أَمْثَالٌ 28

١ 1 اَلشِّرِّيرُ يَهْرُبُ وَلَا طَارِدَ، أَمَّا ٱلصِّدِّيقُونَ فَكَشِبْلٍ ثَبِيتٍ.

A wicked man flees when no man pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.

٢ 2 لِمَعْصِيَةِ أَرْضٍ تَكْثُرُ رُؤَسَاؤُهَا، لَكِنْ بِذِي فَهْمٍ وَمَعْرِفَةٍ تَدُومُ.

For the transgression of a land many are the rulers of it. But by men of understanding and knowledge the state shall be prolonged.

٣ 3 اَلرَّجُلُ ٱلْفَقِيرُ ٱلَّذِي يَظْلِمُ فُقَرَاءَ، هُوَ مَطَرٌ جَارِفٌ لَا يُبْقِي طَعَامًا.

A needy man who oppresses the poor is a sweeping rain which leaves no food.

٤ 4 تَارِكُو ٱلشَّرِيعَةِ يَمْدَحُونَ ٱلْأَشْرَارَ، وَحَافِظُو ٱلشَّرِيعَةِ يُخَاصِمُونَهُمْ.

Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but such as keep the law contend with them.

٥ 5 اَلنَّاسُ ٱلْأَشْرَارُ لَا يَفْهَمُونَ ٱلْحَقَّ، وَطَالِبُو ٱلرَّبِّ يَفْهَمُونَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ.

Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek Jehovah understand all things.

٦ 6 اَلْفَقِيرُ ٱلسَّالِكُ بِٱسْتِقَامَتِهِ، خَيْرٌ مِنْ مُعْوَجِّ ٱلطُّرُقِ وَهُوَ غَنِيٌّ.

Better is the poor man who walks in his integrity, than he who is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

٧ 7 اَلْحَافِظُ ٱلشَّرِيعَةَ هُوَ ٱبْنٌ فَهِيمٌ، وَصَاحِبُ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ يُخْجِلُ أَبَاهُ.

He who keeps the law is a wise son, but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.

٨ 8 اَلْمُكْثِرُ مَالَهُ بِٱلرِّبَا وَٱلْمُرَابَحَةِ، فَلِمَنْ يَرْحَمُ ٱلْفُقَرَاءَ يَجْمَعُهُ.

He who augments his substance by interest and increase, gathers it for him who has pity on the poor.

٩ 9 مَنْ يُحَوِّلُ أُذْنَهُ عَنْ سَمَاعِ ٱلشَّرِيعَةِ، فَصَلَاتُهُ أَيْضًا مَكْرَهَةٌ.

He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.

١٠ 10 مَنْ يُضِلُّ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمِينَ فِي طَرِيقٍ رَدِيئَةٍ فَفِي حُفْرَتِهِ يَسْقُطُ هُوَ، أَمَّا ٱلْكَمَلَةُ فَيَمْتَلِكُونَ خَيْرًا.

He who causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit. But the perfect shall inherit good.

١١ 11 اَلرَّجُلُ ٱلْغَنِيُّ حَكِيمٌ فِي عَيْنَيْ نَفْسِهِ، وَٱلْفَقِيرُ ٱلْفَهِيمُ يَفْحَصُهُ.

The rich man is wise in his own conceit, but a poor man who has understanding searches him out.

١٢ 12 إِذَا فَرِحَ ٱلصِّدِّيقُونَ عَظُمَ ٱلْفَخْرُ، وَعِنْدَ قِيَامِ ٱلْأَشْرَارِ تَخْتَفِي ٱلنَّاسُ.

When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

١٣ 13 مَنْ يَكْتُمُ خَطَايَاهُ لَا يَنْجَحُ، وَمَنْ يُقِرُّ بِهَا وَيَتْرُكُهَا يُرْحَمُ.

He who covers his transgressions shall not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them shall obtain mercy.

١٤ 14 طُوبَى لِلْإِنْسَانِ ٱلْمُتَّقِي دَائِمًا، أَمَّا ٱلْمُقَسِّي قَلْبَهُ فَيَسْقُطُ فِي ٱلشَّرِّ.

Happy is the man who fears always, but he who hardens his heart shall fall into mischief.

١٥ 15 أَسَدٌ زَائِرٌ وَدُبٌّ ثَائِرٌ، ٱلْمُتَسَلِّطُ ٱلشِّرِّيرُ عَلَى شَعْبٍ فَقِيرٍ.

A roaring lion, and a ranging bear, is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

١٦ 16 رَئِيسٌ نَاقِصُ ٱلْفَهْمِ وَكَثِيرُ ٱلْمَظَالِمِ. مُبْغِضُ ٱلرَّشْوَةِ تَطُولُ أَيَّامُهُ.

The ruler who lacks understanding is also a great oppressor, but he who hates covetousness shall prolong his days.

١٧ 17 اَلرَّجُلُ ٱلْمُثَقَّلُ بِدَمِ نَفْسٍ، يَهْرُبُ إِلَى ٱلْجُبِّ. لَا يُمْسِكَنَّهُ أَحَدٌ.

A man who is laden with the blood of any person shall flee to the pit. Let no man stay him.

١٨ 18 اَلسَّالِكُ بِٱلْكَمَالِ يَخْلُصُ، وَٱلْمُلْتَوِي فِي طَرِيقَيْنِ يَسْقُطُ فِي إِحْدَاهُمَا.

He who walks uprightly shall be delivered, but he who is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.

١٩ 19 اَلْمُشْتَغِلُ بِأَرْضِهِ يَشْبَعُ خُبْزًا، وَتَابِعُ ٱلْبَطَّالِينَ يَشْبَعُ فَقْرًا.

He who tills his land shall have plenty of bread, but he who follows after vanity shall have poverty enough.

٢٠ 20 اَلرَّجُلُ ٱلْأَمِينُ كَثِيرُ ٱلْبَرَكَاتِ، وَٱلْمُسْتَعْجِلُ إِلَى ٱلْغِنَى لَا يُبْرَأُ.

A faithful man shall abound with blessings, but he who makes haste to be rich shall not be unpunished.

٢١ 21 مُحَابَاةُ ٱلْوُجُوهِ لَيْسَتْ صَالِحَةً، فَيُذْنِبُ ٱلْإِنْسَانُ لِأَجْلِ كِسْرَةِ خُبْزٍ.

To have respect of persons is not good, nor that a man should transgress for a piece of bread.

٢٢ 22 ذُو ٱلْعَيْنِ ٱلشِّرِّيرَةِ يَعْجَلُ إِلَى ٱلْغِنَى، وَلَا يَعْلَمُ أَنَّ ٱلْفَقْرَ يَأْتِيهِ.

He who has an evil eye hastens after riches, and does not know that want shall come upon him.

٢٣ 23 مَنْ يُوَبِّخُ إِنْسَانًا يَجِدُ أَخِيرًا نِعْمَةً أَكْثَرَ مِنَ ٱلْمُطْرِي بِٱللِّسَانِ.

He who rebukes a man shall afterward find more favor than he who flatters with the tongue.

٢٤ 24 ٱلسَّالِبُ أَبَاهُ أَوْ أُمَّهُ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ: «لَا بَأْسَ» فَهُوَ رَفِيقٌ لِرَجُلٍ مُخْرِبٍ.

He who robs his father or his mother, and says, It is no transgression, the same is the companion of a destroyer.

٢٥ 25 اَلْمُنْتَفِخُ ٱلنَّفْسُ يُهَيِّجُ ٱلْخِصَامَ، وَٱلْمُتَّكِلُ عَلَى ٱلرَّبِّ يُسَمَّنُ.

He who is of a greedy spirit stirs up strife, but he who puts his trust in Jehovah shall be made fat.

٢٦ 26 اَلْمُتَّكِلُ عَلَى قَلْبِهِ هُوَ جَاهِلٌ، وَٱلسَّالِكُ بِحِكْمَةٍ هُوَ يَنْجُو.

He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely, he shall be delivered.

٢٧ 27 مَنْ يُعْطِي ٱلْفَقِيرَ لَا يَحْتَاجُ، وَلِمَنْ يَحْجِبُ عَنْهُ عَيْنَيْهِ لَعَنَاتٌ كَثِيرَةٌ.

He who gives to the poor shall not lack, but he who hides his eyes shall have many a curse.

٢٨ 28 عِنْدَ قِيَامِ ٱلْأَشْرَارِ تَخْتَبِئُ ٱلنَّاسُ، وَبِهَلَاكِهِمْ يَكْثُرُ ٱلصِّدِّيقُونَ.

When the wicked rise, men hide themselves, but when they perish, the righteous increase.