע מְצוֹד רָעִים וְשֹׁרֶשׁ צַדִּיקִים יִתֵּן

The wicked who, unlike the foolish and naïve, has malicious plans, covets the trap of evil ones, with which to ensnare others; and the root of the righteous, or one who descends from righteous individuals, will constantly provide goodness and blessings for others.

בְּפֶשַׁע שְׂפָתַיִם מוֹקֵשׁ רָע וַיֵּצֵא מִצָּרָה צַדִּיק

In the transgression of the lips is an evil snare. Evil speech does not remain floating in the air; rather, people hear it and it causes distress and trouble. But the righteous individual, who takes care not to talk in such a manner, emerges from that trouble.

מִפְּרִי פִי־אִישׁ יִשְׂבַּע־טוֹב וּגְמוּל יְדֵי־אָדָם יָשִׁיב לוֹ

From the fruit, output, of a man’s mouth he will be sated with good; one’s good speech will come back to him and bring him positive consequences. And the reward of a person’s hands, his labor, will come back to him; he will receive returns on his investments.

דֶּרֶךְ אֱוִיל יָשָׁר בְּעֵינָיו ושֹׁמֵעַ לְעֵצָה חָכָם

The way of a fool is upright in his own eyes. A fool has an exaggerated sense of self-confidence. Therefore, he is convinced that his path is the correct one, and refuses to heed advice. And he who heeds counsel is wise. A wise person will investigate and clarify, and he is willing to listen to others. Alternatively, the verse means that one who hearkens to counsel becomes wise.

אֱוִיל בַּיּוֹם יִוָּדַע כַּעְסוֹ וְכֹסֶה קָלוֹן עָרוּם

A fool’s anger will be known that very day. Alternatively, this means that the fool’s anger will become as clear as day to all. When he becomes angry, his foolishness also becomes known, as the Sages state: In three matters a person’s true character is ascertained: in his cup, meaning his behavior when he drinks; in his pocket, meaning his financial dealings with others; and in his anger. And a clever man, who acts astutely, conceals disgrace, as he is master over his feelings and does not let them erupt.

יָפִיחַ אֱמוּנָה יַגִּיד צֶדֶק וְעֵד שְׁקָרִים מִרְמָה

The text continues with the theme of speech: He who utters faithfully and spreads truth is one who will disclose righteousness. A person who speaks with honesty and relates matters as they are, thereby enhances his credibility; but a witness of falsehoods, who distorts the truth, increases deceit.

יֵשׁ בּוֹטֶה כְּמַדְקְרוֹת חָרֶב וּלְשׁוֹן חֲכָמִים מַרְפֵּא

There is one who expresses matters in hurtful ways, like stabbings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise is a cure. Even when the wise issue deprecatory comments, their statements heal rather than harm.

שְׂפַת אֱמֶת תִּכּוֹן לָעַד וְעַד־אַרְגִּיעָה לְשׁוֹן שָׁקֶר

The language of truth will be established forever, but a tongue of falsehood is only for a moment. Falsehood does not last. This is one of the differences between truth and lies, both from an analytical, philosophical perspective and in the practical realm: Those things which have a continued existence are true, but that which does not survive is false in its very essence.

מִרְמָה בְּלֶב חֹרְשֵׁי רָע ולְיֹעֲצֵי שָׁלוֹם שִׂמְחָה

Deceit is in the heart of devisers of evil, but to the counselors of peace there is joy, as they are not afraid of revealing their thoughts, and they enjoy the benefits accrued from their speech.

לֹא־יְאֻנֶּה לַצַּדִּיק כָּל־אָוֶן וּרְשָׁעִים מָלְאוּ רָע

No iniquity and dishonesty will befall the righteous individual. Since he has no deception in his heart and does not lust after such matters, he will not sin even accidentally; but the wicked are filled with evil.

תּוֹעֲבַת ה'שִׂפְתֵי־שָׁקֶר וְעֹשֵׂי אֱמוּנָה רְצוֹנוֹ

Lips of falsehood are an abomination to the Lord, as God hates falsehood; but they who deal faithfully are fulfilling His will. He cherishes those who conduct themselves truthfully, and is close to them.

אָדָם עָרוּם כֹּסֶה דָּעַת וְלֵב כְּסִילִים יִקְרָא אִוֶּלֶת

A clever person conceals knowledge inside himself, and the heart of fools proclaims folly; the fool is unable to hide anything, and proclaims his imprudence to all.

יַד־חָרוּצִים תִּמְשׁוֹל וּרְמִיָּה תִּהְיֶה לָמַס

The hand of the diligent, of those who work in the proper manner, will rule. Their power will increase thanks to the superior quality of their labor; and in contrast, those who act with deceit will be subject to tribute. The end state of the deceitful and lazy will be one of weakness and subjugation, and they will have to pay a tribute to others. Alternatively, the verse means that the accomplishments of such individuals will dissipate, as phony activity will not be productive.

דְּאָגָה בְלֶב־אִישׁ יַשְׁחֶנָּה וְדָבָר טוֹב יְשַׂמְּחֶנָּה

When there is worry in the heart of a man he should suppress it. He should not let his worries overpower him, but he should conquer them. And a good word, or matter, renders it, the worry, into joy.

יָתֵר מֵרֵעֵהוּ צַדִּיק וְדֶרֶךְ רְשָׁעִים תַּתְעֵם

The righteous has an advantage [yater] over his friend. Alternatively, he receives an advantage from him. Some claim that yater is from the root tav-vav-reish: The righteous seeks out [tar] a good path for his friend. And the way of the wicked, which they imagine will take them to a good place, will actually lead them astray.

לֹא־יַחֲרֹךְ רְמִיָּה צֵידוֹ והוֹן־אָדָם יָקָר חָרוּץ

The deceitful will not scorch his prey in the manner of hunters, who would break or slightly scorch the wings of the captured birds so that they would not escape. In other words, anything obtained by deception will not be preserved. But the wealth of a worthy man is choice gold, or: One earns his wealth through his diligence and honesty; alternatively: The wealth of a diligent man is dear to him. A cheater seeks to cut corners and find easy routes to his goals, but he will ultimately be left with nothing. By contrast, the industrious, who perform their work faithfully and follow the proper path, will preserve their money, and success will shine favorably upon them.

בְּאֹרַח־צְדָקָה חַיִּים וְדֶרֶךְ נְתִיבָה אַל־מָוֶת

In the path of righteousness is an increase of life, and along its pathway there is no death.