The Syriac Peshiṭta Bible with English Translation: Proverbs, Qoheleth, and Song of Songs 1463239114, 9781463239114

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THE ANTIOCH BIBLE

The Syriac Peshiṭta Bible with English Translation

Proverbs, Qoheleth, and Song of Songs

Ṣurath Kthobh

Editors George A. Kiraz Andreas Juckel

The Syriac Peshiṭta Bible with English Translation

Proverbs, Qoheleth, and Song of Songs

English Translation by

Donald M. Walter Gillian English Translation by

Greenberg Text Prepared by

Robert J. Owens

George A. Kiraz

Text Prepared by

Joseph Bali George Anton Kiraz

9

34 2021

Gorgias Press LLC, 954 River Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA www.gorgiaspress.com Copyright © 2021 by Gorgias Press All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise without the prior written permission of Gorgias Press LLC.

‫ܒ‬

1

2021

ISBN 978-1-4632-3911-4

Printed in the United States of America

For Mary Ann Robert J. Owens

TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents .................................................................................... v Foreword to the Edition ....................................................................... vii By George A. Kiraz Making of the Text ................................................................................... vii Orthographic Diversions from Mosul ................................................. viii Text Organization ....................................................................................... x Acknowledgements ..................................................................................... x

Abbreviations........................................................................................... xi Introduction to the Translation .......................................................... xiii By Robert J. Owens The Peshiṭta Old Testament .................................................................. xiii The Book of Proverbs ............................................................................ xiv The Book of Qoheleth ............................................................................. xv The Book of Songs ................................................................................. xvii Translation Policy .................................................................................. xviii Proverbs ..................................................................................................... xix Qoheleth ..................................................................................................... xx Songs ......................................................................................................... xxii Noteworthy Readings ............................................................................ xxiv Proverbs .................................................................................................... xxv Qoheleth ................................................................................................... lxxi Songs ...................................................................................................... lxxxii

Appendix 1: Versification ................................................................... xcv Appendix 2: Variant Readings .......................................................... xcix Proverbs ................................................................................................... xcix Qoheleth ..................................................................................................... cii Songs ........................................................................................................... cv

Appendix 3: Names ............................................................................. cvii Proverbs .................................................................................................... cvii Qoheleth .................................................................................................. cviii Songs .......................................................................................................... cix

Bibliography ......................................................................................... cxiii Text and Translation ............................................................................... 1

v

FOREWORD TO THE EDITION BY GEORGE A. KIRAZ The primary objective of this edition is twofold: to provide a reliable text for scholars and students who are looking for a fully vocalized Syriac text, and to make available to religious communities, for whom this text is sacred, an English translation that can be used in various religious and cultural settings. As such, one had to navigate carefully between rigid scholarly principles and practical editorial choices. Making of the Text The current edition provides a West Syriac version of the 1887–91 Peshiṭta Mosul text. 1 While the Mosul text was prepared based on second millennium manuscripts, its text is substantially attested by manuscripts belonging to the first millennium. As ancient MSS are hardly vocalized, our text relies on the vocalization of the Mosul edition. In addition to full vocalization, our text is supplemented with complete Rukkākhā and Quššāyā pointing and other orthographic markings, keeping in mind the general orthographic principles adopted by Pusey and Gwilliam in their 1901 Tetraeuangelium. 2 Hence, while the consonantal tier is substantially ancient, the vocalism and orthographic tiers are quite late. As the Mosul edition did not fully mark Rukkākhā and Quššāyā, these points were added and a regular expression 3 was applied to the text to Clemis Joseph David (ed.), The Syriac Bible According to the Mosul Edition, 3 volumes, with an introduction by Sebastian P. Brock (Piscataway, NJ, 2010), a reprint of the Mosul 1887–91 edition titled ‫ܨܘܪܬ ܟܬܒ ܐܝܟ ܡܦܩܬܐ ܕܡܬܩܪܝܐ ܦܫܝܛܬܐ‬. 2 P. E. Pusey and G. H. Gwilliam, Tetraeuangelium Sanctum, the Fourfold Holy Gospel in the Peshitta Syriac Version with Critical Apparatus, with an introduction by Andreas Juckel (Piscataway, NJ, 2003), a reprint of the 1901 edition. 3 In computing, a regular expression provides a mechanism with which strings of text can be matched with a search criterion. In most notations, a bracket expression matches a single character inside that bracket (e.g., [ab] matches a single a or b). The exclamation mark denotes negation. Hence, the expression [bgdkpt][!RQ] (where R and Q represent the Rukkākhā and Quššāyā points, respectively) will match a single bgādkpāt letter that is not 1

vii

viii

Foreword to the Edition

ensure that all bgādkpāt letters are marked. When the consonantal orthography, and in many cases the vocalic orthography, of East and West Syriac diverged, use was made of Lee’s 1823 edition 4 as well as linguistic resources including Audo, 5 Brockelmann, 6 Margoliouth, 7 and Smith. 8 As for Rukkākhā and Quššāyā pointing, analogies were made internally within other Mosul readings, and externally with the Pusey and Gwilliam New Testament text, making use of my Concordance 9 as a tool and the guidelines presented in my introduction to spirantization.10 In some cases, Mašlmānūthā MSS 11 (hereinafter, Maš.) were consulted to determine P‛al vs. Pa‛‛el fricatization marking. The Mbaṭṭlānā and Marhṭānā were added systematically following current orthographic conventions, but the Mhaggyānā, Nāgudā, and Mṭappyānā, all ubiquitous in the Mosul text, were removed as they are alien to West Syriac orthography. 12 Orthographic Diversions from Mosul In terms of the consonantal tier, the present text differs orthographically from the Mosul text in two ways. Firstly, it intentionally replaces early Syriac orthographic conventions, most of which are also preserved in the East Syriac Mosul text, with West Syriac ones. 13 Secondly, as one of the objectives of the present edition is to provide a functional text for religious communities, it was necessary to be systematic and to provide the reader followed by a Rukkākhā or Quššāyā point. When this search fails, all bgādkpāt letters have been pointed (regardless of accuracy of course). 4 S. Lee, Vetus et Novum Testamentum Syriace (London, 1823). 5 T. Audo, ‫( ܣܝܡܬܐ ܕܠܫܢܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܐ‬Mosul, 1897). 6 C. Brockelmann, Lexicon Syriacum (2nd ed. 1928). 7 J. P. Smith (Mrs. Margoliouth), A Compendious Syriac Dictionary Founded upon the Thesaurus Syriacus (Oxford, 1903). 8 P. Smith, Thesaurus Syriacus (Oxford, 1879–1901). 9 G. A. Kiraz, A Computer Generated Concordance to the Syriac New Testament, 6 volumes (Leiden, 1993). 10 G. A. Kiraz, Introduction to Syriac Spirantization, Rukkâḵâ and Quššâyâ (Losser, 1995). 11 We used Vat. Syr. 152 and BL Add. 12,178. 12 On these symbols, see C. J. David, Grammaire de la Langue Araméenne, 2 volumes, (Mosul, 2nd ed., 1896) §62, §67; G. Kiraz, Tūrrāṣ Mamllā, A Grammar of the Syriac Language, Volume I Orthography (Gorgias Press, 2012) §§205–208. 13 On orthography, see L. Van Rompay, ‘Some Preliminary Remarks on the Origins of Classical Syriac as a Standard Language. The Syriac Version of Eusebius of Caesarea’s Ecclesiastical History’, in G. Goldenberg and S. Raz (eds.), Semitic and Cushitic Studies (Wiesbaden, 2004), 70–89; S. P. Brock, ‘Some Diachronic Features of Classical Syriac’, in M. F. J. Baasten and W. Th. Van Peursen (eds.), Hamlet on the Hill. Semitic and Greek Studies Presented to Professor T. Muraoka on the Occasion of his Sixty-Fifth Birthday (Louvain, 2003), 95– 111.

Foreword to the Edition

ix

with a standardized orthography. Hence, many contractions were systematically separated. MS evidence and/or Lee’s edition and the Urmia edition give support to most, if not all, of these changes. As for the vocalic tier, the present text differs from the Mosul text in a number of ways. ܿ ܰ E. Syr. ◌ܼ was generally converted to the corresponding W. Syr. ◌ except in lexemes where the E. and W. Syriac orthographies vary. In the ܳ ݂ ‫ ܺ� ܽܗ‬, Mosul always uses an E. Syr. ◌ܼܿ while case of bdwl prefixes attaching to ‫ܘܕ ܐ‬ ܿ ܺ ܳ ݂ ‫ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ‬vs. M ‫ܝܗܘ ܵܕܐ‬ here a W. Syr. ◌ is used as in ‫ܘܕ ܐ‬ ܼ ‫ ܼܕ‬. ܳ ܵ E. Syr. ◌ was generally converted to W. Syr. ◌ except when followed ܰ by ‫ ܘ‬in which case it became ◌ . This also applies to nominal forms when followed by an enclitic demonstrative pronoun. ܶ E. Syr. ◌ܸ was generally converted to W. Syr. ◌ except in lexemes where the E. and W. orthographies vary. ܺ ܶ E. Syr. ◌ܹ was mapped to either ◌ or ◌ depending on the phonoܶ logical, morphological or lexical context. Additionally, a ◌ was added in medial ‫ ܐ‬positions marked in Mosul with a Mhaggyānā. ܺ ܿ E. Syr. ‫ ܼܝ‬was converted to W. Syr. ‫◌ܝ‬, while E. Syr. ‫ ܘ‬and ‫ ܼܘ‬were ܽ collapsed into W. Syr. ‫◌ܘ‬. The choice was made to place the vowel on the consonant preceding the matres lectionis. The E. Syr. supralinear Alaph has also been removed. The Mbaṭṭlānā was applied in the present text following the Pusey and Gwilliam tradition but with further extensions following contemporary orthographic conventions. With regards to the vocalization of proper nouns, the BFBS was followed whenever possible. For cases not found in the BFBS, the vocalization was based first on the Maš. (primarily BL Add 12,178) and then on the Walton polyglot. Having said that, the received tradition was given prominence. Only a few readings in Mosul were rejected, most of which are typographical errors: Here M ܰ ܰ݁ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ݁ ܶ ݁ ݁ ܶ ܶ Proverbs 15:12 om ‫ܬܫܒܘܚܬܗ ܕ ܐ�ܗܐ ܡܢ ܕܡܛܫܐ‬ ܳ ‫݂ ܰܢܕ‬ ̇ ‫ܢܶ ݂ܕ ܶܠ‬ 20:5 ‫�ܝ ̇ܗ‬ ‫ܝܗ‬ 31:1 ‫ܶܡ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‬ no seyame ݁ ܰ Qoheleth 2:2 ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕܬ ̱ܝ‬ ‫ܳܥ ݂ܒ ݁ ܰܕ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ‬ ݂ 4:1 ‫ܶܕ ̈ܡܥܶܐ‬ ‫ܶܕ ̈ܡܢܶܐ‬ ܺ ܶ ‫ܪ‬ Songs 1:11 (L 12) ‫ܝܚܗ‬ ‫ܺܪ ܶܚܝܗ‬ ܰ ܳ ܺ ݁ܰ ܰ ‫ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦ‬ 1:14 (L 1:15) 1+2 ‫ܝܪ ܐ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ‬ ‫ܝܪ ݁ܬܝ‬ ‫ܫܦ‬

x

Foreword to the Edition 2:10 2:13 4:1 4:7 6:3

1+2

݁ ‫ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦ‬ ‫ܝܪܬ ̱ܝ‬ ݁ ‫ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦ‬ ‫ܝܪܬ ̱ܝ‬ ܰ ܳ ܺ ݁ܰ ‫ܝܪ ܐ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ‬ ‫ܫܦ‬ ܰ ܳ ܺ ݁ܰ ݁ ‫ܫܦܝܪ ܐ ܐܢ̱ܬ ̱ܝ‬ ܰ ܳ ܺ ݁ܰ ‫ܝܪ ܐ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ‬ ‫ܫܦ‬

ܰ ‫ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦ‬ ‫ܝܪ ݁ܬܝ‬ ܰ ‫ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦ‬ ‫ܝܪ ݁ܬܝ‬ ܰ ‫ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦ‬ ‫ܝܪ ݁ܬܝ‬ ܰ ‫ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦ‬ ‫ܝܪ ݁ܬܝ‬ ܰ ‫ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦ‬ ‫ܝܪ ݁ܬܝ‬

Text Organization The division of the text into chapters and verses is a recent Western phenomenon. Early manuscripts divided the texts into chapters, called in Syriac ‫ܩܦ�ܘܢ‬, abbreviated ‫ܩܦ‬, or ‫ܨܚܚܐ‬, abbreviated ‫ܨܚ‬. Having said that, ancient manuscripts do not always follow a systematic approach in these chapter divisions. The present text follows the recent Western division of chapters, naming each chapter in Syriac ‫ܩܦ�ܘܢ‬. Ancient Syriac chapter divisions are given in the outer margin preceded by the abbreviation ‫ ܨܚ‬for ܳ (they correspond to Roman numerals in the English translation). ‫ܨܚ ܳܚܐ‬ These were provided by Adam Kane and Joshua Falconer. The numbers are based on MS Pocock 391 (Oxford). The present edition follows the Mosul versification. Ancient manuscripts vary in the application of punctuation marks. The punctuation presented here follows the Mosul punctuation faithfully. Acknowledgements

Andreas Juckel, my co-editor in the Ṣurath Kthob series, played a major role in setting the textual policies of the edition. I am personally grateful to my wife Christine and three children: Tabetha Gabriella, Sebastian Kenoro, and Lucian Nurono. It is hoped that the current edition will be a motivation for further texts and translations of the Syriac Biblical tradition, and will stimulate the use of the Peshiṭta in educational and religious settings.

ABBREVIATIONS ASV BCE ch(s). CE fem. H impf. impv. Leiden

lit. LXX masc. M MS(S) MT MT(K) MT(Q) NETS NRSV pl. ptc. P sg. Targ. v(v). vol(s). Vulg.

American Standard Version (1901) Before the Common Era chapter(s) Common Era feminine gender Hebrew imperfect aspect imperative mood The main text printed in the vols. of The Old Testament in Syriac According to the Peshiṭta Version. Leiden: Brill. literally Septuagint, Old Greek translation masculine gender Mosul edition of Peshiṭta. See ‘David’ in Bibliography manuscript(s) Masoretic Text Masoretic Text kethīv reading Masoretic Text qerē reading The New English Translation of the Septuagint (rev. ed., 2009) New Revised Standard Version (1989) plural form participle Peshiṭta singular form targum verse(s) volume(s) Latin Vulgate

xi

INTRODUCTION TO THE TRANSLATION BY ROBERT J. OWENS The Peshiṭta Old Testament The most important ancient translation of the Hebrew Bible into the Syriac language came to be known as the Peshiṭta. It probably was produced in Edessa in the second century CE in order to make the Old Testament accessible to native Syriac speakers who lacked fluency in Hebrew. It seems to have been intended for general theological and liturgical use, rather than as a technical tool for text-critical or philological study. Scholars see signs of more than one translator, but no information about those translators has been preserved. Their ability to read biblical Hebrew suggests that most of them were or had been Jews, perhaps from circles somewhat different from rabbinic Judaism. Most may have been converts to Christianity. In any case, the translation was readily adopted by Christians in Syria and Mesopotamia, and it continued to command the esteem of Syriac-speaking Christians throughout the centuries. It was the version read and quoted copiously, often from memory, by Syriac theologians already in the fourth century. This respect for the Peshiṭta is doubtless due at least in part to its stylistic quality. The translators intended to produce a version that was faithful to their Hebrew parent text. At the same time, they obviously wanted their translation to be proper, regular Syriac, and not a half-Hebrew artificial invention. Of course, balancing these two goals is not easy, and various biblical books in the Peshiṭta stand at different points along the spectrum between word-for-word equivalency, on the one hand, and idiomatic paraphrase on the other. In most books, the Peshiṭta Old Testament tends toward a fairly literal translation. Many of its more dramatic departures from the Masoretic Hebrew text result from misunderstanding of the Hebrew parent text, or from reliance on a variant Hebrew manuscript or on the ancient Greek translation, the Septuagint. Over two hundred manuscripts survive of one or more Old Testament books in the Peshiṭta version. The most important manuscripts — about one hundred of them — date from the fifth to the tenth century CE. xiii

xiv

Introduction to the Translation

The Book of Proverbs The Book of Proverbs presents itself as a compilation of six collections of maxims, preceded in chapters 1–9 by a series of lengthy poems about the importance of wisdom. Most of these maxims offer observations or exhortations about how to behave properly and to live successfully. Each of the collections bears an internal heading: 10:1 Proverbs of Solomon; 22:17 Sayings of the Wise; 24:23 Additional Sayings of the Wise; 25:1; Additional Proverbs of Solomon Collected by the Men of Hezekiah; 30:1 Sayings of Agur; 31:1 Sayings of Lemuel. For the most part, these sayings offer wisdom about subjects that are common to the human condition, such as wealth and poverty, anger, speech, sex and marriage. There are almost no teachings dealing with the special issues of a particular geographical location or institutional setting, such as the Temple priesthood or court bureaucracy. Here is the accumulated wisdom of generations of ordinary people based on life in the kitchen, the field, the workshop, and personal relationships within family and village. These sayings doubtless were collected over time and promulgated by ‘the wise’ (cf. Jeremiah 18:18). They display a striking similarity in format, most often a two- or three-line stanza with artfully balanced lines, and the poetic essays in the opening chapters display literary sophistication. This evident literary craftsmanship, along with the explicit references to the kings Solomon and Hezekiah, suggests that the traditional maxims have been shaped and polished by learned persons associated with professional scribal circles, who composed the prefatory essays. The poems in chapters 1–9 emphasize the importance and value of wisdom, and they warn about the disaster that will likely befall someone who neglects the traditional wisdom imparted by the individual proverbs which follow in chapters 10–31. These poems, especially 8:22–31, make the very important affirmation that the practical wisdom about daily life which the individual sayings would inculcate is nothing less than the wisdom of the God of Israel — the very wisdom which was integral to God’s creation of the universe at the beginning. It follows, therefore, that to school one’s will and submit to the discipline of self-control which these maxims set forth is to align oneself with the wisdom of the Creator. The proverbs contain almost no references to Torah, Temple and altar, prophecy, Davidic kingship, or the Exodus and ‘salvation history’, but, while often universal rather than distinctively Israelite in nature, they should not be thought of as secular. The theme of the Book of Proverbs is set forth in 1:7: ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’. The focus of the book is on the cause-and-effect nexus of morality, in which the length and wholeness of one’s life is largely

Introduction to the Translation

xv

determined by the ‘wisdom’ of one’s daily actions. That nexus is itself a product of God’s creation of the world, and the fact that the course of a human life is not always absolutely congruent with the quality of one’s morality is a mystery that must be located in the person of God. While a wide range of persons might read and profit from this book, various features indicate that it was assembled primarily for the instruction of young urban males from prosperous families in ancient Israel and Judah, who were embarking on the independence of adulthood. Precisely where the document was intended to be used remains a guess. An important clue may be found in the fact that the earliest surviving reference to a school in ancient Hebrew literature occurs in 51:23 (bēth midrash) in The Wisdom of Ben Sira (‘Ecclesiasticus’), a book which clearly draws very heavily from the Book of Proverbs. The beginnings of the process of its compilation may well be early in the monarchical period, certainly no later than the seventh century BCE, but the final shaping of the book was likely still in process in the post-exilic period, probably in Jerusalem. The Hebrew text of the Book of Proverbs is relatively well preserved in the Masoretic MSS of the Hebrew Bible, where it occurs within the third major section, termed ‘The Writings’ (‫)כתובים‬. Fragments of two Hebrew MSS of Proverbs were found in cave 4 at Qumran, containing only small portions of about thirty verses. The Book of Qoheleth Often called ‘Ecclesiastes’ (from the term used to translate the name ‫קהלת‬ in the ancient Latin and Greek translations), this book presents rather skeptical reflections about human life. It was probably composed around the third century BCE by someone from among those intellectual circles in Jerusalem known as the ‘wise’ (cf. Jeremiah 18:18; Proverbs 22:17), who also composed such books as Proverbs and Job. Qoheleth calls into question the core assumption of the conservative stream of the wisdom tradition, that one can secure a long and satisfying life by adherence to wisdom values. Imagining access to the power and wealth — and wisdom — of Solomon (at least in chapters 1–2), Qoheleth probes the various avenues traditionally promoted as leading to the ‘good life’: ambition and industry, rigorous piety, study and self-discipline. He also frankly experiments with pleasure-seeking, though not mindless hedonism. Under his relentless scrutiny, each of these fails to provide a defense against those perpetual enemies of human happiness: death and the uncertainty of a life beyond the grave; human malice and stupidity; unpredictability of events; institutional injustice; and the remoteness of God. While Qoheleth does not

xvi

Introduction to the Translation

doubt the existence of a God who controls the world, for him God has not revealed anything about when and why God acts in any person’s life. Therefore, religious faith provides no higher resource for coping with the dark uncertainties of existence. Finding no conclusive answer to his questions, Qoheleth concludes repeatedly that in human experience all is ‘vanity of vanities’, in the famous phrase of the King James Bible. Consequently, he resigns himself to a more limited recommendation: There is nothing better for each person than to wrest satisfaction from the simple activities of ordinary daily life: eating, drinking, and doing necessary work. But there can be problems also in this, he cautions, for God seems not to grant some people the ability to experience even such limited enjoyment. Qoheleth’s writing poses several challenges to the reader and the translator, the biggest one being the lack of a clear organizational structure to the book. The author moves from one subject to another, sometimes looping back later to a topic already discussed. This means that the context for a given sentence is not always clear, and the transition to a different subject may not be marked. A topic may be treated in one sentence, or in several sentences. Also, Qoheleth quotes a number of proverbs, but without using an introductory formula of quotation. Proverbs, by definition, are often so concise as to be cryptic, and all the more problematic if rare terms are used. There is the added difficulty that Qoheleth sometimes intentionally juxtaposes contradictory proverbs in order to relativize one or both. Qoheleth also is given to the occasional ‘anacoluthon’, that is, abruptly breaking off an unfinished sentence, or intruding a disconnected phrase. For example, 6:6: ‘Even if one lived a thousand years twice over, but did not experience pleasure — Is not everyone going to the same place?’ One also contends with the repeated use of certain thematic terms whose nuance shifts slightly from passage. For example, in many passages the noun ‫( ܥܡܠ‬H ‫ )עמל‬means ‘labor’ (e.g., 2:22), but in other places it denotes primarily the material gains earned by one’s labor (e.g., 2:18). It is sometimes difficult to determine which meaning is intended, or whether one is intended always to hear an echo of both. Finally, one must note the particular obscurities in the text of 12:9–12, a passage which presents the voice of the unnamed editor of the book. Having set forth at length Qoheleth’s acerbic observations, he now seems concerned that the reader not be led away by them from a fundamental commitment to Torah-obedience. But linguistic uncertainties prevent a sure grasp on the intended nuances of this passage. The Hebrew text of the Book of Qoheleth has been well preserved in the Masoretic MSS of the Hebrew Bible, where it occurs within the third major section, termed ‘The Writings’ (‫)כתובים‬. Two small fragments of the

Introduction to the Translation

xvii

book were found in Cave 4 at Qumran, one containing about 22 verses of chapters 5–7, and one containing 4 verses of chapter 1. The Book of Songs The Hebrew text of the Song of Songs, also called the Song of Solomon, 1 has been generally well preserved in the Masoretic textual tradition, where it occurs within the third major section, termed ‘The Writings’ (‫)כתובים‬. Four small Hebrew fragments among the Dead Sea Scrolls, three from Cave 4 and one from Cave 6, contain portions of the Song; textually they are not consequential. What problems exist in the text of the Song tend to be connected with unusual words or confusing syntax. The Song of Songs is best described simply as a small anthology of love poems, in which a male and female lover expound their physical desire for one another, with various references also to Solomon, the ‘Shulammite’, and ‘the young women of Jerusalem’. Along with praise for the beauty of one another’s bodies, a sensual atmosphere is sustained also by repetitive descriptions of lush, aromatic vegetation and the movements of graceful, fertile animals, both domestic and wild. This is enhanced by references to exotic luxuries in Solomon’s royal household. Romantic tension is created by repeated descriptions of the longing of the lovers for one another. There are a few brief descriptions of romantic encounters, but perhaps these are to be understood as the fantasies of desire rather than narratives of actual events. No scholarly attempt to find a unifying structure for the book has succeeded in gaining general acceptance. It lacks coherence as a single composition. Interpreters have been unable to agree even about the major literary units within the text. Some divide the book into as few as six sections, others as many as thirty. No narrative plot involving the male and female lovers, the young women of Jerusalem, the ‘Shulammite,’ and Solomon can be identified, without postulating a great deal of additional hypothetical material. However, certain distinctive expressions do recur, and one senses an emotional intensification in the final chapters. The effort by some to characterize the book as a thoroughgoing allegory fails to account for the complexity of its speeches and scenes, although both Jews and Christians have always found in these expressions of passionate human desire an echo of the love between God and humanity. It is an inviting 1 The superscription (1:1) in the Masoretic Text reads literally: ‘The song of songs which belongs to Solomon’.

xviii

Introduction to the Translation

suggestion that at least some of these poems might have once been recited during Israelite wedding celebrations, but the book cannot be categorized as a wedding liturgy. The poems do not refer to marriage (except perhaps to a royal wedding at 3:6–11), nor do the male and female lovers explicitly relate their sexual desire to a wedding event. At the end of the day, one must surrender hope for a key by which to disclose some pattern that tightly unites all eight chapters. This book is a collection of poems. Frequent and abrupt shifts in speaker and addressee, mostly unmarked and some even within a single verse, constitute one of the most confusing aspects of the text, along with frequent changes in verb tense. These challenges confront any reader, and they complicate the work of any translator, ancient or modern. It is impossible firmly to identify the place and date of composition of the Song. Jerusalem sometime between the fifth and third century BCE is a reasonable working assumption, but the evidence is not conclusive. Translation Policy This translation has been prepared specifically for people who desire acquaintance with the book in its Syriac form, but whose fluency in the Syriac language may be limited. Accordingly, we are writing for people who will use the English translation as an aid in reading the Syriac text. Therefore, the translation has tried to reflect the Syriac closely enough for the reader to compare specific words or phrases. This means that we have not felt free to move very far in the direction of paraphrase, even where that would have made possible more graceful English. However, while our translation is more literal than not, it is by no means absolutely so. At every point we have sought to conform fully to correct English grammar and to use contemporary English, more formal than colloquial. We have not tried to replicate the word order of the Syriac. Occasionally English style requires the addition of words for which there is no equivalent in the Syriac text; where it seems helpful for the reader to know this, we place such additions within round brackets ( ). The notes in the main text have three main purposes: (i) In passages where a rendering close to the Syriac text would have resulted in awkward, ungrammatical, or archaic English, we have given a more idiomatic rendering in the main text and a literal translation in the notes, (ii) Where more than one translation is possible, the alternative rendering is given in the notes, and (iii) Occasionally reference is made to fuller information on a particular word or phrase in the Addenda which follow below.

Introduction to the Translation

xix

(i) Inclusive Language In keeping with the editorial policy of this series, we try to avoid using masculine-gendered nouns and pronouns that in fact refer to both female and male persons. Our approach has been as follows: Where the Syriac masculine singular noun ‘man’ (usually ‫ ܒܪܢܫܐ‬or ‫ ) ܓܒܪܐ‬occurs — or is implicit — as the subject of a verb form, we have used ‘a person’ or ‘one’. Where this word also is the antecedent of subsequent masculine pronouns, then the whole sentence has usually been recast into the plural, usually using ‘people’ or ‘persons’. See, for example, Proverbs 11:5, where the Syriac and Hebrew literally read, ‘The righteousness of a blameless man directs his way…’ Our translation puts this into the plural: ‘The righteousness of blameless persons directs their way …’ Since the Hebrew text of Proverbs itself sometimes alternates between singular and plural forms in these sayings, occasionally even within a single sentence, this feature of our translation seems minimally disruptive. The need to make this shift from singular to plural in our translation occurs so frequently, especially in Proverbs chapters 10–31, it would be impractical to mark every instance with a footnote or to print out a list of all the passages. Instead, this strategy is mentioned here and restated in footnote 1 on page 3. Occasional other strategies for gender inclusiveness are marked in footnotes. (This shift to inclusive language is NOT implemented in the various Notes in the Introduction, where textual details are discussed.) (ii) The Books of Proverbs and Qoheleth repeatedly uses a number of verbs and nouns for key moral and ethical attributes and behaviors which are characteristic of Hebrew ‘wisdom’ writing. The most important of these are listed below, with the Syriac equivalent(s) most often used, and our primary English translation. Our translation aims for consistency, but some variation is unavoidable in different contexts. At least one occurrence of each is noted. Proverbs

‫ ܒܝܫܐ‬adj./n. ‘wicked’, which renders H n. ‫( לץ‬9:7). ‫ ܕܝܢܐ‬n. ‘justice’, which renders H n. ‫( משׁפּט‬1:3). ‫ ܚܟܡܬܐ‬n. ‘wisdom’, which renders H n. ‫( חכמה‬1:2). ‫ ܚܟܝܡ‬adj./n. ‘wise’, which renders H adj./n. ‫( חכם‬1:5). √‫ ܚܟܡ‬v. ‘be/become wise’, which renders H v. √‫( חכם‬8:33). ‫‘ ܚܣܝܪܐ ܪܥܝܢܐ‬lacking judgment’ (usually pl.), which renders H ‫( חסר־לב‬7:7) and ‫( נעוה לב‬12:8).

‫‘ ܠܒܐ‬mind’ or ‘heart’, which renders H ‫( לב‬6:14; 2:1). ‫ ܡܟܣܢܘܬܐ‬n. ‘reproof’, which renders H n. ‫( תוכחת‬1:23).

xx

Introduction to the Translation

‫ ܡܡܝܩܢܐ‬n. ‘mocker’, which renders H n. ‫‘ לץ‬scoffer’ (1:22 ). �‫ ܣܘܟ‬n. ‘understanding’ or ‘insight’, which renders three

H nouns: ‫בינה‬ (1:2) and ‫( תּבונה‬2:11) and ‫( שׂכל‬13:15; 16:22). �‫ ܣܟ‬n. ‘fool’ (i.e., a person lacking self-control and moral principles), which renders H adj./n. ‫( אויל‬11:29). ‫ ܣܟ�ܘܬܐ‬n. ‘foolishness’, which renders H n. ‫( אולת‬26:4). �‫ ܥܘ‬adj./n. (usually pl.) ‘wicked’ or ‘evil-doer’, which renders H adj./n. ‫רשׁע‬ (4:14). ‫ ܥܪܝܡܘܬܐ‬n. ‘prudence’, which renders H n. ‫( ערמה‬1:4). ‫ ܥܪܝܡ‬n. ‘prudent’, which renders H adj. ‫( ערום‬12:23). ‫ ܫܛܝܐ‬adj./n. ‘foolish’, which renders H adj./n. ‫( אויל‬17:28). ‫ ܫܛܝܘܬܐ‬n. ‘senselessness’ or ‘folly’, which renders H n. ‫( אולת‬14:18; 22:15). ‫ ܫܒܪܐ‬n. ‘immature’, ‘childish person’ or ‘child’, which renders H n. ‫פּתי‬ (1:4). ‫ ܬܡܝܡܘܬܐ‬n. ‘integrity’, which renders H n. ‫( תּם‬10:9). ‫ ܬܡܝܡܐ‬adj. ‘blameless’, which renders H adjectives ‫( תּם‬13:6) and ‫תּמים‬ (11:5). ‫ ܬܪܝܨܘܬܐ‬n. ‘rectitude’ or ‘what is right’, which renders H n. ‫( מישׁרים‬1:3; 23:16) . ‫ ܬܪܝ�ܐ‬adj. ‘right’, lit.‘straight’, which renders H adj. ‫( ישׁר‬4:11). ‫ ܬܪܥܝܬܐ‬n. ‘counsel’, ‘reason’, or ‘thought’, which renders H n. ‫( עצה‬1:25; 8:14; 20:5). ‫ ܬܪܥܝܬܐ‬n. ‘thoughtfulness’ or ‘discretion’, which renders H n. ‫( מזמּה‬1:4; 5:2). Qoheleth

‘emptiness’ and ‘utter emptiness’ for P �‫ ܶܗ ܼܒ‬and ‫ܗܒܠ ܗܒܠܝܢ‬, respectively; literally, ‘vapor’ and ‘vapor of vapors’, which translate H ‫ הבל‬and ‫( הבל הבלים‬1:2, 14; 2:1, 11, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 26; 3:19; 4:4, 7–8, 16; 5:9; 6:2, 9, 11; 7:7; 8:10, 14; 11:8, 10; and 12:8). Note: The Syriac term �‫ ܗ ܼܒ‬has the basic denotative meaning of “vapor, air, breath” and thus is a direct cognate of the H term. Qoheleth employs the term figuratively as a covering label for those various features of human life that he finds so defeating, especially its brevity, its deceptive lack of substance, and its moral and physical unpredictability. As in H, the cognate genitive in Syriac (e.g., ‘lord of lords’, ‘king of kings’, ‘song of songs’) indicates the superlative: ‘the greatest lord’, ‘the most powerful king’, ‘the best song’, ‘the ultimate vapor’. Since P uses the same noun for all the occurrences of ‫ הבל‬in Qoheleth, it seems right that our English translation should do the same in order to reflect the tone created by the author’s

ܳ

Introduction to the Translation

xxi

repetitiveness. But which is the best word? English translators of the H Bible have wrestled with this question for centuries. It is tempting simply to capitulate to tradition and render Syriac ‫ ܗܒܠ‬with ‘vanity’, which has been the favorite of translators going all the way back to John Wycliffe in 1395, who was essentially conveying into Middle English the vanitas of the Latin Vulgate. However, despite the impressive pedigree of ‘vanity’ in Bible translations, we have decided not to use it. ‘Vanity’ is a somewhat general English term, which once had as its first meaning, ‘that which is vain, futile, or worthless, with no value or profit’. As far back as the 1200s, a second meaning is also firmly attested: ‘excessive personal pride’. ‘Vanity’ is no longer a wellunderstood word in ordinary spoken English, at least in North America. Today, the former meaning is falling out of currency, and the latest English dictionaries no longer give it as the primary definition. If modern persons understand the word at all, unless they have literary schooling they tend to associate the noun ‘vanity’ with excessive pride, as in the adjective ‘vain’, which is not the meaning in Qoheleth. This has already led several major Bible translators to opt for a less vague word, such as: ‘futile/futility’ (Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible); ‘meaningless’ (New International Version); ‘worthless’ (Tanakh); ‘useless’ (Good News Bible); ‘pointless’ (Common English Bible). Unfortunately, many of these alternatives are a bit too narrow and do not quite fit all of Qoheleth’s various nuances so well. We have decided to use “emptiness” to translate this Syriac term for ‘vapor’ in Qoheleth. It is in common use and is readily understandable, both in its simple denotative meaning of ‘not containing anything’ and in its metaphorical sense of ‘meaningless, unsatisfying, unreliable, deficient’. The latter sense is familiar in such phrases as ‘empty promises’ or ‘the emptiness of fame’. ‘determined’ for P ‫ܘܝܗܒܬ ܠܒܝ‬: literally ‘gave my heart/mind to,’ rendering H ‫( ונתתי את־לבי‬1:13, 17; 8:9, 16). ‘to myself’ for two slightly different P phrases: ‫ܥܡ ܠܒܝ‬: literally, ‘with my heart/mind’, rendering H ‫( עם־לבי‬1:16); and ‫ܒܠܒܝ‬: literally, ‘in my heart/mind’, rendering H ‫( בלבי‬2:3, 15 [2x]; 3:17–18). ‘anguish of spirit’ for P ‫ܛܘܪܦܐ ܕܪܘܚܐ‬: literally, ‘torment of spirit’, rendering H ‫( רעות רוח‬1:14; 2:11, 17, 26; 4:4, 6; 6:9) and ‫( רעיון רוח‬1:17; 4:16). Note: The meaning of the nomen regens (first noun) in this H phrase is not altogether certain. Most translators render the H phrase something like ‘chasing after the wind,’ arriving at the notion of ‘chasing after/ pursuing’ by connecting the noun to √‫רעה‬, ‘to act as shepherd, to tend — hence, to follow after — the flock’. However,

xxii

Introduction to the Translation

Syriac ‫ ܛܘ ܴܪܦܐ‬does not mean ‘chasing, tending’, but either ‘exhaustion, torment, agitation’ (if formed on √‫ ܛܪܦ‬#2 ‘wear out, shake, be jolted’), or ‘striking’ (if formed on √‫ ܛܪܦ‬#1 ‘knock, strike, clap’). The picture of pummeling the wind in a failing attempt to hit it would certainly fit Qoheleth’s theme of futility. However, the noun ‫ ܛܘܪܦܐ‬is used elsewhere in P of a person’s emotional state, and it clearly has this meaning in 4:6: ‘Better a handful with quiet, than several handfuls with trouble and anguish of spirit’ (cf. Vulg. adflictione anim, and also P Gen 42:21 and P Ps 61:2.) Our translation assumes this same meaning in all nine passages (so Vulg. adflictio spiritus). ܽ in this phrase denotes not ‘wind/air’ but rather ‘spirit’ Therefore, ‫ܪܘ ܴܚܐ‬ as the inner life of a person. ‘For’ or ‘because’ for verse-initial P ‫ܡܛܠ‬: literally, ‘because, for, indeed’, rendering H ‫( כי‬1:18; 2:16, 21, 23, 25–26; 4:14; 5:2, 6, 19; 6:4, 8, 11; 7:1, 8, 13, 21, 23; 8:6–7; 9:1, 5, 12; 11:8; 12:14). Frequency of the conjunction ‫ כי‬is a distinctive feature of Qoheleth’s style. It occurs over 80 times in the book, and is the initial word in 30 of the verses of the MT. Not all of these H sentences are actually causal sentences where an explicit ‘because, for’ is needed. In some places ‫ כי‬functions merely as an emphatic element, or otherwise is pleonastic. Most English translators choose not give an explicit equivalent for around 30% of the occurrences of verse-initial ‫ כי‬in Qoheleth. The Syriac translator is much more conservative; P chooses to give an equivalent for verse-initial ‫ כי‬in all but five verses. We have generally tried not to second-guess the Syriac translator’s understanding of the function of ‫ ܡܛܠ‬in these verses, and simply represent them in English with ‘for’ or ‘because’. ‘Indeed’ for P ‫ܗܐ‬, literally ‘look’ as an emphatic particle, rendering H ‫הנה‬ (1:14, 16; 2:1, 11; 4:1; 5:17). Our translation avoids the archaic ‘behold’. Songs (i) Although the Song is mostly poetry rather than prose, it should be noted that, as in the surviving Syriac manuscripts themselves, the English text is written margin to margin, with no special formatting or annotations to indicate possible parallelism of lines or stanza groupings. The reader is referred to the commentaries and to the major translations of the Hebrew Bible for help in identifying such features. (ii) Similarly, inasmuch as the Song contains in many places what may loosely be called ‘dialogue’, the reader is alerted to the fact that we have not

Introduction to the Translation

xxiii

ventured to add inverted commas to designate the beginning and end of formal quotations. Second-person pronouns, explicitly inflected verb forms, and occasional introductory words in the Syriac text make it plain at some junctures that direct speech is being reported, but often the precise end of such quotes is uncertain. This remains a matter of interpretation that, again like the Syriac manuscripts themselves, we generally leave to the reader to decide. One intrusion we have permitted ourselves is to add the vocative particle ‘O …’ before some nouns which the English reader might not otherwise immediately recognize as being nouns of direct address. This does not seem to betray our pledged fidelity to the Peshiṭta text, inasmuch as Syriac grammar contains various other explicit second-person markers which English lacks. This particle ‘O’ has been added at 1:3, 4, 7; 2:7, 14; 3:5, 11; 4:16; 5:8, 9, 16, 17; 6:12; 7:1, 6; 8:4, 12. (iii) Two nouns, different in basic meaning but similar in emotional import, are used very frequently throughout the book as terms of endearment by the two lovers, most often in direct address. Our translation has sought consistently to distinguish them while at the same time conveying the romantic tenderness they both intend to invoke:

‘my darling’ for P ‫ܩܪܝܒܬܝ‬, lit. ‘my close one’, rendering H ‫רעיתי‬, ‘my companion’ (1:8, 14; 2:2, 10, 13; 4:1, 7; 5:2; 6:3). ‘my beloved’ for P ‫ܕܕܝ‬, rendering H ‫דודי‬, ‘my beloved’ (1:13, 15; 2:3, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17; 4:16; 5:2, 5, 6 [2x], 8, 9 [4x], 10, 16; 6:1, 2 [2x]; 7:6, 9, 10, 11, 13; 8:14). See also ‘your beloved’ (5:17 [2x]), ‘O beloved’ (7:6), ‘her beloved’ (8:5). (iv) Where P employs the emphatic particle ‫ ܗܐ‬to translate H emphatic particle ‫הנֵּ ה‬,ִ in order to avoid the traditional but archaic word, ‘Behold’, our translation uses: ‘How … !’ (1:14 , 15; 4:1 [2x]); ‘Look!’( 2:8, 9; 3:7); or ‘Now …’ (2:11). (v) ‘Young women’ translates Syriac ‫‘ ܒܢ̈ܬ‬daughters’, in ‘young women of Jerusalem’ ‫ܒܢ̈ܬ ܐܘܪܫܠܡ‬, literally rendering H ‫‘ בנות ירושׁלם‬daughters of Jerusalem’ (1:4; 2:7; 3:5; 5:8, 16; 6:8; 8:4); in ‫‘ ܒܢ̈ܬ ܨܗܝܘܢ‬young women of Zion’ (3:11); and in simple ‘young women’ ‫( ܒܢ̈ܬ‬6:8). (vi) ‘whom my soul loves’ ‫ ܰܡܢ ܕܪܚܡܬ ܢܦܫܝ‬, rendering H ‫שׁאהבה נפשׁי‬ ‘whom my soul loves’. We use a strictly literal translation of this repeated epithet, in order to help it stand out from the many references to ‘love’ and ‘beloved’ in the Song. This clause occurs at 1:6; 3:1, 2, and 4.

xxiv

Introduction to the Translation

(vii) Many references to flora and fauna occur in the Song: myrrh, henna, cedar, cypress, lily, apples, frankincense, sweet spice, pomegranates, nard, saffron, reeds, cinnamon, aloe, palm-tree, grapes, mandrakes, sheep, gazelles, wild deer, deer, goats, ewes, dove, foxes, lions, leopards. The Hebrew and Syriac terms which are thus translated originated long before the modern classification and nomenclature system (genus and species) was developed by the natural sciences. These terms must be considered ‘folk’ names rather than precise species labels. Whatever precision they may have once had for native Hebrew and Aramaic speakers cannot necessarily be recovered today, and P may or may not correctly understand the species intended by the H terms. Expert control of the biological and linguistic data needed to create a map of the pertinent semantic domains is beyond our reach. Accordingly, our translation of each of these terms tries to avoid being overly precise, using the primary attested meaning that seems most logical in the context of the Song. Thus, for example, our translation uses simply ‘deer’ instead of ‘roe deer’, fallow deer’, ‘red deer’, ‘stag’, etc., which are offered in some translations of the Hebrew text. Again, the reader who wishes to explore this vocabulary more deeply is referred to the major commentaries on the Hebrew text and to the literature which they cite. (viii) Occasionally in our translation it seems important to let the reader know that we have supplied a word for which there is no corresponding word in the P text. We do so by enclosing that word in round brackets ( ). Noteworthy Readings Analysis of all the divergences of P from MT is a complicated task, fraught with difficult probability judgments that preclude any conclusions which are not accompanied by thorough, supportive discussion of the textual evidence. Such discussion lies beyond the scope of this work. The reader who wants to pursue the text-critical issues is referred to the works in the Bibliography below, especially the commentaries by Michael Stone and William McKane (and the Hermeneia commentary in preparation by Bernd Schipper). It does seem important to try to identify for the reader the significant departures from the MT by P, whatever their ultimate explanation. In the first set of notes under Free Translation , we list places where the Syriac translator expands, abbreviates, or otherwise paraphrases the MT and which neither appear to depend upon the LXX nor to be the obvious result of misunderstanding or scribal error. Other divergences are listed separately under Translations Related to the Septuagint (LXX) and Scribal Errors or

Introduction to the Translation

xxv

Misunderstandings. The few verses in P which seem not to make sense are listed under Meaning Obscure. Unavoidably, there is overlap among these various categories. Proverbs

Of all the books in the Peshiṭta Old Testament, the Book of Proverbs is among the least literal, in terms of word-for-word correspondence to the Masoretic Text. This freedom shows itself often merely in the choice of a single Syriac word that is quite different from its Hebrew counterpart, but sometimes P quite strikingly recasts an entire clause or sentence, while still conveying the basic sense of the MT. Occasionally a whole verse, or halfverse, is so different in the Syriac that it seems to have no discernible connection to the MT. It has long been recognized that the Syriac translator of Proverbs frequently chooses to follow the text of the ancient Greek Septuagint (LXX) rather than the MT. Sometimes this may be because P does not understand or finds objectionable the wording of the MT. But often one cannot detect an obvious reason for P choosing the LXX over the MT, and the Syriac translator may simply have such high regard for the LXX text as to consider it of equal authority. It is virtually certain that there are some cases where LXX and P both have before them a H source-text that varies from the MT. It is equally likely that there are some places where P and LXX both depart from MT in the same way, but do so independently because of similar analysis of a grammatical ambiguity in the MT or because they both are influenced by a traditional interpretation of the verse.

Free Translation 1:8

‫ ܢܡܘܣܐ‬... ‫ܢܡܘܣܐ‬

‘teaching of … teaching of’; MT ‫ תורת‬... ‫מוסר‬ ‘instruction of … teaching of’. P stengthens the parallelism within the v. by using the same noun in both phrases. Similar duplication in synonymous lines can be seen also at 2:8; 11:27; 14:6, 28; 20:24; and 26:13. 1:11 ‫‘ ܒܥܬܐ‬with trickery’. Although P understands that the H word ‫חנּם‬ means lit. ‘without cause, gratuitously’ (cf. 23:29; 24:28; 26:2), here and 1:17 and 3:30 it renders it somewhat freely with a term that denotes ‘deceit, trickery’. 1:28 ‫‘ ܘܢܩܕܡܘܢ ܠܘܬܝ‬and they will appear before me’; MT ‫‘ ישׁחרנני‬they will seek me’. The P verb seems to reflect a cultic interpretation of the H verb, i.e., ‘seeking’ a manifestation or oracle of God in the sanctuary. 1:32 ‫‘ ܘܛܘܥܝܝ ܕܚܣܝ�ܝ ܪܥܝܢܐ‬and the error of those lacking judgment’; MT ‫‘ ושׁלות כסילים‬the laxity of fools’. P uses ‘one lacking judgment’ to

xxvi

1:33 1:33

2:7

2:9

2:16

2:18

2:19 3:4

3:12 3:15 3:18 3:27

Introduction to the Translation render ‫ כסיל‬also at Prov 10:1 and 18. P ‘error’ ‫ ܛܘܥܝܝ‬may be simply a guess about the meaning of ‫שׁלות‬. LXX also finds the term difficult, rendering it as ἐξετασμὸς ‘examination’, probably by connecting it to √‫‘ שׁאל‬ask, inquire’; Vulg. (prosperitas ‘prosperity’) may know it. ‫‘ ܒܣܒܪܐ‬in hope’; MT ‫(‘ בטח‬in) security, trust’. Elsewhere in Prov P tends to translate ‫ בטח‬with ‫ܣܒܪܐ‬/‫( ܣܒܪ‬cf. 3:5 and 10:9). ‫‘ ܡܢ ܣܘܓܐܐ ܕܒܝ̈ܫܬܐ‬away from the multitude of wicked things’; MT ‫‘ מפחד רעה‬from the fear of evil’. For no obvious reason, P renders the H phrase freely, without reference to fear. ‫‘ ܣܒܪܐ‬hope’; MT ‫‘ תושׁיה‬effectiveness, practical wisdom’. It is unclear why P chooses to translate this H term as ‘hope’. Elsewhere P Prov (3:21; 8:14; 18:1) renders it ‫‘ ܝܘܠܦܢܐ‬instruction’ . ‫‘ ܘܬܪܝܨܘܬܐ ܕܟܠܗܘܢ ܫܒܝ̈� ܫܦܝ�ܐ‬and the rectitude of all good paths’; MT ‫‘ ומישׁרים כל־מעגל טוב‬and rectitude — every good path’. P eliminates the apparent anacoluthon of MT, putting ‘rectitude’ into a genitive phrase. ‫‘ ܡܢ ܐܢܬܬܐ ܢܘܟܪܝܬܐ‬from the strange woman; MT ‫מאשּׁה זרה מנּכריּה‬ ‘from the alien woman, from the strange woman’. P abbreviates MT, using a single noun for the woman, eliminating the appositive. ̈ ‫‘ ܛܥܬ‬She forgets the thresholds of her house’; MT ‫כּי‬ ‫ܐܣܟܦܬܐ ܕܒܝܬܗ‬ ‫‘ שׁחה אל־מות בּיתהּ‬For her house sinks down to death’. P differs considerably for other ancient versions. Perhaps it is guessing at the meaning of a corrupt H source-text. ‫‘ ܡܬܕܟܪܝܢ‬remember’; MT ‫‘ ישׂיגו‬attain’. P offers a psychological interpretation of the difficult H verb. �‫‘ ܘܛܝܒܘܬܐ ܘܣܘܟ‬and goodness and understanding’; MT ‫חן ושׂכל־טוב‬ ‘grace and good insight (or good favor)’. P here has a series of three separate nouns, in place of two in MT: ‘grace and good favor’. It also transposes the second and third. Targ. also reads a series of three nouns, but follows the order of the MT: ‘grace and understanding and goodness’ ‫חיסדא וסוכלא וטיבותא‬. A variant H text may be known to P and Targ. ‫‘ ܕܪܕܐ‬who chastises’; MT ‫(‘ ירצה‬in whom) he delights’. P may be paraphrastic, or it may reflect a misreading of ‫ ירצה‬as ‫ירדה‬. � ‫‘ ܘܡܕܡ‬and nothing’; MT ‫‘ וכל־חפציך לא‬and none of your desirable things’. P condenses the H text. ‫‘ ܕܡܣܟܝܢ‬who wait’; MT ‫‘ ותמכיה‬who holds onto’. An eschatological concept of the tree of life may be reflected in P. ‫‘ ܕܫܦܝܪ‬what is good; MT adds ‫‘ מבעליו‬to those who deserve it’. Vulg. (and Targ.) agree with P in the shorter text, which probably preserves the older reading. In LXX the addition is ἐνδεῆ ‘to the poor’ which

Introduction to the Translation

3:28

3:34

3:35

4:4

4:9

4:16

4:26

5:12 5:20

xxvii

may preserve the original form of the longer text; this may have originated as an explanatory gloss, encouraged by v. 28. MT ‘to those who deserve it’ will then have been a secondary qualification. ‫ …‘ ܡܚܪ ܘܐܬܠ�ܠܟ‬tomorrow; then I will give to you’; MT ‫ומחר אתּן‬ ‫‘ וישׁ אתּך‬then tomorrow I will give — when you have (it) with you’. The P reading here entails a different position for conjunctive waw, which also then positions ‘tomorrow’ differently. P uniquely omits the final clause altogether. ̈ ‫ܚܟܝܡܐ ܢܪܚܦ‬ ‫‘ ܘܢܣܚܘܦ ܠܡܡܝ̈ܩܢܐ ܘܥܠ‬He destroys those who mock but he guards the wise’; MT ‫אם־ללצים הוא־יליץ ולעניים יתן־חן‬ ‘Toward scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he shows favor’. Unless P works from a source-text very different from MT, it translates quite freely here. ‫‘ ܢܩܒ�ܘܢ‬receive’; MT ‫ מרים‬lit. ‘lift up’. LXX ὕψωσαν ‘have exalted [pl]’ may witness an original H plural form lost from haplography: ‫מרימים‬. The problematic H reading may intend sarcasm: ‘The reward that the fool will have to lift up and display is, in fact, disgrace/reproach’. In any case, P opts for a straightforward paraphrase. ‫‘ ܘܢܡܘܣܝ ܐܢܟ ܒܒܬܐ ܕܥܝܢܐ‬and my instruction like the pupil of (your) eye’; MT lacks. This phrase, missing from MT and other ancient versions, comes from Prov. 7:2. ‫( ܬܣܝܥܟ‬so Mosul and Lee ed.) ‘will assist you’; MT ‫‘ תמגּנך‬will bestow upon/deliver to’. The Mosul reading is not attested in any of the prethirteenth-century MSS collated in L, all of which read ‫‘ ܬܣܒܥܟ‬will satisfy you’. LXX ὑπερασπίσῃ ‘cover, protect’ and Vulg. proteget probably result from reading the MT verb as denominative of H ‫מגן‬ ‘shield’. ‫‘ ܥܕܡܐ ܕܥܒܕܝܢ ܨܒܝܢܗܘܢ‬until they do what they want’; MT(Q) ‫אם־לא‬ ‫‘ יכשׁילו‬if they have not made (someone) stumble’; MT(K) ‘if they have not stumbled’. ‫‘ ܐܥܒܪ ܪܓܠܟ ܡܢ ܫܒܝ̈� ܒܝ̈ܫܐ‬remove your foot from wicked paths’; MT ‫‘ פלס מעגּל רגלך‬make level/straight [or ‘survey’] the path of your foot’. P recasts MT; it may not know the meaning of the difficult H verb ‫פלס‬. ‫‘ ܕܠܡܢܐ‬Why … ?’; MT ‫‘ איך‬How!’ P reads ‫ איך‬as meaning ‘why?’ , as does Vulg. cur. ‫‘ ܘ� ܬܛܥܐ‬And do not go astray’; MT ‫‘ ולמּה תשׁגּה‬And why should you be infatuated’. P, like LXX μὴ πολὺς ἴσθι (lit.‘do not be much with’) changes the rhetorical question of MT into a simple imperative, but their respective verbs differ in sense.

xxviii 5:21 6:6 6:11

6:11

6:16

6:26

8:10

8:21 8:22

8:26 9:6 9:14

Introduction to the Translation

‫ܓܠܝܢ ܩܕܡܘܗܝ‬

‘are revealed before him’; MT ‫‘ מפלס‬watches’. P paraphrases the MT; cf. 4:26; 5:6. ‫‘ ܐܬܕܡܐ ܠܫܘܫܡܢܐ‬Imitate the ant’; MT ‫‘ לך־אל־נמלה עצל‬Go to the ant, O sluggard’. P offers an explanatory paraphrase. ‫‘ ܘܬܐܬܐ‬and will come’. MT ‫ ובא־כמהלּך‬lit.,‘will come like one who walks/travels’, the meaning of which remains unclear. In the similar saying at 24:34 MT reads ‫ מתהלך‬which fits smoothly into the syntax as an adverb: ‘will come walking all about’. In general, the MT of 24:34 seems less problematic than 6:11 and may preserve an older text-form of the proverb. One suspects that the textual tradition has suffered corruption; note ‫ מהלך‬in P 6:12. ‫‘ ܐܝܟ ܓܒܪܐ ܟܫܝܪܐ‬like a vigorous man’; MT ‫‘ כאישׁ מגן‬like a man who delivers’ or ‘like a shameless man’ or ‘like an armed man’. It is puzzling why P does not translate the MT phrase here with ‫ܓܒܪܐ‬ ‫‘ ܛܒܠܪܐ‬courier’ as it does in 24:34. ‫‘ ܐܣܠܝܬ ܢܦܫܗ‬his soul despises’; MT ‫‘ תועבת נפשׁו‬are an abomination to his soul’. P paraphrases, using the verb ‫‘ ܣܠܝ‬hate, despise’, which is one of the two customary ways it renders ‫ תועבת‬when used of YHWH; see 11:1, 20; 12:22; 15:8, 9, 26; 20:10. ‫‘ ܕܘܡܝܗ ܓܝܪ ܕܐܢܬܬܐ ܙܢܝܬܐ ܐܝܟ ܓܪܝܨܬܐ ܗܘ ܕܠܚܡܐ‬For the likeness of a prostitute is like a loaf of bread’; MT ‫ כי בעד־אשׁה זונה עד־ככר לחם‬lit. ‘For in exchange for a prostitute to the point of a loaf of bread’. This initial clause in the H is very difficult. It is possible that the P noun ‫ ܕܘܡܝܗ‬is a corruption of ‫‘ ܕܡܝܗ‬the cost/value of’, but P is probably just attempting to make sense of the obscure MT. ‫‘ ܛܒ ܡܢ ܕܗܒܐ‬more than pure gold’. ‫ ܛܒ‬here is awkward and redundant; the text has become mixed with a double translation in v. 11. ‫‘ ܣܒܪܐ‬hope’; MT ‫‘ יֵ שׂ‬property, substance’. P is unique in this odd rendering. ‫‘ ܒܪܢܝ ܒܪܫ ܒܪܝܬܗ‬created me at the start of his creation’; MT ‫קנני‬ ‫‘ ראשׁית דרכו‬acquired [or begot] me at [or as] the first of his way’. P provides an interpretative close rendering of the MT. ̈ ‘or rivers’; MT ‫‘ וחוצות‬and countryside’ [ lit.‘outside area’]. A �‫ܘܢܚ‬ reason for this Syriac word-choice is unclear. ‫‘ ܐܬܪܥܘ‬consider’; MT ‫‘ ואשׁרו‬but walk in’. With this verb, P echoes ‫‘ ܪܥܝܢܐ‬judgment, reason’ (cf. √‫ )ܪܥܝ‬in the previous clause. ‫‘ ܟܘܪܣܝܐ ܪܡܐ‬a high chair’; MT ‫‘ על־כסא מרמי קרת‬on a chair (at) the heights of the town’. P may simply be abbreviating here, to avoid the rare H noun for ‘town’ (cf. the common synonym ‫)קרית‬.

Introduction to the Translation 9:18

10:3 10:12 10:17 10:20

10:21 10:31 11:23

11:26

11:29 12:2 12:8

12:9

12:10

12:12

xxix

‫‘ ܕܓܢܒ�ܐ ܠܘܬܗ ܐܒܕܝܢ‬that strong men perish with her’; MT ‫רפאים שׁם‬

‘that the shades are there’. P frequently elsewhere translates H ‫רפאים‬ with ‫‘ ܓܢܒ�ܐ‬warriors’ (e.g., Gen. 15:5; 15:20; Deut 2:20; 3:11, 13), presumably on the basis of an equation with the Rephaim who were the original warriors in Canaan (Deut. 2:20). ̈ ‫‘ ܘܩܢܝܢܐ‬the possessions of the wicked’; MT ‫‘ והות רשׁעים‬and � ‫ܕܥܘ‬ craving of the wicked’. P interprets MT. ‫‘ ܒܗܬܬܐ‬disgrace’; MT ‫‘ אהבה‬love’. This rendering by P is unsupported by other ancient witnesses. If scribal error is not involved, P may intentionally recast MT in order to parallel the thought of v. 11b, which has some verbal similarities. ‫‘ ܣܟ� ܗܘ‬is a fool’; MT ‫‘ מתעה‬goes astray’. P paraphrases. ‫‘ ܡܪܬܐ‬bitterness’; MT ‫‘ כמעט‬of little worth’ lit. ‘like a little’. The source of this word is unclear. The H term is not obscure. LXX also renders oddly with ‘will fail’. Cf. Vulg. pro nihilo. ‫‘ ܣܓܝ ܡ�ܚܡܢܝܢ‬are very merciful’; MT ‫‘ ירעו רבים‬feed many’. The P rendering is more general. ‫‘ ܡܡܠܠ‬utters’; MT ‫‘ ינוב‬produces, promotes’. P chooses a verb that relates more directly to ‘tongue’ in the second clause. ̈ ‫ܒܛܒܬܐ‬ ‘for good things’: lit. ‘in good things’; MT ‫‘ אך־טוב‬only what is good’. ‫‘ ܒܐܘܠܨܢܐ‬during a disaster’. MT lacks. This is an explanatory addition, qualifying the idea of MT: Timing the sale of one’s grain for the highest price is reprehensible only in time of food shortage. The first two clauses in this v. are doublets — alternate interpretative translations of MT ‫‘ עוכר ביתו ינחל־רוח‬He who disturbs his house will inherit the wind’. �‫‘ ܘܓܒܪܐ ܥܘ‬but a wicked person’; MT ‫‘ ואישׁ מזמות‬but a person of evil schemes’. ‫‘ ܘܕܚܣܝܪ ܪܥܝܢܐ‬who lacks judgment’. P often uses this phrase in Prov to render MT ‫‘ ונעוה־לב‬of perverse mind’. Cf. LXX νωθροκάρδιος ‘dull of mind’. ‫ ܛܒ‬2˚ ‘better’; MT lacks. Many P MSS lack this repetition of ‘better’, which indeed seems unnecessary. The same repetition occurs at 13:12; 15:16–17; and 17:1. ‫‘ ܐܚܝܕܝܢ‬are withheld’; MT ‫(‘ אכזרי‬are) cruel’. P understands the H word (cf. 5:9); the unique rendering here is probably intentionally paraphrastic. ‫‘ ܠܡܥܒܕ ܒܝܫܬܐ‬to perform evil’; MT ‫‘ מצוד רעים‬the fortress [or ‘storehouse’ or ‘weapon’] of the evil ones’. P may be simply guessing

xxx

12:13 12:14

12:26

13:4

13:19

14:8

14:12

14:12

14:15 14:17

14:18 14:19

Introduction to the Translation about the sense of the strange H clause, which seems problematic also for LXX: ἐν ὀχυρώμασιν ‘are in fortresses’. ‫‘ ܡܬܬܚܕ‬are captured’; MT ‫‘ מוקשׁ‬is a trap’. P opts for a more literal expression, omitting the metaphor. ‫ ܢܣܒܥ‬... ‫‘ ܓܒܪܐ ܛܒܐ‬a good person … will be satisfied’; MT ‫אישׁ‬ ‫‘ ישׂבע־טוב‬a man will be satisfied with good things’. The relocation of ‘good’ is probably an interpretative move by P, which also renders the final clause with some freedom. ‫‘ ܡܠܟ ܡܠܟܐ ܛܒܐ‬gives good advice’; MT ‫[ יתר‬uncertain — ‘is guided by’ or ‘seeks out’?] P offers a coherent rendering of an obscure H word. ‫‘ ܒܟ�ܙܒܢ ܒ�ܓܝܓܬܐ ܪܡܐ ܒܪܢܫܐ ܕܥܒܕܐ � ܥܒܕ‬A person who does no work is continually taken with desires’; MT ‫‘ מתאוה ואין נפשׁו עצל‬a sluggard craves but has nothing’. P gives an explanatory paraphrase, adding ‘continually’ and apparently interpreting ‘has nothing’ as meaning ‘does no productive work’. ‫‘ ܝܐܝܬܐ‬proper’; MT ‫‘ נהיה‬realized’ lit.‘happened’; LXX εὐσεβῶν ‘of the pious’. P and LXX in somewhat different words both seem to want to provide moral qualification to the mere desire that MT extols. ̈ ‫ܕܣܟ� ܒܛܥܝܘܬܐ‬ ‫‘ ܘܐܘܪܚܐ‬but the path of fools is in error’; MT ‫ואוּלת‬ ‫‘ כּסילים מרמה‬but the folly of fools is deceit’. P here renders MT with some freedom. ‫‘ ܕܣܒܪܝܢ ܒܢܝ̈ܢܫܐ‬which people think’; MT ‫‘ לפני־אישׁ‬to a man’. P here makes explicit what is only implied in MT. ‫‘ ܘܐܘ�ܚܬܗ‬its ways’; MT ‫‘ ואחריתה‬its end’. By means of metathesis, P intentionally (interpretative paranomasia) or accidentally reads MT ‫‘ ואחריתה‬its end’ as ‫‘ וארחתיה‬its ways’. This v. is almost identical to 16:25. ‫‘ ܦܪܫ ܛܒ ܡܢ ܒܝܫ‬distinguishes good from bad’; MT ‫‘ יבין לאשׁרו‬is discerning about his step(s)’. P explains the metaphor of MT. P ‘In everything he does, an impetuous person does not take counsel, but a wise man is cautious’. P diverges dramatically from MT (‘The quick-tempered man acts foolishly, and the schemer is hated’), raising the possibility that it is substituting a similar but Syriac proverb that has a variant second clause. ‫‘ ܡܦܠܓܝܢ‬are allotted’; MT ‫‘ יכתרו‬are crowned with’. P probably does not understand this unusual H term, and simply chooses a verb that is synonymous with ‫ נחלו‬/ ‫‘ ܝܪܬܝܢ‬inherit’ in the former clause. ‫‘ ܢܐܬܘܢ ܠܬܪܥܗ ܕܙܕܝܩܐ‬will come to the gate of the righteous’; MT ‫‘ ורשׁעים על־שׁערי צדיק‬and the wicked, at the gates of the righteous’.

Introduction to the Translation

xxxi

P adds this verb for clarity, eliminating the ellipsis in the MTand in the process softening H ‘bow down to’. 14:22 P ‘Evildoers go astray who do wicked things, but the merciful and the righteous do all good things’. P very freely renders MT: ‘Do they not go astray who plan evil? But mercy and truth (will be for) those who plan good’. 14:23 P ‘In everything about which you are anxious, there is one thing that is profitable. The one who is deficient in his dwelling will be comfortable and cheerful. The Lord will heal every pain, and he will damage the utterances of the lips of evildoers’. MT: ‘In all labor there is profit; but the talk of the lips tends to poverty’. P differs very significantly from both MT and LXX, although it shows points of contact with both. It may contain elements of a double translation. 14:29 ‫‘ ܛܒ ܣܟܠ‬is very foolish’; MT ‫‘ מרים אולת‬exalts foolishness’. ̈ 14:35 ‫ܘܒܚܟܡܬ ܢܦܫܐ ܡܣܬܚܦ ܥܘ� ܘܕܬܟܝܠ ܕܠܝܬ ܠܗ ܚܛܗܐ ܙܕܝܩܐ ܗܘ‬ ̈ ‫‘ ܪܘܓܙܐ ܕܝܢ ܐܦ ܠܚܟܝܡܐ ܡܘܒܕ‬and by his wisdom the evildoer is overturned. He who is confident that he has no sins is the righteous, but wrath will destroy even the wise’; MT ‫‘ ועברתו תהיה מבישׁ‬but his wrath will be against the one who acts shamefully’. P departs strikingly from both MT, presumably with an expansionary sourcetext. 15:4 ‫‘ ܘܕܐܟܠ ܡܢ ܦܐ�ܘܗܝ ܢܣܒܥ ܡܢܗ‬and the one who eats from its fruit will be satisfied by it’; MT ‫‘ וסלף בה שׁבר ברוח‬but perverseness in it breaks the spirit’; LXX δὲ συντηρῶν αὐτὴν πλησθήσεται πνεύματος ‘and he who keeps it will be filled with spirit’. P seems to translate a different text. ̈ 15:16 � ‫‘ ܕܥܘ‬of evildoers’; MT ‫‘ ומהומה בו‬and turmoil with it’. ̈ ̈ 15:19 ‫‘ ܡܠܝܢ ܟܘܒܐ‬full of thorns’; MT ‫‘ כמשׂכת חדק‬like a thorn-hedge’. 15:20 ‫‘ ܒܗܬܬܐ‬a disgrace to’; MT ‫‘ בוזה‬despises’. P here echoes its translation of 10:1. ̈ ‘of life’; MT ‫‘ חכמה‬of wisdom’. 15:33 ‫ܕܚܝܐ‬ 16:3 ‫‘ ܓܠܝ‬show’. MT ‫‘ גל‬commit’. The odd meaning of ‘commit, deliver’ for H √‫‘ גלל‬roll’ seems necessary here. The Syriac translation makes better sense (so Vulg. revela), reading MT ‫ גל‬as a form of √‫גלה‬ ‘uncover, reveal’. LXX lacks this verse. 16:18 ‫‘ ܨܥܪܐ‬shameful behavior’; MT ‫‘ גאון‬pride’. Also in 11:2; 13:10; 14:3; and 21:24 P renders a H term for ‘pride’ or ‘arrogance’ with a word denoting evil behavior. 16:21 ‫‘ ܝܕܥ‬knows’; MT ‫‘ יקּרא‬is called’. 16:24 ‫‘ ܡܐܡܪܗ ܕܚܟܝܡܐ‬speech of the wise’; MT ‫‘ אמרי־נעם‬pleasant words’.

xxxii 16:28

16:30

16:33

17:8

17:14

17:23

17:26

Introduction to the Translation

‫‘ ܘܣܪܝܩܐ ܪܕܦ �ܚܡܘܗܝ‬and a worthless

man pursues his friends; MT ‫‘ ונרגן מפריד אלוף‬and a slanderous man separates friend(s)’. P paraphrases MT, but accidental metathesis could account for the difference between H √‫‘ פרד‬separate’ and √‫‘ רדף‬pursue’. P: ‘They signal with their eyes and then plot an overthrow; they contrive with their lips and then complete wicked things’; MT: ‘He closes his eyes to plan perverse things; he compresses his lips to ̈ bring evil to pass’. ‘They signal with their eyes’ (‫ )ܘܪܡܙ ܒܥܝܢܘܗܝ‬is an assimilation to 6:13 and 10:10, where the eye movement is understood as a signal. P thus changes the intended sense of MT, which is that one closes ones eyes and shuts ones mouth, appearing to be inactive but actually plotting nefarious acts. ‫‘ ܕܥܢܬܐ‬of a vicious person’. MT lacking. MT ‘The lot is thrown into the lap’ refers to someone carrying out the ‘casting of a lot’, perhaps under supervision by elders or judge, in order to identify a guilty individual. H ‫‘ משׁפטו‬its judgment’ then may refer to the overall process of interpreting what decision the lot is indicating. However, P understands the clause as referring to the guilty person who is so designated, whom the lot has identified. In the Syriac text, the 3rd m. sg. suffix on ‘his judgment’ ‫ ܕܝܢܗ‬cannot grammatically refer to the lot; it must refer to the guilty party. This means that ‘judgment’ must refer to the overall process by which the accused is identified and sentenced. P departs from a literal rendering in order to convey this interpretation. ‫‘ ܟܐܦܐ ܕ�ܚܡܐ ܫܦܝܪܐ‬a stone of loves is beautiful’; MT ‫‘ אבן־חן השׁחד‬a beautiful stone is a bribe’; LXX ‘instruction is a gracious reward’. Perhaps P (and LXX differently) departs from MT in order to eliminate what looks like a positive reference to a bribe. P: ‘The shedding of blood elicits judgment before a ruler’. This is a unique rendering among the ancient versions; it differs altogether from MT ‘The beginning of strife is like letting out water; so stop before the quarrel breaks out’. ‫‘ ܡܢ ܕܢܣܒ ܫܘܚܕܐ ܥܘ� ܗܘ‬He who takes a bribe is wicked’; MT ‫שׁחד‬ ‫‘ מחיק רשׁע יקח‬A wicked man accepts a bribe from the pocket [lit. bosom]’. P omits ‘from the bosom’. ̈ ‫ܠܙܕܝܩܐ ܕܐܡܪܝܢ ܬ�ܝܨܬܐ‬ ‫ ܠܡܡܚܐ‬... ‫‘ ܠܡܬܟ‬to oppress … to beat the righteous who utter righteous things’; MT ‫ענושׁ להכות נדיבים על־ישׁר‬ ... ‘to fine … to beat noble men because of (their) uprighteousness’. P recasts MT slightly.

Introduction to the Translation 17:28

18:11

18:17

18:22 19:1

19:13

19:19

19:27

20:1

20:2 20:3 20:5

20:16

̈ ‫ܘܕܫܠܝܢ‬ ̈ ‫ܣܦܘܬܗ ܣܟܘܠܬܢܐ ܡܬܚܫܒ‬

xxxiii

‘but those who loosen their lips will be considered foolish’; MT ‫‘ אטם שׂפתיו נבון‬one who is silent is considered a wise person’. P presents a converse paraphrase. ‫‘ ܐܝܩܪܐ ܘܥܘܬܪܐ‬honor and wealth’; MT ‫‘ הון עשׁיר‬the wealth of a rich person’. P misconstrues the genitive phrase of MT, so that ‘rich man’ becomes ‘wealth’. ‫‘ ܒܪܢܫܐ‬a man’; MT ‫‘ הראשׁון‬the first one’. P may not completely understand the details of the situation described, and thus opts for a more general term. ‫‘ ܐܢܬܬܐ ܛܒܬܐ‬good wife’; MT ‫‘ אשׁה‬wife’. P’s praise is for a particular quality of wife rather than marriage in general. ̈ ‫ܕܡܥܩܡܢ ܐܘ�ܚܬܗ‬ ‫‘ ܡܢ ܝܬܝܪܐ‬than a wealthy man whose ways are crooked’; MT ‫‘ מעקשׁ שׂפתיו והוא כסיל‬than one whose lips are twisted and is a dullard’. P may be assimilating its translation to 28:6. ‫‘ ܪܢܝܗ ܕܐܢܬܬܐ‬the concern of a wife’; MT ‫‘ מדיני אשׁה‬contentions of a wife’. P expands and removes the perjorative nature of the wifely intrusions. ‫‘ ܘܠܨܥܪܗ‬his abuse’; MT ‫ המיתו‬lit. ‘his being killed’. P paraphrases MT, interpreting the clause as a caution against excessive corporal punishment. MT itself probably warns against letting one’s child come to punitive death through lack of childhood discipline. ‫ ܘ� ܬܛܥܐ‬... ‫‘ ܘܫܡܥ‬and heed … and do not stray’; MT ... ‫לשׁמע‬ ‫‘ לשׁגות‬to heed … to stray’. MT is difficult in that it seems directly to contradict the basic wisdom principle of paying attention to wisdom. P makes sense of the verse as a traditional teaching by means of (a) replacing the preposition ‫ ל‬with ‫ ו‬on the verb ‘heed’, and (b) adding the negative particle ‘not’ to the second clause. ‫‘ ܕܡܫܬܪܚ‬is inflamed’; MT ‫‘ שׁגה‬goes astray’; LXX ‘gets joined to’. P translates this v. freely, perhaps not understanding the meaning of ‫ שׁגה‬. ‫‘ ܪܘܓܙܗ‬fury’; MT ‫‘ אימת‬terror, fearsomeness’. Here P is conforming to its translation of 19:12A. ‫‘ ܡܡܝܩ‬mocks’; MT ‫יתגלע‬ ֽ ‘breaks out, lashes out?’. P may be guessing at the meaning of the uncertain H word. ‫‘ ܕܡܠܟܐ‬of a king’; MT ‫‘ אישׁ‬of a man’. P probably intrudes ‘king’ here under the influence of 25:3. However, it is not impossible that ‫ܡܠܟܐ‬ as ‘advice’ originated as a translation of MT ‫ עצה‬and became displaced and reinterpreted. ‫‘ ܠܢܘܟܪܝܐ‬stranger [masc.sg.]’; MT(K) ‫‘ נכריּם‬strange men’ (MT [Q] ‫‘ נכריה‬strange woman’).

xxxiv 20:18 21:5

21:6

21:9 21:11

21:11

21:16

21:20

21:24

21:28

22:1

Introduction to the Translation

‫ܘܒܓܘܪܓܐ‬

‘and with encouragement’ or ‘and with incentive’; MT ‫‘ ובתחבלות‬and with leadership’ [or ‘contemplation’]. P: ‘The plans of the elect are reliable, but those of the wicked cause damage’; MT: ‘The plans of the diligent lead only to abundance, but all who are hasty come only to want’. P strikingly diverges from a literal rendering of MT. ‫‘ ܘ�ܒܕܢܐ ܢܣܬܚܦܘܢ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܒܥܝܢ ܠܡܘܬܐ‬and those who seek death are thrown down to ruin’; MT ‫‘ הבל נדף מבקשׁי־מות‬a driven vapor (are) those seeking death’. P diverges dramatically from MT (and LXX), which it may find obscure ‫‘ܥܡ ܐܢܬܬܐ ܢܨܝܬܐ‬with a quarrelsome wife’; MT adds ‫ ובית חבר‬lit. ‘and a common house’ to conform to 25:24. ‫‘ ܘܒܬܘܟܗ ܕܒܝܫܐ‬By the repentance of a wicked person’; MT ‫בענשׁ־לץ‬ ‘When a scoffer is punished’. P paraphrases, spiritualizing the thought of MT somewhat. ‫‘ ܘܚܟܝܡܐ ܒܬܪܥܝܬܗ‬and a wise man, by his thinking’; MT ‫ובהשׂכיל‬ ‫‘ לחכם‬and when one teaches a wise man’. P may misconstrue the H verb form. ̈ ‘sons of the land’; MT ‫‘ בקהל רפאים‬in the assembly of the ‫ܒܢܝ ܐܪܥܐ‬ shades’; LXX ἐν συναγωγῇ γιγάντων ‘in the assembly of the giants [lit. earth-born]’. P does not translate or transliterate H ‘shades/Rephaim’ in the two other passages where it occurs in Prov, 2:18 and 9:18). Here P either paraphrases LXX γιγάντων (‘those born of the earth’), or reflects the ancient Semitic usage of ‘land’ as the underworld, the land of the dead (cf. Jonah 2:7). �‫‘ ܘܣܘܟ‬and an intelligent man’; MT ‫‘ וכסיל‬but a fool’. The P text may reflect an accidental early confusion of �‫ ܣܘܟ‬and �‫‘( ܣܟ‬fool’), or this may be simply an interpretation of the v. which sees the wine and oil as emblematic of wisdom teaching which should be readily consumed. ‫‘ ܡܪܚܐ ܕܥܫܝܢ ܫܡܗ‬An aggressive man, whose reputation is powerful’; MT ‫‘ זד יהיר לץ שׁמו‬A proud, haughty man — his name is “scoffer”’. P renders freely the syntactically difficult MT. ‫‘ ܬܪܝ�ܐܝܬ‬honestly/uprightly’; MT ‫ לנצח‬can mean either ‘effectively’ (lit. ‘for victory’; cf. Vulg. victoriam’), or ‘continually/for ever’. P may paraphrase the former. ‫‘ ܘܛܒܐ ܡܪܚܡܢܘܬܐ‬and mercy is better than’; MT ‫‘ חן טוב‬good/kindly favor’. P misunderstands the unusual use of ‫ טוב‬as a modifier of ‫ חן‬in MT, and considers it to be the governing comparative term in this second clause (‘Good from’ = ‘better than’). No major change of meaning results.

Introduction to the Translation 22:5

xxxv

̈ ‘snares’; MT ‫‘ צנים‬thorns’; LXX τρίβολοι ‘thistles’. P may guess ‫ܢܫܒܐ‬

at the sense of this difficult H term. 22:13 P ‘A lazy person, when being sent out, says: ‘A lion is on the path, and now death is in the squares!’; MT ‘The lazy person says, “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!”’ P translates freely, adding the explanatory clause ‘when being sent out’, and substituting the abstract noun �‫‘ ܩܛ‬killing’ in place of MT ‫‘ ארצח‬I will be killed’ (Niphal). 22:15 ‫‘ ܡܦܪܕܐ‬carries away’; MT ‫‘ קשׁורה‬is bound to’. P paraphrases MT. 22:16 ‫‘ ܡܣܓܐ ܒܝܫܬܗ‬multiplies his wickedness [or ‘disaster’]; MT ‫להרבות‬ ‫לו‬, ‘to multiply for himself’. Cf. LXX πολλὰ ποιεῖ τὰ ἑαυτοῦ ‘multiplies things for himself’. P finds problematic the absence of a direct object for the H verb ‘multiplies’, and seeks to clarify by adding ‘his wickness’ as the object. 23:3 ‫‘ ܡܐܟܘܠܬܗ‬his food’; MT ‫‘ למטעמותיו‬his delicacies’. P loses the specific H sense of ‘rare, refined things to eat’. 23:4 ‫‘ ܒܚܟܡܬܐ ܐܬܦܪܩ ܡܢܗ‬in wisdom stay away from him’; MT ‫מבינתך‬ ‫(‘ חדל‬in) your wisdom, desist’ or ‘cease from your wisdom’. P adds ‘from him’ to clarify its interpretation of MT as an admonition to stop all effort at approaching the wealthy instead of relying on one’s own wisdom. 23:21 ‫‘ ܢܐܒܕ‬will perish’; MT ‫‘ יורשׁ‬will be impoverished’. P makes the outcome more severe. 23:24 ‫‘ ܢܪܘܙ ܘܢܕܘܨ‬rejoice and exult’. P uses the two verbs to render the intensive verbal construction of MT(Q) ‫‘ גיל יגיל‬will greatly rejoice’. 23:24 ‫‘ ܘܢܚܕܘܢ ܒܗ ܐܒܘܗܝ‬and his father will rejoice’; MT(Q) ‫‘ וישׂמח־‬and he will rejoice’. P’s addition of ‘his father’ suggests that two generations of wise sons are in view, contrary to MT. 23:32 ‫‘ ܘܐܝܟ ܚܪܡܢܐ ܕܦܪܚ‬and like the venomous viper that flies’; MT ‫‘ וכצפעני יפרשׁ‬and as a venomous viper stings [?]’. P probably takes the phrase ‫ ܚܪܡܢܐ ܕܦܪܚ‬from the Syriac translation of Isaiah 14:29 and 30:6, where it renders MT ‫‘ שׂרף מעופף‬flying seraph’. The sense of the rare H verb √‫ פרשׁ‬here is uncertain; elsewhere it means ‘cut in, be decisive’. Both LXX (διαχεῖται αὐτῷ ὁ ἰός ‘venom is spread through him’) and Vulg. (et sicut regulus venena diffundet ‘and he spreads venom abroad’) apparently read ‫‘ יפרשׂ‬spread’. 24:8 �‫‘ ܥܘ‬evildoer’; MT ‫‘ בעל־מזמות‬schemer’. 24:9 ‫‘ ܒܝܫܬܐ‬wickedness’; MT ‫‘ לץ‬a scoffer’. This v. in MT is difficult; LXX diverges dramatically. 24:10 P: ‘As for evildoers, wickedness will lead them in the day of calamity’; MT : ‘If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is limited’.

xxxvi

24:11

24:12

24:21

24:26 24:33

25:1

25:8 25:10

25:17 25:18 25:19 25:23

Introduction to the Translation There are few points of contact between P and MT, apart from ‘day of calamity/adversity’. P may be substituting an alternative Syriac proverb. ‫‘ ܕܡܬܬܚܕܝܢ‬those who are seized’; MT ‫‘ ומטים‬and those staggering. This clause is difficult. ‫‘ ܕܥ ܕܬܪܥܝܬܐ ܕܠܒܐ �ܗܐ ܗܘ ܒ�ܐ‬Know that God examines the thought of the heart’; MT ‫‘ הלא־תכן לבות הוא־יבין‬Does he who examines hearts not understand?’ P eliminates the rhetorical question of MT. ‫‘ ܘܐܡܠܟ‬and rule’; MT ‫‘ ומלך‬and king’. P turns the H noun for ‘king’ (so LXX) into an Aphel verb form, ‘to rule’. This must intend either to make the verse an instruction from Solomon to his son, or for theological reasons to remove ‘king’ as an object of the same verb used often in Proverbs for worship (‘fear God and king’). ‫‘ ܕܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܡܟܣܢܝܢ‬of those who rebuke’; MT ‫‘ משׁיב דברים נכחים‬the one who gives a right answer’. P renders interpretatively. ‫ ܬܣܝܡ‬... ‫ ܬܕܡܟ‬... ‫ ܬܢܘܡ‬... ‫‘ ܐܢ‬if you sleep … you slumber … you rest’; MT ‘a little sleep… slumber… folding’. P recasts the series of simple noun phrases into verbs. ‫‘ ܥܡܝ̈ܩܐ‬profound’: ‘deep’; MT lacks; LXX ἀδιάκριτοι ‘unwavering’ or ‘undecided’ or ‘impartial’. LXX and P both attest an additional adjective modifying ‘proverbs’, but the differences in meaning make it difficult to gauge their relationship. Perhaps uncertainty about the sense of ἀδιάκριτοι prompts P to guess. ‫‘ ܕ� ܟܕ ܬܕܘܢ ܒܐܚܪܝܬܐ‬lest when you go to trial later’; MT ‫פן מה־תעשׂה‬ ‫‘ באחריתה‬lest what will you do later’. P interprets the MT as referring to a subsequent phase of legal dispute. ‫‘ ܘܢܪܢܘܢ ܒܟ ܣܓܝ̈ܐܐ‬and many people think ill of you’; MT ‫ודבתך לא‬ ‫‘ תשׁוב‬and your reputation not recover’. In the light of the MT, it seems likely that P intends the preposition ‫ ܒ‬here to be adversative — ‘against’ (with condemnation, hostility), which is the basis for our translation ‘think ill’. ‫‘ � ܬܬܟܒ ܪܓܠܟ‬let your foot not be frequently’; MT ‫‘ הקר רגלך‬let your foot be scarce’ . P conversely expresses the idea of MT. ‫‘ ܦܕܘܥܐ‬axe’; MT ‫מפיץ‬. The Syriac term denotes a double-edged axe, whereas the H word probably means ‘maul, battle hammer; cf. LXX ῥόπαλον ‘club’. �‫‘ ܕܕܓ‬a liar’; MT ‫‘ בוגד‬treacherous person’; Vulg. infideli. ̈ ‫‘ ܗܟܢܐ‬so a hostile face and a secretive ‫ܐܦܐ ܒܝ̈ܫܬܐ ܘܠܫܢܐ ܡܛܫܝܐ‬ tongue’; MT ‫‘ לשׁון סתר נזעמים‬a secret [?] tongue, an angry face’. In this elliptical clause, MT appears to have the secretive tongue

Introduction to the Translation

25:24

25:27

26:3

26:5

26:7

26:8 26:9 26:12 26:17 26:18

26:20

xxxvii

producing an angry face’. The addition of ‘and’ here in P suggests that he understands both ‘hostile face’ and ‘secretive tongue’ as causes of unnamed consequences. ̈ ‫‘ ܘܒܒܝܬܐ‬and in a house of rooms’ or ‘house of dissensions’; ‫ܕܦܠܓܘܬܐ‬ MT ‫‘ בית חבר‬house of association’; LXX ἐν οἰκίᾳ κοινῇ ‘in a common/shared house’. P seems to interpret the phrase as meaning either a large house or a house with quarreling occupants, whereas MT indicates ̈ only a shared house. ̈ ‫ܡܫܒܚܬܐ‬ �‫‘ ܘܐܦ� ܠܡܒ�ܐ ܡ‬nor to search after glorious words’; MT ‫‘ ? וחקר כבדם כבוד‬nor/and honorable to search their glory’ [obscure]; LXX τιμᾶν δὲ χρὴ λόγους ἐνδόξους ‘it is necessary to honor notable words’. P offers a coherent interpretation of a notoriously difficult MT, with some similarity to LXX. �‫‘ ܙܩܬܐ ܠܓܒܪܐ ܣܟ‬a goad is for a foolish man’; MT ‫ושׁבט לגו כסילים‬ ‘and a rod for the back of fools’. P intentionally or accidentally duplicates the instrument of the preceding phrase: ‘goad for a donkey’. ‫‘ ܐܝܟ ܚܟܝܡܘܬܟ‬according to your wisdom’; MT ‫‘ כאולתו‬according to his foolishness’. P probably cannot tolerate the apparent contradiction between vv. 4 and 5, and therefore, uniquely, changes the wording of v. 5 to try to eliminate the tension. ‫‘ ܐܢ ܬܬܠ ܗܠܟܬܐ ܠܚܓܝܪܐ‬If you can bestow walking on a lame person’; MT ‫דּליו שׁ ֹקים מפּסּח‬. ‘The legs hang limp from a lame person’. P differs dramatically from MT, and from LXX: ‘As it is to take away traveling from legs, so is a proverb from the mouth of fools’. P may find MT obscure and composes an original clause involving ‘lame’. ‫‘ ܕܡܫܒܚ‬praises’; MT ‫ כבוד‬... ‫‘ נותן‬gives honor’. ‫‘ ܘܫܛܝܘܬܐ‬insanity’; MT ‫‘ ומשׁל‬a proverb’. P may want to avoid the unlikely idea of a wisdom saying being in the mouth of a fool. ‫‘ ܦܩܚ ܣܟ� ܛܒ ܡܢܗ‬a fool will flourish better than he’; MT ‫תקוה‬ ‫‘ לכסיל ממנו‬more hope for a fool than for him’. P translates freely. ‫‘ ܕܡܠܛ‬he who involves himself’; MT ‫‘ עבר מתעבר על‬a passer-by who becomes ̈ angry over’. P abbreviates MT. ‫‘ ܕܫܒܗ�ܢܐ ܡܫܕܝܢ ܡ� ܐܝܟ ܓܐ�ܐ‬like boastful people hurling words like darts’; MT ‫‘ כמתלהלה הירה זקים‬as crazy people hurl darts …’ P may be guessing about the rare H term ‘crazy people’. It is not clear that P understands the v. as protasis to v. 19; its addition of ‘words’ creates a separate simile already within v. 18. ‫‘ ܫܓܘܫܐ‬provoking’ or ‘inciting’; MT ‫‘ נרגן‬slandering’ or ‘whispering’.

xxxviii 26:25 26:26 27:6

27:6

27:9

27:13

27:14

27:23

27:27

28:2

28:3

28:4

‫ܡܡܟ ܩܠܗ‬

Introduction to the Translation

‘he lowers his voice’; MT ‫‘ חנן קולו‬he speaks graciously’. P interprets. ‫‘ ܒܠܒܗ‬in his heart’; MT ‫‘ במשׁאון‬by deception’. P paraphrases. ‫‘ ܫܦܝ�ܢ‬better’; MT ‫‘ נאמנים‬trustworthy’ (perhaps ‘well-intended,’ i.e., trustworthy in motive), or ‘enduring’. P avoids the ambiguity of the H term. ̈ ‫ܢܘܫܩܬܗ‬ ‫‘ ܡܢ‬than kisses from’; MT ‫‘ ונעתרות נשׁיקות‬but importunate/profuse are the kisses of’. P simply omits this difficult H term ‫ ונעתרות‬which probably means ‘importunate, suppliant’. LXX and Vulg. also have difficulty with it. ‫ … ‘ ܗܟܢܐ ܗܘ ܡܢ ܕܡܒܣܡ ܠܚܒܪܗ ܒܡܠܟܐ ܕܢܦܫܗ‬so is he who gives delight to his neighbor with the soul’s counsel’; MT ‫ומתק רעהו‬ ‫ מעצת־נפשׁ‬lit.‘and the sweetness of his neighbor (is) his own (or ‘energetic’) counsel’. P, creating a ‘Like … so …’ comparative sentence, offers an interpretative paraphrase of the obscure second clause of MT. ̈ ‫ ܘܥܠ‬... ‫‘ ܡܬܢܣܒ ܡܪܛܘܛܗ‬The cloak is seized … ‫ܐܦܝ ܢܘܟܪܝܐ ܡܫܟܢܗ‬ and their pledge is on account of a stranger ’; MT ‫ ובעד‬... ‫קח־בגדו‬ ‫‘ נכריה חבלהו‬Take his garment … on account of a strange woman seize it as a pledge’. P converts to a simple declarative narration the masc. sg. impv. forms of MT. P also eliminates the fem. gender of the second reference to a foreigner. ‫‘ � ܗܘܐ ܦܪܝܫ ܡܢ ܗܘ ܕ�ܛ‬will not be regarded differently from one who utters a curse’; MT ‫‘ קללה תחשׁב לו‬will have it reckoned to him as a curse’. P seeks to remove the ambiguity of MT. ‫‘ ܡܐ ܕܪܥܐ ܐܢܬ‬When you work as a shepherd’. This introductory addition by P, softening the abrupt change of subject, is missing from MT and LXX. ‫‘ ܕܒܝܬܟ‬of your household’; MT ‫‘ ביתך וחיים לנערותיך‬of your household, and the support [ lit.‘life’] of your maidens’. P omits the final clause of MT. ̈ ‫‘ ܘܒܢܝ̈ܢܫܐ‬but righteous people who know ‫ܙܕܝܩܐ ܕܝܕܥܝܢ ܟܐܢܘܬܐ ܢܓܪܘܢ‬ justice will endure’; MT ‫ ובאדם מבין ידע כן יאריך‬lit. ‘but in a man who has understanding knows, so he will endure’. P tries to make sense of the obscure MT. ‫‘ ܝܘܬܪܢ‬benefit’; MT ‫‘ לחם‬food’. P, with Vulg. (quo paratur fames ‘which brings famine’), interprets MT as referring to a driving rain that destroys rather than nourishes crops. �‫‘ ܡܫܬܒܚܝܢ ܒܥܘ‬praise themselves in crime’; MT ‫‘ יהללו רשׁע‬praise the wicked’. It is not clear why P would alter the MT in this way. The first two Syriac verbs in this v. create alliteration.

Introduction to the Translation 28:6

28:7

28:8 28:15 28:24 28:26 28:27

29:4

29:10 29:14 29:16 29:18

29:19

̈ ‫ܡܥܩܡܢ ܐܘ�ܚܬܗ‬ ‫ܡܣܟܢܐ ܡܗܠܟ ܒܬܡܝܡܘܬܐ ܘܥܬܝܪܐ‬

xxxix

‘A poor person walks in integrity, but the paths of a wealthy person are crooked’; MT ‫‘ טוב־רשׁ הולך בתמו מעקשׁ דרכים והוא עשׁיר‬Better is a poor man who walks in integrity than a rich man whose ways are crooked’. P gives a close translation of MT, but eliminates its ‘Better … than …’ structure. ‫‘ ܘܕܦܠܚ ܣܪܝܩܘܬܐ‬but the one who serves worthlessness’; MT ‫ורעה‬ ‫‘ זוללים‬but the one who befriends reckless men’. P apparently understands the H noun as an abstract pl., ‘worthlessness’. With its liturgical associations, ‫‘ ܦܠܚ‬serves’ may be intended to suggest religious apostasy. ‫‘ ܢܫܒܩܝܘܗܝ‬will leave it’; MT ‫‘ יקבצנו‬gathers it’. P streamlines the MT text. �‫‘ ܝܗܒܬ ܩ‬growling’, lit. ‘giving voice’; MT ‫‘ שׁוקק‬attacking’. P is probably interpreting the H verb. �‫‘ ܓܒܪܐ ܥܘ‬an evil man’; MT ‫ לאישׁ משׁחית‬lit., ‘of a man who destroys’; cf. Vulg. particeps homicidae ‘partner with a murderer’. ‫‘ ܒܬܡܝܡܘܬܐ‬in uprightness’, or ‘in integrity’; MT ‫‘ בחכמה‬in wisdom’. P substitutes a more moralistic noun. ̈ ‫ܥܝܢܘܗܝ ܡܢ ܡܣܟܢܐ‬ ‫‘ ܘܕܡܪܟܢ‬he who turns his eyes away from the poor’; MT ‫‘ ומעלים עיניו‬but he who closes his eyes’. P elaborates the MT for clarity. �‫‘ ܘܓܒܪܐ ܥܘ‬but an evil man’; MT ‫‘ ואישׁ תרומות‬but a man of [uncertain — perhaps ‘extortions’ or ‘gifts/bribes’]. P may not know the H word and therefore opts for the general perjorative noun; similarly, LXX παράνομος ‘lawless’. ‫‘ ܪܚܡܝܢ ܠܗ‬love him’; MT ‫‘ יבקשׁו נפשׁו‬seek his life’. P strengthens the H verb. ‫‘ ܕܕܐܢ‬who judges’; MT ‫ דלים‬... ‫‘ שׁופט‬who judges the poor’. It is not clear why P makes this omission. ‫‘ ܢܚܕܘܢ‬will rejoice’; MT ‫‘ יראו‬will see’. P may be interpreting MT, but it might misread MT as — or have a variant text — ‫יריעו‬. ̈ ‫‘ ܒܣܘܓܐܐ‬By a great many evildoers a people is ‫ܕܥܘ � ܡܬܬܪܥ ܥܡܐ‬ broken’; MT ‫‘ באין חזון יפרע עם‬In a lack of revelatory vision a people cast off restraint’. P drastically diverges from the MT, perhaps because of nervousness about contemporary prophetic revelation’. ‫‘ ܝܕܥ ܓܝܪ ܕ� ܒܠܥ‬for he knows that one will not beat’; MT ‫כי־יבין‬ ‫‘ ואין מענה‬though he understands, he does not answer’. This second clause of the v. is so different from MT and the other ancient versions, one suspects that P is translating a different proverb.

xl 29:21

29:23

30:1 30:2 30:8 30:20 30:27 30:28

30:33

31:1

31:7 31:8

31:11

31:13

Introduction to the Translation

‫‘ ܢܬܬܢܚ‬will despair’, lit. ‘will groan’.

P follows LXX δὲ ὀδυνηθήσεται ἐφ᾽ ἑαυτῷ ‘and will suffer pain in himself’ in rendering the obscure Heb ‫מנון‬. ‫‘ ܘܡܟܝܟܘܬܗ ܬܣܓܐ ܠܗ‬but his humility will increase for him’; MT ‫‘ יתמך ושׁפל־רוח‬but the humble in spirit will obtain’. P renders with some freedom. ‫‘ ܕܩܒܠ ܢܒܝܘܬܐ‬who received prophecy’; MT ‫‘ המשׂא‬the oracle’ or ‘of Massa’. P parphrases the H term, understood as ‘prophetic oracle’. ‫‘ ܕܚܣܝܪ ܗܘ ܪܥܝܢܝ‬my judgment is lacking’; MT ‫ בער אנכי מאישׁ‬lit. ‘I am more beast than human’. P gives an interpretative paraphrase. ‫‘ ܥܘܡܪܐ ܡܣܬܝ‬sufficient livelihood’; MT ‫‘ לחם חקי‬bread of my allotted portion’. P paraphrases . ‫‘ ܡܕܡ‬anything’; MT ‫‘ און‬a wrong’. P makes the woman’s denial more extreme. ‫‘ ܘܡܬܟܢܫܝܢ‬assemble together’; MT ‫‘ ויצא חצץ‬yet they go out in formation’. ‫‘ ܕܡܣܒܟܐ‬which fasten (themselves); MT ‫‘ תתפשׂ‬you hold (a lizard)’, or ‘(a lizard) holds’. P reflects one way of understanding the ambiguous subject of the verb. LXX seems to preserve a double translation, giving both understandings: χερσὶν ἐρειδόμενος καὶ εὐάλωτος ‘(lizard) holds itself with its hands and being easily caught’. ‫‘ ܫܘܡܢܗ‬fat’; MT ‫‘ מיץ‬pressing, squeezing’. It is not clear why P would think it preferable to name the specific ingredient in whole milk which churning transforms into butter. A variant H text cannot be ruled out, but the play on the verb ‘press/squeeze/churn’ in MT makes it difficult to think that its text is not original. ‫‘ ܕܪܕܬܗ ܐܡܗ ܘܐܡܪܬ ܠܗ‬which his mother taught him. She said to him’; MT ‫(‘ אשׁר־יסּרתּו אמּו‬by) which his mother admonished him’. P softens the H verb a bit, and adds the introductory ‘She said to him’. ‫‘ ܟܐܒܝ̈ܗܘܢ‬their pains’; MT ‫‘ רישׁו‬his poverty’. P chooses to deemphasize poverty as the a condition suitably alleviated by wine. ̈ ‫‘ ܠܟܠܗܘܢ ܒܢܝ̈ܐ‬all wicked sons’; MT ‫‘ כל־בני חלוף‬all the sons of � ‫ܥܘ‬ [uncertain]’; LXX πάντας ὑγιῶς ‘all fairly’. P guesses at the meaning of the obscure H ‫חלוף‬. ̇ ‫‘ ܘܐܣܢܐ � ܚܣܪ‬and she does not lack provisions’; MT ‫ושׁלל לא‬ ‫ܠܗ‬ ‫‘ יחסר‬and he will not lack gain [lit. booty]’. P chooses a somewhat weaker term than the MT, and understands the provisions as being held by her, whereas the MT describes them as his. ‫‘ ܘܥܒܕ‬and one works’; MT ‫‘ ותעשׂ‬and she works’. This grammatically awkward masc. verb form in all the early P MSS is the more difficult

Introduction to the Translation

xli

̈ (‘and the works of’) in the later reading and must be primary; ‫ܘܥܒܕܝ‬ MSS looks like a secondary correction. 31:14 ‫‘ ܐܬܝܐ ܬܐܓܘܪܬ ̇ܗ‬whose produce arrives’; MT ‫‘ תביא לחמה‬she brings her food’. ̈ 31:15 ‫ܠܒܢܝ ܒܝܬܗ‬ ‘for the children of her household’; MT ‫‘ לביתה‬for her household’. 31:23 ‫‘ ܒܝܢܬ ܡܕ�̈ܢܬܐ‬in the cities’; MT ‫‘ בשׁערים‬in the gates’. P surely intentionally — and uniquely among the ancient witnesses — paraphrases the MT, perhaps because ‘the land’ in the next clause suggests a wide region that includes many towns. Inner Syriac Corruption

Listed below are readings which depart from MT and which seem explainable as the result of scribal errors or confusions within the Syriac texual tradition. 6:22

‫‘ ܘܡܐ ܕܡܗܠܟ ܐܢܬ ܐܩܦ ܐܢܘܢ ܠܟ ܘܥܡܟ ܢܗܘܘܢ‬And when you travel,

attach them to you and they will be with you’; MT ‫בהתהלכך תנחה‬ ‫‘ אתך‬When you travel, it will lead you’. Cf. LXX ἐπάγου αὐτήν καὶ μετὰ σοῦ ἔστω ‘When you walk bring it, and let it be with you’. One suspects that originally the P text was closer to the LXX, before an inner-Syriac error that changed ‫‘ ܐܦܩ‬lead’ into ‫‘ ܐܩܦ‬attach’. It is also possible that P paraphrases LXX, with distant echo of P Deut 6:8 and 11:18. 8:12 ‫‘ ܒܪܝܬ‬I created’; MT ‫‘ שׁכנתּי‬I dwelt’. This unique variant likely results from an inner-Syriac corruption, in which original ‫‘( ܕܪܝܬ‬I dwelt’) in Estrangelo script was misread as ‫ܒܪܝܬ‬. 11:3 M ‫‘ ܢܬܦܢܐ‬be rewarded’. Leiden and all early P mss read ‫‘ ܢܬܒܢܐ‬be built up’, which is surely the original reading, corrupted by later Syriac scribal error. This entire v. is different from MT: ‘The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them’ (NRSV). 16:31 ‫‘ ܡܫܬܒܚܐ‬is glorified’; MT ‫‘ תּמּצא‬is found’. The P rendering must result from a corruption at some point of original Syriac ‫‘ ܡܫܬܚܟܐ‬is found’.

Scribal Errors or Misunderstandings

Listed below are passages where it seems that the Syriac translator misunderstood the H source text, or where a H scribal error has occurred. P Proverbs contains a number of places where the translation seems to be based on a H word in which two letters are transposed from their position

xlii

Introduction to the Translation

in the MT. Those are included here. The reader is reminded that such a transposition of letters can be an intentional interpretative device (a sort of paranomasia) rather than a mechanical accident. 1:12

1:19

3:21

3:22

4:1

4:17 4:18 5:19

6:6

6:12

‫ܘܕ� ܡܘܡ‬

‘without blemish’; MT ‫‘ ותמימים‬and whole’. This H adjective denotes ‘whole, intact’, but often is used figuratively for ‘morally complete, blameless’. Here P wrongly chooses the latter sense. ‫‘ ܘܢܣܒܝܢ‬and who capture’; MT ‫‘ יקח‬it captures’. P wrongly identifies the subject of this verb with the subject of the preceding verb ‫בצע‬ (‘seize, take profit from’), obscuring the ironic sense of the final clause. The MT means: ‘Such are the ways of the one who seizes unlawful gain; it [i.e., unlawful gain] takes captive the one who possesses it’. ‫‘ � ܢܙܠ ܒܥܝܢܝ̈ܟ‬let it not seem worthless in your eyes to’; MT ‫אל־ילזו‬ ‫‘ מעיניך‬do not let (them) depart from your eyes’. P seems to understand the H verb as √‫‘ זלל‬be light, low, worthless’ (cf. √ ‫)דלל‬, whereas MT intends √‫לוז‬. The same expression occurs in 4:21. Note that a Syriac translation would be ‫‘ � ܢܐܙܠ‬let not depart’. ‫‘ ܪܘܚܦܐ‬mercy’; MT ‫‘ ֵחן‬beauty’ or ‘grace/mercy’. The former H definition fits the context better, but the Syriac term denotes the latter. ‫‘ ܝܕܥܬܐ‬knowledge’; MT ‫ד ַﬠת‬.ַ P mistakes the MT inf. ‘to know’ for the noun, ‘knowledge’. The addition of ‘and’ must be his own syntactical adjustment. ‫‘ ܕܡܐܟܘܠܬܗܘܢ‬their food’; MT ‫‘ ָל ֲחמוּ‬they eat’. P misreads the H verb as a noun with 3rd masc. sg. suffix). ‫‘ ܢܘܗܪܐ ܡܙܗܪܐ‬a shining light’; MT ‫‘ כאור נגה‬like the light of dawn’. P misses the sense of ‫ נגה‬as ‘dawn, day break’. ‫‘ ܐܘ�ܚܬܗ ܝܠܦ‬learn her ways’; MT ‫‘ דדיה ירוך‬let her breasts satisfy [lit. ‘saturate’] you’. P paraphrases, but may misread the H verb as ‫יורוך‬ ‘teach you’, a form of √‫ ירה‬. ‫‘ ܘܝܠܦ ܕܠܝܬ ܠܗ ܚ�ܕܐ‬and learn that it has no harvest’; MT ‫ וחכם‬and be wise’; LXX καὶ γενοῦ ἐκείνου σοφώτερος ‘and become wiser than it’. In place of the final ‫ וחכם‬at the end of v. 6, P attaches the opening clause of v. 7: ‫‘ ܕܠܝܬ ܠܗ ܚ�ܕܐ‬but it has no harvest’. 6:7a MT is ‫‘ אשׁר אין־לה ָק ִצין‬which has no ruler’, in which P misreads ‫ ָק ִצין‬for ‫‘ ָק ִ֗ציר‬harvest’. ‫‘ ܒܥܫܝܩܘܬܐ‬in oppression’; MT ‫‘ עקשׁות פה‬crooked speech’. P seems to read ‫‘ עקשׁות‬crooked’ as ‫עסקות‬, built on √‫‘ עסק‬oppress’, an erroroneous metathesis. The omission of ‘mouth/speech’ is curious.

Introduction to the Translation 6:19

6:33 7:4 7:7

7:8

7:10

8:3

8:9 8:35

11:9

11:10

11:15

xliii

‫‘ ܘܠܕܪܡܐ‬sets’; MT ‫‘ ומשׁלּח מדנים‬and who instigates disputes’. P omits

the direct object ‘disputes, strife’ of this verb, which is in MT and other ancient witnesses. One suspects accidental omission. ‫ ‘ ܕܢܩܪܘܒ‬touches; MT ‫‘ נגע־‬wounds’. P has misread this noun as a form of the verb √‫‘ נגע‬meet, encounter’. ‫‘ ܡܕܥܐ‬knowledge’; MT ‫‘ וּ ֹמ ָדע‬relative, kinswoman’. P has misunderstood the rare H noun (elsewhere only Ruth 2:1) as ‫מ ָדּע‬. ַ ‫‘ ܘܒܚܣܝ�ܝ ܪܥܝܢܐ‬and among those lacking judgment’; MT ‫נער חסר־לב‬ ‘a young man lacking sense’. P misunderstands this sentence. In MT, the speaker describes seeing among various immature youths one particular young male who lacks judgment. ‫‘ ܥܠ �ܓܢܒ ̈ܙܘܝܬܐ ܕܫܒܝ̈ܠܝ ܒܝܬ ̇ܗ‬by the edges of the paths to her house’; MT ‫‘ אצל פנה ודרך ביתה יצעד‬near her corner, and he strides along the path to her house’. P seems not to understand the syntax here, though a defective H text may lie before it. ‘Her corner’ turns into ‘corners/edges of’, and the final verb is lacking altogether. P has already lost the sg. subject of the verb in v. 5. ̈ ‫ܕܥܠܝܡܐ‬ ‫‘ ܕܡܦܪܕܐ ܠܒܗܘܢ‬to capture the heart of some youths’; MT ‫‘ ונצרת לב‬wily of heart’. One guesses that P misreads the rēsh in ‫ונצרת‬ as a dalath, and thus reads a H term built on √‫‘ צוד‬trap’, which it elaborates. ‫‘ ܒܦܘܡܗ‬with her mouth’; MT ‫‘ ְל ִפי־קרת‬at the entrance [lit. ‘mouth’] of’. P seems to have misunderstood the idiomatic sense of H ‫ְל ִפי‬ ‘mouth’ here. ‫‘ ܕܡܫܬܘܕܥ ܠܗܝܢ‬to the one who recognizes them’; MT ‘to the one who understands’. P tries to make the H clause more specific. ‫‘ ܘܢܦܩ ܨܒܝܢܐ ܡܢ ܡܪܝܐ‬and the pleasure of the Lord goes forth’; MT ‫‘ וַ יָּ ֶ֥פק ָ ֜ר ֗צוֹן מיהוה‬and he obtains the favor of the Lord’. P seems wrongly to assume that H ‫ וַ יָּ ֶ֥פק‬is a form of the same Syriac root √‫‘ ܢܦܩ‬go forth, exit’ which is entailed in the nouns it uses earlier in the verse. ‫‘ ܢܬܥܫܢܘܢ‬is strengthened’. MT ‫‘ יחלצו‬will be delivered’. P understands the MT verb here to be a form of √‫ חלצ‬II ‘equip, envigorate, strengthen’, instead of √‫ חלצ‬I ‘pull out, rescue’. ‫‘ ܬܥܫܢ‬is fortified/strong’; MT ‫‘ תעלץ‬rejoices’. P probably misreads its H text here as ‫ חלצ√( תחלצ‬II ‘equip, envigorate, strengthen’), as in v. 9. ‫‘ ܕܣܢܐ ܠܕܡܣܟܝܢ ܠܣܒܪܐ‬hates those who wait hopefully [ lit.‘who wait for hope’]; MT ‫‘ ושׂנא תקעים בוטח‬he who hates security agreements [?] will be secure’; LXX μισεῖ δὲ ἦχον ἀσφαλείας ‘and he hates the sound of security’. Clearly, the rare H word ‫ תקעים‬is a problem for

xliv

11:22

11:25

12:28

13:14

13:23

14:10

15:5

Introduction to the Translation the translators; it must refer to providing guarantee for someone’s loan. P seems to associate it with homophonic noun ‫‘ תקוה‬hope’, while LXX associates it with ‫‘ תפע‬the sound of a horn blast’. Additional textual corruption may be involved. ‫‘ ܣܪܝܬ‬who stinks’; MT ‫‘ סרת‬lacks’, lit.‘turns away from’. Strangely, P here reads MT as a fem. ptc. of Aramaic √‫‘ סרי‬stink, be putrid’, rather than of the more logical H √‫‘( סור‬turn away from’, hence ‘lacking’). LXX freely interprets with ‘evil minded’ (κακόφρονι κάλλος). ‫ ܢܬܬܠܝܛ‬... ‫‘ ܘܠܝܛܐ‬and he who curses … will be cursed’; MT ‫ומרוה‬ ‫ יורא‬... ‘and he who gives to drink … will be given drink’. The Syriac translation probably results from a confusion of H √‫‘ ארר‬curse’ with H √ ‫‘ רוה‬drink’. ‫‘ ܘܐܘܪܚܐ ܕܐܟܬܢ̈ܐ ܠܡܘܬܐ‬but the path of the wrathful is toward death’; MT ‫‘ ודרך נתיבה ַאל־מות‬and the course of its path is not death’; LXX ὁδοὶ δὲ μνησικάκων εἰς θάνατον ‘but the paths of those who bear grudges is toward death’. MT is awkward, and both P and LXX seem not to understand ‫נתיבה‬. P may be influenced by LXX, or both may independently misread H ‫אל‬. ̈ ‫‘ �ܝܠܝܢ ܕܣܛܝܢ ܡܢ‬for those who turn from the snares of ‫ܦܚܐ ܕܡܘܬܐ‬ death’; MT ‫‘ לסור ממקשׁי‬to turn from the snares of’. P may intentionally paraphrase, or it may work from a H text in which accidental dittography turns the inf. construct ‫ לסור‬into a pl. ptc. ‫‘ לסו ִרים‬for those who turn’. The dramatic differences between MT, LXX, P, Vulg., and Targ. reflect a hopelessly complex textual history of this verse that cannot be reconstructed. MT reads literally something like: ‘Much food (is in) the soil of the poor, but there is loss for lack of justice; But there is what is destroyed by reason of injustice’. ̈ ‘but upright sons (are) a pleasure’ or ‘but upright sons ‫ܘܒܢܝ ܬ�ܝ�ܐ ܨܒܝܢܐ‬ (do) what is the desire (of God); MT and LXX agree in read an entirely different sentence here in v. 10. This phrase looks like a corruption of the final clause in MT v. 9: ‫וּבין יְ ָשׁ ִ ֣רים ָר ֽצוֹן‬ ֖ ֵ ‘but among the upright there is good will/(divine) favor. Either P or its H sourcetext reads ‫ וּבנים יְ ָשׁ ִ ֣רים ָר ֽצוֹן‬lit. ‘but upright sons (are/do) pleasure/desire’. It is impossible to know whether the intended idea is that righteous sons do what is God’s will or that upright sons are a pleasure to a father, as in 3:12 and 23:24. ‫‘ ܥܪܝܡ‬prudent person(s)’. P reads a sg. noun, where MT has the verb form ‫‘ יערם‬become prudent’. Only the presence of the letter yod marks the difference; scribal error could be at issue.

Introduction to the Translation 15:7 15:11 15:17 15:33

16:4

16:7

16:15 16:16 16:19 16:26

17:8 17:11

xlv

‫‘ � ܟܐܢܝܢ‬are not upright’ ; MT ‫‘ לא־כן‬not so’. P misunderstands H ‫ ֵכן‬. ‫‘ ܘܐܦ‬and also’. P misses the idiom of the MT ‫‘ אף כי‬how much more’. ‫‘ ܘܚܘܒܐ ܕܫܡܐ‬and a good reputation’: lit.‘love of name’; MT ‫ָשׁם‬

‘there’. P misreads MT ‫ ָשׁם‬as ‫‘( ֵשׁם‬name, reputation’). ‘and the glory of the humble goes before them’; MT ‫‘ ולפני כבוד ענוה‬and humility goes before honor’. P misreads the abstract H n. ‫‘ ֲﬠנָ וָ ה‬humility’ as ‫‘ ָﬠנִ י‬humble one’, and changes the meaning of the clause. MT says that the virtue of humility is a prequisite for honorable recognition, but P seems to say that public honor is one of the rewards of being humble, preceding it as herald or servant in procession. In MT this clause is identical to 18:12, where P translates it correctly. ̈ ‫ܥܒܕܘܗܝ ܕܡܪܝܐ �ܝܠܝܢ ܕܡܫܬܡܥܝܢ ܠܗ‬ ‫‘ ܟܠܗܘܢ‬All the works of the Lord belong to those who obey him’; MT ‫‘ כל ָפּ ַﬠל יהוה למענהו‬The Lord made everything for its purpose’. P misunderstands H ‫ַ ֽל ַמּ ֲﬠ ֵנ֑הוּ‬ (‘for its purpose’) as a ptc. form of the verb ‫ענה‬: ‘those who answer [= obey] him’. P also misreads the pf. verb ‫‘( פעל‬do, make’) as a noun. ‫‘ ܢܦܪܘܥ‬repay’ or ‘take revenge upon’; MT ‫‘ יַ ְשׁ ִ ֥לם‬make peace with’. P understands the H verb here as √‫ שׁלם‬I ‘be complete’ (‘repay’ in Dstem) whereas MT surely intends √‫ שׁלם‬II (‘be at peace’). ‫‘ ܥܢܢܐ ܒܟܝܪܝܬܐ‬early cloud’; MT ‫‘ עב מלקושׁ‬cloud of spring rain’. P may not understand the H nomen rectum, or may be attempting a clarification. ‫‘ ܛܒܐ ܗܝ‬it is better’; MT ‫‘ מה־טוב‬how much better is’. ‫‘ ܥܝ̈ܢܐ‬eyes’. MT(Q) ‫‘ את־עניים‬with the lowly’. P seems to have misread the MT as ‫‘( עינים‬eyes’) and then created parallel phrases. ̈ ‫‘ ܢܦܫܐ ܡܟܐܒܬܐ‬He who ‫ܟܐܒܝ ̇ܗ ܠ ̇ܗ ܘܡܢ ܦܘܡܐ ܕܢܦܫ ̇ܗ ܐܬܐ ܠ ̇ܗ ܐܒܕܢܐ‬ causes suffering (experiences) suffering, and from his own mouth ruin comes to him’; MT ‫ נפשׁ עמל עמלה לו כי־אכף עליו פיהו‬lit. ‘The appetite of a laborer labors for him, for his mouth drives him’. P reads MT or a nearly identical text, but it makes a unique interpretation, understanding ‫ נפשׁ‬as ‘appetite’ rather than ‘life, self’, and construing ‫ עמל‬as ‘distress, suffering’ rather than ‘hard labor’. P may depend upon LXX (τὴν ἀπώλειαν) in rendering the uncommon H verb ‫‘( אכף‬urge, press’) as ‘ruin’. ‫‘ ܣܘܟ� ܗܝ‬understanding’ or ‘intelligence’; MT ‫‘ ישׂכיל‬he succeeds’. P confuses the H verb with the noun ‫‘ שׂכל‬prudence, wisdom’. ‫ ܒܝܫܬܐ‬... ‫‘ ܓܒܪܐ ܚܪܝܝܐ‬contentious person … wickedness’; MT ‫ רע‬... ‫‘ אך־מרי‬evil person … only contentiousness’. P confuses the subject and the direct object of the MT.

‫ܘܬܫܒܘܚܬܗ ܕܡܟܝܟܐ ܐܙ� ܩܕܡܘܗܝ‬

xlvi

Introduction to the Translation

‘The face of an intelligent person looks about upon wisdom’; MT ‫‘ את־פני מבין חכמה‬Wisdom is before ( lit.‘with the face of’) the understanding person’. P appears not to understand the H phrase ‫את־פני‬. 18:11 ‫‘ ܡܫܪܝܗ‬his dwelling’; MT ‫‘ משׂכיתו‬in his imagination’. P or its sourcetext reads MT as ‫‘ משׁכנו‬in his dwelling’. 18:15 ‫‘ ܬܩܢܐ‬sound’; MT ‫‘ נבוֹן‬understanding’. P seems to translate H ‫נכוֹן‬ instead of ‫נבוֹן‬. ̈ ‫‘ ܘܠܒܝܫܝܢ ܝܗܒ‬and one gives gifts to the wicked’; MT 19:6 ‫ܡܘܗܒܬܐ‬ ‫‘ וכל־הרע לאישׁ מתן‬and everyone is a friend of the man (who gives) gift(s)’. P misunderstands H �ַ ‫הר‬ ֵ ‘the fellow/friend’, as ‫הרע‬ ַ ‘the evil one’. 19:9 ‫‘ ܗܝܡܢܘܬܐ‬faithfulness’; MT ‫‘ תבונה‬understanding’. 19:17 ‫‘ ܕܡܬܠܘܐ‬are joined to’; MT ‫‘ מלוה‬lends to’. P falls prey to a false cognate: √ ‫ לוי‬means ‘join’ in Syriac, but ‘borrow, lend’ in H. 19:28 ‫‘ ܡܥܫܢ‬hardens’; MT ‫‘ יליץ‬scoffs at’. The odd expression, ‘hardens/strengthens judgment/litigation’, is obscure. It clearly is morally negative, as again in v. 29. One suspects that P misreads ‫יליץ‬ as a form of √‫‘ חלץ‬be strong, girded’; P uses √‫ ܥܫܢ‬to translate ‫ לץ‬also in v. 20:1. 19:29 ‫‘ ܠܥܡܐ‬nation’or ‘people’; MT ‫‘ ְלגֵ ו‬for the back of’. P misreads MT as ‫‘ לגוי‬for the nation’. 20:4–5 ‫ ܥܡܝܩ ܡܠܬܐ‬. ‫‘ ܘܠܝܬ ܡܝ̈ܐ‬but there is no water. Thought is deep …’ MT ‫‘ וָ ָ ֽאיִ ן ׃ מים עמקים‬but there will be nothing. Deep waters …’ In P the noun ‘waters’ is displaced to the end of v. 4, where it makes no sense. ‘There is no water’ is hardly a suitable response to the sluggard’s begging for grain. 20:14 ‫‘ ܠܚܒܪܗ‬to his neighbor’; MT ‘Bad! Bad!’ ‫רע רע‬. P drastically changes the meaning of the saying by misunderstanding MT ‫‘ ַ ֣רע‬Bad!’ as �ַ ‫ֵר‬ ‘neighbor’. ̈ 20:15 ‫‘ ܘܣܦܘܬܐ‬and lips of’; MT ‫[ שׂפתי־‬lacks ‘and’]. P destroys the comparison expressed in MT: ‘There is gold and an abundance of precious jewels, but a precious object is [sic] lips of knowledge’. P wrongly creates a single series of four items. 20:17 ‫‘ ܥܪܒ‬pledge surety’; MT ‫‘ ערב‬sweet’. P confuses homographs here, mistaking H √‫ ערב‬III ‘be sweet’ for √‫ ערב‬II ‘give in pledge’. As a result P seriously confuses the meaning of the initial clause. 21:4 ‫‘ ܪܘܚܬܐ ܕܠܒܐ‬aggressiveness of heart’. MT ‫‘ ורחב־לב‬arrogance’, lit. ‘breadth of heart’. P may not fully understand this H idiom. 17:24

̈ ‫ܐܦܘܗܝ ܕܣܟܘܠܬܢܐ ܚܝ�ܢ ܒܚܟܡܬܐ‬

Introduction to the Translation 22:18

22:21

22:21

23:2

23:4 23:4 23:28

23:31

24:4

24:19 24:22 24:28

‫ ܛܪ ܐܢܝܢ‬:‫ܕܒܣܝ̈ܡܢ ܐܢܝܢ‬

xlvii

‘are lovely; guard them’; MT ‫נעים כי־תשׁמרם‬ ‘lovely that you guard’. P misreads H sg. adj. ‫ נעים‬as pl. adj. ‫נעמים‬ and, omitting the second ‫כי‬, alters the syntax of the MT. ‫‘ ܡܠܟܐ ܘܝܕܥܬܐ‬counsel and knowledge’. P attaches this phrase to v. 21 as part of the compound direct object of ‘to make you know’; MT(K) makes it the end of v. 20: ‫ …‘ שׁלשׁום במועצת ודעת‬thirty times [?] about counsel and knowledge’. ‫‘ ܘܫܠܝܐ‬quiet’; MT ‫‘ קשׁט‬certainty/truth’. It seems doubtful that P would be ignorant of this Aramaic word, though it is rare in MT. Accidental metathesis is probably involved at some stage in reading or copying the Hebrew: ‫ קשׁט‬becomes ‫‘( שׁקט‬silence’). ‫‘ ܕ� ܬܣܝܡ ܣܟܝܢܐ ܒܦܘܡܟ ܐܢ ܐܝܬ ܓܒܪܐ ܕܢܦܝܫ‬Lest you put a knife in your mouth, if there is a man of courage’; MT �‫�ﬠ‬ ֑ ֶ ‫וְ ַשׂ ְמ ָ ֣תּ ַשׂ ִ ֣כּין ְבּ‬ ‫ם־בּ ַﬠל ֶנ ֶ֣פשׁ ָ ֽא ָתּה‬ ֖ ַ ‫‘ ִא‬And put a knife in your throat if you have a big appetite’ [ lit. ‘lord of soul’]. The MT reference to knife is a figurative expression for putting a curb on one’s appetite. P seems to misconstrue knife as a potential punishment for lack of such self ֽ ָ it is not clear control. Syriac ‫ ܐܝܬ‬must be a misreading of H ‫;א ָתּה‬ what P intends by ‘man of courage’. ‫‘ ܬܬܩܪܒ‬approach’; MT ‫‘ תיגע‬weary yourself’. P must mistake the H verb as √‫‘ נגע‬touch, reach, attain’. ‫‘ ܠܥܬܝܪܐ‬the wealthy’; MT ‫‘ להעשׁיר‬to acquire wealth’. P misreads the infinitive verb as a noun. P: ‘Suddenly she will destroy, and many men will multiply wronggoing’; MT: ‘Indeed she lies in wait like a robber, and she increases the treacherous ones among men’. P seems to misunderstand MT quite dramatically, or works from a wildly variant source-text. ‫‘ ܐ� ܪܢܝ ܒܙܕܝܩܘܬܐ‬instead concentrate on righteousness’; MT ‫יתהלך‬ ‫‘ במישׁרים‬flows smoothly’. P misunderstands the clause, probably from an initial misreading of ‘smoothly, directly’ as a noun for ‘uprightness’ built on √‫ישׂר‬. This v. may be a doublet of the sentence in v. 30B. ‫‘ ܟܠ ܩܢܝܢܐ ܘܐܝܩܪܐ ܘܒܘܣܡܐ‬all property and treasure and delight’; MT ‫‘ כל־הון יקר ונעים‬all valuable and delightful wealth’. P misunderstands the compound adjective in MT. ‫‘ ܬܚܣܡ‬envy’; MT ‫‘ תתחר‬be vexed’. P may not understand the H verb; other ancient witnesses vary in their translations. ‫‘ ܕܫܢܝ̈ܗܘܢ‬their years’; MT ‫‘ שׁניהם‬both of them’. P misunderstands the H numeral, the Syriac translation is less obscure than MT. ‫‘ ܬܦܬܦܬܝܘܗܝ‬tear him down’; MT ‫‘ והפתית‬deceive him [?]’. P may not understand the difficult H verb.

xlviii 25:9

26:11 26:24

27:16

27:25

27:26

28:18

28:23

29:1

29:5

29:11

30:1 30:1 30:32

Introduction to the Translation

‫ܘܐܪܙܐ ܐܚܪܢܐ‬

‘but … another secret’; MT ‫‘ וסוד אחר‬the secret of another’. P seems to misunderstand the H syntax. ‫‘ ܫܛܐ‬who acts senselessly’; MT ‫‘ שׁוֹנֶ ה‬who repeats’. P confuses this H verb with an Aramaic homograph √‫‘ שׁני‬be insane’. ‫‘ ܡܬܝܕܥ‬are recognized’; MT ‫‘ ינכר‬dissembles, disguises himself’; Vulg. intellegitur. P seems not to understand the H verb actually inverts the sense of MT. ‫‘ ܪܘܚܐ ܕܓܪܒܝܐ ܩܫܝܐ‬the north wind is harsh; MT ‫‘ צפניה צפן־רוח‬the one who reserves/hides her, restrains the wind’. The MT clause apparently refers back to the quarrelsome woman of v. 15. P misreads the H √‫ צפן‬as ‘north’ (cf. Zaphon), rather than the homograph, ‘hide’. ‫‘ ܫܘܚ‬sprouts’; MT ‫‘ גָ ָלה‬departs/is removed’. P perhaps reads this H verb in terms of another possible meaning of √‫‘—גלה‬is uncovered’ as being newly emergent from the winter snows. Cf. Vulg. aperta sunt, lit. ‘are open’. Oddly, LXX reads ‘care for’ (ἐπιμελοῦ). ̈ ‘and kids are for your food’; MT ‫ומחיר שׂדה‬ ‫ܘܓܕܝܐ ܠܡܐܟܘܠܬܟ‬ ‫‘ עתודים‬and goats are the price of a field’. P seems to omit most of the MT text of the clause, and in its place intrudes the first of two translations of the initial clause of v. 27. ‫‘ ܒܓܘܡ�ܐ‬into a pit’; MT ‫‘ באחת‬at once’. This is an odd choice of terms in P. Perhaps P reads a source-text which has ‫ בשׁחת‬instead of ‫באחת‬. ‫‘ ܕܡܦܠܓ ܒܠܫܢܗ‬than he who divides with his tongue’; MT ‫ַמ ֲח ִ ֥ליק‬ ‘who flatters (with) the tongue’. P mistakenly reads MT as a form of ‫ חלק‬II ‘to divide’ instead of ‫ חלק‬I ‘to be smooth, to flatter’. ‫‘ ܕ� ܡܩܒܠ ܡܟܣܢܘܬܐ‬who will not accept reproof’; MT ‫ תוכחות‬lit. ‘of reprimands’. P must not understand MT correctly, and adds the negative particle in order to clarify that a defiant person is at issue. ‫‘ ܕܡܬܦܠܓ‬who is divided against’; MT ‫‘ מחליק‬flatters’. H verb √‫חלק‬ I means ‘divide’, whereas √‫ חלק‬II means ‘be smooth, flatter’. P mistakes this verb form again as in 28:23. ‫‘ ܒܪܥܝܢܗ ܡܬܚܫܒ‬thinks to himself’; MT ‫‘ באחור ישׁבחנה‬quiets them’, lit. ‘quiets them back’. P must read the H verb here as ‫יחשׁבנה‬, either due to accidental metathesis or a variant source-text. ‫‘ �ܬܠܝܐܝܠ‬to Ithiel’; MT ‫‘ לאיתיאל לאיתיאל ואכל‬to Ithiel—to Ithiel and Ucal’. P omits the final two names. �‫‘ ܘܐܬܡܨܝ ܚܝ‬whose strength prevailed’; MT ‫‘ הגבר‬the man’. P seems to read the MT as a verbal form of √‫‘ גבר‬be strong’. P: ‘Do not covet so that you will not be disgraced. And do not stetch out your hand to your mouth deceitfully’. MT is difficult: ‫אם־נבלת‬

Introduction to the Translation

xlix

‫ בהתנשׂא ואם־זמות יד לפה‬lit. ‘If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, or if you have thought evil, hand to your mouth’. P so wildly diverges from MT, it either almost completely misunderstands the text of MT or simply resorts to a different saying because it finds the H obscure. ̈ 31:3 ‫‘ ܘܐܘ�ܚܬܟ ܠܡܐܟܠܬܐ‬nor your paths to the foods of’; MT ‫ודרכיך‬ ‫‘ למחות‬and your powers [lit. ‘paths’] to destroy’. P misses the idiomatic sense of H ‫ דרך‬as ‘power’. ‘Foods of kings’ does not make sense as a rendering of ‘to destroy’, but as a description of extravagant luxury, it fits the context better than MT. P may read a corrupted H text. 31:19 ‫‘ ܒܟܫܝܪܘܬܐ‬with skill’; MT ‫‘ בכישׁור‬on the whorl [?]’. The H noun ‫ ִכישׁוֹר‬, used only here in the Hebrew Bible, must be a technical term for some implement used in spinning. P transliterates the H, but the Syriac vocable has a different meaning: ‘skill, industry, efficiency’. Cf. LXX ‘profitable things’. 31:27 ‫‘ ܘܓܠܝܢ‬are visible’, lit. ‘uncovered’; MT ‫‘ צופיה‬she keeps watch’. P possibly misreads the MT as ‫‘ צפויה‬is watched’ (fem. passive ptc.).

Dependence upon the Septuagint (LXX)

The notes below list places where P agrees in some respect with the text of LXX against the MT. A reasonable initial presumption in such cases is that the Syriac translator is working directly from a copy of LXX (hence our frequent comment, ‘follows LXX’, etc.) although it is not impossible that in some cases they have independently arrived at a similar rendering or that they both work from a H text which differs from MT. The nature of the relationship of LXX to P in the Book of Proverbs is the subject of considerable scholarly discussion.

�‫ܥܘ‬

‘wrong’; MT ‫‘ בצע‬unlawful material gain’; LXX τὰ ἄνομα ‘lawless deeds’. P here might be influenced by LXX in rendering the H noun with a more general word for wrong-doing, blurring somewhat the sense of MT. 1:26 ‫‘ ܘܐܒܕܢܐ ܡܢ ܫܠܝܐ‬and destruction suddenly’. The three words at the end of v. 26 seem to incorporate the initial clause of v. 27 (‫בבא‬ ‫‘ כשׁואה פחדכם‬when your fear comes like a devastation’) which P has amalgamated with the end of v. 26. P must depend upon LXX for the addition of ἄφνω ‘suddenly’ (so Vulg. repentina), which seems to displace MT (Q) ‫‘ כשׁואה‬like a disaster’. ̈ �‫ ܘܣܘܟ‬... ‫‘ ܬܪܥܝܬܐ ܛܒܬܐ‬good judgment … the thoughtfulness 2:11 ‫ܕܟܐܢܐ‬ of the just’; MT ‫ תבונה‬... ‫‘ מזמה‬prudence … understanding’. The

1:19

l

2:17

3:8

3:13

4:13

4:14

4:15

5:5 5:11

5:17

6:1

Introduction to the Translation addition of the two modifiers in P probably derives from LXX βουλὴ καλὴ … ἔννοια δὲ ὁσία ‘good counsel … holy insight’. ‫‘ ܡܪܒܝܢܐ‬one who reared’; MT ‫‘ אלּוף‬companion’. P may misunderstand the MT noun as meaning ‘teacher’, relating it to H √‫‘ אלף‬learn/teach’. This will have been influenced by LXX διδασκαλίαν νεότητος ‘teaching of (her) youth’. ‘One who reared’ would then be a paraphrase of ‘one who taught’. ‫‘ ܠܒܣܪܟ‬for your flesh’; MT ‫‘ לשׁרך‬to your navel’. P agrees with LXX τῷ σώματί σου ‘to your body’. Both may be simply interpreting the synechdoche of the MT, independently or in consultation, or both may work from a variant H text ‫לבשׂרך‬. ‫‘ ܘܠܒܪ ܒܣܪܐ‬and the mortal one’; MT ‫‘ ואדם‬and the man’. P, probably under the influence of LXX καὶ θνητός ‘and the mortal one’, departs from the MT repetition of ‫‘ אדם‬man’ in both clauses, and introduces this synonymous expression in the second. ‫‘ ܒܡܪܕܘܬܝ‬my instruction’; MT ‫‘ בּמּוסר‬instruction’; LXX ἐμῆς παιδείας ‘my instruction’. P agrees with LXX, although ‘my’ is to be understood in the H sentence. ‫‘ ܬ�ܢ‬envy’; MT ‫‘ תאשׁר‬walk’. P follows LXX ‘desire’ (ζηλώσῃς), which may arise from a misunderstanding of ‫ תאשׁר‬as a form of the denominative verb √‫( אשׁר‬cf. the noun ‫‘ אשׁרי‬happiness, well-being’), meaning ‘declare someone happy or fortunate’. ‫‘ ܘܒܐܬܪܐ ܕܫܪܝܢ‬into the place where they camp’; MT ‫‘ פרעהו‬leave it alone’. Instead of MT, the Syriac renders LXX ἐν ᾧ ἂν τόπῳ στρατοπεδεύσωσιν ‘in the place where they camp’. (Elsewhere in Prov., P translates the H verb ‫ פרע‬appropriately.) ‫‘ ܡܣܡܟܐ‬lead to’; MT ‫‘ יתמכו‬lay hold of’. P follows LXX κατάγουσιν ‘bring down’ in this departure from MT. ‫‘ ܘܒܣܝܒܘܬܟ ܬܬܘܝܟ‬and in your old age you will be remorseful’; MT ‫‘ ונהמת באחריתך‬and you will howl at your end’. Syriac ‘old age’ paraphrases ‘at your end’. ‘Will be remorseful’ probably is influenced by LXX μεταμεληθήσῃ ‘be sorry’, which may itself be paraphrastic of ‘howl’, although a variant H text ‫‘ ונחמת‬you will be sorry’ is also possible. ‫‘ � ܢܫܬܘܬܦܘܢ‬should not share’; MT ‫‘ ואין לזרים אתך‬and not for strangers with you’ [lacks verb]; LXX καὶ μηδεὶς ἀλλότριος μετασχέτω σοι ‘and strangers should not participate with you’. P seems to follow LXX (so Targ., Vulg.) in supplying a verb here where H has ellipsis. ‫(‘ ܐܫܠܡܬ ܐܝܕܟ‬then) you have delivered your power [lit. ‘hand’] to’; MT ‫ כפיך‬... ‫( תקעת‬and if) you struck your hands for’. P renders the

Introduction to the Translation

6:3

6:10

6:10

6:24

6:25

li

MT text, but, like LXX, seems to understand this clause as apodosis of the sentence, whereas MT intends it as the second part of a compound protasis: ‘If you have guaranteed … and (if you have) given your hand …’). P and LXX apparently do not understand the idiomatic sense of H ‘strike hands’ as ‘to be a guarantor for’. LXX: ‘…if you stand security for your friend, you will surrender your hand to an enemy’.

̈ ‫ܡܛܠ ܕܥܠ‬ ‫ܐܦܝ ܚܒܪܟ ܢܦܠܬ ܒܐ�̈ܕܝ ܒܥܠܕܒܒܟ ܓܪܓ ܗܟܝܠ ܚܒܪܟ‬ ‫‘ ܕܥܪܒܬ ܥ�ܘܗܝ‬for on account of your neighbor you have fallen into

the hands of your enemy: Now appeal to your neighbor for whom you made the guarantee—’; MT ‫כּי באת בכף־רעך לך התרפּס ורהב‬ ‫…‘ רעיך‬for you have come into your neighbor’s power: go, hurry, and plead with your neighbor’. P renders MT rather freely, with influence from LXX, especially ἥκεις γὰρ εἰς χεῖρας κακῶν διὰ σὸν φίλον ‘for through your friend you have fallen into the hands of evil men’, which identifies the creditor(s) as ‘enemy’/‘evil men’. ‫ ܬܣܝܡ‬... ‫ ܬܕܡܟ‬... ‫‘ ܬܢܘܡ‬You sleep … you slumber … you rest’; MT ‫‘ חבק… תנומות …שׁנות‬sleep… slumber … folding’. P follows LXX in rendering the three H nouns as 2nd m. sg. verb forms. Cf. the nearly identical 24:34. ‫‘ ܐܝܕܟ ܥܠ ܚܕܝܟ‬your hand on your chest’; MT ‫‘ ידים לשׁכב‬the hands to lie down’. P follows LXX χερσὶν στήθη ‘the arms on the chest’ in this explanatory addition. Cf. the nearly identical 24:33. ‫‘ ܡܐܟ�ܩܪ�ܐ ܕܠܫܢܗ ܕܢܘܟܪܝܬܐ‬slander of the tongue of the strange woman’; MT ‫‘ מחלקת לשׁון נכריּה‬the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman’; LXX ἀπὸ διαβολῆς γλώσσης ἀλλοτρίας ‘the slander of a strange tongue’. P follows LXX in rendering MT ‘flattery’ as ‘slander’. ‫‘ ܘ� ܬܬܨܝܕ ܒܥܝܢ̈ܝ ̇ܗ ܘ� ܬܫܒܝܟ ܒܬܡ�ܝ ̇ܗ‬and do not be captured by her eyes, and do not let her capture you by her eyelids’. MT ‫ואל־תּקּחך‬ ‫‘ בעפעפיה‬and do not let her capture you with her eyelids’. LXX μηδὲ ἀγρευθῇς σοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς μηδὲ συναρπασθῇς ἀπὸ τῶν αὐτῆς βλεφάρων ‘and do not be captured by your eyes, nor be captivated

by her eyelashes’. P seems to depend basically on LXX in the double translation of the MT clause. 6:30 ‫‘ � ܠܡܬܕܡܪܘ‬It is not surprising’ ; MT ‫‘ לא־יבוזו‬They do not hold in contempt’; LXX οὐ θαυμαστόν ‘It is not to be wondered at’. P agrees with LXX in this divergence from MT. 7:6–7 ‫ ܘܚܪܬ‬... ‫ ܘܚܙܬ‬... ‫‘ ܐܕܝܩܬ‬she peered … and she saw … and she observed’; MT ‫ אבינה‬... ‫ וארא‬... ‫‘ נשקפתי‬I look out … and I saw …

lii

7:12

7:16

7:18

7:20

7:22 7:23

8:1

8:3

8:7

8:23

Introduction to the Translation I perceived’. P follows LXX in reading the MT verbs as 3rd fem. sg. forms, rather than 1st c. sg. ‫‘ ܦܗܝܐ‬wanders’; MT lacks; LXX ῥέμβεται ‘wanders’. P follows LXX in adding the verb to create a complete grammatical sentence in place of the mere phrases in MT. ‫‘ ܩܪܡܬ ̇ܗ‬I have covered it’; MT ‫‘ חטבות‬striped fabric’; LXX ἔστρωκα ‘and I covered it’. P seems to follow LXX in this second verb; neither may understand the rare H word ‫חטבות‬. ‫ ܘܢܥܦܩ ܚܕ ܠܚܕ ܒܪܓܬܐ‬... ‫‘ ܢܬܒܣܡ ܒܪܚܡܬܐ‬let us delight ourselves with love … and let us embrace each other in pleasure’; MT ‫נרוה דדים‬ ‫ נתעלּסה בּאהבים‬... ‘let us drink love … let us delight ourselves with love’; LXX ἀπολαύσωμεν φιλίας … ἐγκυλισθῶμεν ἔρωτι ‘let us enjoy love … let us embrace in love’. P shows influence from LXX. ̈ ‫ܘܠܝܘܡܬܐ ܗܘ ܣܓܝ̈ܐܐ‬ ‘after many days’; MT ‫ ליום הכסא‬lit. ‘at the day of the full moon’; LXX δι᾽ ἡμερῶν πολλῶν ‘after many days’. P follows LXX, somewhat misconstruing MT. ‫‘ ܘܐܝܟ ܟܠܒܐ �ܣܘܪܝܐ‬and like a dog to a pen’; MT ‫וכעכס אל־מוסר אויל‬ ‘and like ankle-shackles to the punishment of a fool’. LXX καὶ ὥσπερ κύων ἐπὶ δεσμούς ‘and like a dog to chains’. P follows LXX in reading ‫‘( וככלב‬and like a dog’) in place of MT ‫וכעכס‬. �‫‘ ܘܐܝܟ ܐܝ‬or like a deer’; MT lacks. LXX ἢ ὡς ἔλαφος ‘or like a deer’. P and LXX connect ‫‘( אויל‬fool’) to the first clause in v. 23 instead of the end of v. 22, and reads it as ‫‘ איל‬deer’ instead of ‫‘ אויל‬fool’. P renders freely. ‫‘ ܐܟܪܙ‬proclaim’ [m.sg. impv.]; MT ‫(‘ תקרא‬wisdom’) call’ [3rd fem. sg. impf.]; LXX κηρύξεις ‘you will proclaim’ [m.sg. fut.]. P and LXX understand the H verb as 2nd person rather than 3rd, addressed still to the son. ‫‘ ܡܫܬܒܚܐ‬is praised’; MT ‫‘ רנה‬shouts out’. P conforms its verb choice here to its rendering of the similar phrase at 1:20, in both passages the Syriac passive may be influenced by LXX ‘praises herself’ (ὑμνεῖται; middle voice) rather than the active H verb. ̈ ̈ ‘and lips that lie are an abomination ̈ ‫ܣܦܘܬܐ‬ ‫ܕܓܠܬܐ‬ ‫ܘܛܡܐܢ ܩܕܡܝ‬ before me’; MT ‫‘ ותועבת שׂפתי רשׁע‬and evil is an abomination to my lips’; LXX ἐβδελυγμένα δὲ ἐναντίον ἐμοῦ χείλη ψευδῆ ‘false lips are detestable before me’. P follows LXX in misreading the syntax of MT. ‫‘ ܩܕܡ ܕܢܥܒܕ ܐܪܥܐ‬before he would make the earth’; MT ‫מקדמי־ארץ‬ ‘before the ancient times of the earth’; LXX πρὸ τοῦ τὴν γῆν ποιῆσαι ‘before he made the earth’ . P follows LXX.

Introduction to the Translation 8:29

liii

‘(then) I was with him creating’ [or ‘ordering’]; MT ‫ אמון‬meaning uncertain. Cf. LXX ἁρμόζουσα, ‘arranging’. This clause is at the beginning of v. 30 in MT and Leiden. 8:30 ‫‘ ܒܝ ܚܕܐ ܗܘܐ‬He was rejoicing in me’; MT ‫‘ ואהיה שׁעשׁעים‬and I was a delight/desire’. P may be influenced by LXX ἐγὼ ἤμην ᾗ προσέχαιρεν ‘I was the one in whom he took delight’. ̈ 8:35 ‫ܕܡܦܩܢܝ ܡܦܩܢ̈ܐ‬ ‘my exits are exits of life’; MT ‫‘ כּי מצאי מצאי חיּים‬For whoever finds me has found life’; LXX αἱ γὰρ ἔξοδοί μου ἔξοδοι ζωῆς ‘for my exits are exits of life’. P follows LXX, which mistakes the H term as a form of the verb √‫יצא‬, ‘go out’ rather than √‫מצא‬ ‘find’. 9:1 ‫‘ ܘܐܩܝܡܬ ܒܗ‬and she has erected in it’; MT ‫‘ חצבה‬she has hewn out’. P departs from MT, perhaps paraphrasing LXX καὶ ὑπήρεισεν ‘and she supported it (with)’. 9:3 ‫‘ ܥܒܕ�̈ ̇ܗ ܕܢܩܪܘܢ ܥܠ �ܡܬܐ‬her servants to proclaim on the heights’; MT ‫‘ נערתיה תקרא על־גפי מרמי קרת‬her maid-servants; she proclaims on the tops of the heights of the town’. P follows LXX δούλους in changing the gender of servants to masc., but generally presents its own unique abbreviation of the second half-line, perhaps due to uncertainty about the rare H term ‫גפי‬. 9:7 ‫‘ ܠܒܝܫܐ‬a wicked person’; MT ‫‘ לץ‬a mocker, irreligious person’. P follows LXX κακούς ‘evil people’ in the use of a more general negative word for H ‘mocker’. 9:12 P’s rendering of this v. contains two expansionary elements, absent in MT and shared with LXX (in addition to the long supplement): a. ‫‘ ܘܠ�ܚܡܝܟ‬and for those who love you’; LXX ‘also for your neighbors’ (καὶ τοῖς πλησίον); and b. ‫‘ ܬܕ� ܐܢܝܢ ܒܝ̈ܫܬܟ‬you will draw up your wicked deeds’; LXX ‘you will bear the evil things’ (ἀναντλήσεις κακά). 9:12A This long supplement to v. 12 is entirely missing from the MT. P translates fairly closely the LXX: ‘12a He who supports himself with lies as well herds winds, and the same person will pursue flying birds, 12b for he has forsaken the ways of his vineyard and has caused the axles on his own farm to go astray. 12c Yes, he travels through an arid wilderness and a land destined to drought and gathers barrenness with his hands’ (J. Cook, NETS, p. 630). ‫‘ ܦܘܠܚܢܗ‬his cultivation’ or ‘his fields’; LXX τοὺς δὲ ἄξονας τοῦ ἰδίου γεωργίου ‘the axles of his own field’. P omits LXX ‘axles’, which must be intended as a reference to a wheeled farming implement.

‫ܥܡܗ ܡܬܩܢܐ ܗܘܝܬ‬

liv

Introduction to the Translation

‘is alluring and she does not know shame’; MT ‫‘ כסילות המיה פתיות ובל־ידעה מה‬Stupid (woman) is rowdy, a simpleton and knows nothing’. P seems to be quite freely recasting MT. Its addition of ‘shame’ in place of H ‘nothing’ follows LXX αἰσχύνην ‘shame/modesty’. 9:18A This long addition to v. 18 is entirely missing from the MT. It is present in LXX, which P translates: ‘18a On the contrary, run away; do not linger in the place; neither fix your eye upon her, 18b for so you will cross strange water and pass through a strange river. 18c However, abstain from strange water, and do not drink from a strange well, 18d that you may live for a long time and years of life may be added to you’ (J. Cook, NETS, p. 630). 10:4 ‫‘ ܡܣܟܢܘܬܐ ܡܡܟܟܐ ܠܓܒܪܐ‬poverty humbles a man’; MT ‫ראשׁ עשׂה‬ ‫‘ כף־רמיה‬a slack hand produces poverty’. P follows LXX exactly: πενία ἄνδρα ταπεινοῖ. 10:7 ‫‘ ܢܕܥܟ‬is extinguished’; MT ‫‘ ירקב‬rots’; LXX σβέννυται ‘is extinguished’. P follows LXX in this free rendering of the uncommon H verb. 10:8 ‫‘ ܢܬܬܚܕ‬be captured’; MT ‫‘ ילבט‬stumble, be ruined’; LXX ‘be overthrown’. P is semantically closer to LXX than to MT but might independent. 10:10 ‫‘ ܘܕܡܟܣ ܓܠܝܐܝܬ ܥܒܕ ܫܠܡܐ‬while the person who reproves openly creates peace’; MT ‫‘ ואויל שׂפתים ילּבט‬but the one whose lips are foolish will be ruined’; LXX ὁ δὲ ἐλέγχων μετὰ παρρησίας εἰρηνοποιεῖ ‘he who reproves openly creates peace’. P depends upon LXX in this half-line; MT, strangely, repeats the second half of v. 8 here. 10:13 ‫‘ ܒܫܒܛܐ ܫܩܦ ܠܓܒܪܐ‬beats with a rod the man’; MT ‫‘ ושׁבט לגו‬but (there is) a rod for the back of’. P here follows LXX ῥάβδῳ τύπτει ἄνδρα (‘beats with a rod’) in rephrasing MT to make explicit the agent of the beating. ̈ ̈ ̈ 10:18 � ‫ܕܥܘ‬ ‫ܣܦܘܬܐ‬ ‫ܡܟܡܢܢ ܒܥܠܕܒܒܘܬܐ‬ ‘lips of evildoers secretly plot hostility’; MT ‫מכסה שׂנאה שׂפתי־שׁקר‬. ‘He hides hostility, (who has) lying lips’; LXX καλύπτουσιν ἔχθραν χείλη δίκαια ‘Righteous lips conceal enmity’. P follows LXX in positioning ‘lips’ clearly as the subject of the verb. 10:19 �‫‘ � ܡܬܦ�ܐ ܥܘ‬an evildoer is not delivered’; MT ‫לא יחדל־פשׁע‬ ‘misbehavior does not cease’; LXX οὐκ ἐκφεύξῃ ἁμαρτίαν ‘you will not escape sin’. P, somewhat like LXX, seems to read ‫ פשׁע‬as a person rather than the abstract noun, ‘rebellion, misbehavior’ in MT. 9:13

‫ܡܫܕܠܢܝܐ ܘ� ܝܕܥܐ ܒܗܬܬܐ‬

Introduction to the Translation 10:24

‫ܥܘ� �ܒܕܢܐ ܡܬܢܥܓ‬

lv

‘a wicked person is led to destruction’; MT ‫מגורת‬ ‫‘ רשׁע היא תבואנו‬what the wicked person fears, that will come upon him’. LXX ἐν ἀπωλείᾳ ἀσεβὴς περιφέρεται ‘an impious person is engulfed in destruction’. P follows LXX here in streamlining the syntax of MT. ̈ 10:26 ‫ܠܥܒܘܕܘܗܝ‬ �‫‘ ܗܟܢܐ ܢܟܐ ܥܘ‬so wickedness harms those who do it’. MT ‫‘ כן העצל לשׁלחיו‬so is the lazy man to those who send him’. P basically follows LXX οὕτως παρανομία τοῖς χρωμένοις αὐτήν ‘thus lawlessness to those who do it’. One can surmise that scribal error has led to confusion of H ‫ עצל‬with ‫( עול‬a form of which occurs in vv. 25 and 27) underlying the translation of LXX, which P follows. ̈ ‘of the wicked’; MT ‫‘ אונים‬of wickedness’ or ‘of 11:7 ‫ܕܒܝܫܐ‬ wealth/strength’; LXX των ἀσεβῶν ‘of the wicked’. P and LXX interpret the H noun in the same way. 11:15 ‫‘ ܡܐ ܕܐܪܥ ܠܙܕܝܩܐ‬when encountering a righteous person’; MT ‫כּי־ערב‬ ‫‘ זר‬when he pledges surety for a stranger’; LXX ὅταν συμμείξῃ δικαίῳ ‘when he has dealings with a righteous man’. P follows LXX. 11:16 ‫‘ ܬܫܒܘܚܬܐ ܠܓܒܪܐ‬honor for (her) husband’; MT ‫‘ תתמך כבוד‬obtains honor’; LXX ἐγείρει ἀνδρὶ δόξαν ‘procures honor for her husband’. P follows LXX in reinterpreting MT by adding ‘her husband’, so that now her husband rather than herself is the beneficiary of the woman’s graciousness. 11:16 ‫‘ ܟܘܪܣܝܐ ܕܝܢ ܕܨܥܪܐ ܐܢܬܬܐ ܣܢܝܬ ܫܪܪܐ‬but a seat of shame is the woman who hates truth; MT ‫‘ ועריצים יתמכו־עשׁר‬but violent men hold/seize wealth’; LXX θρόνος δὲ ἀτιμίας γυνὴ μισοῦσα δίκαια ‘but a seat of dishonor is a woman who hates justice’. P translates the LXX text, rather than the MT, which seems to have a different text altogether. 11:16A ‫‘ ܚܒܢܢ̈ܐ ܐܦ ܒܥܘܬܪܗܘܢ ܗܘܝܢ �ܪܝܟܝܢ ܘܥܫܝ̈ܢܐ ܡܣܡܟܝܢ ܝܕܥܬܐ‬The lazy become poor even in their wealth, but the strong uphold knowledge’; MT lacks; LXX πλούτου ὀκνηροὶ ἐνδεεῖς γίνονται οἱ δὲ ἀνδρεῖοι ἐρείδονται πλούτῳ ‘Though wealthy [?] the lazy shrink from wealth, but the diligent support themselves with wealth’. The Syriac translation seems loosely to be based on LXX. ̈ �‫ܚܘܒ‬ ̈ ‫‘ ܪܡܐ ܠܢܦܫܗ‬bestow good rewards on himself’; MT ‫גּמל‬ 11:17 ‫ܛܒܐ‬ ‫ נפשׁו‬lit. ‘deals out to himself; LXX τῇ ψυχῇ αὐτοῦ ἀγαθὸν ποιεῖ ‘does good to his soul’. P may be influenced by LXX in its clarifying addition of a direct object. 11:19 ‫‘ ܒܪܐ ܕܙܕܝܩܘܬܐ‬A son of righteousness’. MT ‫‘ כן־צדקה‬Thus, righteousness’; LXX (‘a righteous son’). P and LXX read a variant H source-text ‫בן־צדקה‬.

lvi 11:21

11:24

11:24

11:26

11:30

11:31

11:31 12:4

12:9

Introduction to the Translation ‘who stretches out his hand against his neighbor’; MT ‫ יד ליד‬lit. ‘hand to hand’; LXX χειρὶ δὲ χεῖρας ἐμβαλὼν ἀδίκως ‘and unjustly strikes hands to hand’. P follows LXX in understanding this cryptic H idiom ‘hand to hand’ (which probably means ‘assuredly’) as denoting a hand gesture which formalizes some sort of financial transaction, probably involving exploitative loan guarantees. Cf. the nearly identical clause at 16:5. ‫‘ ܙܪܥ‬one who sows’; MT ‫‘ מפזר‬one who scatters’; LXX σπείροντες ‘sow seed’. P follows LXX in understanding the H verb as referring to planting seed. ‫‘ ܘܐܝܬ ܕܕ� ܕܝܠܗ ܡܟܢܫ‬and there are those who gather what is not theirs’; MT ‫‘ וחושׂך מיּשׁר‬and one withholds more than is proper’; LXX καὶ οἳ συνάγοντες ‘and they gather’. P clearly follows LXX in interpreting H ‫חושׂך‬. ̈ ‫ܠܒܥܠܕܒܒܘܗܝ‬ ‫‘ ܢܫܒܩܝܘܗܝ‬will leave it to their enemies’; MT ‫יקבהו‬ ‫‘ לאום‬the people will curse him’; LXX ὑπολίποιτο αὐτὸν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ‘will leave it to the nations’. P follows LXX, interpreting ‘people/nations’ as the gentiles, who have been enemies of Israel. ̈ ‫ܢܦܫܬܐ‬ ̈ ‫‘ ܘܡܬܒܕ�ܢ‬but the lives of evil-doers will be scattered’; � ‫ܕܥܘ‬ MT ‫‘ ולקח נפשׂות חכם‬but a wise man will capture souls’; LXX ἀφαιροῦνται δὲ ἄωροι ψυχαὶ παρανόμων ‘the souls of transgressors are cut off prematurely’. P follows LXX rather than MT in this translation. Perhaps LXX misreads ‫‘ חכם‬wise’ as ‫חמס‬ ‘violence/sin’. This clause in the MT is not clear. ̈ ‫ܚܝܐ‬ ‫‘ ܠܡܚܣܢ‬scarcely live’; MT ‫‘ בארץ ישׁלּם‬in the land are delivered/made whole’; LXX μόλις σῴζεται ‘scarcely be saved’. P follows LXX in departing from MT rather strikingly. very free translation of MT. ‫‘ ܐܝܟܐ‬where … ?’ MT ‫‘ אף כּי‬How much more … LXX ποῦ ‘where …? ‫‘ ܘܐܝܟ ܒܠܛܝܬܐ ܘܬܘܠܥܐ ܒܩܝܣܐ‬and like a wood-borer and worms in wood’; MT ‫‘ וכרקב בעצמותיו‬and like rottenness in his bones’; LXX ὥσπερ δὲ ἐν ξύλῳ σκώληξ ‘and like a worm in wood’. P departs from MT here in basic dependency on LXX, but includes a double translation of ‘worm’ that may have originated as an explanatory gloss. Aramaic ‫ רקבּא‬can mean ‘damage from worms’ as well as general ‘rottenness’. ‫‘ ܡܣܟܢܐ ܕܡܫܡܫ ܢܦܫܗ‬a poor man who serves himself’; MT ‫נקלה‬ ‫‘ ועבד לו לו‬a despised man who has a servant’; LXX ἀνὴρ ἐν ἀτιμίᾳ δουλεύων ἑαυτῷ ‘man in dishonor being a slave to himself’. P shows influence from LXX; ‘poor man’ is interpretative.

‫ܕܡܘܫܛ ܐܝܕܗ ܥܠ ܚܒܪܗ‬

Introduction to the Translation 12:17

12:19

12:19

12:21

12:23

12:23 12:24

12:24 12:25

12:27

12:27

‫ܕܡܬܚܙܝܐ‬

lvii

‘openly’, lit. ‘that which is seen/seeable’; MT ‫‘ יפיח‬he witnesses’, or ‘a witness’ [?]; LXX ἐπιδεικνυμένην ‘as it is/shown’. P follows LXX, which perhaps misreads MT ‫ יפיח‬as a vocable built on √‫‘ פתח‬open’. P seems to convey the basic sense of the v., the syntax of which is difficult. ‫‘ ܬ�ܝ�ܢ‬are upright’; MT ‫‘ תכון לעד‬will endure forever’. κατορθοῖ μαρτυρίαν ‘establish testimony’. P aligns with LXX in misreading H ‫ לעד‬as ‫‘ לעד‬for a witness’. This alone introduces the idea of ‘witness’ into the v. ‫‘ ܡܣܪܗܒܐ‬hasty’; MT ‫‘ ועד־ארגיעה‬but for a moment’; LXX ταχύς ‘hasty’. P follows LXX in understanding the H word (lit. ‘momentarily’) as meaning ‘hasty’ rather than ‘brief’. ‫‘ � ܫܦܝܪ‬is not attractive’; MT ‫‘ לא־יאנּה‬will not befall’; LXX οὐκ ἀρέσει ‘does not please’. P and LXX seem to read ‫‘ נאה√( ינאה‬be attractive’) rather than √‫‘ אנה‬meet, happen’. ‫‘ ܟܘܪܣܝܐ‬throne of’; MT ‫‘ כּסה‬conceals’; LXX θρόνος ‘throne’. P follows LXX in its misreading of the MT verb √‫ כסא‬as the H noun ‫‘ כּסּא‬seat, throne’. ‫‘ ܠܒܝܫܬܐ‬wickedness’; MT ‫‘ אולת‬foolishness’; LXX ἀραῖς ‘curses’. P perhaps is paraphrasing the LXX, which might read ‫‘ אלות‬curses’. ‫‘ ܕܥܫܝܢ̈ܐ‬of the powerful’; MT ‫‘ חרוצים‬the diligent’; LXX ἐκλεκτῶν ‘of the chosen’. The Syriac translator may associate the Greek ‘chosen’ with the idea of strength that is implicit in H ‫‘ בּחור‬a chosen [choice] one’, i.e. a young man in the fullest vigor of adulthood. Indeed, LXX often renders H ‫ בּחור‬with ἐκλεκτῶν. But this produces a curious saying, in which no virtue is named in the first line to contrast with ‘deceitful ones’ in the second. �̈‫‘ ܘܢܟܝ‬and deceitful ones’; MT ‫‘ ורמיה‬and the lazy’; LXX δόλιοι δέ ‘and the deceitful ones’. P follows LXX in this odd rendering of MT. ‫‘ ܡܠܬܐ ܕܚܝܠܬܐ‬a frightening word’; MT ‫‘ דאגה‬a worry’ or ‘an anxiety’; LXX φοβερὸς λόγος ‘a fearful word’. P follows LXX in this close paraphrase. �‫‘ � ܢܣܬܩܒܠ �ܨܝܕܐ ܠܓܒܪܐ ܢܟܝ‬Game does not come along for a deceitful man’; MT ‫‘ לא־יחרך רמיה צידו‬A lazy (or ‘deceitful’) man does not roast his game’; LXX οὐκ ἐπιτεύξεται δόλιος θήρας ‘A deceitful man will not obtain game’. P paraphrases, following LXX in the probably wrong identification of ‫ רמיה‬as √‫ רמה‬I ‘be deceptive’ instead of √‫ רמה‬II ‘be loose, lazy’. ‫‘ ܘܩܢܝܢܐ ܝܩܝܪܐ ܒܪܢܫܐ ܓܒܝܐ‬but an outstanding person is a valuable possession; MT ‫‘ והון־אדם יקר חרוץ‬but the valuable wealth of persons (belongs to ?) the diligent’. LXX κτῆμα δὲ τίμιον ἀνὴρ καθαρός ‘but

lviii

Introduction to the Translation

a valuable possession is a pure man’. P may be influenced by the Greek understanding of the cryptic MT syntax, but it avoids the strange LXX ‘pure’ (καθαρός). 13:1 ‫‘ ܢܐܒܕ‬will perish’; MT lacks; LXX ἐν ἀπωλείᾳ ‘(will be) in destruction’. P seems to follow LXX . 13:2 ‫ ܢܣܒܥ‬... ‫‘ ܓܒܪܐ ܛܒܐ‬a good man is satisfied’; MT ‫‘ אישׁ יאכל טוב‬a man will eat good (things); LXX ‘a good man will eat the fruits of justice’. P paraphrases MT under the influence of LXX. 13:5 ‫‘ ܢܒܗܬ ܘܢܚܦܪ‬be ashamed and mortified’; MT ‫‘ יבאישׁ ויחפּיר‬is shameful and repulsive’; LXX αἰσχύνεται καὶ οὐχ ἕξει παρρησίαν ‘will be ashamed and have no confidence’. P appears to be influenced by LXX. 13:10 ‫‘ ܒܪܢܫܐ ܒܝܫܐ ܒܨܥܪܐ ܥܒܕ ܒܝܫܬܐ‬A wicked person in depravity does wickedness’; MT ‫‘ רק־בזדון יתן מצה‬in arrogance one produces only strife’; LXX ‘An evil person does evil with pride’. P clearly is following LXX in this clause, but chooses the harsher term ‘depravity/wickedness’ for H ‘arrogance’. 13:11 ‫‘ ܒܙܕܝܩܬܐ‬in righteousness’; MT ‫‘ על־יד‬carefully, deliberately’ (?); LXX μετ᾽ εὐσεβείας ‘with piety’. P seems guided by LXX in treating the uncertain H phrase. 13:12 P: ‘Better is he who begins to help — better than the one who depends on hope’; MT ‫‘ תּוחלת ממשּׁכה מחלה־לב‬Hope deferred sickens the heart’; LXX κρείσσων ἐναρχόμενος βοηθῶν καρδίᾳ τοῦ ἐπαγγελλομένου καὶ εἰς ἐλπίδα ἄγοντος ‘Better is he who begins to help heartily than he who promises and leads someone to hope’. The Syriac translation here is directly influenced somehow by LXX. Both appear to be interpretative elaboration of MT. 13:13A P: ‘A deceitful person will have nothing good, but the wise whose deeds are upright — indeed his way will also ascend to the top’. This expansion to v. 13 is not found in MT. P either paraphrases LXX or translates a slightly variant Greek text: ὁ δὲ φοβούμενος ἐντολήν οὗτος ὑγιαίνει. υἱῷ δολίῳ οὐδὲν ἔσται ἀγαθόν οἰκέτῃ δὲ σοφῷ εὔοδοι ἔσονται πράξεις καὶ κατευθυνθήσεται ἡ ὁδὸς αὐτοῦ ‘He

who despises a matter will be despised by it, but concerning him who fears the commandment, he is healthy. To a deceitful son nothing will be good, but a wise servant will have prosperous business and his way will be guided’. 13:15 ‫‘ �ܒܕܢܐ‬toward destruction’. MT ‫‘ איתן‬stability, permanence’ makes little sense here. P and LXX (ἐν ἀπωλείᾳ ‘in destruction’) probably reflect a different H text, reading ‫‘ אידם‬their disaster’ (‫ איד‬n.masc. ‘calamity, disaster’ with 3 m. pl. pron. suffix).

Introduction to the Translation

lix

‫‘ ܡܢ ܝܕܥܬܐ‬from knowledge’; MT ‫‘ מרע‬from evil; LXX ἀπὸ γνώσεως

‘from knowledge’. P agrees with LXX, which apparently reads ‫מדּע‬ instead of ‫מרע‬. 14:3 ‫‘ ܙܩܬܐ ܘܨܥܪܐ‬rod and shame’ or ‘shameful rod’; MT ‫‘ חטר גאוה‬rod of pride’ (so LXX). P here typically chooses a perjorative term for H ‘pride’. 14:5 ‫‘ ܡܬܟܕܒ‬be proved false’. P here uses a passive verb form to translate the active form of the MT ‫‘ יכזב‬lie, be false’. This may be simple translational freedom, but P may misconstrue LXX verb ψεύδεται which is middle in form but active in sense: ‘does not lie’. ̈ ‫ܠܓܒܪܐ ܣܟ� ܟܠܡܕܡ ܣܩܘܒ� ܗܘ ܠܗ ܘܙܝܢܐ ܕܝܕܥܬܐ‬ ̈ 14:7 ‫ܕܚܟܝܡܐ‬ ‫ܣܦܘܬܐ‬ ‘Everything is against a foolish person, but the lips of the wise are a weapon of knowledge’; MT ‫לך מנגד לאישׁ כּסיל ובל־ידעתּ שׂפתי־דעת‬ ‘Go away from the presence of a fool, for you will not know (there) knowledgeable lips’; LXX πάντα ἐναντία ἀνδρὶ ἄφρονι ὅπλα δὲ αἰσθήσεως χείλη σοφά ‘All things are against a foolish man, but wise lips are the weapons of perception’. P basically follows LXX in its departure MT. 14:9 P ‘The houses of the wicked need cleansing properly (or ‘immediately’), but the houses of the righteous are acceptable’; MT ‫‘ אולים יליץ אשׁם וּבין ישׁרים רצון‬Fools mock at a guilt offering, but among the upright is favor/good will’; LXX οἰκίαι παρανόμων ὀφειλήσουσιν καθαρισμόν, οἰκίαι δὲ δικαίων δεκταί ‘The houses of the lawless need cleansing but the houses of the just are acceptable’. Clearly P here follows LXX rather than the very obscure MT. 14:14 ‫‘ ܡܢ ܕܚܠܬܐ ܕܢܦܫܗ‬from the reverence of his soul’; MT ‫ומעליו אישׁ טוב‬ lit. ‘(and a good man,) from what is on him’; LXX ἀπὸ δὲ τῶν διανοημάτων ‘from his thoughts’. P follows LXX in understanding the cryptic H ‘what is on him’ as reference to a feature of the mind or spirit of the person. The adj. ‘good’ leads P to assume that this internal quality is a positive one. 14:16 ‫‘ ܡܬܚܠܛ ܒܗ ܬܟܝ�ܝܬ‬gets involved in it boldly’; MT ‫מתעבר ובוטח‬ ‘gets excited and is brash’; LXX μείγνυται ‘associates with’. P follows LXX, which perhaps reads ‫מתערב‬, a passive form of √‫‘ ערב‬mix’. 14:22A P ‘Those who do wicked things do not understand compassion and faithfulnes, but compassion and faithtfulness are with those who do good deeds’; LXX ‘The planners of evil do not understand pty and loyalty, but acts of mercy and of loyalty are with planners for good’ (J. Cook, NETS, p. 634). This expansionary addition, missing entirely 13:19

lx

14:24 14:32 14:33

14:34

15:2 15:6

15:10

15:14 15:14

15:15

15:18

Introduction to the Translation from MT, is on LXX, and probably entails what was at some point a double translation of MT v. 22. ‫‘ ܘܗܘܦܟܐ‬conduct’or ‘deliberation’; MT ‫‘ אולת‬foolishness’; LXX διατριβή ‘occupation, past-time’. P aligns with LXX rather than MT. ̈ ‫ܚܛܗܐ‬ ‫‘ ܕܠܝܬ ܠܗ‬that he has no sins’; MT ‫‘ במותו‬in his death’; LXX ὁσιότητι ‘in his piety’. P appears to paraphrase LXX, which likely reads ‫‘ בתמו‬in his integrity’ for ‫במותו‬. The MT is obscure. This line is repeated verbatim as the third clause in P v. 35. ‫‘ � ܬܬܝܕܥ‬is not known’; MT ‫‘ תודע‬is known/makes itself known’; LXX οὐ διαγινώσκεται ‘is not discerned’. P agrees with LXX in supplying the negative particle, making the sentence less obscure than MT. ‫‘ ܘܡܙܥܪܝܢ‬diminish’; MT ‫‘ וחסד‬a reproach’; LXX ἐλασσονοῦσι ‘diminishes’. P follows LXX in a translation that may reflect a Piel form of the verb √‫‘ חסר‬cause to lack, diminish’ instead of the MT noun ‫ חסד‬II ‘shame’. ‫‘ ܠܘܛܬܐ‬a curse’; MT ‘foolishness’; LXX κακά ‘evil things’. P may be influenced by LXX. �‫‘ ܣܓܐ ܚܝ‬great strength’; MT ‫‘ חסן‬stronghold’ or ‘treasure’ (i.e. what is stored in a stronghold); LXX ἰσχὺς πολλή ‘great strength’. P follows LXX. ‫‘ ܡܪܕܘܬܐ ܕܐܝܠܝܢ ܕ� ܝܕܥܝܢ ܒܝܫܬܐ ܓܠܝܐ ܗܝ‬The discipline of those who do not know is disaster — it is obvious’; MT ‫מוסר רע לעזב ארח‬ ‘There is severe discipline for one who forsakes the way’; LXX παιδεία ἀκάκου γνωρίζεται ὑπὸ τῶν παριόντων ‘Discipline of the innocent is known by passersby’. P seems to paraphrase with some influence from LXX, but the Syriac is difficult. ̈ ‘of the upright’; MT ‫‘ נבון‬understanding’; LXX ὀρθή ‘upright’. P ‫ܕܟܐܢܐ‬ and LXX appear to read ‫‘ נכון‬upright’. ̈ ‘of evildoers utters wickedness’; MT ‫כסילים‬ ‫ܕܥܘ � ܡܡܠܠ ܒܝ̈ܫܬܐ‬ ‫‘ ירעה אולת‬of fools feeds on folly’; LXX ἀπαιδεύτων γνώσεται κακά ‘of the uninstructed will know evil’. P uniquely renders ‘feeds’ with ‘speaks’, and follows LXX in rendering H ‫ אולת‬as ‘wickedness/evil’. ‫‘ ܫܠܝܢ ܒܟ�ܙܒܢ‬are at ease all the time’; MT ‫(‘ משׁתה תמיד‬has) a continual feast’; LXX ἡσυχάζουσιν διὰ παντός ‘are at ease/silent always’. P follows LXX. ‫‘ ܥܕ� ܗܘܝܐ‬before it comes about’; MT lacks; LXX καὶ τὴν μέλλουσαν ‘and is about to be’. This clause in P probably depends on the interpretative addition by LXX.

Introduction to the Translation 15:22

15:27

15:28

16:5 16:11

16:11

16:23

17:4

17:7

17:9

17:10

lxi

‫‘ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܡܝܩܪܝܢ ܟܢܘܫܬܐ‬those who honor the assembly’; MT ‫באין סוד‬

‘without council/counsel’; LXX οἱ μὴ τιμῶντες συνέδρια ‘those who do not honor the council’. P seems basically to follow LXX. ‫‘ ܡܘܒܕ ܢܦܫܗ‬he destroys himself’; MT ‫‘ עכר ביתו‬he troubles his house’; LXX ἐξόλλυσιν ἑαυτόν ‘he destroys himself’. P follows LXX. ‫‘ ܪܢܐ ܒܗܝܡܢܘܬܐ‬ponders faithfulness’; MT ‫‘ הגה לענות‬ponders how to answer’’; LXX μελετῶσιν πίστεις ‘meditates faithfulness’. P follows LXX in its interpretative translation. ‫‘ ܘܕܡܘܫܛ ܐܝܕܗ ܥܠ‬those who stretch out their hand against’. MT ‫יד‬ ‫ ליד‬lit. ‘hand to hand’. See note for 11:21. ̈ ‫ܡܬܩ� ܕܡܣܐܬܐ‬ ‘the weighing of the scales’ or ‘balance of the scales’; MT ‫‘ פלס ומאזני‬balance and scales’. Whereas MT has two different terms for weighing devices, P seems by �‫ ܡܬܩ‬to denote to the process of weighing, like LXX ῥοπὴ ζυγοῦ ‘the balancing of the scales’. ̈ ‫ܡܬܩ� ܕܩܘܫܬܐ‬ ‘honest weights’, lit. ‘weights of honesty’; MT ‫‘ אבני־כיס‬weights of a bag’. P follows LXX στάθμια δίκαια ‘honest weights’ here; the actual meaning of H ‫ כיס‬is known to P — cf. 1:14). ‫‘ ܝܕܥ ܡܐܡܪܐ ܕܦܘܡܗ‬knows what its mouth says’; MT ‫ישׂכיל פיהו‬ ‘makes his speech judicious; LXX νοήσει τὰ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἰδίου στόματος ‘will consider what comes from his own mouth’. P seems influenced by LXX in its paraphase. ‫‘ ܘܙܕܝܩܐ � ܫܡܥ ܠܫܢܐ ܕܥܢ̈ܬܐ‬but a righteous person does not heed the tongue of villains’; MT ‫‘ מרע מקשׁיב על־שׂפת־און‬but an evil man heeds the malicious lip(s); LXX δίκαιος δὲ οὐ προσέχει χείλεσιν ψευδέσιν ‘but a righteous person does not heed false lips’. P follows LXX in rendering the MT conversely. ‫‘ ܠܙܕܝܩܐ‬for a righteous man’; MT ‫‘ לנדיב‬for a great man’; LXX δικαίῳ ‘for a righteous man’. P follows LXX in qualifying ‘great man/prince’ of MT. ‫‘ ܡܢ ܪܚܡܐ ܘܥܡܘܪܐ‬friend and family [‘and inhabitant’]’; MT ‫‘ אלּוף‬a close friend’ LXX φίλους καὶ οἰκείους ‘friends and family [lit. ‘members of household’]’. Influenced by LXX, P offers an expansionary paraphrase. P: ‘A threat shatters the heart of a wise person, but a fool instead of (getting) a rebuke is beaten yet does not perceive’; LXX: ‘A threat shatters the heart of a prudent person, but a fool, though whipped, does not comprehend’. P follows LXX almost exactly in its quite free rendering of the thought of MT: ‘A rebuke strikes deeper into a discerning person than a hundred blows into a fool’ (NRSV).

lxii 17:12

18:2

18:3 18:6

18:8

18:19

Introduction to the Translation

‫ܢܦܠ ܪܢܝܐ ܘܕܚܠܬܐ ܠܓܒܪܐ ܚܟܝܡܐ‬

‘Anxiety and fear befall a wise person’; LXX ἐμπεσεῖται μέριμνα ἀνδρὶ νοήμονι ‘Care will befall a man of understanding’. P basically, but not exactly, follows LXX in this clause rather than the very different MT: ‘Let a man better meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs than to … ’ ‫‘ ܕܪܢܐ ܠܒܗ ܒܫܛܝܘܬܐ‬the thinking of his mind is about folly’; MT ‫כי‬ ‫‘ אם־בהתגלות לבו‬rather in exposing his mind’. P recasts MT, perhaps influenced by LXX μᾶλλον γὰρ ἄγεται ἀφροσύνῃ ‘for he is much more led by folly’. ‫‘ ܠܥܘܡܩܐ ܕܒܝ̈ܫܬܐ‬to the depth of wickedness’; MT lacks; LXX εἰς βάθος κακῶν ‘into the depth of evils’. P follows LXX. ‫‘ ܡܡܛܐ ܠܗ ܠܡܘܬܐ‬arrives at death’; MT ‫‘ למהלמות יקרא‬calls out for blows’. LXX θάνατον ἐπικαλεῖται ‘summons death’. P is influenced by LXX, which separates the final four letters of ‫ למהלמות‬as the prepositional phrase ‘to death’ (‫)למות‬. P also reads H ‫ קרא√( יקרא‬I ‘call out’) as the homograph √‫ ירא‬II ‘encounter’. ̈ ‫ ܠܬܘܢ̈ܐ ܕܫܝܘܠ‬... ‫ܡ�ܘܗܝ ܕܚܒܢܢܐ �ܡܝܢ ܠܗ ܒܒܝܫܬܐ‬ ‘The words of the lazy cast them into disaster, … to the chambers of Sheol’. P presents a unique departure from MT ‫דּברי נרגּן כּמתלהמים והם ירדו‬ ‫‘ חדרי־בטן‬The words of a slanderer are like delicacies; … to the inner parts of the body’. Syriac ‘lazy’ and ‘cast’ may reflect influence from LXX ὀκνηροὺς καταβάλλει φόβος ‘Fear casts down the lazy’. P seems to assimilate its wording here to that of 19:15 and 26:22. In MT, the text of 18:8 and 26:22 are identical; neither P nor LXX renders those two passages identically.

̈ ‫ܘܐܚܕܝ ̇ܗ ܐܝܟ ܣܘܟܪܐ ܕܚܣܢܐ‬ ‫ܕܡܬܥܕܪ ܡܢ ܐܚܘܗܝ ܐܝܟ ܡܕܝܢܬܐ ܡܢ ܚܣܢ ̇ܗ‬

‘who is helped by his brother is like a fortified city whose barricades are like the bolts of a fortress’; MT ‫נפשׁע מקּרית־עז ומדונים כּבריח‬ ‫‘ ארמון‬offended is worse than a fortified city, and the quarrels are like the bars of a citadel’; LXX ὑπὸ ἀδελφοῦ βοηθούμενος ὡς πόλις

‘helped by a brother is like a fortified and high city and is as strong as a well founded palace’. P follows LXX more than MT in the basic interpretation of the sentence. 18:22A ‫‘ ܘܕܡܦܩ ܐܢܬܬܐ ܛܒܬܐ ܡܦܩ ܛܒܬܐ ܡܢ ܒܝܬܗ‬He who drives out a good wife, drives out what is good from his house’; MT lacks; LXX ὃς ἐκβάλλει γυναῖκα ἀγαθήν, ἐκβάλλει τὰ ἀγαθά ‘He who drives out a good wife drives out a good thing’. In this addition to v. 22, P translates LXX, or a very similar text, but without ‘from his house’. LXX adds also an additional subsequent sentence: ‘but he who keeps an adulteress is foolish and impious’. ὀχυρὰ καὶ ὑψηλή ἰσχύει δὲ ὥσπερ τεθεμελιωμένον βασίλειον

Introduction to the Translation

lxiii

‘disgrace’; MT ‫‘ הות‬disaster’; LXX αἰσχύνη ‘disgrace’. P follows LXX. 19:14 ‫‘ ܡܬܡܟܪܐ‬betrothed’; MT ‫‘ משׂכלת‬wise, capable’. P paraphrases LXX ἁρμόζεται ‘joined to’. 19:22 ‫‘ ܓܒܪܐ ܥܬܝܪܐ ܕܡܕܓܠ‬wealthy person who lies’; MT ‫‘ מאישׁ כזב‬than a person who lies’; LXX πλούσιος ψεύστης ‘a rich liar’. P follows LXX in adding the adj. ‘wealthy’. 19:24 ‫‘ ܒܥܘܒܗ‬in his bosom’; MT ‫‘ בצלחת‬in a bowl’; LXX εἰς τὸν κόλπον αὐτοῦ ‘in his bosom’. P follows LXX in this alteration, which somewhat blurs the image of being too lazy even to eat. This is very similar to 26:15. 19:25 ‫‘ ܒܝܫܐ ܡܐ ܡܬܢܓܕ ܚܟܝܡܐ ܡܙܕܗܪ‬When an evil person is beaten, the wise person will take heed’; MT ‫‘ לץ תכה ופתי יערם‬Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence’; LXX ‘When a bad person is beaten, a fool will become more crafty, but if you reprove a prudent man, he will gain perception’. P renders MT freely, influenced by LXX. 20:4 ‫‘ ܡܬܚܣܕ‬is reproached; MT ‫‘ מחרף‬winter’ lit.‘from harvest/early time in agricultural year’; LXX ὀνειδιζόμενος ‘when reproached’. P follows LXX in reading the MT term as verb √‫ חרף‬I ‘revile, reproach’, instead of as noun built on √‫ חרף‬II ‘winter’. 20:21 ‫‘ ܕܡܣܪܗܒܐ‬hurriedly’. P reflects MT(Q) ‫‘ מבהלת‬hurriedly’; LXX ἐπισπουδαζομένη ‘hastily’. 20:25 ‫‘ ܬܘܝܐ‬regret’; MT ‫‘ לבקר‬make enquiry’; LXX μετανοεῖν ‘regret, repent’. P follows LXX. 20:30 ‫‘ ܦܓܥܘ‬befall’ or ‘come to’; MT(K) ‫‘ תּמריק‬cleanse’ or ‘scour’; LXX συναντᾷ ‘befall, happen to’. P follows LXX in a rendering which removes the possible implication in MT of expiation through punitive suffering. 21:2 ‫‘ ܡܬܩܢ‬directs’; MT ‫‘ ותכן‬and weighs/measures’; LXX κατευθύνει ‘directs’. P follows LXX. 21:7 ‫‘ ܥܠ ܕ� ܨܒܘ‬because they do not want’; MT ‫‘ כי מאנו‬because they refuse’; LXX οὐ γὰρ βούλονται ‘for they do not want’. P follows LXX in a converse rendering. 21:10 �‫‘ ܢܦܫܗ ܕܥܘ‬the soul of the wicked’; MT ‫‘ נפשׁ רשׁע אותה־רע‬The soul of the wicked desires evil’; LXX ψυχὴ ἀσεβοῦς ‘soul of the ungodly’. P, like LXX, lacks the clause ‘desires evil’. 21:12 ‫‘ ܠܒܗܘܢ‬the heart of’; MT ‫‘ לבית‬the house of’; LXX καρδίας ‘hearts of’. P and LXX agree in reading ‫‘ לבות‬hearts of’ instead of ‫ ;לבית‬they may share a variant source-text. 19:13

‫ܒܗܬܬܐ‬

lxiv 21:14

21:25

22:2 22:3

22:5

22:10

22:11

22:20

22:22 22:26

22:27

Introduction to the Translation

‫‘ ܘܕܚܐܣ ܠܡܬܠ ܡܥܝܪ ܪܘܓܙܐ‬but the one who declines to give incites

anger’; MT ‫‘ ושׁוחדא בעובא חמתא עשׁינתא‬and a bribe in the bosom, fierce wrath’; LXX δώρων δὲ ὁ φειδόμενος θυμὸν ἐγείρει ἰσχυρόν ‘but he who declines to give stirs up strong wrath’. P follows LXX almost exactly, which recasts MT. ‫‘ ܕ� ܨܒܐ‬do not want to’; MT ‫‘ מאנו‬refuse’; LXX οὐ γὰρ προαιροῦνται ‘do not choose to’. P follows LXX in this converse rendering. ‫‘ ܚܕ ܒܚܕ‬one another’; MT lacks. P follows LXX ἀλλήλοις ‘each other’. ‫‘ ܕܡܬܢܓܕ ܘܥܫܝܢܐܝܬ ܐܬܪܕܝ‬which is defeated and is greatly instructed’; MT ‫‘ ונסתר‬and is hidden’; LXX τιμωρούμενον κραταιῶς αὐτὸς παιδεύεται ‘strenuously punished is himself instructed’. MT lacks a word for ‘greatly/powerfully instructed’. Mosul punctuation groups this adverb with the following verb. Leiden correctly groups it with the preceding verb (‘which is powerfully defeated’), following LXX. ‫‘ ܒܐܘܪܚܗ ܥܣܩܬܐ‬on the troublesome path’; MT ‫‘ בדרך עקשׁ‬on the path of the perverse person’; LXX ἐν ὁδοῖς σκολιαῖς ‘in twisted paths’. P seems influenced by LXX. ‫‘ ܠܟܠܗܘܢ ܢܨܥܪ‬they will abuse everyone’; MT lacks; LXX: πάντας ἀτιμάζει ‘he disgraces all’. P translates LXX or a common expansionary H text. ‫‘ ܪܚܡ �ܗܐ‬God loves’; MT(Q) ‫‘ אהב‬One loves’. P follows LXX in adding God as the subject of the verb, which might intend to clarify the difficult syntax of MT. ‫‘ ܬܠܬ ܙܒܢ̈ܝܢ‬three times’; MT(Q) ‫‘ שׁלשׁים‬officers [lit. ‘third men’?]; MT(K) ‫ שׁלשׁום‬uncertain [often emended to ‘thirty’]; LXX τρισσῶς ‘three times (so Vulg.). P agrees with LXX. ‫‘ ܬܬܘܟ‬afflict’ or ‘humiliate’; MT ‫‘ תדכא‬crush’; LXX ἀτιμάσῃς ‘dishonor’. P with LXX slightly softens the H verb. ‫‘ ܒܕܒܗܬ ܐܢܬ ܡܢ ܦ�ܨܘܦܐ‬in your being ashamed of faces’; MT ‫‘ בתקעי־כף‬among those who strike/extend their hand’; LXX αἰσχυνόμενος πρόσωπον lit. ‘being ashamed of the face’ (= ‘from respect of a man’s person’). P follows LXX in omitting, or misunderstanding, the H reference to the hand gesture and substitutes a fairly literal rendering of the Greek idiom. ‫’‘ ܠܝܬ ܠܟ ܡܢ ܐܬܪ ܕ‬you lack the means to’, lit. ‘you lack from the place that’. MT ‫‘ אין־לך‬you do not have’; LXX μὴ ἔχῃς πόθεν lit. ‘you do not have the place of’. P makes use of an idiom that is derivative from Greek usage, prompted here doubtless by the LXX text.

Introduction to the Translation 23:7

‫ܒܠܥ ܙܦܬܐ‬

lxv

‘someone swallowing a hair’; MT ‫‘ שׁער בנפשׁו‬one thinking in himself’. LXX εἴ τις καταπίοι τρίχα ‘as one swallows a hair’. P follows LXX here in reading the rare H verb ‫‘ שׁער‬calculate, reckon’ as the H noun ‫‘ שׂער‬hair’. P otherwise loosely paraphrases the MT as it struggles to make sense. 23:19 ‫‘ ܘܬܪܘܨ ܬܪܥܝܬܝ ܒܠܒܟ‬but direct my thoughts into your heart’; MT ‫‘ ואשׁר בדרך לבך‬and direct your heart in the way’; LXX καὶ κατεύθυνε ἐννοίας σῆς καρδίας ‘and direct the thoughts of your heart’. P depends upon the LXX. 23:26 ‫‘ ܢܛ�ܢ‬keep’; MT(Q) ‫‘ תצרנה‬guard’; LXX τηρείτωσαν ‘guard, keep’. Cf. MT(K) ‫‘ תרצנה‬delight in’. 23:29 ‫‘ ܡܩܢ̈ܐܢ‬dim’. MT ‫[ חכללות‬uncertain]; LXX πέλειοι ‘pale’. P follows LXX in translating this obscure H term. 23:30 ‫‘ ܒܝܬ ܡܫܬܝܐ‬house of drinking’; MT ‫‘ ממסך‬mixed wine’; LXX ποῦ πότοι ‘drinking parties’. P probably is influenced by LXX. The additional sentence in 23:30B is found in LXX as part of a longer addition, missing entirely from MT. 23:34 ‫‘ ܐܝܟ ܡܠܚܐ ܒܡܚܫܘ� ܪܒܐ‬like a sailor in a great storm’; MT ‫וכשׁכב‬ ‫‘ בראשׁ חבל‬and like one lying down at the top of the rigging’. The MT is a bit obscure. P follows LXX exactly in an interpretative paraphrase: ὥσπερ κυβερνήτης ἐν πολλῷ κλύδωνι ‘like a navigator in a huge wave/sea’. 23:35 ‫‘ ܘܬܐܡܪ‬Then you will say’; MT lacks; LXX ἐρεῖς δέ ‘Then you will say’. P follows LXX (so Vulg., Targ.) in supplying this introduction, which is probably a clarifying addition by the Greek translator. MT lacks any explicit marker of direct quotation. 24:5 ‫‘ ܡܢ ܥܫܝܢܐ‬than a powerful one’; MT ‫‘ מאמּץ־כּח‬increases (his) strength’; LXX ἰσχυροῦ ‘than a strong one’. P, like LXX, reads the prefixed mēm on ‫ מאמץ‬as comparative ‫‘( מן‬than a powerful one’) instead of as the initial letter of the Piel ptc. ‘(one who) increases strength’. Parallelism with the initial clause in the v. supports this. 24:6 ‫‘ ܡܬܥܒܕ ܩܪܒܐ‬war is waged’; MT ‫‘ תעשׂה־לך מלחמה‬you wage war’; LXX γίνεται πόλεμος ‘war is conducted’. P follows LXX in reading ‫ תעשה‬as a passive verb form (Niphal 3rd f.sg.). 24:6 ‫‘ ܕܡܠܟܐ‬of counsel’; MT ‫‘ יועץ‬counselor’; LXX βουλευτικῆς ‘of counsel’. P follows LXX in eliminating the syntactic awkwardness of the sg. ptc. of MT. ̈ 24:23 ‫ܚܟܝܡܐ ܐܡܪ ܐܢܐ‬ ‫‘ ܗܠܝܢ ܠ‬I say these things to the wise’; MT ‫גם־אלּה‬ ‫‘ לחכמים‬Also these belong to the wise’; LXX ταῦτα δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν τοῖς σοφοῖς ‘And these things I say to you who are wise’. P agrees with LXX in rendering this clause as a first-person statement, rather

lxvi

Introduction to the Translation

than as an internal section heading that has crept into the start of the v., as in MT (E.g., ‘These also are sayings of the wise’ [NRSV]). 24:33 ‫‘ ܩܠܝܠ �ܬܣܝܡ ܐܝܕܟ ܥܠ ܚܕܝܟ‬you put your hand(s) a little on your chest’; MT ‫‘ מעט חבק ידים לשׁכב‬a little folding of the hands to sleep’; LXX ὀλίγον δὲ ἐναγκαλίζομαι χερσὶν στήθη ‘I fold my arms over my chest a little’. P adds ‘on your chest’ to make the picture more clear of someone lying down on their back in sleep. It is influenced by LXX. See also 6:10. 24:34 ‫‘ ܐܝܟ ܓܒܪܐ ܛܒܠܪܐ‬like a courier’; MT ‫‘ כאישׁ מגן‬like a man who delivers’ or ‘like an armed man’ (i.e., ‘man of a shield’). LXX ὥσπερ ἀγαθὸς δρομεύς ‘like an excellent courier’. P is influenced by LXX in rendering the ambiguous H phrase. 25:1 ‫‘ �ܚܡܘܗܝ‬associates’: lit. ‘friends’; MT ‫‘ אנשׁי‬men’; LXX φίλοι ‘friends’. P follows LXX. 25:4 ‫‘ ܕܟܐ‬pure’; MT ‫‘ לצרף‬to the smelter’; LXX καὶ καθαρισθήσεται ‘purified’. P seems to agree with LXX in reading ‫ צרוף‬as a passive ptc. (‘purified, tested’) instead of an active ptc. as in MT. ̈ ‫‘ ܡܕܡ‬What your eyes have seen — say that’; MT 25:7 ‫ܕܚܙܝ ܥܝܢܝ̈ܟ ܗܘ ܐܡܪ‬ lacks; LXX: ἃ εἶδον οἱ ὀφθαλμοί σου λέγε ‘Say what your eyes have seen’. P translates the LXX. 25:11 ‫‘ ܕܡܡ� ܡܠܬܐ‬The one who speaks a word’; MT ‫‘ דּבר דּבר על־אפניו‬a word spoken properly [?]’; LXX εἰπεῖν λόγον ‘to speak a word’. P follows LXX in omitting the rare and difficult prepositional phrase, ‘timely’ or ‘properly’. 25:12 ‫‘ ܣܪܕܘܢ‬jewel’; MT ‫‘ כתם‬gold’; LXX σάρδιον ‘a kind of carnelian (sardius stone)’. P follows LXX in using a term for a gem rather than gold. 25:20 ‫‘ ܘܡ�ܪܐ‬who afflicts’; MT ‫‘ ושׁר בשׁרים על‬and sings songs to’; LXX καρδίαν λυπεῖ ‘afflicts the heart’. P gives an interpretative paraphrase, following LXX. 25:20A ‘Like a moth in a garment and like woodworm in wood, so distress afflicts the heart of a person’. This addition to v. 20 is absent from MT. P translates LXX: ‘As a moth is to a garment and a worm is to wood, so a man’s pain hurts the heart’. 25:22 ‫‘ ܘܟܕ ܗܠܝܢ ܬܥܒܕ ܠܗ‬And when you do these things’; MT lacks; LXX τοῦτο γὰρ ποιῶν ‘For by doing this’. P must take this additional protasis from LXX. 26:3 ‫‘ ܙܩܬܐ‬goad’; MT ‫‘ מתג‬bridle’; LXX καὶ κέντρον ‘and a goad’. P follows LXX, perhaps reflecting desire to make the disciplinary implements more uniformly painful in nature.

Introduction to the Translation 26:5

26:6

26:9

26:10

26:14

26:19

26:21

26:28 27:11

27:19

lxvii

�‫‘ ܐ‬Instead’; MT lacks; LXX ἀλλά ‘Instead’. Unlike P and LXX, MT

has no adversative particle at the beginning of vs. 5; it simply juxtaposes vv. 4 and 5. �‫‘ ܡܢ ܬܚܝܬ ܪ ܓܠܗ ܫܬܐ ܥܘ‬drinks wrong-doing from under his feet’; MT ‫‘ מקצה רגלים חמס שׁתה‬cuts off (his) feet, (and) drinks violence’. LXX ἐκ τῶν ἑαυτοῦ ποδῶν ὄνειδος πίεται ‘he will drink reproach from his own feet’. P follows LXX, which probably finds MT obscure and tries to create a more coherent sentence with the earthy metaphor of drinking urine or drinking from a puddle. ‫‘ ܝܥܘ‬sprout’; MT ‫‘ עלה‬go up’; LXX ἄκανθαι φύονται ‘thorn plants grow up’. P and LXX misunderstand this H verb, which, unlike the Syriac, does not normally mean ‘sprout’. MT must refer either to a thorn poking into the flesh of one’s hand, or to a large thorn branch being brandished threateningly in one’s hand. �‫‘ ܣܓܝ ܚܐܫ ܒܣܪܗ ܕܣܟ‬The flesh of a fool suffers much’; MT ‫רב‬ ‫‘ מחולל־כּל‬An archer wounding everyone’ or ‘A master produces everything’ [?]; LXX πολλὰ χειμάζεται πᾶσα σὰρξ ἀφρόνων ‘All flesh of fools is distressed [or ‘storm-tossed’] by many things’. P resembles LXX in its dramatic departure from the difficult MT. See additional note below under “Meaning Obscure” on the final phrase of v. 10, where P does not follow LXX. ‫‘ ܐܝܟ ܬܪܥܐ ܕܡܬܟܪܟ‬like a door which rotates’; MT ‫‘ הדלת תסוב‬A door rotates’; LXX ὥσπερ θύρα στρέφεται ἐπὶ τοῦ στρόφιγγος ‘As a door turns on its socket’. P follows LXX in changing the metaphor into a simile by adding ‘like/as’. ‫‘ ܘܡܐ ܕܐܣܬܟܠܝܘܗܝ‬when it becomes known’; MT lacks; LXX ὅταν δὲ φωραθῶσιν ‘when they are discovered’. P follows LXX in adding this clarifying addition. ‫‘ ܛܪܛܩܠ‬a gridiron’; MT ‫‘ פחם‬charcoal’; LXX ἐσχάρα ‘hearth’. P follows LXX in reading here a term for a cooking structure rather than fuel. ‫‘ ܩܘܫܬܐ‬the truth’; MT ‫‘ דכּיו‬those it crushes’; LXX ἀλήθειαν ‘the truth’. P follows LXX. ‫‘ ܘܒܛܠ ܡܢܝ ܚܣܕܐ‬and take away from me the reviling of’; MT ‫‘ ואשׁיבה‬that I may answer’; LXX ἀπόστρεψον ἀπὸ σοῦ ‘and remove from you’. P is influenced by LXX, which may be freely interpreting MT. ‫‘ � ܕܡܝܢ‬do not resemble’; MT ‫‘ כמים‬like water’; LXX οὐχ ὅμοια ‘are not like’. P follows LXX in reading a H verb ‘resemble’ (probably ‫‘ דמה√ — דמים‬resemble’) instead of the H noun for ‘water’. The rest of the sentence is altered accordingly to make sense.

lxviii 27:21

Introduction to the Translation

̈ ‫ܕܡܫܒܚܢܘܗܝ‬ ‘of those who praise him’; MT ‫‘ מהללו‬of his praise’; LXX

ἐγκωμιαζόντων αὐτόν ‘those who praise him’. P follows the wording of LXX, which clarifies that the person being described is the object and not the subject of H ‘praise’. 27:21A P: ‘The heart of evildoers seeks wickedness, and the heart of the upright seeks knowledge’. This addition to v. 21 is absent from MT. P translates LXX almost exactly. 27:22 ‫‘ ܐܢ ܐܢܬ ܡܚܐ ܠܣܟ� ܒܓܘ ܟܢܘܫܬܐ‬If you strike a fool in the midst of the assembly’; MT ‫‘ אם תּכתּושׁ־את־האויל בּמּכתּשׁ בּתוך הריפות בּעלי‬If you pound a fool in the midst of a mortar with a pestle [?] along with grain’; LXX ἐὰν μαστιγοῖς ἄφρονα ἐν μέσῳ συνεδρίου ἀτιμάζων ‘if you beat a fool when he is disgraced in the council’. P paraphrases LXX; they both see an allusion to public flogging in the mortar-andpestle metaphor of MT. Targ. combines the two texts: ‘If you strike the fool with blows in the midest of the assembly, yet with the pestle …’. 27:24 ‫‘ ܘܐܦ� ܡܫܠܡ‬nor does one pass (it) on’; MT ‫‘ ואם־נזר‬nor a crown [lit. ‘official headdress’]’; LXX οὐδὲ παραδίδωσιν ‘nor does one pass it on’. ‘Crown’ seems ill-suited to the saying, and one suspects textual corruption. P follows LXX; it is impossible to know whether they are departing from the difficult MT or have a variant H source-text. 28:4 ‫‘ ܡܥܫܢܝܢ ܢܦܫܗܘܢ‬fortify themselves’; MT ‫‘ יתגרו בם‬set themselves against them’; LXX ‘build a wall about themselves’. P paraphrases LXX. 28:11 ‫‘ ܒܣܪ‬despise’; MT ‫‘ יחקרנו‬sees through’, lit. ‘penetrates, searches’; LXX καταγνώσεται ‘condemn’. In this paraphrase, P is probably influenced by LXX. 28:20 ‫‘ ܘܒܝܫܐ ܒܥܘܠܗ � ܢܬܚܣܐ‬but a wicked person will not go unpunished in his wrong-doing’; MT ‫‘ ואץ להעשׁיר לא ינקה‬but one who is in a hurry to be rich will not go unpunished’; LXX ὁ δὲ κακὸς οὐκ ἀτιμώρητος ἔσται ‘but the wicked person will not be unpunished’. P translates LXX rather than the MT, favoring its more general negative ‘wicked person’. 28:21 ‫‘ ܡܫܠܡ ܓܒܪܐ‬he will deliver a man’; MT ‫‘ יפשׁע־גבר‬a man will transgress’; LXX ἀποδώσεται ἄνδρα ‘he will hand over a man’. P follows LXX. 29:3 ‫‘ ܘܕܪܥܐ ܒܙܢܝܘܬܐ‬but the one who grazes with prostitution’; MT ‫ורעה‬ ‫‘ זונות‬but the one who associates with prostitutes’. P misunderstands the H verb here, probably following LXX ποιμαίνει πόρνας ‘who shepherds prostitutes’. Syriac √‫ ܪܥܝ‬means only ‘shepherd, graze’,

Introduction to the Translation

30:9

30:15

30:17 30:19 30:23

30:30

30:31

lxix

whereas the root in H can mean ‘shepherd’ or ‘associate with, befriend’, which is its sense here. ‫‘ ܘܐܡܐ ܒܫܡܗ ܕܐܠܗܝ‬and swear by the name of my God’; MT ‫ותפשׂתי‬ ‫‘ שׁם אלהי‬and seize the name of my God’; LXX καὶ ὀμόσω τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ θεοῦ ‘and swear by the name of God’. P and LXX agree in this rendering which departs from MT in a curious way. ̈ ‫‘ ܬܠܬ‬had three beloved daughters’; MT ‫שׁתי‬ ‫ܗܘܝ ܠܗ ̈ܒܢܢ ܚܒܝ̈ܒܢ‬ ‫‘ בנות‬two daughters’; LXX τρεῖς θυγατέρες ἦσαν ἀγαπήσει ἀγαπώμεναι ‘had three much very beloved daughters’. P follows LXX in this part of the v., which condenses MT and assimilates the number ‘two’ of daughters to the number ‘three’ of the insatiable things. P renders MT closely in the remainder of the v. ‫‘ ܣܝܒܘܬܐ‬old age’; MT ‫‘ ליקהת‬respect’; LXX γῆρας ‘old age’. P follows LXX in this interpretative translation of MT. ‫‘ ܒܥܠܝܡܘܬܗ‬in his youth’; MT ‫‘ בּעלמה‬with a maiden’; LXX ἐν νεότητι ‘in youth’. P follows LXX here. ‫‘ ܕܡܦܩܐ‬who drives out’; MT ‫‘ תירשׁ‬when she dispossesses/becomes heir to’; LXX ἐκβάλῃ ‘drives out’. P follows LXX in a more negative wording. ‫‘ ܘ� ܕܚܠ ܘ� ܗܦܟ ܡܢ ܟܠܗ ܒܥܝܪܐ‬and does not fear and does not turn away from any animal’; MT ‫‘ ולא־ישׁוב מפני־כל‬and does not turn away from any’; LXX ὃς οὐκ ἀποστρέφεται οὐδὲ καταπτήσσει κτῆνος ‘which does not turn away from nor fear (any) animal’. P appears to follow the double translation of the MT clause that is contained in LXX, albeit with a reversal of the verbs. ‫ ܕܐܙܠ ܒܪܫ ܓܙܪܐ‬... ‫‘ ܕܡܙܕܪܟܠ ܒܝܢܬ ܬ�ܢܓܘܠܝܬܐ‬who struts among hens … who walks at the head of the flock …’; MT lacks; LXX καὶ ἀλέκτωρ ἐμπεριπατῶν θηλείαις εὔψυχος καὶ τράγος ἡγούμενος αἰπολίου ‘strutting courageously among the hens … leading the

herd’. P follows LXX in adding the explanatory notes about rooster and he-goat, which make explicit the nature of the arrogant behavior which is the point of the comparison. 31:8 ‫‘ ܒܡܠܬܐ ܕܩܘܫܬܐ‬with a word of truth’; MT ‫‘ לאלּם‬for the mute’; LXX λόγῳ θεοῦ ‘with the word of God’. P seems to depend on LXX, perhaps because it does not understand the H word, which does not occur elsewhere in Prov. 31:15 ‫‘ ܘܥܒܕܐ‬and work’; MT ‫‘ וחק‬and assigned duty’ or ‘and allotted food’; LXX καὶ ἔργα ‘works’. P follows LXX in the interpretation of ‫ חק‬as ‘assigned chores’ instead of ‘allotment of food (Vulg. et cibaria ‘and rations’).

lxx

Introduction to the Translation

Meaning Obscure The MT of the Book of Proverbs is difficult to understand in a number of places. In addition to what has already been mentioned, there are some rare words. Also, many individual proverbs are elliptical, with the reader left to understand the presence of verbs or prepositions that are only implied, not expressed. And as in much poetry, word order sometimes departs from what is usual in prose. The Syriac translator has been forced in a few cases to present a ‘translation’ that represents the H words as he understands them, but whose overall sense remains obscure, even to him. 18:1

‫ܘܒܫܬܝܩܘܬܗ ܪܢܐ ܒܪܓܬܐ ܘܡܡܝܩ ܒܝܘܠܦܢܐ ܛܒܐ‬

‘And in silence he thinks about desire and mocks good learning’; MT ‫ְל ַת ֲאוָ ה יְ ַב ֵקּשׁ נִ ְפ ָרד‬ ‫ל־תּוּשׁיָּ ה יִ ְתגַּ ָלּע‬ ִ ‫‘ ְבּ ָכ‬The separated one seeks desire, (and) is hostile [?] toward all practical wisdom’; LXX προφάσεις ζητεῖ ἀνὴρ βουλόμενος χωρίζεσθαι ἀπὸ φίλων ἐν παντὶ δὲ καιρῷ ἐπονείδιστος ἔσται ‘A man who wishes to separate from friends

18:18

19:8

19:19

19:22

19:23

seeks excuses, but he will be liable to reproach at all times’. There are clear points of contact between P and MT, but the meaning of the initial clause is not clear. ‫‘ ܦܨܬܐ‬portion’; MT ‫‘ הגורל‬lot’. P apparently interprets MT as ‘a portion assigned by casting a lot’. However, the Syriac noun ‫ܦܨܬܐ‬ does not denote the object itself that is dropped or cast, which is the meaning apparently required in the sentence. The saying remains somewhat obscure. ̈ ‫ܒܡ�ܘܗܝ � ܫܪܝܪ‬ ‫‘ ܐܝܢܐ ܕܛܪܟܢ‬Those who are trouble-makers with their words are not trustworthy’; MT(K) ‫ממנו מרדף אמרים לא־המה‬ ‘whoever pursues words — they are not’. P and especially MT are obscure, and the relationship between the two is unclear. The precise meaning of Syriac ‫ ܛܪܟܢ‬is uncertain; the translation assumes derivation from Greek ταραχή (‘disturbance’). ‫‘ ܘܟܡܐ ܕܡܥ� ܥܠ ܛܥܢܗ ܡܘܣܦ‬and as he ascends, he increases his burden’. This second half of the v. is obscure in P and also in MT ‫כי‬ ‫‘ אם־תציל ועוד תוסף‬and if you rescue then you will again/further increase’. ‫‘ ܪܓܬܗ ܕܒܪܢܫܐ ܛܝܒܘܬܗ‬The desire of a man is (for) his goodness’; MT ‫‘ תאות אדם חסדו‬The desire of a man is his kindness’ [or ‘his shame’]. MT is obscure; P renders literally. ‫‘ ܘ� ܢܦܩܘܕ ܒܝܫܬܐ‬will not seek wickedness’; MT ‫‘ ַבּל־יִ ָ ֥פּ ֶקד רע‬will not be visited by evil’. The meaning of the overall sentence is not clear in either MT or P.

Introduction to the Translation 21:4 21:18

25:20

26:10

27:16

29:9

29:24

lxxi

‫ܘܫܪܓܐ‬

‘lamp of’; MT ‫‘ נִ ר‬lamp’ or ‘newly tilled field’; LXX and Vulg. also read ‘lamp’. The MT clause is obscure. ‫‘ ܬܚ�ܘܦܗ‬substitute’ [2x]; MT ‫‘ כפר‬ransom’. The Hebrew term ‫֣כֹּ ֶפר‬ connotes ‘atonement, ransom’ more specifically than does Syriac ‫ܬܚ�ܘܦܐ‬. The latter is not used with this sense in the Syriac Pentateuch. P closely renders MT, the meaning of which is not certain. ‫‘ ܝܬܪܐ‬a cord’; MT ‫‘ נָ ֶתר‬natron’ (a mineral); Vulg. nitro; LXX ‘a sore’ ἀσύμφορον. The only attested definition of the Syriac term is ‘cord, string’, which does not fit the sentence. The clause is obscure. ‫‘ ܘܪܘܝܐ ܥܒܪ ܝܡܐ‬and a drunkard crosses the sea’; MT ‫‘ וְ שׂ ֵ ֹ֥כר ע ְֹב ִ ֽרים‬and he hires those passing by [? obscure]. P seems to read ‫ושׁכר עבר ים‬ ‘and a drunkard crosses the sea’. The v. is obscure. ‫‘ ܘܒܫܡܐ ܕܝܡܝܢܐ ܡܬܩܪܝܐ‬and it is called by the name “right hand”’; MT ‫‘ ושׁמן ימינו יקרא‬and one calls it “oil of the right hand”’, or ‘one encounters oil of the right hand’. P and MT are obscure. ‫‘ ܘ� ܡܬܬܦܝܪ‬but he does not become enraged’; MT ‫‘ ואין נחת‬but there is no calm’. P may not know the H noun (cf. √‫‘ נוח‬rest’), which does not occur elsewhere in Prov. Either P guesses at its meaning, or has a variant source-text (‫ ֵח ָמה‬or ‫)? ָחרוֹן‬. The sense of the whole v. is unclear. ̈ ‫‘ ܘܦܣܩܝܢ ܥ�ܘܗܝ‬they make oaths for him’; MT ‫אלה ישׁמע‬ ‫ܡܘܡܬܐ‬ ‘he hears these’. The details of oath-ceremonies seem to be involved here; it is not possible to understand exactly what P understands or intends with its rendering.

Qoheleth

Free Translation Most of the readings that differ from a closely word-for-word rendering of the MT are those in which it appears that the Syriac translator assumes the freedom to expand, abbreviate, or paraphrase for the sake of Syriac style; to express a particular interpretation of an ambiguous H construction; or simply to guess at the meaning when the source text is obscure. 1:5

‫ܕܕܢܚ ܗܘ ܬܐܒ ܕܡܢ ܬܡܢ ܬܘܒ ܢܕܢܚ‬

‘rises’; MT ‫ואל־מקומו זורח הוא שׁם‬. The obscure H verb ‫‘( שׁואף‬pant, gasp, annoy’?), which LXX also seems not to understand, must have stymied the Syriac translator, who simply reuses the earlier verb and paraphrases MT, echoing also the phraseology of v. 4. The ancient versions struggle with this line in various ways.

lxxii 1:18

2:7

2:8

2:10

2:13

2:20

2:20

3:3 3:4

Introduction to the Translation

‫ܪܘܓܙܐ‬

‘anger’; MT ‫‘ כעס‬grief’. The H term ‫ כעס‬usually denotes ‘vexation, grief’, which is surely the intended sense in Qoheleth. Only rarely does it carry the stronger sense of “anger.” By choosing Syriac ‫ܪܘܓܙܐ‬, ‘anger’, P introduces a different nuance (also 2:23; 5:16; 7:4, 10; 11:10). ‫‘ ܘܒܢ̈ܝ ܒܝܬܐ ܗܘܘ ܠܝ ܣܘܓܐܐ‬and I had a huge household staff’: lit. ‘many boys of the house’; MT ‫‘ ובני־בית היה לי‬I had household staff’. The adj. ‘many’ (‘huge’) in this clause supplies a deficiency in the MT, as was noted by Jerome. But lacking other textual witnesses, one must assume that this is an interpretative addition by P rather than a feature of his source text. ̈ ‫ܕܡܠܟܐ ܕܡܕ�̈ܢܬܐ‬ ‫‘ ܘܩܢܝܢܐ‬and the possessions of kings of cities’; MT ‫‘ וסגלת מלכים והמדינות‬possessions of kings and of the provinces’ Mosul differs from Leiden in changing MT ‘possessions of kings and of …’ to ‘possessions of kings of …’ P introduces a slight change by translating H ‫ מדינה‬with the Syriac cognate ‫ܡܕܝܢܬܐ‬, as also in 5:7. In fact, the H term denotes ‘province, administrative district’ rather than ‘city’, but Syriac means primarily ‘city’. ‫‘ � ܟܠܝܬ ܡܢܗܝܢ ܘ� ܟܠܝܬ ܠܒܝ‬I did not withhold from them and I did not withhold my heart from’; MT ‫לא אצלתי מהם לא־מנעתי‬ ‫‘ את־לבי‬I did not keep from them; I did not withhold from my heart’. P chooses to use the same verb in each of the parallel clauses, in place of the two synonyms of the MT. ‫‘ ܐܝܟ ܕܝܬܝܪ ܢܘܗܪܐ ܡܢ ܚܫܘܟܐ‬as (there is) more in light than darkness’; MT ‫‘ כיתרון האור מן־החשׁ‬as the benefit of light (is more) than darkness’. P abbreviates by omitting the second ‫יתרון‬. ‫‘ ܕܐܫܝܫ‬to calm’; MT ‫‘ ליאשׁ‬to despair’. The H verb is rare. P may have wrongly understood it as a cognate of Syriac √‫( ܫܝܫ‬Afel stem). Leiden reads ‫‘ ܠܡܦܣܘ‬to persuade’[?] LXX also seems not to translate the MT verb ἐγὼ τοῦ ἀποτάξασθαι τῇ καρδίᾳ μου ‘I bid farewell from my heart’. ‫‘ ܝܬ ܠܒܝ‬my mind’; MT ‫‘ את־לבּי‬my mind’. This is one of six vv. in Qoheleth were P represents the Hebrew direct object marker ‫ את‬by Syriac ‫ܝܬ‬. ‫‘ ܡܚܝܘ‬to revive’; MT ‫‘ רפוא‬to heal’. P is slightly paraphrastic. ܳ ‫�ܡ‬ ܽ ‫ܪܩ‬ ܽ ‫‘ ܡܪ ܳܩ‬to lament and a time to dance’; MT ‫עת ספוד‬ ܰ ‫ܕܘ ܘܙܒܢܐ‬ ‫ܕܘ‬ ܱ ‫‘ ועת רקוד‬a time to wail and a time to dance’. Whereas the H uses two entirely different verbs for ‘lament’ and ‘dance’, P creates paronomasia by using two different stems of the same verb √‫ܪܩܕ‬ Aphel = ‘lament’) and (Pael = ‘dance’).

Introduction to the Translation 3:6

3:9 3:15

3:16

3:18

4:1

4:17

4:17

5:6

lxxiii

‫לשׁמור‬ ‫‘ ועת להשׁליך‬to preserve and a time to send away’. P is translating freely. ‫‘ ܥܒܕܐ‬work’; MT ‫‘ העושׂה‬the one working/doing’. P slightly recasts the clause into more direct, concise syntax. ‫‘ ܠܪܕܝܦܐ ܕܡܬܪܕܦ‬the pursued one who is outcast’; MT ‫‘ את־נרדף‬the pursued one/thing’. P alone among the ancient versions adds the second participial adjective; MT lacks it. One wonders if it originated as a gloss on the preceding term, ‫ܠܪܕܝܦܐ‬, but there is no obvious need for clarification of ‫ܪܕܝܦܐ‬. Possibly the final clause of the v. refers not to an abused person but to a vanished event or time — that which has been ‘driven away’ chronologically; so Vulg. quod abiit NRSV ‘what has gone by’. �‫ܬܡܢ ܥܘ‬... ‫‘ ܬܡܢ ܪܘܫܥܐ‬there is wickedness … there is injustice’; MT ‫‘ שׁמה הרשׁע …שׁמה הרשׁע‬there is wickedness … there is wickedness’. P chooses to use two different synonyms in place of the repeated noun in the parallel clauses in MT. ‫‘ ܐܝܟ ܒܥܝܪܐ ܐܢܘܢ‬they are like animals’; MT ‫‘ שׁהם־בהמה המה להם‬that they are animals’. P adds ‘like’ (so Vulg. similes esse bestiis) to make explicit that this is a simile. P similarly adds ‫ ܐܝܟ‬to the comparison with silver in 7:13. �‫‘ ܡܢ ܐܝܕܐ ܕܛ�ܘܡܝ̈ܗܘܢ ܚܝ‬from the power of their oppressors (with) strength’; MT ‫‘ ומיד עשׁקיהם כח‬and on the side of their oppressors (is) strength’. The omission of the conjunction waw by P seems to change the line from an equative sentence in MT, to an ambiguous prepositional phrase, ‘with strength’, the referent of which is not certain. ̈ ̈ �‫ܕܣܟ‬ ‫ܕܕܒܚܐ‬ ‫ ܛܒ ܡܢ ܡܘܗܒܬܐ‬literally, ‘better than the gift of the sacrifices of fools’; MT ‫ זבח מתת הכסילים‬lit. ‘than the gift of fools a sacrifice’. P adds ‫ ܛܒ‬and changes the final two words into a construct chain in order to offer a clear reading of the difficult MT syntax. ‫‘ ܠܡܥܒܕ ܕܛܒ‬to do what is good’: MT ‫‘ לעשׂות רע‬to do evil’. In the context, this MT infinitive clause is difficult; it perhaps can be understood as ‘they do not know that they are doing evil’; so Vulg. qui nesciunt quid faciant mali. P apparently understands it as meaning ‘fools know nothing except to do evil’, which he paraphrases. This substitution is otherwise textually unsupported, and must be interpretative. ̈ ‫ܘܦܬܓܡܐ ܣܓܝ̈ܐܐ ܕܛܘܥܚ‬ ‘and many mistaken words’; MT ‫ודברים‬ ‫‘ הרבה‬and many words’. P here provides a word-for-word rendering

‫‘ ܠܡܩܛܪ ܘܙܒܢܐ ܠܡܫܪܐ‬to bind and a time to loosen’; MT reads

lxxiv

5:7

5:9

7:1 7:2 7:8

7:13

7:14

7:15

7:18

Introduction to the Translation of the MT, which seems to be an incomplete sentence. The word ‫‘ ܕܛܘܥܚ‬mistake, error’ here is the same noun used in v. 5. It is missing from the two oldest Syriac MSS, which may be secondary correction to the MT. Probably the Syriac translator read H ‘many words’ as unacceptably vague, and added this adjective, drawing on the thought of the preceding v. Targ also feels the need to clarify that the many words warned against are negative words: ‫ומלין סגיאין‬ ‫‘ דרשׁיעיא‬and words of wicked ones’. ‫‘ ܘܚܛܘܦܝܐ ܘܕܝܢܐ‬miscarriage of justice’, lit. ‘plunder and justice’. MT ‫‘ וגזל משׁפט וצדק‬the perversion of justice and righteousness. Our translation assumes these two nouns to be a hendiadys (i.e., judicial activity that plunders). P abbreviates by omitting the second H noun of the compound genitive: ‘and of righteousness’. ‫‘ � ܢܩܕܝܘܗܝ‬does not keep possession of it’; MT ‫ לא תבואה‬literally, ‘no profit/income’. P offers an interpretative paraphrase of the somewhat cryptic MT. ‫ ܘܥܒܪ‬lit. ‘and he passes by’; MT ‫‘ ויעשׂם‬and which he uses’ (√‫‘ עשׂה‬do, make’). P paraphrases, using a more specific verb. ‫‘ ܕܝܠܝܕܘܬܐ‬of birth’; MT ‫‘ הולדו‬his birth’. P omits the pronominal suffix (so Vulg. nativitatis) in order to tighten the parallelism with ‘of death’. ‫‘ ܡܘܒܕ ܠܚܟܝܡܐ ܘܡܘܒܕܐ ܠܒܐ‬destroys the wise … and destroys the heart’; MT ‫‘ יהולל חכם ויאבד את־לב‬makes a wise man into a fool and destroys the heart’. P uses the same verb in both clauses, thus displacing the first H verb (‘drive mad, make a fool of’) with ‘destroys’. This assimilation seems to be purely stylistic (cf. 2:10; 3:4; 10:18). ‫‘ ܕܛ�� ܕܚܟܡܬܐ ܐܝܟ ܛ�� ܕܟܣܦܐ‬the shade of wisdom (is) like the shade of silver’; MT ‫(‘ בצל החכמה בצל הכסף‬to be) in the shade of wisdom (is to be) in the shade of silver’. P, like LXX ὡς, expands the H wording with ‘like’ in order to make clear that the cryptic MT is using a simile. ‫‘ ܠܡܬܩܢܘ ܠܡܢ ܕܡܕܘܕ ܗܘ‬to repair what he damages’; MT ‫לתקן את‬ ‫‘ אשׁר עותו‬to make straight what he has twisted’. P recasts the MT to replace the metaphor (twisting, straightening) with a more prosaic generalization. ‫‘ ܚܙܝ ܢܦܫܟ‬watch yourself’; MT ‫‘ ראה‬consider’, lit. ‘see’. The addition of ‘yourself’ is P’s own interpretative addition, making the admonition more specific. ‫‘ ܕ� ܬܣܬܢܐ ܣܓܝ‬lest you be very much hated’; MT missing. The lack of support for this addition in other ancient witnesses makes it likely

Introduction to the Translation

9:16 10:3

10:9

10:18

11:7

12:3

lxxv

that P has simply created this clause in order to complete the parallelism in the v. ‫‘ � ܡܫܬܡܠܝܢ‬are not enacted’: MT ‫‘ אינם נשׁמעים‬are not heeded’. P offers an interpretative paraphrase. ‫‘ ܘܟܠ ܕܡܬܚܫܒ ܣܟ�ܘܬܐ ܗܝ‬and everything that he thinks is foolishness’; MT ‫‘ ואמר לכל סכל הוא‬and he says to everyone he is a fool’. LXX καὶ ἃ λογιεῖται πάντα ἀφροσύνη ἐστίν ‘and all he considers is foolishness’ seems to agrees with P. P and LXX could possibly read a H text with different vowels (‫כ ֶסל‬,ֶ understood as abstract = ‘foolishness’) but most likely their rendering is interpretative. In 10:6 ‫ כסל‬is often taken to be an abstract noun ‘foolishness’, but there both P and LXX understand it as meaning ‘fool’. ‫‘ �ܐ ܒܗܘܢ‬become exhausted’; MT ‫‘ יסכן בם‬be endangered [?] by them’. The meaning of the H verb √‫ סכן‬is uncertain; LXX and Vulg. take it ‘be endangered’ or ‘made vulnerable’. The Syriac translation is probably a guess. ‫‘ ܒܫܦ�ܘܬܐ ܢܬܡܟܟ ܬܛܠܝ� ܘܒܫܦ�ܘܬܐ ܕܐܝܕ�̈ܐ‬With laziness the roof falls down, and with lazy hands’; MT ‫בעצלתים ימך המקרה ובשׁפלות‬ ‫‘ידים‬With laziness the roof-beam falls down and with laziness [lit. ‘dropping’] of hands’. P chooses to use the same term in both of these parallel clauses, in place of the two different synonyms of MT. ‫‘ ܘܝܬܝܪ ܠܚܙ̈ܝܝ ܫܡܫܐ‬especially for those who see the sun.’ MT ‫לראות‬ ‫‘ את־השׁמשׁ‬to see the sun’. Mosul and several P MSS choose here to use the wording of the final clause of P 7:12 instead of literally translating the similar MT. This reading seems not to fit the sentence in 11:7 as well as the MT, and would appear to result from secondary assimilation by P rather than from a variant H text. ‫‘ ܘܢܬܕܘܕܘܢ‬alarmed’; MT ‫‘ והתעותו‬are bent’ [?]. The Syriac verb used here is not supported by other witnesses. It must be interpretative paraphrase by P, who perhaps finds H √‫‘ עות‬bent’ somewhat unclear.

Inner-Syriac Corruption 7:19

‫‘ ܢܩܦ‬adheres to’; MT ‫‘ יצא את‬goes out with’. Since walking/going is

a frequent metaphor in H literature for general behavior, it is very possible that the P here is simply recasting that somewhat vague H to the more specific and context-appropriate ‫ܢܩܦ‬. However, it is inviting to think that an earlier text form — now lost entirely from the MSS — read ‫‘ ܢܦܩ‬goes out’ as a literal translation of the MT. Secondarily within the Syriac tradition, metathesis created the present reading whose suitability to the context cemented it in place.

lxxvi

Introduction to the Translation

Scribal Errors or Misunderstandings Listed below are passages where it seems that the Syriac translator misunderstood the H source text.

‫� ܢܣܒܥ ܓܒܪܐ ܠܡܡܠܘ‬

‘No one gets enough speaking’, lit. ‘… gets sated with speaking’; MT ‫‘ לא־יוכל אישׁ לדבר‬a person is not able to say’ (i.e., not able to express how tiresome words are). P may misunderstand H ‫ יוכל‬as a form of √‫‘ כלל‬be complete, come to an end’ (‘a person cannot make an end of speaking’) which he then paraphrases with ‫ܢܣܒܥ‬, thinking that this clause is parallel to the following ones about the ear and the eye. (However, P understands ‫ יוכל‬correctly at 7:13.) 1:10 ‫‘ ܟܠ ܕܢܡܠܠ ܘܢܐܡܪ‬Everyone who speaks and says’; MT ‫ישׁ דבר‬ ‫‘ שׁיאמר‬There is a word which one says’. P, with LXX (ὃς λαλήσει καὶ ἐρεῖ), misreads the H noun ‫ ָד ָבר‬as a verb. ̈ ‫‘ ܘܝܕܥܬܐ‬and knowledge and proverbs and 1:17 ‫ܘܡܬ� ܘܣܟܘܠܬܢܘܬܐ‬ understanding’. MT ‫‘ ודעת הוללות ושׂכלות‬and to know madness and foolishness’. P misunderstands MT infinitive ‫‘ דעת‬to know’ as a noun. H ‘foolishness’ is usually spelled with samek ‫סכלות‬, which may have prompted P to confuse the final term here with a putative H ‫‘ שׂכל√( שׂכולת‬have insight, understanding’ ) as a synonym of Syriac ‫‘ ܣܟܘܠܬܢܘܬܐ‬understanding’. Why P forsakes a literal rendering of MT ‫‘ הוללות‬madness, error’ in order to follow LXX παραβολάς ‘proverbs’ is difficult to explain. P understands and translates ‫הוללות‬ more or less literally at the four other places where it occurs in Qoheleth (2:12; 7:25; 9:3; 10:13). Perhaps, given the list of three positive wisdom attributes which P thus identifies here, he simply feels compelled to assume that ‫ הוללות‬is an error and therefore adopts LXX ‘proverbs,’ encouraged by the presence of that term in 12:9. 2:2 ‫‘ ܡܢܐ ܗܢܝܢ‬What good is it?’, lit. ‘What is the profit?’; MT ‫הוֹלל‬ ָ ‫ ְמ‬is commonly taken as a Polʿal participle meaning, ‘foolishness, madness’ (NRSV ‘It is mad!’). P appears to have read this as two separate words, ‫הוֹלל‬ ֵ ‫מה‬, ‘What does it boast?’, which he paraphrases. One cannot know whether this is P’s misreading of the MT or witness to a variant text. ̈ ‫‘ ܠܝ‬my servants’; MT ‫‘ מעשי‬my works’. In the Mosul edition, 2:4 ‫ܥܒܕܝ‬ the vowel signs are those of the Syriac word for “servants” rather than ‘works’; consonants of the two nouns are identical. No such 1:8

Introduction to the Translation

2:11

3:18

3:18

5:3

7:22

7:22

9:1

10:19

lxxvii

ambiguity attaches to the noun form in the MT. Other ancient versions read ‘my works’. ‫‘ ܥܒܕܐ ܕܥܒܕ ܐ�̈ܕܝ‬the work that my hands had done’, literally, ‘the work of the work of my hands’; MT ‫‘ מעשׂי שׁעשׂו ידי‬the works which my hands had done’. P seems to present here a somewhat tautological compound genitive. On the basis of MT and other witnesses we would expect ‘works which my hands had done’, but the disagreement in number between pl. ‘hands’ and sg. ‘work’ makes this impossible. ‫‘ ܥܠ ܡܡ�� ܕ‬concerning the speech of people’; MT ‫על־דברת בני‬ ‫‘ האדם‬concerning human beings’. P misses the H idiom ‫על־דברת‬ ‘concerning’ and takes the noun ‫ דבר‬here in its literal meaning, ‘word, speech’. So also at 7:14 and 8:2. ‫‘ ܕܒܪܐ ܐܢܘܢ �ܗܐ‬God created them’; MT ‫‘ לברם האלהים‬for God to test them’. P seems to misunderstand MT ‫ ְל ָב ָרם‬as containing an infinitive of ‫ ברא‬rather than of ‫‘( ברר‬purify, discriminate, choose’). ‫‘ ܐܢܬ‬You’; MT ‫[ את‬object marker — not translatable]. P misreads the H object marker as the 2nd masc. sg. pronoun ‫א ָתּ‬. ַ See the same error in 5:6. ‫‘ ܕܢܡܠܘܢ �ܫܝܥܐ‬which the wicked speak’; MT ‫‘ אשׁר ידברו‬which they speak’. P, with LXX, seems to misunderstand this clause, which cautions against taking to heart unattributed gossip and rumor. The indefinite internal pl. subject of the verb is intentional. ‘Wicked’ is supplied secondarily to repair a supposed defect in the warning. ‫‘ � ܬܫܡܥ‬Do not pay attention’ MT ‫‘ אשׁר לא־תשׁמע‬so that you not hear’. P misunderstands the function of ‫ אשׁר‬here, which means ‘so that … not/ lest’. Accordingly, P supposes the imperfect verb form to be imperative rather than modal. �‫‘ ܟܠ ܕܩܕܡܘܗܝ ܗܒ‬All that lies before one is emptiness’; MT ‫הכל‬ ‫‘ לפניהם‬all that is before them’. P seems not to have been able to connect the final two words of the v. meaningfully to the previous clause, and therefore assumes that something is missing. He supplies �‫‘ ܗܒ‬emptiness’ to make sense of the phrase. It lacks support among other ancient witnesses. ‫‘ ܘܟܣܦܐ ܡܡܟܟ ܘܡܛܥܐ ܠܗܘܢ ܒܟܠ‬silver humiliates and deceives (people) in everything’; MT ‘and silver provides for [lit. ‘answers’] everything’. P appears to ‫ והכסף יענה את־הכל‬have misread the H verb as √‫ ענה‬II ‘oppress’ [Piel], whereas it is √‫ ענה‬I ‘answer’. This may well be an accidental error; the P translator does not appear to be any more opposed to money per se than is Qoheleth himself.

lxxviii 11:5 12:4

Introduction to the Translation

‫‘ ܟܠ ܕܥܒܕ‬all that he does’; MT ‫‘ אשׁר יעשׂה את־הכל‬who creates [or

‘does’] everything’. P loosely translates the H clause. ‫‘ ܕܛܚܢ̈ܬܐ‬women who grind’; MT ‫‘ הטחנה‬grinding, mill’. The H noun is rare and perhaps posed a difficulty for P, who, perhaps influenced by LXX τῆς ἀληθούσης, reads it as another occurrence of the same noun just used in v. 3.

Readings That May Attest a Variant H ebrew Text

Because the Syriac translator feels free to depart from a rigidly literal rendering of the H, it can be difficult to confirm instances where his H source text actually differs from the MT. In the following passages, the P translation diverges from the MT, as attested in Codex Leningrad as printed in Biblia Hebraica Quinta, and at the same time generally finds support in one of the other ancient witnesses. The LXX is especially important in this regard. At the same time, it is important to remember that, as is evident in some other Old Testament books, P translators occasionally consulted the LXX when translating. Therefore, while alignment with the LXX can constitute evidence of a variant H text-form known to both of them, it can also simply indicate that P chose to conform to the LXX wording, where he found the MT difficult or less satisfactory. Readers who wish to examine the text-critical evidence in detail, are encouraged to consult the Anchor Bible commentary by Seow, listed in the Bibliography.

‫‘ ܥܒܕܬܝ‬What do you accomplish?’: MT ‫עשׂה‬

‫‘ מה־זה‬What does this accomplish[?]’ LXX and Vulg. also seem to know a 2nd person sg. form: ‫ עשׂית‬or ‫תעשׂה‬. ̈ ̈ 2:8 ‫ܫܩܘܬܐ ܘܫܩܝܬܐ‬ ‘male and female cupbearers’; MT ‫ ִשׁ ָדּה וְ ִשׁדּוֹת‬is entirely uncertain. P agrees with LXX οἰνοχόον καὶ οἰνοχόας (so Vulg.). This may reflect a H text with ‫( שׁ ֹ ֶדה וְ שׁ ֹדוֹת‬masc. and fem. ptc. of the verb √‫‘ שׁדה‬pour’) . 2:12 ‫‘ ܒܬܪ ܡܠܟܐ ܒܕܝܢܐ‬after the king in judgment’; MT ‫‘ אחרי המלך‬after the king’. The second and third clauses of this v. are notorious puzzles. LXX seems to understand ‫ המלך‬as the Aramaic noun ‫מלכא‬ ‘counsel, advice’: ὃς ἐπελεύσεται ὀπίσω τῆς βουλῆς ‘who will follow the counsel’. ‘In judgment/counsel’ in P, which is absent from MT, appears to be a doublet. Unless the P translator himself is glossing the MT with the LXX reading, his translation points to an expansionary H source-text. The meaning of the sentence is unclear. 2:12 ‫‘ ܟܢ ܥܡ ܡܢ ܕܥܒܕܗ‬so with whoever did it’ or ‘so with what he made him’; MT ‫‘ את אשׁר־כבר עשׂוהו‬what they have already done’. The meaning is unclear in both texts. P seems to work from a slightly

2:2

Introduction to the Translation

2:16

2:25 2:25

4:10

5:5

5:16

7:3

7:12

lxxix

different H text, perhaps ‫את אשׁר ָﬠ ָשהוּ‬. LXX agrees in the sg. verb form and the absence of ‘already’. ‫‘ ܡܛܠ ܕܣܟ� ܡܢ ܝܬܝܪ ܡܡܠܠ‬For the fool speaks excessively’; MT lacks the clause altogether. P here seems to know a text similar to LXXB, which alone among ancient versions has this extra clause, though as a section in v. 15. Either his H text, or P himself, has attached this clause to v. 16, with which it has only the most awkward and unclear connection. These variations point to instability in the early textual tradition. ‫‘ ܢܫܬܐ‬drinks’: MT ‫ יחוש‬is obscure and might reflect a damaged H text. LXX and Vulg. agree with P. ‫‘ ܡܢܗ‬apart from Him’; MT ‫‘ חוץ ממני‬apart from me’ or ‘more than I’. LXX agrees with P, reflecting a H text that fits well the context of vv. 24 and 26. ‫‘ ܕܘܝ ܠܗ‬woe to the solitary ones’ literally ‘woe to him’ ; MT ‫ואילו‬ ‘and woe to him’. P, with LXX and Vulg., correctly witness here ‫אי‬ ‘woe’ and ‫‘ לו‬to him’. Their H text may have, properly, written these two elements separately. Cf. MT ‫‘ אי־לך‬woe to you’ at 10:16. ‫‘ ܩܕܡ �ܗܐ‬before God’; MT ‫‘ לפני המלאך‬before the messenger’. LXX ‘before the face of God’ (πρὸ προσώπου τοῦ θεοῦ) agrees with P. They may witness an earlier H text which was later modified to ‘angel’ out of reverence. ‫‘ ܘܒܚܡܬܐ ܘܒܐܒ� ܘܒܟܘܪܗܢܐ‬in fury and in mourning and in sickness’; MT ‫‘ וחליו וקצף‬and in sickness and fury’. There is variation in the number and order of these nouns among the various Syriac MSS and ancient witnesses. At some point a doublet set seems to have crept into the main text, but it is not possible precisely to reconstruct the development. ‫‘ ܝܗܒ ܛܒܬܐ ܠܒܗ‬will put cheerfulness in his heart’; MT ‫יתן אל־לבו‬ ‘will take it to heart’. The addition of ‘cheerfulness’ in P does not accord with the thought of the passage. Perhaps this addition originated in an accidental dittography of ‫ ܛܒ‬in the preceding or following vv. ‫‘ ܡܐ ̈ܢܝ ܙܝܢܐ‬implements of war’; MT ‫‘ ִﬠם־נחלה‬with an inheritance’. It is difficult to posit a motive for P intentionally to depart from the MT. ‫ נחלה‬is not a rare or difficult noun, and Qoheleth does not denigrate material well-being. Perhaps his H text was damaged, leading him to guess at the presence of ‫‘ מלחמה‬war, battle’. Otherwise one must think that his H text had a totally different clause here from the MT, one otherwise unattested, but similar in sense to ‫ מכלי קרב‬in 9:18a. The Book of Proverbs attests several proverbial sayings which are

lxxx

Introduction to the Translation

identical in one half of the verse, but which differ in the other half (e.g., Prov 10:15; 18:11). 7:28 ‫‘ ܐܡܪ ܩܘܗܠܬ‬Qoheleth said’; MT ‫‘ אמרה קהלת‬She said — Qoheleth’. Context demands that Qoheleth is the subject of the verb ‘said’, but the MT verb form is 3rd fem. sg. LXX agrees with P in reading a 3rd masc. form of the verb, which probably points to a variant H text, which prefixes the he (definite article) on the name: ‫אמר הקּהלת‬ ‘Qoheleth said’ as at 12:8. 8:1 ‫‘ ܢܣܬܢܐ‬is ugly’, lit. ‘hated’; MT ‫‘ יְ ֻשׁנֶּ א‬is changed’. LXX and Vulg.. agree with P in showing a verb √‫שׂנה‬, and indeed these may witness to ‫ יְ ֻשׂנֶּ א‬as a genuine variant H text, with sin instead of MT shin. However, this could simply be their misreading of unpointed ‫ ש‬in their respective MSS. The clause is difficult in any case. 8:2 ‫‘ ܦܘܡܗ‬the word of’; MT ‫‘ אני פי‬I — The word of’. P and LXX lack the initial ‫‘ אני‬I’ of the MT here; it seems out of place and is virtually impossible to integrate into the grammar of the sentence. Almost certainly this pronoun was a secondary intrusion. P witnesses a superior text. 8:2 ‫‘ � ܬܣܬܪܗܒ‬and do not hasten’; MT 8:2 [missing]. 8:3 ‫אל־תבהל מפניו‬ ‫‘ תלך‬Do not hurry to depart from his presence’. P apparently works from a H text of 8:2 that has this clause as the conclusion of v. 2 instead of the beginning of v. 3. In the P text this warning against haste is directed toward declaring oaths before God. 9:1 ‫‘ ܘܠܒܝ ܚܙܐ‬and my mind observed’; MT ‫‘ ולבור את‬and to examine’ [?]. The H verb √‫ בור‬is rare, and may not have been understood by P (also at 3:18). He may have chosen to follow the LXX καὶ καρδία μου σὺν πᾶν εἶδεν ‘and my heart also saw’, but they together may witness a common variant Vorlage. ̈ ̈ 9:2 ‫ܘܠܒܝܫܐ‬ ‫ܠܛܒܐ‬ ‘to the good and to the wicked’; MT ‫‘ לטוב‬to the good’. P, with LXX and Vg, adds ‘and to the wicked’, which MT omits. These nouns are pl. in P, but sg. in MT. This fuller text of P presents a complete set of opposite pairs, whereas the MT leaves ‘to the good’ oddly unmatched. The MT has the more difficult text, but it is possible that P witness a true variant H text. Qoheleth does have an affinity for binary opposites. 11:10 ‫‘ ܕܛܠܝܘܬܐ ܘ� ܝܕܥܬܐ‬youth without understanding’; MT ‫כי־הילדות‬ ‫ והשׁחרות‬literally, ‘for the youth and the blackness [?]’. The MT text is obscure; ‘blackness’ for the second noun is not certain. Unless P is simply following LXX καὶ ἡ ἄνοια in a guess, they may witness to a variant H text of the second noun, perhaps ‫ולא דעת‬.

Introduction to the Translation

lxxxi

Meaning Obscure The MT of the Book of Qoheleth is difficult to understand in a number of places, for a variety of reasons. In addition to what was has already been mentioned, there are some rare vocabulary, and in some passages where individual word meanings do not appear to be problematic, the syntax is odd and it is difficult to discern a clause or sentence that makes sense in the context. It seems likely that the Syriac translator has been forced in a few cases to present a ‘translation’ that represented the H words as he understood them, but whose overall sense remains obscure even to him. 5:8

‫ܡܠܟܐ ܠܚܩ� ܡܦܠܚ‬

‘the king is served by the field’; MT ‫מלך לשׂדה‬ ‫‘ נעבד‬a king is served by the field’. This clause is obscure in both MT and the literal translation of P. ̈ 6:8 ‫ܠܡܐܙܠ�ܠܚܝܐ‬ ‫‘ ܠܡܢܐ ܕܡܣܟܢܐ ܝܕܥ‬How does a poor person know to go toward life’ or ‘… to walk with the living?’; MT ‫מה־לעני יודע להלך‬ ‫‘ נגד החיים‬How does a poor person know to walk before the living?’ This sentence is obscure in both MT and the literal translation of P. 6:9 ‫‘ ܗܠܟܬܐ ܕܢܦܫܐ‬wandering of one’s appetite’ [?]; lit. ‘walking of the soul’ MT ‫ מהלך־נפשׁ‬lit. ‘the wandering of the soul/appetite’. This phrase is obscure in both MT and the literal translation of P. 10:10 This entire verse is hopelessly obscure in both the MT and P. Our translation simply gives an attested meaning for each word, without making good sense overall. There is a reference in some way to an iron tool or weapon. 12:5 ‫‘ ܘܢܒܥ ܥ�ܘܗܝ ܫܗܪܐ‬sleeplessness flows over them’, literally, ‘the vigil springs forth to them; MT (and LXX) lacks. This one of several obscure clauses in the v. 5 that diverge from the MT in various P MSS. The Syriac textual tradition seems to have suffered serious disturbance. Doublet translations at some point may have led to an expansionary text. See the commentaries for discussion of the very complicated issues. ̈ 12:11 ‫‘ ܡ�ܝ ܐܣܟܦܬܐ‬large spades’ or ‘owners of spades’; MT ‫בעלי ֲא ֻספּוֹת‬ ‘masters of assemblies/collections’. LXX knows a H text with the same noun as MT οἳ παρὰ τῶν συναγμάτων ‘those from the assemblies’. Syriac is alone in reading here a word for an implement: ‘pitchforks, spades, mattocks’. The H word should not have been problematic, so it seems most likely that his H text here was damaged, and P makes a guess from context that this third noun in the series also names a sharp implement.

lxxxii

Introduction to the Translation

Songs

Free Translation Most of the readings that differ from a closely word-for-word rendering of the MT are those in which it appears that the Syriac translator assumes the freedom to expand, abbreviate, or paraphrase for the sake of Syriac style; to express a particular interpretation of an ambiguous H construction; or simply to guess at the meaning when the source text is obscure.

‫ܐܥܠܝܢܝ ܡܠܟܐ ܠܩܝܛܘܢܟ‬

‘Bring me into your bedroom, O king’; MT ‫‘ הביאני המלך חדריו‬The king has brought me to his chambers’. P seems to have read the MT verb ‫ הביאני‬as impv. and then adjusted the pronominal suffix from 3rd to 2nd masc.sg. accordingly. The sg. noun for ‘bedroom, inner chamber’, contrasting with H pl. ‘chambers’ is surely P’s stylistic alteration, perhaps in order to heighten the sexual implications of being in the single most private room of the king. P may be influenced here by LXX ταμίειον ‘secret/inner room’. See also 3:4 and 8:2. 1:5 ‫‘ ܕܐܘܟܡܐ ܐܢܐ ܕܐܘܟܡܢܝ ܫܡܫܐ‬because I am black, for the sun has made me black’; MT ‫‘ שׁאני שׁחרחרת שׁשׁזפתני השׁמשׁ‬because I am black because the sun has scorched me’. In place of a literal rendering of the H verb, P chooses a verb built on the same root as the preceding adjective. This tendency to repetition in order to tighten the two-line parallelism can be seen elsewhere in P Song of Songs. 1:11 ‫‘ܥܡ ܡܠܟܐ‬with the king’; MT ‫‘ עד־שׁהמלך‬while the king (was)’. P streamlines the H syntax. 1:12 ‫‘ ܕܪܚܡ ܠܝ‬the one who loves me’; MT ‫‘ דודי לי‬my beloved’. Strangely, P here departs from its custom of rendering the MT ‫ דודי‬with ‫ܕܕܝ‬ ‘my beloved’ (cf. 1:13). 1:14 (and 4:1) ‫‘ ܥܝܢ̈ܝܟܝ ܕܝܘܢܐ‬your eyes (are those) of a dove [sg.]’. MT ‫עיניך‬ ‫‘ יונים‬your eyes (are) doves [pl.]’. P slightly alters the metaphor by adding the prefixed ‫ ܕ‬on ‘dove’. Cf. the simile at 5:12. 1:15 ‫‘ ܪܨܝܦ‬fitted out’, or ‘dense’ (i.e., with luxurious foliage); MT ‫רעננה‬ ‘leafy, luxuriant’. P uses this verb in the sense of ‘fitted out’ at 3:10, but it is not impossible that it intends something like ‘densely leafy’ here. ̈ 2:5 ‫‘ ܒܦܘܢܩܐ‬with delicacies’; MT ‫‘ באשׁישׁות‬with raisin cakes’. P may choose this more general term out of uncertainty about the exact meaning of H ‫אשׁישׁות‬. Vulg. (floribus ‘with flowers’) also seems not to understand it. On the other hand, P may indeed know the term and simply chooses the more general ‘delicacies’ in order to avoid the 1:3

Introduction to the Translation

2:7

2:7

2:17

2:17

3:6

3:6

3:8 3:9

lxxxiii

shameful associations of ‘raisin cakes; (see Hosea 3:1; Isa 16:7). LXX seems to know the term and also avoids a literal translation by means of the pejorative ἐν ἀμόραις ‘with wretched things’. ‫‘ ܝܬ ܪܚܡܬܐ‬love’; MT ‫‘ את־האהבה‬love. This is one of three vv. in P Song where the Syriac translator represents the H direct object marker ‫ את‬with Syriac ‫( ܝܬ‬also 3:4 and 8:4). In all three cases it precedes the same noun. This is a Hebraism intruded from MT; it is not an element of Syriac grammar. P Qoheleth also uses this element in six vv., which may suggest that both Qoheleth and Song were translated by the same person. This element is not present in P Proverbs. ‫‘ ܐܘܡܝܬܟܝܢ‬I adjure you’ [fem.pl.]; MT ‫‘ השׁבעתי אתכם‬I adjure you’ [masc.pl.] MT in Song sometimes uses a masc. pl. suffix (‫ )אתכם‬when referring to a specifically feminine group; P here freely corrects the grammar in his translation to fem. pl. (cf. 3:5 and 8:4). and 4:6 ‫‘ ܘܢܪܟܢܘܢ‬depart’, literally ‘bend, decline’; MT ‫‘ ונסו‬flee’. P gives an interpretative paraphrase, apparently thinking of the shrinking of the early morning shadows in the afternoon when breezes spring up to cool the landscape. ‫‘ ܛܘ�ܝ ܒܣܡܢ̈ܐ‬mountains of sweet spices’; MT ‫‘ הרי בתר‬mountains of [meaning unknown]’. A few ancient and modern interpreters have taken ‫ בתר‬as a geographical place name (cf. Josh 15:59), while others attempt to see it as an abbreviated Greek loan word for a type of spice. P probably does not know the meaning of ‫ בתר‬and is simply guessing, assimilating to 8:14 (‘mountains of sweet spices’) and 4:6 (‘mountains of myrrh’). ‫‘ ܐܝܟ ܥܛܪܐ ܕܬܢܢܐ‬like a cloud of smoke’; MT ‫‘ כתימרות עשׁן‬like columns of smoke’. P here paraphrases pl. ‘columns’ with the more intuitive and common ‘cloud’. ̈ ‫ܕܒܣܡܐ‬ �‫‘ ܚ‬fragrant powder’, lit. ‘powder of sweet spices’; MT ‫אבקת‬ ‫‘ רוכל‬powder of the merchant’. P cannot have found H ‫רוכל‬ ‘merchant’ difficult; it is common in the Hebrew Bible, and the cognate exists in Syriac. P must simply think that ‘sweet spices’ is less ambiguous than ‘merchant’. ̈ ‫ܕܠܝ�ܘܬܐ‬ ‘of the nights’; MT ‫‘ בלילות‬in the nights’. P makes a slight interpretative modification of MT. �‫‘ ܡܓܕ‬tower’; MT ‫‘ אפריון‬sedan chair, palaquin’. The Syriac reading here can only be explained as a conjectural attempt (cf. 4:4) to deal with a H noun that was unknown to P. ‫ אפריון‬does not occur elsewhere in the H Bible. It is noteworthy that P does not follow LXX φορεῖον ‘litter, palaquin’ here.

lxxxiv 3:10

Introduction to the Translation

‫ܬܫܘܝܬܗ ܕܕܗܒܐ ܬܟܣܝܬܗ ܕܐܪܓܘܢܐ‬

‘its cover of gold, its cloth of purple’; MT ‫‘ רפידתו זהב מרכבו ארגמן‬its back/base/support[?] of gold, its saddle/seat[?] of purple’. The second and third H nouns in this series of four parts of the sedan chair are rare, and they pose as much difficulty for the Syriac translator as for modern interpreters. P has no special insight into the meaning of these terms. 4:1 and 6:4 ‫‘ ܕܣܠܩ ܡܢ ܛܘܪܐ‬are coming up from mount’; MT ‫שׁגּלשׁו מהר‬ ‘which are [meaning unknown] from mount’. The H verb ‫ גלשׁ‬is obscure; context and the preposition ‫ מן‬suggest either ‘frisking at’ or ‘flowing down from’. P, not knowing the H verb, produces the illogical ‘ascending from’ (so Vulg. ascenderunt de). The idea of ascending from (or at) a mountain height is difficult. P simply uses the same verb here that occurs in the following v. — ‘coming up from (‫ )ܕܣܠܩ ܡܢ‬the washing’ (MT ‫ ;)שׁעלו מן־הרחצה‬it assumes that the thought is roughly parallel in both sets of lines: 4:1–2 and 6:4–5. 4:6 ‫‘ ܙܠܝ‬go’; MT ‫‘ אלך‬I will go’. P has no support from other ancient witnesses in the alteration of MT 1 c. sg. impf. to fem. sg. impv. This must be interpretative by P, but the motivation is not evident. 4:8 ‫‘ ܚܬܝ ܟܠܬܐ‬my sister bride’; MT ‫‘ כלה‬O bride’. P assimilates the single noun to the odd compound noun phrase ‘my sister bride’ in MT (‫ )אחתי כלה‬and P at 4:9, 10, 12 and 5:1. 4:10 ‫‘ ܒܣܡܢܝ̈ܟܝ ܡܢ ܟܠ ܒܣܡܢ̈ܝܢ‬of your lotions than all (other) lotions’; MT: ‫‘ שׁמניך מכל־בשׂמים‬of your lotions than all spices’. P repeats the same noun (‫)ܒܣܡܢܐ‬, ignoring the difference between H ‫‘ שׁמן‬oil’ and ‫‘( בשׂם‬perfume’). P uses ‫ ܒܣܡܢܐ‬for these same two Hebrew nouns also at 1:2. 4:13 ‫‘ ܫܠܝܚܘܬܟܝ‬your shoots’; MT ‫‘ שׁלחיך‬your shoots/ branches’. P renders the pl. H noun with a collective Syriac noun ‫ ܫܠܝܚܘܬܟܝ‬built on the cognate root √‫ܫܠܚ‬. The primary meaning of this noun is ‘things sent out/away’, hence ‘shoots’, ‘branches’, ‘apostles’, or ‘messages’. However, in Syriac — but not in Hebrew — a homograph built on the same root consonants can also mean ‘nudity’ (from the fact that this verb ‫ ܫܠܚ‬can be used for ‘put away/strip off’’ clothing). Is the Syriac translator aware that his translation enhances the sensual suggestiveness of the passage with a double entendre? 4:13 ‫‘ ܦܐ�ܐ ܕܐܒܒܢ̈ܐ‬produce of (its) fruits’; MT ‫ פרי מגדים‬literally, ‘fruit of delicious fruit’. This construct chain occurs also at 4:16. P misses the qualitative nuance of the second H noun, delicious fruit. Syriac ‫ܐܒܒܐ‬ does not carry the same connotation as H ‫מגד‬. Consequently, P creates a somewhat tautological phrase.

Introduction to the Translation 4:16

lxxxv

̈ ‫ܒܣܡܢܝ‬ ‫‘ ܢܪܕܘܢ‬so that my perfumes will spread’; MT ‫‘ יזלו בשׂמיו‬so that

its perfumes will flow around’. LXX also reads ‘my perfumes’, but the difference of P from MT is more likely due to assimilation to ‘my garden’ than to a variant H text. 5:2 (and 6:8) ‫‘ ܝܘܢܝ ܬܡܝܡܬܐ‬my dove, the perfect one’. MT ‫‘ יונתי תמתי‬my dove, my perfect one’. The absence of 1 c. sg. suffix on ‘perfect one’ must be P’s own stylistic adaptation. ̈ ‘my curls’; MT ‫‘ קוצותי‬my hair [?]’. The meaning of the H 5:2 ‫ܘܩܘܨܬܝ‬ noun is uncertain, although the context calls for something related to ‘hair’; it is used only here and 5:11 in the Hebrew Bible. Cf. LXX βόστρυχοί μου and Vulg. cincinni mei, ‘my curls/ringlets’ or ‘my locks’. 5:8 ‫‘ ܐܫܬܥܝܢ ܠܗ ܕܟܪܝܗܬ ܪܚܡܬܐ ܐܢܐ‬Tell him that I am sick with love’; MT ‫‘ מה־תגידו לו שׁחולת אהבה אני‬What are you to tell him? That I am sick with love!’ P streamlines, eliminating the rhetorical question of the MT. So also Vulg. ut nuntietis ei quia amore langueo. 5:11 ‫‘ ܐܝܟ ܟܐܦܐ ܕܕܗܒܐ‬like a gold jewel’; MT ‫(‘ כתם פז‬is) fine gold’, literally ‘gold of fine gold’. P’s choice of ‘stone, jewel’ may be due to influence from LXX. At least three times in LXX, H ‫ פז‬is translated with some form of the phrase λίθος τίμιος ‘precious stone’: Pss 19:11; 21:4; Prov 8:19). LXX does not do so here, but Hexaplaric notes indicate that the second-century CE translators, Aquila and Symmachus, use a form of λίθος ‘stone’ in this v. Marginal notes in the SyroHexapla give the Syriac version of their readings as ‫ܟܐܦܐ‬ ‫ܕܕܗܒܐ‬. Absent an evident reason for P independently to think of ‫ܟܐܦܐ‬ as an equivalent for ‫ כתם‬or ‫פז‬, one may suppose that P here is dependent in some way upon the Greek translation tradition. ̈ 5:11 ‫ܡܦܫ�ܢ‬ ‘bushy’; MT ‫[ תלתלים‬meaning unknown]. The Syriac term means literally ‘spread out’ or ‘straightened’, in the sense of being so thick a mass that it sticks out, or being artfully arranged. Cf. LXX ἐλάται ‘fir trees’. 5:12 ‫‘ ܫܠܡܘܬܐ‬perfection’; MT ‫[ מלּאת‬meaning unknown]. P seems to read this H word as an abstract noun meaning ‘fullness, completion’, built on the common root √‫מלא‬. In fact the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain, perhaps either ‘pool [as ‘something filled’] — so LXX πληρώματα ὑδάτων ‘filled pools of water’ — or ‘setting, socket’ reading ‫ מלּאה‬as at Exod 28:17. ̈ ‘of sweet spices’; MT ‫‘ הבשׂם מגדלות מרקחים‬of sweet spices, 5:13 ‫ܕܒܣܡܐ‬ towers of spices’. P omits altogether the appositional phrase, ‘towers [?] of spices’. This omission is not supported by other ancient

lxxxvi

Introduction to the Translation

witnesses, and must be considered abbreviation by the Syriac translator. 5:14 ‫‘ ܐܝܟ ܟܪܟܐ‬like a cylinder [?]’; MT ‫(‘ גלילי‬are) cylinders [?]’ P here again displays its tendency to change a metaphor into a simile by adding ‘like’. Both the H and Syriac nouns denote something round (‘cylinder’, ‘rod’, ‘ring’), but the intended image is unclear. P seems to think of the two hands together forming one gold item, rather than two gold items as in MT (where ‘forearms’ rather than ‘hands’ could be intended). ̈ 5:14 ‫ܟܐܦܝ ܕܗܒܐ‬ �‫‘ ܕܡ‬filled with gold nuggets’; MT ‫‘ ממלאים בתרשׁישׁ‬filled with beryl’, literally ‘filled with Tarshish’. ‘Tarshish’ here is used as the name of a precious gem, thought today to be topaz or beryl. P offers an interpretative guess, probably based on the transport of gold in Tarshish ships in 1 Kgs 10. Neither LXX nor Vulg. is able to translate ‘Tarshish’ correctly. 5:15 ‫‘ ܚܕܝܗ‬his chest’; MT ‫‘ מראהו‬his appearance’. Why P chooses to depart so dramatically from the MT here remains a mystery. ‘His chest’ is unsupported by other ancient versions. ̈ 6:8 ‫‘ ܘܫ ̈ܒܚ ̇ܗ ܡܠܟܬܐ‬and queens praise her’. MT ‫ויאשׁרוה מלכות ופילגשׁי‬ ‘and [young women] declare her fortunate, queens and concubines’. P, with LXX, seems to understand ‘young women’ as the subject of only the first verb ‘see her’, whereas MT reads ‘young women’ as the subject of both verbs, ‘see her’ and ‘declare her fortunate’, with ‘and queens and concubines’ as additional implied subjects of both verbs. Syriac √‫ ܫܒܚ‬is somewhat paraphrastic of the delocutive H Piel √‫אשׁר‬. 7:1 ‫‘ ܘܨܘܪܬ‬and the shape of’; MT ‫‘ חמוקי‬the curves of’. P translates a bit freely here, perhaps under the influenced of LXX ῥυθμοί ‘forms, shapes’. 7:5 ‫‘ ܐܝܟ ܐܪܓܘܢܐ ܕܡܠܟܐ ܕ‬like the purple of the king which’; MT ‫כארגמן‬ ֑ ‫‘ מלך‬is like purple. The king is …’ P, with LXX and Vulg., connects the two nouns in a genitive phrase. MT athnaḥ accent indicates that the Masoretic tradition understands the clause to end with ‘purple’. 8:2 ‫‘ ܕܝܠܕܬܝ‬who bore me’; MT ‫‘ תלמדני‬teach me’. P probably misunderstands the 2 masc. sg. impf. verb form, functioning as impv. addressed to the male lover. Taking it as a relative clause modifying ‘my mother’, P assimilates it to the wording of 3:4 ‫ܐܡܝ ܘܠܩܝܛܘܢܗ‬ ‫( ܕܝܠܕܬܝ‬cf. 6:8), as does LXX τῆς συλλαβούσης με ‘of the one who conceived me’. P may have been influenced by the LXX, but it is equally possible that both independently made the same assimilation. Vulg. follows MT.

Introduction to the Translation 8:11

lxxxvii

‫‘ ܝܗܒܬ‬I gave’; MT ‫‘ נתן‬he gave’. The 1st person pf. verb form in P is

unsupported by other ancient witnesses, and it does not fit into the sentence easily. Perhaps P is assimilating here to the 1st person clause at the beginning of the following v. 8:13 ‫‘ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܝܬܒܝܢ ܒܓܢ̈ܐ ܘܨܝܬܝܢ‬Those [masc.pl.] who are sitting in the gardens and are listening’; MT ‫ היושׁבת בגנים חברים מקשׁיבים‬lit. ‘She who is [or ‘O you (fem.sg.) who are’] sitting in the gardens; the companions [masc.pl.] are listening’. While a damaged or variant H text cannot be excluded, given the cryptic nature of the MT it is most probable that P is freely recasting to try to produce a less puzzling statement. The Syriac wording does not find support in other ancient versions. 8:14 ‫‘ ܐܬܗܦܟ‬Turn away’; MT ‫‘ ברח‬Flee’. P here uses the verb ‫ܗܦܟ‬ (literally, ‘turn’) in the specific sense of ‘turn away, depart’, as it does also in 2:17, where ‫ ܐܬܗܦܟ‬renders MT ‫סב‬.

Inner-Syriac Corruption 2:5

‫‘ ܣܡܘܢܝ‬They set me’; MT ‫‘ סמּכוני‬Support me’ (masc. pl. impv.) Most

likely a scribal accident at some point omitted the kap of the imperative form ‫‘ ܣܡܟܘܢܝ‬support me’ (as in MSS 7a1 8a1* 12a1fam). The H verb is normally read as impv., but the impv. of this Syriac verb would be ‫ܣܝܡܘܢܝ‬. With this accidental change, the following P verb, ‫ܐܟܪܟܘܢܝ‬, ‘surround me’, also had to be put in the pf. Syriac ‫‘ ܐܟܪܟܘܢܝ‬surround me’ for MT ‫ רפדוני‬may be a guess by P; the meaning of MT √‫ רפד‬is uncertain. P here might be influenced by LXX στοιβάσατέ με (cf. Vulg. stipate me), ‘pack about me’ [?].

Scribal Errors or Misunderstandings

Listed below are passages where it seems that the Syriac translator misunderstood the Hebrew source text. 1:2

1:3

‫‘ ܕܡܘܪܐ‬of myrrh’: MT ‫ תורק‬is obscure. It is most widely understood as

‘poured out’ √‫( ריק‬so LXX and Vulg.) and often emended to the participial form ‫מורק‬. 6QCant reads here [ ]‫מר‬, which could be H ‫מר‬ ‘myrrh’, depending on the size of the following break. If ‘of myrrh’ is not simply a guess by P about the difficult H word ‫תורק‬, it might reflect a variant H text. ‫‘ ܘܡܢ ܬ�ܝ�ܐ‬and more than righteous ones’; MT ‫‘ ֵמ ָישׁ ִרים‬uprightness’ or ‘rightly’. The precise function of this pl. n. is not certain in the MT; both ‘rightly do they love you’ and ‘uprightness loves you’ are possible. P seems to understand this as a pl. of the noun ‫‘ ישׁר‬upright

lxxxviii

1:6

1:6

2:1

2:2 2:4

3:4

4:1

4:4

Introduction to the Translation

one’ with prefixed preposition ‫ מן‬functioning as a comparative marker, parallel to the preceding clause, ‘more than wine’. ‫‘ ܚܘܐܘܢܝ‬Tell me’ [masc.pl.]; MT ‫‘ הגידה לי‬Tell me’ [masc.sg.]. The masc. pl. form of the Syriac impv. here is strange; it conflicts in number, not only with the sg. impv. form of the MT, but also with the sg. forms which follow, referring to the same addressee. This must be an accidental error. ‫ ܘܐܝܟܢܐ‬... ‫‘ ܐܝܟܢܐ‬How…how’; MT ‫ איכה‬... ‫‘ איכה‬Where ... where’. P literally translates the interrogative particle of the MT according to its most common meaning. ‘Where’ would make better sense in the sentence, and indeed many modern and ancient interpreters understand the Hebrew particle ‫ איכה‬as carrying also the meaning ‘where’ (cf. 2 Kgs 6:13) in addition to ‘how’. If so, it means ‘where’ much less often, perhaps in a northern dialect. ‫‘ ܐܝܟ‬Like’ 1˚; MT ‫‘ אני‬I (am)’. P changes the metaphor to a simile by adding ‫ܐܝܟ‬, which then becomes the first of three successive symbols in vv. 1–2 for the speaker herself. P perhaps simply chooses not to translate the 1st pers. sg. pronoun of MT, although it is possible that the word was not clearly written in its H text. ‫‘ ܐܝܟ ܫܘܫܢ̈ܐ‬like lilies’: MT ‫‘ כשׁושׁנה‬like a lily’. The earliest P MS agrees with MT in the sg. form of the noun. ‫(‘ ܛܟܣܘ ܥܠܝ ܪܚܡܬܐ‬and) arrange love over me’ or ‘arrange for me lovingly’; MT ‫‘ ודגלו עלי אהבה‬and his banner over me is love’. P reads MT ‫ דגלו‬as a pl. impv. form of the verb ‫‘( דגל‬arrange, set up’) instead of the common noun ‫ ֶדגֶ ל‬with 3rd masc.sg. suffix: ‘his banner, his sign’. LXX (and Vulg.) agrees with P: τάξατε ἐπ᾽ ἐμὲ ἀγάπην ‘set love over/against me’. The meaning of this clause is uncertain. ‫‘ ܕܝܠܕܬܝ‬who bore me’; MT ‫‘ הורתי‬the one who conceived me’. P is assimilating the verb here to 6:8 ‫( ܝܠܕܬܗ‬MT ‫ )ליולדתה‬and 8:5 ‫ܝܠܕܬܟܝ‬ (MT ‫)ילדתך‬, even though it introduces a slightly different meaning. The more literal equivalent would be the Syriac verb ‫‘ ܒ�ܢ‬conceive’. and 6:6 ‫‘ ܠܒܪ ܡܢ ܫܬܩܟܝ‬beyond your silence’; MT �‫מבּער לצמּת‬ ‘behind your veil’. P here misunderstands the rare Hebrew word ‫ צמתך‬in the phrase ‘behind your veil’, wrongly taking it for a cognate noun built on the Syriac √‫‘ ܨܡܐ‬silent, mute’. The Syriac phrase makes no sense in the context here and again at 6:6 (cf. 4:4). P may be influenced by LXX ἐκτὸς τῆς σιωπήσεώς σου ‘apart/except your silence’, although they might independently arrive at the same conjecture. ‫‘ ܩܕܠܟܝ ܡܛܠ ܫܬܩܟܝ‬On account of your silence, your neck’. Unlike MT and other P MSS, Mosul shifts this phrase from the

Introduction to the Translation

4:11

4:14

5:14

5:14

5:16

6:3

lxxxix

conclusion of 4:3 to the beginning of 4:4, which leaves ‘your speech’ as the apparent subject of the simile ‘like a slice of pomegranate’. Strangely, as also in 6:6, P renders the H noun for ‘your temple/cheek’ (‫ )רקתך‬with a term meaning ‘neck, back of neck’ (‫)ܩܕܠܟܝ‬. Again as in 4:1 P confuses H ‘veil’ with ‘silence,’ but now compounds the obscurity by rendering MT ‫‘( בעד‬behind, beyond’) with Syriac ‫‘( ܡܛܠ‬on account of/concerning’). There seems to have been disturbance in the textual history of this verse, which cannot now be reconstructed. ‫‘ ܟܠ‬all’; MT ‫‘ כלּה‬O bride’. P wrongly reads ‫ ܟܠ‬as an adjective modifying ‘honey’. In a H MS that had minimal space between words, it could be easy to mistake the final ‫ ה‬on this noun for a definite article on the following word, ‫‘ דבשׁ‬honey’. ‫‘ ܘܟܘܪܟܡܐ ܩܢܝܐ ܘܩܘܢܡܘܢ‬saffron, reeds, and cinnamon’; MT ‫נרד וכרכם‬ ‫‘ קנה וקנמון‬nard and saffron, reeds, and cinnamon’. Mosul shows haplography whereby the word ‘nard’ at the beginning of 4:14 has been omitted, probably conflated with ‘nard’ at the end of 4:13. Leiden agrees with MT. ‫‘ ܥܒܕܐ‬work’; MT ‫‘ ֶﬠ ֶשׁת‬panel’ or ‘bar’. The H noun, built on √‫עשׁת‬, denotes a bar or panel or plaque. P seems mistakenly to associate it with √‫‘ עשׂה‬do, make’, assuming here a synonym of H ‫ מעשׂה‬that means ‘deed, action, product’. ‫‘ ܥܠ ܡܦܚܐ‬on a bellows’ or ‘on a cushion’; MT ‫‘ ְמ ֻﬠ ֶלּ ֶפת‬covered with’. The meaning of the H noun ‫ מעלפת‬here is not absolutely certain, although a passive form of the verb ‘cover’ is linguistically possible and contextually suitable. The Syriac noun here denotes something inflated, like a bellows or cushion; cf. √‫‘ ܦܘܚ‬breathe, blow’. ‘Bellows’ could be appropriate for the lover’s torso, which contains the lungs, although a bellows decorated with jewels seems improbable. A clear basis for P’s translation is not evident, but a misreading or a damaged text might have led it to see here something like ‫‘ מעל מפחת‬on a bellows’ (cf. Hebrew √‫‘ פוח‬blow’). ̈ ‫ܘܡܐܢܘܗܝ‬ ‘and his implements’; MT ‫‘ וְ ֻכלּוֹ‬and all of him’. P misunderstands MT as reading ‫‘( וְ ֵכ ָליו‬and his implements’). This line in the H text provides a logical summary at the conclusion of the series of body parts; the Syriac is vague, and its reference to things rather than body parts makes it seem out of place. ‫‘ ܨܒܝܢܐ‬like delight’; MT ‫‘ כתרצה‬like Tirzah’. P misunderstands the proper name Tirzah, taking it for a common noun. See Introduction, Appendix 3. Names.

xc 6:3

Introduction to the Translation

‫‘ ܐܝܟ ܓܒܝܬܐ‬like chosen ones’; MT ‫‘ כנדגלות‬like those in formations,’

or ‘like those arranged with military banners’. The MT term ‫ נדגלות‬is a Niphal ptc. with military associations. The verb may be denominative from ‫‘ ֶדגֶ ל‬banner or flag, especially of a military unit’ (cf. NRSV ‘army with banners’). P translates freely, perhaps intending to convey military overtones if its ‘chosen ones, select ones’ is assumed to echo the frequent military sense of H ‫ָבחוּר‬ ‘chosen one, select one’. The pl. in our translation depends on seeing the Syriac fem. noun as collective. Note that P translates this same H word in 6:9 without military connotations: ‫‘ ܪܘ�ܒܬܐ‬noble women’. 8:11 ‫‘ ܘܐܒܗ ܣܓܝ‬its fruit was abundant’; MT ‫‘ בבעל המון‬at Baal-hamon’. See Introduction, Appendix 3. Names.

Readings That May Attest a Variant H ebrew Text

Because the Syriac translator feels free to depart from a rigidly literal rendering of the Hebrew, it can be difficult to confirm instances where his H source text actually differs from the MT. In the following passages, the P translation diverges from the MT, as attested in Codex Leningrad as printed in Biblia Hebraica Quinta, and at the same time generally finds support in one of the other ancient witnesses. The LXX is especially important in this regard. At the same time, it is important to remember that P translators are known to have consulted the LXX when translating some other Old Testament books. Therefore, while alignment with the LXX can constitute evidence of a variant H text-form known to both of them, it can also simply indicate that P chose to conform to the LXX wording, where he found the MT difficult or objectionable. Readers who wish to examine the full textcritical evidence in detail are encouraged to consult the studies listed in the Bibliography. 1:6

‫‘ ܐܝܟ ܛܥܝܬܐ ܒܓܙܪܐ ܕܥ�ܒܝܟ‬like one in the flock of your sheep which

strays away [?]’ MT ‘like one who is veiled in the flocks of your companions’. ‫ כעטיה על עדרי חבריך‬P either has a H text that reads ‫‘ כטעיה‬like one which wanders’ (√‫)טעה‬, or it is simply correcting the MT ‫כעטיה‬. The former seems most likely; Symmachus ρεμβομενη seems to support it. One suspects that the use of ‘flocks’ for MT ‘companions’ is simply interpretative paraphrase. 2:14 ‫‘ ܕܣܝܓܐ‬of the wall’; MT ‫‘ המדרגה‬of the mountain ledge’. It may be that P does not know the unusual H word, which occurs elsewhere only at Ezek 38:20, and is simply guessing at ‘wall’. However, the alignment of P with both LXX τοῦ προτειχίσματος ‘of the wall’ and Vulg. maceriae suggests that they may all know a variant H source-text.

Introduction to the Translation

xci

H √‫ דגר‬means ‘build a wall’ and there are several nouns meaning ‘wall’ built on this root. It is inviting to think that the source-texts of P and LXX contain the word ‫מדגרה‬, produced by accidental transposition of letters ‫ ܪ‬and ‫ܕ‬, which would have been understood as a noun for ‘wall’. ̈ 4:6 ‫ܛ�ܝ ܪܡܫܐ‬ ‘the shadows of evening’; MT ‫‘ הצללים‬and the shadows’. Leiden agrees with MT in the omission of ‘of evening’, which probably is the earlier reading. This phrase in Mosul and later P MSS must represent a later interpretative addition. 4:8 ‫‘ ܬܝ ܡܢ ܠܒܢܢ ܚܬܝ ܟܠܬܐ ܬܝ ܡܢ ܠܒܢܢ ܬܐܬܝܢ‬Come from Lebanon, O sister bride; come from Lebanon’. Come …’; MT ‫ִאתּי מלבנון כלה ִאתּי‬ ‫‘ מלבנון תבואי‬With me from Lebanon, O sister bride—with me from Lebanon—come.’ P reads the repeated H prepositional phrase ‘with me’ as a fem. sg. impv. form of the verb ‫‘ אתא‬come’. So also LXX (= Vg) δεῦρο ἀπὸ Λιβάνου νύμφη δεῦρο ἀπὸ Λιβάνου. The awkward word order and the use of two different H verbs for ‘come’ makes it quite unlikely that P is reading a variant H text. The Syriac and LXX translations probably reflect a misreading of the MT. 4:9 ‫ ܒܚܕ ܥܩܐ ܡܢ ܨܘܪܟܝ‬literally, ‘with one necklace of your neck’; MT ‫‘ באחד ענק מצורניך‬with one strand of your necklaces’. P reads H ‫‘ צורניך‬your necklaces’ as ‫‘ צוארך‬your neck’, as do also LXX τραχήλων σου and Vulg. They may perhaps witness a variant H text. 4:10 ‫‘ ܬܕ�̈ܟܝ‬your breasts’ (2x); MT �‫‘ ד ַֹדי‬your love’ (2x). Both P and LXX (μαστοί σου ‘your breasts’) interpret this H noun (pl. of abstraction) as though it is � ִ‫( ָשׁ ַדי‬cf. 1:12; 4:5; 7:3, 7, 8; 8:1, 8, 10). Elsewhere, P consistently renders the latter noun with ‫ܬܕ�̈ܟܝ‬, and correctly ̈ understands �‫ד ַֹדי‬, translating it ‘your love’ with ‫ ܪܚܡܝܟ‬at 1:1 and ‫ ܚܘܒܟ‬at 1:3. This heightens the possibility that P and LXX actually have a H text which reads � ִ‫ ָשׁ ַדי‬here, although sheer paraphrastic freedom cannot be ruled out. 4:12 ‫‘ ܓܢܬܐ‬garden’ 2˚; MT ‫‘ גל‬wave’[?]. The meaning of MT (Leningrad) ‫ גַ ל‬is entirely uncertain; ‘wave’ or ‘heap’ does not fit the context. The witness of P, LXX (κῆπος), Vulg., as well as a number of other Masoretic MSS, makes it likely that ‫ גל‬is an error for ‫גן‬. 5:1 ‫ ܐܬܝܬ ܠܓܢܬܝ‬2˚ ‘I have come to my garden’; MT lacks. The repetition of this clause is a unique addition by P, unsupported by other ancient versions, and serving no obvious stylistic need. Its origin is difficult to explain if it is not in the H source-text. 5:13 ‫‘ ܡܘܪܐ ܘܢܪܕܝܢ‬myrrh and nard’; MT ‫‘ מור עבר‬flowing myrrh’. P correctly renders this phrase at 5:5. It is difficult to explain why it would choose to paraphrase so freely here. LXX πλήρη ‘full, choice’

xcii

7:6

7:6

7:9

8:1

Introduction to the Translation also seems not to be a translation of ‫עבר‬. Perhaps the H text of P was damaged or variant here. ‫‘ ܪܚܝܡܬܐ‬O beloved’; MT ‫‘ ַא ֲה ָבה‬love’; Here only, of the nine occurrences of the H noun ‫‘ אהבה‬love’, does P understand it to be a fem. passive ptc. form—‫‘ ֲא ֻה ָבה‬beloved one’. P’s reading is supported by Symmachus and Vulg. ̈ ‫ܦܘܢܩܐ‬ ‫‘ ܒܪܬ‬daughter of pleasures’; MT ‫‘ בתענוגים‬with pleasures’. P must work from a H text containing accidental dittography: ‫בת‬ ‫תענוגים‬. ̈ ‘my lips and my teeth’; MT ‫‘ ִשׂ ְפ ֵתי יְ ֵשׁנִ ים‬lips of those ̈ ‫ܘܫܢܝ‬ ‫ܣܦܘܬܝ‬ who sleep’. P, like LXX χείλεσίν μου καὶ ὀδοῦσιν reflects a H text ‘my lips and (my) teeth’, which that reads ‫שׂפתי ושׁנָ י‬ ַ or ‫שׂפתי ושׁנים‬ ַ makes the best sense. ̈ ‫‘ ܐܝܢܩܘ‬My breasts suckled my lambs’; MT ‫‘ יונק שׁדי‬sucking ‫ܬܕܝ ܐܡ�ܝ‬ the breasts of my mother’. The H phrase makes sense as a description of the imagined brother—one who nursed from the same mother. P must work from a H text in which ‘my mother’ ‫ אמי‬has been corrupted into ‫‘ אמרי‬my lamb[s]’. As such, the clause makes no sense, and cannot be integrated into the sentence.

Meaning Obscure

The MT of the Book of Song of Songs is difficult to understand in a number of places. In addition to what was has already been mentioned, there are some rare Hebrew words, and in some passages the syntax is odd and it is difficult to discern a clause or sentence that makes sense in the context. It seems likely that the Syriac translator has been forced in a few cases to present a ‘translation’ that represents the respective definitions of the individual H words, but whose overall sense remains obscure. The most striking examples are listed below; some additional examples are also to be found above under other headings. 6:11

7:1

‫‘ ܕܥܡܐ ܕܡܛܝܒ‬of the people who were prepared’ or ‘who are willing’;

MT ‫‘ עמי־נדיב‬of my noble people’. This final clause of the v. is notoriously difficult in the MT, especially because the H adj. can mean either ‘prepared’ or ‘noble’ or be a form of the proper name, Amminadab. P chooses the former possibility; Syriac ‫ ܡܛܝܒ‬can mean ‘prepared’ or ‘willing’ but not ‘noble’. The sense of the verse remains uncertain. Cf. 7:1. ‫‘ ܕܢܚܬܐ ܐܝܟ ܚܕܘܬܐ ܘܐܝܟ ܚܕܘܬܐ ܕܡܫ�ܝܬܐ‬who descends like a dance, like a dance of the camps’; MT ‫‘ כמחלת המחנַ יִ ם‬like a dance of the two camps’. The key phrase here is obscure; it might be the proper name

Introduction to the Translation

7:1

7:5

xciii

of a folk celebration (e.g., ‘the Mahanaim Dance’), or a reference to an otherwise unattested festivity in which someone dances or enacts a celebration between two military encampments. LXX also inserts a verb form missing from MT: ἡ ἐρχομένη ‘She who comes’; cf. P ‘who descends’. Disagreements among the ancient witnesses indicate that they too find the H text obscure. ‫‘ ܒܪܬ ܡܛܝܒܐ‬daughter of the prepared one’; MT ‫‘ בת נדיב‬daughter of the noble one’. P may wrongly assume that Syriac ‫ ܡܛܝܒ‬is fully parallel in meaning with H ‫נדיב‬, not realizing that ‘noble’ is also one of the meanings of the H adjective. Consequently, as at 6:11, P renders MT ‘of the noble one’ as ‘of the prepared one’. ‫‘ ܕܐܣܝܪ ܒ�ܗܛܐ‬which is held by runners’; MT ‫‘ אסור ברהטים‬held captive by [meaning unknown]’. P has simply used a cognate Syriac term for H ‫רהטים‬, perhaps guessing that the meaning is the same in both languages. Although the Syriac verb √‫ ܪܗܛ‬is well established as ‘run’ or ‘irrigate’, the verb √‫ רהט‬is not attested in H (cf. √‫)רוץ‬. Neither LXX nor Vulg. seems to understand the word. Modern interpreters often guess that has something to do with hair, ‘tresses’, etc.

APPENDIX 1: VERSIFICATION Versification, the Mosul text compared with 7a1 (Leiden edition). Leiden Proverbs 6:12 8:4 8:30 14:10 14:11 19:8 19:9 Qoheleth 6:12 7:1 7:2 7:3 7:4 7:5 7:6 7:7 7:8 7:9 7:10 7:11 7:12 7:13 7:14 7:15 7:16 7:17 7:18 7:19 7:20 7:21 7:22 7:23 7:24

Begins with Mosul

Last two words of 6:11 Last word of 8:3 Last three words of 8:29 First nine words of 14:11 Last six words of 14:11 First five words of 19:7 Fifth word of 19:9 7:1 7:2 7:3 7:4 7:5 7:6 7:7 7:8 7:9 7:10 7:11 7:12 7:13 7:14 7:15 7:16 7:17 7:18 7:19 7:20 7:21 7:22 7:23 7:24 7:25

xcv

xcvi 7:25 7:26 7:27 7:28 7:29 8:3 Songs 1:1 1:2 1:3 1:4 1:5 1:6 1:7 1:8 1:9 1:10 1:11 1:12 1:13 1:14 1:15 1:16 1:17 4:3 4:4 6:1 6:2 6:3 6:4 6:5 6:6 6:7 6:8 6:9 6:10 6:11 6:12 7:1 First seven words 7:1 Last nine words 7:2 7:3 7:4 7:5 7:6

Appendix 1: Versification 7:26 7:27 7:28 7:29 7:30 Last two words of 8:2 (change affects meaning)

Missing (omits ascription to Solomon) 1:1 1:2 1:3 1:4 1:5 1:6 1:7 1:8 1:9 1:10 1:11 1:12 1:13 1:14 1:15 1:16 4:3 first nine words (changes meaning) 4:4 fourth word (changes meaning) 5:17 6:1 6:2 6:3 6:4 6:5 6:6 6:7 6:8 6:9 6:10 6:11 6:12 7:1 First nine words 7:1 Last thirteen words 7:2 7:3 7:4 7:5

Appendix 1: Versification 7:7 7:8 7:9 7:10 7:11 7:12 7:13 7:14

7:6 7:7 7:8 7:9 7:10 7:11 7:12 7:13

xcvii

APPENDIX 2: VARIANT READINGS Based on Collations by Morgan Reed and Bradley Marsh The following table gives the variants of Mosul against Leiden. The fourth column indicates the support for the Mosul reading as follows: early first millennium up to and including the tenth century. late post tenth century making use of the Leiden apparatus. Lee Lee’s edition (1823) agrees with Mosul. Urmia the Urmia edition (1852) agrees with Mosul. no support Mosul’s reading is unique. Proverbs Place 1:12 1:24 2:8 3:10 4:4 4:9 4:27 5:1 5:22 6:4 6:11 6:23 6:26 6:35 7:1 7:22 8:3 8:9 8:22

Mosul

Leiden

̈ ‫ܠܚܝܐ‬ ‫ܐܕܝ‬

‫ܩܠܝ‬

om seyāme om waw

‫ܘܐܘ�ܚܬܐ‬

om waw

‫ܕܢܬܡ�ܘܢ‬ ‫ܘܛܪ‬ ‫ܬܣܝܥܟ‬ �‫ܘ‬ ‫ܠܚܟܡܬܝ‬ �‫ܘܒܚ ̈ܒ‬ �‫ܘܐܦ‬ ‫ܘܬܐܬܐ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܐ ܕܝܢ‬ ‫ܓܪܝܨܬܐ ܗܝ‬ ‫ܬܣܓܐ‬ ‫ܒܓܘܟ‬ ‫�ܣܘܪܝܐ‬ ‫ܕܟܪܟܐ‬ ‫�ܝܠܝܢ ܕܨܒܝܢ‬ ‫ܒܪܝܬܗ‬

‫ܘܢܬܡ�ܘܢ‬ om waw

‫ܬܣܒܥܟ‬

om seyāme om waw om waw

‫ܘܠܡܐܡܪܝ‬

‫ܘܐܘܪܚܐ‬ ‫ܓܪܝܨܬܐ‬ add ‫ܠܗ‬ ‫ܒܠܒܟ‬ ‫�ܣܘܪܐ‬ seyāme

‫�ܝܢܐ ܕܨܒܐ‬ seyāme xcix

Ms support for Mosul none early early early early Lee early early late early early early early early early early early early Lee

c Place

8:22 8:23 8:28 8:29 9:6 9:10 9:12 9:18 10:6 10:8 10:17 11:3 11:10 11:11 11:29 11:29 12:9 2° 14:30 14:31 16:2 16:12 16:22 16:24 16:25 16:30 16:30 17:7 17:14 17:17 17:26 18:20 19:7 19:9 19:10

Appendix 2: Variant Readings Mosul

‫ܡܢ‬ ‫ܕܢܥܒܕ‬ ‫ܟܕ‬ ‫ܘܟܕ‬ ‫ܪܥܝܢܐ‬ ‫ܕܙܕܝܩܐ‬ ‫ܫܒܝܠ‬ ‫ܕܡܙܡܢܝܢ‬ ‫ܘܠܦܘܡܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܢܬܬܚܕ‬ ‫ܣܟ� ܗܘ‬ ‫ܢܬܦܢܐ‬ ‫ܒܛܒܬܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܒܒܘܪܟܬܗܘܢ‬ �‫ܘܕ‬ ‫ܪܘܚܐ‬ ‫ܛܒ‬ ‫ܕܠܒܗ‬ ̈ ‫ܒܝܫܐ‬ ‫ܐܘ�ܚܬܗ‬ ‫ܗܘ‬ ‫ܫܛܝܘܬܐ‬ ‫ܘܚܠܝܐ‬ ‫ܘܐܘ�ܚܬ ̇ܗ ܐܘ�ܚܬܐ‬ ‫ܐܢܘܢ‬ ‫ܘܪܡܙ‬ ‫ܒܝ̈ܫܬܐ‬ �‫ܘܐܦ‬ ‫ܘܕܐܫܕ‬ ‫ܪܚܡ‬ �‫ܘܐܦ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ‬ ‫ܡܬܪܚܩܝܢ‬ ̈ ‫ܕܓܠܬܐ‬ �‫ܘܐܦ‬

Leiden pr waw

pr waw om waw

‫ܕܢܬܩܢ‬

‫ܪܥܝܢܟܘܢ‬ seyāme

̈ ‫ܫܒܝܠܝ‬ ‫ܕܡܙܕܡܢܝܢ‬ ‫ܘܠܦܘܡ‬ ‫ܡܬܬܚܕ‬ ‫ܛܥܐ‬ ‫ܢܬܒܢܐ‬ seyāme seyāme om waw seyāme om

‫ܕܢܦܫܗ‬ ̈ ‫ܡܣܟܢܐ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܗ‬ om

‫ܫܝܛܘܬܐ‬ ‫ܘܚܠܝܘܬܐ‬ ̈ ‫ܘܫܒܝܠܝ ̇ܗ‬ ̈ �‫ܫܒܝ‬ ‫ܐܢܝܢ‬ ‫ܘܡܪܡܙ‬

om seyāme om waw om waw om waw om waw

‫ܪܚܝܡ‬

‫�ܚܝܩܝܢ‬ ‫ܕܓ�ܘܬܐ‬ om waw

Ms support for Mosul late early Urmia early Urmia Lee late early early early early Urmia early early early Lee, Urmia Lee, Urmia early early late early early early early early late early early Lee early none early late early

Appendix 2: Variant Readings Place 19:25 20:11 20:12 20:16 20:19

20:24 20:24 20:30 21:30 22:6 22:25 23:12 23:21 23:22 23:23 24:8 24:9 24:9 24:18 24:20 24:28 2° 25:1 25:5 25:20 25:27 27:12 27:16 28:8 28:13 28:23 28:24 29:2 29:26 30:13 30:14

Mosul

Leiden

‫ܒܝܫܐ‬ ‫ܗܘ‬ ‫ܘܡܣܬܟܠ‬ ‫ܢܘܟܪܝܐ‬ ‫ܐܟܠ ܩܪ�ܐ‬

�‫ܣܟ‬

‫ܡܢ ܩܕܡ‬ ‫ܡܬܩܢ̈ܢ‬ ‫ܦܓܥܘ‬ �‫ܐܦ‬ ‫ܕܐܘܪܚܐ‬ ‫ܡܢ‬ ‫ܘܐܕܢܝ̈ܟ‬ ‫ܒ�ܕܥܬܐ‬ ‫ܣܝܒܘܬܐ‬ ‫ܘܣܘܟ� ܘܡܪܕܘܬܐ‬ ‫ܠܡܒܐܫܘ‬ ‫ܗܝ‬ ‫ܘܛܡܐܘܬܐ‬ ‫ܕܠܡܐ‬ ‫ܘܫܪܓܗܘܢ‬ � ‫ܘܐܦ‬ ‫ܢܬܒܕܪܘܢ‬ ‫ܗܘ‬ �‫ܘܐܦ‬ ̈ �‫ܣܟ‬ ‫ܕܓܪܒܝܐ‬ ‫ܡܣܟܢܐ‬ ‫ܡܬܪܚܡ‬ ‫ܢܫܟܚ‬ ‫ܚܛܗܐ‬ ‫ܡܬܬܢܚ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ‬ ‫ܬܡ�ܘܗܝ‬ ‫ܠܡܣܟܢ̈ܐ‬

om

om om waw seyāme

‫ܘܕܡܗܝܡܢ ܒܪܘܚܗ‬ ‫ܟܣܐ ܡܠܬܐ‬ om ‫ܩܕܡ‬ pr waw

‫ܦܓܥ‬ om

‫ܕܐܘܪܚܗ‬ om seyāme

‫ܘܐܕܢܟ‬

tr add ‫ܓܒܪܐ‬ om

‫ܣܝܒܘܬܗ‬

‫ܘܛܡܐܘܬܗ‬ �‫ܕ‬ ‫ܘܫܪܓܐ‬ pr waw om waw

‫ܢܬܬܒܪܘܢ‬ ‫̇ܗܘ ̣ܗܘ‬ om waw

om dālath seyāme

‫ܫܒ�ܐ‬

‫ܢܬܪܚܡ‬ ‫ܡܫܟܚ‬ seyāme

om pr waw om lāmadh

‫ܢܬܬܢܚ‬

ci Ms support for Mosul early early early early early early Lee, Urmia early early early early late early early early Urmia early early early early Urmia early early early early early early early late Urmia Lee early early early early

cii Place 30:16 30:20 30:27 30:31 31:4

Qoheleth Place 1:4 1:4 1:8 1:11 1:13 1:15 1:17 1:18 1:18 2:1 2:4 2:8 2:9 2:9 2:10 2:12 2:18 2:19 2:19 2:19 2:20 2:20 2:24 3:9 3:9 3:9 3:11

Appendix 2: Variant Readings Mosul

Leiden

‫ܘܐܚܝܕܬ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܐ‬ ‫ܕܡܠܟܐ‬ ‫ܬ�ܢܓܘܠܝܬܐ‬ ‫ܫ�ܝ̈ܛܐ‬

‫ܘܐܚܕܬ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܗ‬ ‫ܕܡܠܟܘ‬ ‫ܬ�ܢܓܠܬܐ‬ ‫ܫ�ܝ̈ܛܢܐ‬

Mosul

Leiden

‫ܕܪܐ‬ ‫ܘܕܪܐ‬ � ‫ܒܐܚܪܝܬܐ‬ ‫ܘܝܗܒܬ‬ ‫ܠܡܬܡܢܝܘ‬ ‫ܛܘܪܦܐ‬ ‫ܕܒܣܘܓܐܬ‬ ‫ܣܘܓܐܬ‬ ‫ܐܡܪܬ‬ ̈ ‫ܠܝ‬ ‫ܥܒܕܐ‬ ‫ܕܡܕܝܢ̈ܬܐ‬ ‫ܝܪܒܬ‬ ܿ ‫ܠܗ‬ ‫ܥܡܠܝ‬ ‫ܘܠܡܬܥܒܪܢܘܬܐ‬ ‫ܒܬܪܝ‬ ‫ܝܕܥ‬ ‫ܥܡܠܝ‬ ‫ܕܐܢܐ ܥܡܠܬ‬ ‫ܕܐܫܝܫ‬ ‫ܝܬ‬ ‫ܘܐܦ‬ ‫ܘܡܢܐ‬ ‫ܝܘܬܪܢ‬ ‫ܥܡܠ‬

‫ܕܪ‬ ‫ܘܕܪ‬ �‫ܘ‬ ‫�ܚܪܝܬܐ‬

‫ܘܝܬ‬

om waw

‫ܠܡܬܡܠܝܘ‬ add ‫ܗܘ‬ ‫ܕܒܣܓܝܐܘܬ‬ ‫ܣܓܝܐܘܬ‬ pr waw

̈ ‫ܥܒܕܝ‬

pr waw pr waw

‫ܠܝ‬

seyāme om lāmad pr ‫ܡܢ‬

‫ܢܕܥ‬

seyāme

‫ܕܥܡܠܬ‬ ‫ܠܡܦܣܘ‬

om om waw om waw add ‫ܠܒܪ ܐܢܫܐ‬ add ‫ܬܚܝܬ‬

‫ܫܡܫܐ‬ ‫ܘܐܦ‬

Ms support for Mosul early early late Urmia Urmia

Ms support for Mosul Lee, Urmia Lee, Urmia early Urmia early early early early early early early none none early Lee, Urmia early early early early early early early early late early early early

Appendix 2: Variant Readings Place

3:11 3:11 3:13 3:19 2° 3:19 4:1 4:4 4:8 4:10 4:10 4:10 4:15 4:17 5:3 5:4 5:5 1° 5:6 5:8 5:10 5:16 5:18 5:18 6:2 6:6 6:9 7:7 (L7:6) 7:9 (L7:8) 7:15 (L7:14) 7:16 (L7:15) 7:19 (L7:18) 7:20 (L7:19) 7:22 (L7:21) 7:24 (L7:23) 7:25 (L7:24)

Mosul

Leiden

‫ܥܠܡܐ‬ ‫ܥܕܡܐ‬ ‫ܡܘܗܒܬܐ‬ ‫ܘܓܕܫܐ‬ ‫ܗܢܐ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ‬ �‫ܗܒ‬ ‫ܘܒܪܐ‬ ‫ܢܦ�ܘܢ‬ ‫ܡܩܝܡ‬ ‫ܕܘܝ‬ ‫ܚܙܝܬ ܐܢܐ‬ ‫ܡܘܗܒܬܐ‬ ‫ܕܝܢ‬ ‫ܗܘ‬ �‫ܘ‬ ‫ܕܛܘܥܝܝ‬ ‫ܝܘܪܬܢܐ‬ ‫ܘܡܢܐ ܗܘܬ ܟܫܝܪܐ‬

�‫ܘܥܡ‬

‫ܘܒܟܘܪܗܢܐ‬ ‫ܡܢܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܗܕܐ‬ ‫ܘܟܪܝܗܘܬܐ‬ ‫ܟܠ‬ ‫ܗܢܐ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ‬ ‫ܘܛܒܐ‬ ‫ܡܫܟܚ‬ ‫ܒܒܝܫܘܬܗ‬ ‫̇ܗܘ‬ ‫ܠܚܟܝܡܐ‬ ̈ ‫ܦܬܓܡܐ‬ ‫ܡܢܝ‬ ‫ܕܗܘܐ‬

pr waw pr ‫ܗܕܐ‬ om waw add ‫ܐܦ‬ om waw add ‫ܗܘ‬

‫ܘܐܦ ܒܪܐ‬ ‫ܢܦܠ‬ add ‫ܠܗ‬ ‫ܘܝ ܠܗ‬ ‫ܘܚܙܝܬ‬

seyāme om om om waw om

‫ܘܝܘܬܪܢܐ‬ ‫ܘܡܢܐ ܝܘܬܪܢܐ‬

7a1

add ‫ܘܒܚܡܬܐ‬

‫ܡܢܗ‬ pr ‫ܐܦ‬ ‫ܘܟܪܝܘܬܐ‬ �‫ܟܘ‬ ‫ܗܕܐ‬ ‫ܡܛܘܠ ܕܐܝܟ‬ add ‫ܗܝ‬ ‫ܢܫܟܚ‬ ‫ܒܒܝ̈ܫܬܗ‬ ‫ܗܢܐ‬ seyāme

̈ ‫ܦܬܓܡܝܢ‬ pr ‫ܗܝ‬ pr ‫ܟܠ‬

ciii Ms support for Mosul early early early none early Lee early early early early early early Urmia early early Urmia early early Lee ‫ܘܗܘܬ ܟܫܝܪܐ‬ 7g2 8a1 9c1 10c1 11c1 12a1fam early early early early early early early early late early Lee early early early early

civ Place

7:27 (L7:26) 7:27 (L7:26) 8:13 8:14 8:17 9:1 9:2 2° 9:6 3° 9:6 9:11 9:13 9:16 9:16 9:17 9:17 10:1 10:1 10:1 10:2 10:2 10:4 10:6 10:11 10:20 11:5 11:7 11:8 12:1 12:1 12:2 12:4 12:10 12:14 12:14

Appendix 2: Variant Readings Mosul

Leiden

‫ܕܡܪܝܪܐ‬ ‫ܐܣ�ܐ‬ ‫ܢܓܝܪ‬ ‫ܕܥܒܝܕ‬ ‫ܕܥܒܝܕ‬ ‫ܟܠܗܝܢ‬ ‫ܐܦ‬ ‫ܐܦ‬ ‫ܕܡܬܥܒܕ‬ ‫ܘܗܦܟܬ‬ ‫ܘܐܦ‬ ‫ܛܒܐ‬ ‫ܡܣܠܝܐ‬ ̈ ‫ܘܡܠܝ‬ �‫ܣܟ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ‬ ‫ܠܡܐܢܐ‬ ‫ܗܝ‬ ‫ܒܝܡܝܢܗ‬ ‫ܒܣܡܠܗ‬ ‫ܕܐܣܝܘܬܐ ܫܒܩܐ‬ ̈ ‫ܒܪܘܡܐ ܥܫܝܢ̈ܐ‬ ‫ܐܢ‬ ‫ܐܦ‬ ‫ܓܝܪ‬ ̈ ‫ܠܚܙܝܝ‬ ‫ܘܝܬܝܪ‬ ‫ܕܣܓܝܐܝܢ‬ ‫ܒܝ̈ܫܬܐ‬ ‫ܕܠܝܬ‬ ̈ ‫ܘܕ‬ ‫ܟܘܟܒܐ‬ ‫ܕܨܦ�ܐ‬ ‫ܒܩܘܫܬܐ‬ ‫ܕܟܠ‬ ‫ܛܒ‬

‫ܕܡܪܝܪ‬ ‫ܐܣܪܬ‬ ‫ܢܓܪ‬ ‫ܕܐܬܥܒܝܕ‬ ‫ܕܐܬܥܒܝܕ‬ ‫ܟܠ ܗܠܝܢ‬ om pr waw

om waw om waw pr dālath

‫ܕܐܬܥܒܕ‬

om waw

‫ܫܝܛܐ‬

̈ �‫ܒܣܟ‬

om om lāmad om

‫ܠܝܡܝܢܗ‬ ‫ܠܣܡܠܗ‬ ‫ܕܡܪܦܝܘܬܐ ܥܒܕܐ‬ om seyāme pr waw pr waw om

‫ܠܡܚܙܐ‬ ‫ܕܣܓܝ̈ܐܐ‬

om seyāme add ‫ܠܝ‬ om dālath om seyāme

‫ܫܪܪܐ‬ ‫ܕܠܟܠ‬

pr dālath

Ms support for Mosul Lee Lee none early early late early early early early early early early late early early Lee early early early early early late early late early early early early early early early early early

Appendix 2: Variant Readings Songs Place

1:5 (L1:6) 1:6 (L1:7) 1:7 (L1:8) 1:7 (L1:8) 1:15 (L1:16) 2° 1:16 (L1:17) 2:7 2:10 2:11 2:12 2:13 2:14 2:14 2:15 2:15 3:5 3:10 4:6 4:6 4:6 4:8 4:14 4:16 5:1 5:1 5:4 5:7 5:11 5:11 5:13 6:1 (L6:2) 6:11 (L6:12) 6:11 (L6:12) 7:6 (L7:7)

Mosul

Leiden

‫ܕܐܘܟܡܐ ܐܢܐ‬ ‫ܐܝܟܢܐ‬ ‫ܒܥܩܒܐ‬ ‫ܒܡܫܟܢ̈ܐ‬ ‫ܐܢܬ‬ ‫ܕܩܛܪܩܐ‬ ‫ܐܘ ܒܢ̈ܬ‬ ‫ܫܦܝܪܬܝ ܩܪܝܒܬܝ‬ ‫ܘܡܛܪܐ‬ ‫ܒܐܪܥܢ‬ ‫ܩܪܝܒܬܝ ܫܦܝܪܬܝ‬

‫ܕܐܘܟܡܬ‬ ‫ܐܝܟܐ‬ ‫ܒܥܩܒܬܐ‬

‫ܝܘܢܝ‬ ̈ ‫ܒܚܘܠܢܐ‬ ‫ܐܚܘܕܘ‬ ‫ܕܣܡܕ�ܝܢ‬ ̈ �‫ܒܥܘܙܝ‬ ‫ܬܟܣܝܬܗ‬ ̈ ‫ܛ�ܝ ܪܡܫܐ‬ ‫ܙܠܝ‬ ‫ܠܛܘܪܐ‬ ‫ܚܬܝ‬ ‫ܘܟܘܪܟܡܐ‬ ‫ܢܐܬܐ‬ ‫ܘܐܟܠܬ‬ ‫̈ܕܕܝ‬ ‫ܓ�ܘ‬ ‫ܡܢܝ ܪܕܝܕܝ‬ ̈ ‫ܘܐܘܟܡܢ‬ ‫ܥܘܪܒܐ‬ ‫ܘܢܪܕܝܢ‬ ‫ܕܒܣܡܢ̈ܐ‬ �‫ܘ‬ ‫ܒܡܪܟܒܬܐ‬ ‫ܡܐ‬

seyāme

om seyāme om seyāme om ‫ܐܘ‬ tr om waw

‫ܒܐܬܪܢ‬

seyāme

‫ܒܚܘܠܒܐ‬ ‫ܐܚܘܕ‬ ‫ܕܣܡܕ�ܐ‬ �̈�‫ܒܐ‬ pr waw

̈ ��‫ܛ‬ ‫ܙܠ‬

seyāme om pr ‫ܢܪܕܘܢ‬ pr waw om waw om seyāme

‫ܓܥܘ‬ ‫ܐܪܕܝܕܝ ܡܢܝ‬ om waw seyāme

‫ܘܢܪܕܘܢ‬ ̈ ‫ܕܒܣܡܐ‬

om waw om beth pr waw

cv

Ms support for Mosul early early early early Urmia early late early early early Urmia: ‫ܫܦܝ̈ܬܝ‬ Urmia early early early early early early Lee, Urmia early early none early early early early early early early early early early early late

‫ܩܪܝܒܬܝ‬

cvi Place

7:6 (L7:7) 7:12 (L7:13) 8:6 8:9 8:11 8:12 8:13 8:14 8:14 Subscription

Appendix 2: Variant Readings Mosul

‫ܐܘ ܪܚܝܡܬܐ‬ ‫ܘܢܚܙܐ‬ ‫ܘܐܝܟ‬ ‫ܥ�ܝ̈ܢ‬ ‫ܟܪܡܐ‬ ‫ܘܡܐܬܝܢ‬ ‫ܕ�̈ܬܒܝܢ‬ ‫ܐܬܗܦܟ‬ ‫ܕܡܝ‬ om

Leiden

om ‫ܐܘ‬ om waw om waw

‫ܥܥ̈ܝܢ‬ ‫ܟܪܡܝ‬

seyāme om seyāme pr waw

‫ܘܟܕ ܐܬܐ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ ܠܡܟܬܒ‬ ‫ܫܐ�ܬ ܫܐ�ܝܢ‬

Ms support for Mosul late early early Lee early Urmia Urmia early early Urmia

APPENDIX 3: NAMES The spelling of proper names in this translation normally follows that of the American Standard Version (ASV) of 1901. In this section names are considered (i) where P regularly features an alternative name, and (ii) where P and MT differ consonantly. The citations are usually of the first occurrence of the name. Proverbs

Common Syriac Proper Names P regularly uses: ‫ ܫܠܝܡܘܢ‬for Hebrew ‫שׁלמה‬, e.g., 1:1

‫ ܝܣܪܝܠ‬for Hebrew ‫ישׂראל‬, e.g., 1:1 ‫ ܕܘܝܕ‬for Hebrew ‫דוד‬, e.g., 1:1 ‫ ܚܙܩܝܐ‬for Hebrew ‫חזקיה‬, e.g., 25:1 ‫ ܝܗܘܕܐ‬for Hebrew ‫יהודה‬, e.g., 25:1 ‫ ܫܝܘܠ‬for Hebrew ‫שׁאול‬, e.g., 1:12

Initial Positions

In 31:1, ‫ ܡܘܐܝܠ‬omits the initial lamadh of the Hebrew spelling of ‘Lemuel’ ‫למואל‬. This reflects a misreading of the lamadh as a prefixed preposition (‘to Moel’) instead of an intrinsic part of the name itself, perhaps under the influence of ‘to Ithiel’ ‫ לאיתיאל‬at 30:1.

Medial Positions

Alaph, waw, and yodh These letters are sometimes interchanged, e.g. 1:1 1:12 ‫ ܫܝܘܠ‬Hebrew ‫שׁאול‬.

‫ ܝܣܪܝܠ‬Hebrew ‫;ישׂראל‬

Introductions and Deletions

P may introduce or omit a yodh or waw from the Hebrew spelling: e.g. 1:1 ‫ ܫܠܝܡܘܢ‬Hebrew ‫ ;שׁלמה‬15:11 ‫ ܐܒܕܢܐ‬Hebrew ‫ ;אבדּון‬31:1 ‫ ܐܬܠܝܐܝܠ‬Hebrew cvii

cviii

Appendix 3: Names

‫ ;איתיאל‬31:1 P ‫ ܡܘܐܝܠ‬Hebrew ‫למואל‬. Note also that P lamadh to the Hebrew spelling.

‫ܐܬܠܝܐܝܠ‬

adds a

Endings

Replacement P may use a final yod where Hebrew has a final he: e.g. 30:1 ‫ ܝܩܝ‬Hebrew ‫יקה‬. In 1:1 P substitutes ‫ ܘܢ‬for final he: ‫ ܫܠܝܡܘܢ‬Hebrew ‫‘ שׁלמה‬Solomon’; this probably reflects influence from the Greek form of the name Σαλωμων. At 7:16, the Syriac form of the name ‘Egypt’ ‫ ܡ��ܝܐ‬substitutes the Syriac masc. pl. emphatic ending ‫ ܷ�̈ܐ‬- for the Hebrew pl. (dual) ending that is an integral part of the spelling of the name ‫מצריִ ם‬ ַ in MT.

Introduction

P may add a final alaph to a word, perhaps imitating the typical ending of a masc. noun in the emphatic state: e.g., 15:11 ‫ ܐܒܕܢܐ‬for H ‫‘ אבדּון‬Abaddon’.

Note

At 30:1, P omits altogether the Hebrew word ‫ אכל‬that has often been understood as the personal name ‘Ucal’. P apparently construes the problematic text at the end of that v. in an altogether different way. Qoheleth Only five proper names occur in the text of Qoheleth: David, Israel, Jerusalem, Qoheleth and Sheol. The spelling of proper names in the translation follows that of the American Standard Version (ASV) of 1901. In each case, the Syriac transcription differs slightly from the H spelling:

Initial Location Replacement

P reads ‫ ܐ‬for H ‫י‬: ‫ ܐܘܪܫܠܡ‬MT ‫ ירושׂלם‬1:1, 12, 16; 2:7, 9.

Medial Locations Additions

P adds medial ‫ܝ‬: ‫ ܕܘܝܕ‬MT ‫ דוד‬1:1.

Appendix 3: Names

cix

Replacement P reads ‫ ܝ‬for ‫א‬: ‫ ܝܣܪܝܠ‬for H ‫ ישׂראל‬1:12. P reads ‫ ܝ‬for ‫א‬: ‫ ܫܝܘܠ‬for H ‫ שׁאול‬9:10.

Transposition

P transposes ‫ו‬/‫ ר‬: ‫ ܐܘܪܫܠܡ‬MT ‫ ירושׂלם‬1:1, 12, 16; 2:7, 9.

Note on the Name ‘Qoheleth’

Six of the seven times this name occurs in the H text (1:1, 2, 12; 7:27; 12:9– 10), it is written without waw: ‫ק ֶֹה ֶלת‬. Once (12:8), where it also bears the prefixed definite article, it is spelled with the waw: ‫קּוֹה ֶלת‬ ֶ ‫ה‬.ַ In all seven vv. P transliterates this name exactly, following the fuller spelling with waw ‫ܩܘܗܠܬ‬. The H word qōheleth is a Qal fem. sg. active ptc., meaning one who assembles or gathers, or performs some function related to an assembly or collection, such as ‘compiler, teacher, presider’. Since the figure referred to is not a female, this fem. form must here be the label of a function, But interpreters debate whether as a function label this H word should be translated as a common noun or, alternatively, as a proper name. (Cf. the H proper name of an individual in Ezra 2:57, Pochereth-hazzebaim, which is actually a function label, ‘gazelle catcher’). Several facts suggest that P understands the word as a proper name: (a) For its transcription, P chooses the cognate verb ‫( ܩܗܠ‬H √‫)קהל‬, even though ‫ ܟܢܫ‬is the much more common Syriac verb for “assemble, gather.” At the three places in the book where a verb for “assemble” is needed (2:8, 26; 3:5), the Syriac translator uses ‫ ܟܢܫ‬and not ‫ܩܗܠ‬. ‫ ܩܗܠ‬is in fact never used in the P Pentateuch or Prophets. (b) The corresponding Syriac participial form would be �‫ܩܗ‬. Clearly P is transliterating and not translating the grammatical form ‫ק ֶֹה ֶלת‬. (c) The use of the fuller spelling confirms that the Syriac translator has paid close attention to 12:8, where alone the definite article is attached. Nevertheless, P makes no attempt to put the word there in an emphatic form, which one might expect if he were translating a common noun, such as ‘the teacher’. Songs

Common Syriac Proper Names P regularly uses: ‫ ܐܘܪܫܠܡ‬for Hebrew ‫ירושׂלם‬, e.g. 1:4 ‫ ܫܠܝܡܘܢ‬for Hebrew ‫שׂלמה‬, e.g. 1:4

cx

Appendix 3: Names

‫ ܝܣܪܝܠ‬for Hebrew ‫ישׂראל‬, e.g. 3:7 ‫ ܠܒܢܢ‬for Hebrew ‫לבנון‬, e.g. 3:9 ‫ ܨܗܝܘܢ‬for Hebrew ‫ציּון‬, e.g. 3:11 ‫ ܓܠܥܕ‬for Hebrew ‫( גלעד‬or ‫)הגּלעד‬, e.g. 4:1, 6:4 ‫ ܕܪܡܣܘܩ‬for Hebrew ‫( דמּשׂק‬or ‫ דמרשׂק‬occasionally in late books), e.g. 7:4 ‫ ܫܝܘܠ‬for Hebrew ‫שׂאול‬, e.g. 8:6

Replacement

In 2:1, virtually all P MSS read ‫ ܫܪܘܝܢܐ‬for Hebrew ‫השּׁרון‬. Throughout the Syriac Bible this Hebrew word is usually rendered as ‫ܫܪܘܢܐ‬, and most interpreters understand it to be the geographical proper name, ‘Sharon’; a few see it as a common noun for ‘plain’, which is the view taken by LXX (τοῦ πεδίου), Vulg. (campi) and Targ. (‫ )מישר‬in 2:1. However, ‫( ܫܪܘܝܢܐ‬with yud) is actually a different word, a noun for a species of plant, “fir, juniper, cypress” (e.g., Isa 41:19), and that is the way it is rendered in the translation below. R. Payne Smith believes ‫ ܫܪܘܝܢܐ‬here in 2:1 to be an error for ‫ܫܪܘܢܐ‬. In 7:4 P translates the Hebrew name ‫ בת־רבים‬with ‫ ;ܒܪܬ ܣܓܝ̈ܐܐ‬both mean ‘daughter of multitudes’. P seems still to consider it a proper name.

Initial Positions

Alaph, waw, and yodh P substitutes alaph for initial Hebrew yodh, e.g. 1:4 ‫ ܐܘܪܫܠܡ‬Hebrew ‫ירושׂלם‬.

Medial Positions

Alaph, waw, and yodh These letters are sometimes interchanged, e.g. 3:7 8:6 Hebrew ‫שׁאול‬.

‫ܫܝܘܠ‬

‫ ܝܣܪܝܠ‬Hebrew ‫;ישׂראל‬

Introductions and Deletions

P may introduce or transpose a waw in the Hebrew spelling: e.g. 1:4 (L1:5) ‫ ܐܘܪܫܠܡ‬Hebrew ‫ ;ירושׂלם‬6:1 2(L 7:1) ‫ ܫܝ�ܘܡܝܬܐ‬Hebrew ‫ ַ;השּׂולמּית‬7:4 (L7:5) ‫ ܕܪܡܣܘܩ‬Hebrew ‫דמּשׂק‬. Less often, P may omit a waw: e.g., 3:9 ‫ܠܒܢܢ‬ for Hebrew ‫לבנון‬. P may introduce a yodh where it is lacking in the Hebrew spelling: e.g. 1:1 ‫ ܫܠܝܡܘܢ‬Hebrew ‫שׁלמה‬.

Appendix 3: Names

cxi

Endings

Replacement

P may use a final alaph where Hebrew has a final he: e.g. 4:8 ‫ ܐܡܢ̈ܐ‬Hebrew ‫אמנה‬. In 1:4 P substitutes final ‫ ܘܢ‬for final he: ‫ ܫܠܝܡܘܢ‬Hebrew ‫ ;שׁלמה‬this probably reflects influence from the Greek form of the name Σαλωμων.

Additions

In 6:12 (L7:1) the final alaph on ‫ ܫܝ�ܘܡܝܬܐ‬may well be intended as an emphatic ending to represent the definite article that is part of the spelling of Hebrew ‫שּׁוּל ִמּית‬ ַ ‫ ַה‬.

Omission

A final Hebrew yodh is removed from the compound name at 1:13: Hebrew ‫ ֵﬠין גֶּ ִדי‬.

‫ܥܝܢ ܓܕ‬

Translation

In 6:3 P seems to understand the Hebrew proper name ‘Tirzah’ ‫ ִת ְר ָצה‬as a common noun for “pleasure, delight,” ‫ܨܒܝܢܐ‬. This may reflect influence by LXX ευδοκια (Cf. Syriac verb ‫ ܨܒܝ‬and Hebrew verb ‫“ רצה‬to delight, take pleasure, desire.”) Elsewhere in P this name is usually rendered as ‫ܬܪ�ܐ‬. In 8:11 P ‫‘ ܐܒܗ ܣܓܝ‬its fruit is abundant’ appears to be a creative attempt to wrest something meaningful for the context from H ‫ַ ֣ב ַﬠל ָהמוֹן‬ ‘Baal-hamon’. P seems not to identify it as a place name, but instead reads it literally as ‘lord of abundance.’

BIBLIOGRAPHY Bloch, J. (1922), ‘A Critical Examination of the Text of the Syriac Version of the Song of Songs’, AJSL 32/2 (1922): 103–139. Ceriani, A. M., ed. Codex Syro-Hexaplaris Ambrosianus. Monumenta Sacra et Profana ex Codicibus praesertim Bibliothecae Ambrosianae 7. Milan: Bibliothecae Ambrosianae, 1874. [Targum texts]. The Comprehensive Aramaic Lexicon. http://cal.huc.edu/ New English Translation of the Septuagint. Rev. ed. Oxford: University Press, 2009. David, C. J. The Syriac Bible According to the Mosul Edition (2 vols.; 1887–1891). Reprinted Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias Press, 2011. 3 vols. Di Lella, Alexander A., ed. “Proverbs” in Proverbs, Wisdom, Qoheleth, Song of Song; part II, fasc. 5 of The Old Testament in Syriac According to the Peshiṭta Version. Leiden: Brill, 1979. Dirksen, P. B. “Canticles” in Megilloth; vol. 18 of Biblia Hebraica Quinta, Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2004. Emerton, J. A. and D. J. Lane, ed. “Song of Songs” in Proverbs, Wisdom, Qoheleth, Song of Songs; part II, fasc. 5 of The Old Testament in Syriac According to the Peshiṭta Version. Leiden: Brill, 1979. Exum, J. Cheryl. Song of Songs. OTL. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2005. Fishbane, Michael. The JPS Bible Commentary: Song of Songs. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 2015. Fox, Michael V. Proverbs 1–9: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. AB 18A. New York: Doubleday, 2000. Fox, Michael V. Proverbs 10–31: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. AYBC 18B. New Haven: Yale University, 2009. Goldman, Y. A. P., ed. “Qoheleth” in Megilloth; vol. 18 of Biblia Hebraica Quinta, Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2004. Healey, John F. ‘The Targum of Proverbs’, in The Aramaic Bible: The Targums. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1991. Joosten, Jan. ‘Doublet Translations in Peshitta Proverbs’ in The Peshitta as a Translation. MPI 8. Leiden: Brill, 1995. Pp. 63–72. cxiii

cxiv

Bibliography

Kamenetzky, A. S. Die P’šita zu Koheleth textkritisch undin ihrem Verhältnis zu dem masoretischen Text, der Septuagint und den andern alten griechischn Versionen. Leipzig: Drugulin, 1904. Keel, Othmar. The Song of Songs [Song of Solomon]. CC. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 1994. Koehler, L., W. Baumgartner, and J. J. Stamm. The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament (tr. and ed. M. E. J. Richardson; Leiden: Brill, 1994–1999. Lane, D. ‘“The Curtains of Solomon”: Some Notes on the “Syriacing” of ŠÎR-HAŠŠÎRÎM’, in P.B. Dirksen and A. Van Der Kooij (Eds.), (73– 84). The Peshitta as a Translation. MPI 8. Leiden: Brill, 1995. Lane, D. J. “‘Lilies that fester…’: The Peshiṭta Text of Qoheleth. PIC 15.” Vetus Testamentum 29 (1979):481–490. Lane, D. J., ed. “Qoheleth” in Proverbs, Wisdom, Qoheleth, Song of Song; part II, fasc. 5 of The Old Testament in Syriac According to the Peshiṭta Version. Leiden: Brill, 1979. Lee, S., ed. Vetus Testamentum Syriace. London: 1823. Liddell, H. G. An Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon, founded upon the seventh edition of Liddell and Scott’s Greek-English Lexicon. Oxford: Clarendon, 1889. McKane, William. Proverbs, A New Approach. OTL. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1970. Murphy, Roland. The Song of Songs. Hermeneia. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1990. Owens, Robert J. ‘The Relationship between The Targum and Peshitta Texts of the Book of Proverbs’. Targum Studies 2 (1998): 105–207. Payne Smith, J. A Compendious Syriac Dictionary. Oxford: Clarendon, 1903. Payne Smith, R. Thesaurus syriacus. Oxford: Clarendon, 1879. Perkins, J., ed. [Syriac: The Holy Bible]. Urmia: 1852. Pinkuss, H. ‘Die syrische Übersetzung der Proverbien’. ZAW 14 (1894): 65–141. Rahlfs, A. and R. Hanhart. Septuaginta. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2006. Salkin, J.M. Die Peschitta zu Schir-Haschirim, Leiden: Brill, 1905. Schoors, A. “The Peshitta of Kohelth and Its Relation to the Septuagint.” Pages 347–57 in After Chalcedon. Studies in Theology and Church History, Festschrift A. van Roey. Ed. C. Laga et al. OLA 18. Louvain: Peeters, 1985. Seow, Choong-Leon. Ecclesiastes: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary. AB 18c. New York: Doubleday, 1997. Sokoloff, M. A Syriac Lexicon: A Translation from the Latin: Correction, Expansion, and Update of C. Brockelmann’s Lexicon Syriacum. Piscataway,

Bibliography

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New Jersey: Gorgias Press and Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns, 2009. Swete, H. B. The Old Testament in Greek according to the Septuagint. Cambridge: University Press, 1925. de Waard, Jan, ed. “Proverbs” in Megilloth; vol. 17 of Biblia Hebraica Quinta, Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 2008. Weber, R. Biblia Sacra iuxta vulgatam versionem. 4th rev. ed.. Stuttgart: Wurtembergische Bibelanstalt, 1994. Weitzman, M. P. The Syriac Version of the Old Testament. UCOP 56. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999. Van Wyk, W.C. (1977–1978), ‘The Peshitta of the Song of Songs’, OuTestamentiese Werkgemeenskap in Suid-Afrika 20-21 (1977–78): 181–189.

TEXT AND TRANSLATION

Song of Songs Ch. 



  

Solomon had a vineyard and its fruit was abundant. I gave the vineyard to the guardians. A man gave a thousand pieces of silver for its fruit.

My vineyard is before me. The thousand belong to you, O Solomon, and the two hundred belong to the guardians of the fruit.

Those who sit in the gardens listening for your voice — Let me hear it! Turn away, my beloved! Be like a gazelle or a fawn of deer upon the mountains of sweet spices.



‫ܬܫܒܚܬ ܬ ̈‬ ‫ܫܒܚܬܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬

‫݁ܰ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܠ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܒܗ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ‪̱ ܶ� .‬ܗ ݁ ܶܒ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܘܢ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫�ܢܛܘ� ܐ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܓ ݂ܒـ ܳܪ ܐ‬ ‫ܪܡܐ‬ ‫ܟ‬ ‫ܪܡܐ ܐ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ݁ܒ ݂ܦܐ �ܘ ̱ܗܝ ܐܠ ݂ܦ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܟ ܶܣ ݂ܦ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܝ‪ܳ .‬ܐ ܶܠ ݂ܦ ܳܠ ݂ܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂ܐܬܶܝܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܘܢ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܝܠܝ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܢܛ ܰ�ܝ ݁ ܺܦܐ � ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܰܟܪ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܺܕ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݁ ܳ ݁ ܺ ݁ ܰ ̈ܶ ܳ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬܝܢ ܳ‬ ‫�ܩ ܳܠ ݂ܟ‪ܰ :‬ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܢܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕ� ݂ܬܒܝܢ ܒ ݂ܓܢܐ‪ :‬ܘܨ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܰܥ ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܠܛ ݂ܒ ܳܝܐ ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫�ܥ ܰܘܙܝ� ݂ ܰܕ ܐ�̈� ܰܥܠ ܛܘ ܰ�ܝ ݁ ܶܒ ̈ܣ ܳܡܢܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܬ ܰܗ ݂ ݇ܦ ݂ܟ ݁ ܳܕ ݂ ܕ ̱ܝ‪݁ .‬ܕ ܺܡܝ ܳܠ ݂ܟ‬

‫‪‬‬

Song of Songs Ch. 

Chapter 





  





  

Oh that someone would 1 make you to be like a brother to me — my breasts suckled my lambs 2 — I would find you outside, I would kiss you, and they would not despise me.

I would lead you and I would bring you into the house of my mother, and to the room of the one who bore me. I would have you drink from my spiced wine and from the sweet juice of my pomegranates.

His left hand would be under my head, and his right hand would embrace me.

I adjure you, O young women of Jerusalem, that you not stir up or arouse love until it wishes.

Who is this one who is coming up from the desert and is leaning on her beloved? Under the apple tree I aroused you and there your mother gave birth to you; there the one who bore you 3 was in labor.

Set me as a seal on your heart and as a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, and jealousy is as severe as Sheol. 4 Its rays are rays of fire and flame.

Many waters are not able to quench love, and rivers will not wash it away. If a man gave all the wealth of his household in exchange for love, people would surely ridicule him. We have a little sister who has no breasts. What shall we do for our sister on the day she is spoken for?

If she were a wall, we would build on it elevations 5 of silver. And if she were a door we would surround her with panels of cedar. I am a wall and my breasts are towers. Then I was in his eyes like one who finds peace. 1

‘Oh that someone would’: lit. ‘Who would’ as optative particle.

4

‘Sheol’ is an Israelite name for the place of the dead.

‘My breasts suckled my lambs’. This intrusive clause makes no sense within the v. See note above in Noteworthy Readings: Readings that May Attest a Variant Hebrew Text. 3 ‘you’ (three times) and ‘your’. These pronouns are fem. sg. in P. 2

‘elevations’: apparently some sort of vertical extension, such as battlements or turrets.

5



‫ܬܫܒܚܬ ܬ ̈‬ ‫ܫܒܚܬܐ‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬

‫ܚ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܳ ݁ ܽ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܩـܐ‪ .‬ܐܫ ܳܩـ ݂ܟ‪ :‬ܘ�‬ ‫ܐܡ�ܝ‪ .‬ܐܫܟܚ ݂ܟ ܒܫ‬

‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܡܢ ܢܶ ݁ܬ ܳܠ ݂ܟ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܐ ܳܚܐ ܺܠܝ‪ :‬ܐܝܢܶܩ ̱ܘ ݁ܬ ݂ ̈ܕܝ‬ ‫ܢܶ ݂ܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܪ ܳܘܢ ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܢ ̇ܗ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܶܠ ݁ܕ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ‪ܰ .‬ܐ ܶ‬ ‫݂ܶܐܕ ݁ܒ ܳܪ ݂ܟ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܥܠ ݂ܟ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܩܝـ ݂ـܟ ܶܡـܢ ܰܚܡــܪ ̱ܝ‬ ‫ܡܝ‪ :‬ܘ�ܩ‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ܐ ̱‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܽ� ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܒ ܺܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܰܢܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܡܐ‪ :‬ܘܡܢ ܚ�ܝ ݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܝܫܝ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܢܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܣ ܳܡ ܶܠܗ ݁ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܘ� ܺܡܝܢܶܗ ݁ܬ ܰܥ ݂ܦ ܰܩ ̱‬ ‫ܝܬ ܪ ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܝܬ ܶܟܝܢ ݁ܒ ܳ̈ܢـܬ ܽܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡـܐ‬ ‫ܐ ܺ ݂ ݂‬ ‫ܫܠـܡ‪ .‬ܐܢ ݁ܬ ܺܥܝـ �ܢ ܶܘܐܢ ݁ܬ ܰܥܝـ �ܢ ܳ�ـ ݂ܬ ܪܚܡـ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂ܕ ݂ܬܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܨܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܣܬ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܢ ̱ܗܝ ܗ݂ܕ ܐ ݂ܕܣ�ܩܐ ܡܢ ܡ ݂ܕܒܪ ܐ‪ :‬ܘܡ‬ ‫ـܬ ܰܚـ ܽܙ ܳܘܪ ܐ‬ ‫ܡܟܐ ܰܥܠ ݁ ܳܕ ݂ ܶ ܳܕ ̇ܗ‪݁ .‬ܬ ܶܚܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ݁ܶ ݁ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݀‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܠܬ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ ܐ ܶܡ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ‪݁ .‬ܬܡܢ ܚܒܠ ݂ܬ �ܠ ݁ܕܬ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ� ܰܝ ݁ܪܬ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ‪݂ :‬ܘܬܡܢ ܚܒ‬ ‫ܝܡܝܢܝ ܳܚ ݂ܬ ܳܡܐ ܰܥܠ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܟ‪ܰ :‬ܘܐܝ ݂ܟ ܳܚ ݂ܬ ܳܡܐ ܰܥܠ ݁ܕ ܳܪ ܳܥ ݂ܟ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛـܠ ݁ܕ ܰܬ ܺܩ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܦـܐ‬ ‫ܺܣ ܰ ̱ܳ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ـܗ ܰܙ ܺ�ܝ̈ ܰܩـܝ ܽܢـ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܝـܘܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܫـܐ ܰܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ܽ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܛ� ܳܢـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܙ ܺ�ܝ̈ ܶܩܝـ ̇‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܰܡ ݁ܘܬ ܐ ܪܚܡـ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܫ�ܗ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘܢܗ ܰ� ܳܘ ܳܬ ܐ ܳ� ܳܓ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܟ ܺܚܝܢ ܰܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܡ ܳܝ̈ܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܶܐܐ ܳ� ܶܡ ݁‬ ‫ܪܦܝــܢ ܳܠـ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܕ ܳܥ ݂ ܽܟܘ �ܪ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ݁ ܶ ݁ܰ ܳ ܽ ܽ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܡ ܳܝ ܽܩܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡܬܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܝܩܘܢ ݁ ܶܒܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܢ ܢܬܠ�ܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ݂ܟܠ�ܥܘ ݂ܬ ܪܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒܝܬܗ ܒܪ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܢ ݁ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬ ܳܠـ ̇ܗ‪ܳ .‬ܡ ܳܢـܐ ܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪܬ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݁ܬ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ ̈�ـܐ ܰܠܝـ ݁‬ ‫ܘܡـܐ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܠܢ ܙܥـ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ �ܚـ ݂‬ ‫ܳܚ ݂ܬܐ ܐ ݂‬ ‫݂ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܡ ܰܠܠ ݁ ܳܒ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܥܠܝـ ̇ ̈‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ ܗܝ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݂ܒܢܶܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܥـܐ ܗܝ‪ :‬ܢـ ܽـܨܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܠܝـ ̇‬ ‫ـܗ‬ ‫ܐܢ ܽܫ ̱‬ ‫ـܗ ܳܥ� ܳܝـܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܟ ܶܣـ ݂ܦ‪ܶ .‬ܘܐܢ ܬ ܳ ̱‬ ‫ܽ� ̈ܘ ܶܚܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܙ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܰ ̈ ܰ ̈ ݁ ܶ ܳ ݁ܶ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢـܘ ̱ܗܝ ܰܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ܶܡ ݁‬ ‫ܫܟ ܰܚـ ݂ܬ‬ ‫ـܬܝ ̱ܗ ܺܘܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܐܢܐ ܫܘܪ ܐ‪ :‬ܘܬ ݂ ܕܝ ܡ ݂ܓܕ�‪ .‬ܗܝܕܝܢ ܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Song of Songs Ch. 

 



Come, my beloved, let us go out to the field; let us lodge in the village.

And let us go early to the vineyard and let us see if the vine has budded and the blossoms have opened and the pomegranates have blossomed. There I will give to you my love. 1 The mandrakes give off (their) fragrance, and at (our) doors are all fruits, new and old. My beloved, I have kept (them) for you.

1

‘my love’: lit. ‘my breasts’.



‫ܬܫܒܚܬ ܬ ̈‬ ‫ܫܒܚܬܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬

‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܚܩ�‪ܽ ݂ .‬ܢܒ ݂ܘܬ ݁ܒ ݂ ܰܟ ݂ܦ ܳܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܬ ܐ ݂ ܳܕ ݂ ܕ ̱ܝ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݁ ܽܦܘܩ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܶ ݁ܶ ܰ ݀ ݁ ܶ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰܢܩ ݁ ܶܕܡ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܡ ݂ܕ ܶ� ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܰܠ� ̱ܘ ܽ� ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ̱ܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܢܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪܡܐ‪ :‬ܘܢܚܙ ܐ ܐܢ ܦܪܥ ݂ܬ ܓ ݂ܦ‬ ‫ܰ ܶܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁ܬ ܳܡܢ ܐ ݁ܬܠ ܳ�ܠ ݂ܟ ݁ܬ ݂ ̈ܕܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ݁ ܰ�ܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܚܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܰ� ݂ܒ ܽ� ܶ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ܺܪ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥܝــܢ ݁ ܽܟـܠ ܐ ݁ ܳܒ ܺ� ̈ܝـܢ ܰܚ ݂ ̱ܕ ݂ܬܝــܢ‬ ‫ܘܥ ݁ܬ ܺܝܩܝــܢ‪ܳ ݁ :‬ܕ ݂ ܕ ̱ܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܛܪ ݂ܬ ܳܠ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Song of Songs Ch. 

Chapter 



  

   

 

Why do you look at the Shulammite who descends like a dance, 1 like a dance of the camps? 2 How lovely are your feet in sandals, O daughter of the prepared one, and the shape of your thighs is like (that of) ornaments, the work of the hands of a craftsman.

Your navel is a round bowl which does not lack mixed wine. Your belly is a heap of wheat which is hedged about by lilies. Your two breasts are like two fawns, twin gazelles which graze among the lilies. 3

Your neck is like a tower of ivory. Your eyes are like pools in 4 Heshbon by the gate of Bath-rabbim. 5 Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon which looks toward Damascus. Your head on you is like Carmel and the hair 6 of your head is like the purple of the king which 7 is held by runners.

How beautiful you are and how lovely you are, O beloved, daughter of pleasures.

This stature of yours resembles a palm-tree, and your breasts, its clusters.

I say, Let me climb the palm-tree and let me take hold of its branches. Let your breasts be like clusters of grapes, and the scent of your breath 8 like apples; Your mouth is like fine wine which flows smoothly 9 for my beloved, and which tantalizes my lips and my teeth. I belong to my beloved, and his attraction is toward me.

1

‘dance’ or ‘festivity’.

3

This v. is repeated in 4:5.

‘camps’. This clause is obscure. See note in Noteworthy Readings: Meaning Obscure.

2

4 5 6 7 8 9

‘in’: lit. ‘of’.

‘Bath-rabbim’: Syriac Bart-sagiye ‘daughter of multitudes’. ‘hair’: lit. ‘locks, braids’. ‘which’ or ‘who’. The v. is obscure. ‘breath’: lit. ‘nostrils’.

‘flows smoothly’: lit. ‘goes directly’.



‫ܬܫܒܚܬ ܬ ̈‬ ‫ܫܒܚܬܐ‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬

‫ܙ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܰܚ ݂ ܽܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡܫ� ܳ�ـ ݂ܬܐ‪ܳ .‬ܡـܐ‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܰܚ ݂ ܽܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܨ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܛ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܒـܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܪ ݂ܬ ܰܥܛ ̈ܡ ݂ܬ ݂ܟـ ̱ܝ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ܶܚ� ܶܩـܐ‪:‬‬

‫ܳ ܳ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܺ ܽ ܳ ݁ܳ ݁ ܳ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܚܬܐ‬ ‫ܡܢܐ ݂ܬܚܙܘܢ ܒܫܝ�ܘܡܝܬܐ‪ .‬ܕܢ‬ ‫ܰ݁ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ ݁ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܣܢ̈ܐ ݂ ܰܒـ ̱ܪ ݂ܬ‬ ‫ܫܦܝ�ܢ � ݂ܓܠܝܟ ̱ܝ ܒ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܺܐ ̈ܝ ݂ ܰܕܝ ܽܐ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܫ ܶܪ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ ܰܐ ݁ ܳܓ ܳܢـܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܟ ܺܪ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܟـܐ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܳ� ܳܚ ܰܣـܪ ݁ ܳܒـ ̇ܗ ܡ ܳܙ ܳܓـܐ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܟ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ݂ܕ ̈ܶܚܛـܐ‬ ‫ܪܣ ݂ܟـ ̱ܝ ܥܪܡـ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂ܕ ܺܣ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܝܓܐ ݂ܒ ܽܫ ̈ܘ ܰܫܢܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܶ ݁ ܰ ̈ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܶ ܽ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܳ ̈ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܒܝ̈ܐ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܳܪܥܶܝܢ ݁ܒ ܽܫ ̈ܘ ܰܫܢܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܬ ܪܝܢ ܬ ݂ ܕܝܟ ̱ܝ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܬ ܪܝܢ ܥܘܙ�� ݂ܬ ܐܡܐ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ݁ܳ ܶܳ ܰ ̈ܰ ݁ ܰ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒܘܢ ܰܥܠ ݁ ܰ�ܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܶܚ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܪܥـܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰܒـ ̱ܪ ݂ܬ‬ ‫ܨܘܪ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܡ ݂ܓܕ� ݂ܕܫܢܐ‪�ܳ � .‬ܢܝܟ ̱ܝ ܐ ݂ܝܟ � ̱ܡ ܰܡ ݂ܰ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܢܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܪ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܰܡܓ ݁ܕ� ݂ܕ ܶܠ ݂ܒ ܳܢܢ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܳܚܐܰܪ � ݁ܦܝ ݁ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܶܐܐ‪ܺ .‬‬ ‫ܪܡܣܘܩ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܰ ݁ܰ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܽ ܶ ܺ ܶ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܓ ܳܘ ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܺܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܫ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܐ ݁‬ ‫ܝܫ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ ܥܠܝܟ ̱ܝ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܟܪܡ�‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܓ ݂ܕܘ� ݂ܕܪ‬ ‫ܐܣܝــܪ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܰ�ܗܛܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܺ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܳܡܐ ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡܬܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܒ ̱ܪ ݂ܬ ݁ ܽܦ ̈ܘ ܳܢ ܶܩܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܪ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ‪ :‬ܘܡܐ ݂ܒܣܝܡܬ ̱ܝ ܐܘ ܪܚ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܬ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ ݁ ܳܕ ܳ‬ ‫�ܕܩ�‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݁ܬ ݂ ܰܕ ̈ܝ ݁ܟ ̱ܝ ܰ� ̈ܣ ݂ܽܓܘ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܝܐ ݂‬ ‫ܘܗ݂ ܶܕ ܐ ܰܩ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܶܰ ݁ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܩ�‪ܶ :‬ܘ ܽܐܚـ ݂ܘܕ ݁ܒ ܰܣ ̈ܘ ݁ ܰܟـܘ ̱ܗܝ‪ .‬ܘܢܶـ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ ݁ܬ ݂ ܰܕ ̈ܝ ݁ܟـ ̱ܝ ܰܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ݂ܽ‬ ‫ܣܓـ ̈ܘ ܰܠܝ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ݂ܬ ܐܣܩ ܒ ݂ܕ‬ ‫݁ܽ ̈ ܶ ܺ ܰ݁ ܰ ̈ ݁ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܓܘ ݂ܦܢܐ‪ .‬ܘܪܝܚ ܐ ܦ�ܟ ̱ܝ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܚܙܘ� ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚ ݁ ܶܟ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ ܰܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ܰܚܡـ ܳ‬ ‫ـܪ ܐ ܳܛ ݂ ܳܒـܐ‪ܳ ݁ :‬ܕ ܐ ܶܙܠ �ـ ݂ ܳـܕ ݂ ܕ ̱ܝ ܰܠ ݂ܬ ܺܪܝـ ܽـܨ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ .‬ܘ݂ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܡܙܝــܥ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦـ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ‬ ‫ܶ ̈ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫܢܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܳ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܕ ݂ ܕ ̱ܝ‪ :‬ܘܥܠܝ ܦܢ‬ ‫ܐܢܐ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Song of Songs Ch. 

  2

Although my soul did not realize (it), it set me in a chariot of the people who were prepared. 1

Turn back, turn back, O Shulammite. 3 Turn back, turn back, so that we can look at you.

1 2

‘prepared’ or ‘willing’. The sentence is obscure. In MT and Leiden, ch. 7 begins with this v.

The identity of the woman referred to is not clear. Many interpreters identify her with the young woman, Abishag, who comforted the elderly David (1 Kgs. 1:1–5). She was from the town of Shunem and thus was a ‘Shunammite’ ‫שׁונמית‬, which is thought perhaps to be a variant spelling of ‘Shulammite’ ‫שׁולמית‬.

3



‫ܬܫܒܚܬ ܬ ̈‬ ‫ܫܒܚܬܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬

‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ݁ܳ ݁ ܰ ݁ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ ܳ� �ܶ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܪܟ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܰܕܡܛ ܰܝ ݂ܒ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܝ‪ .‬ܣܡܬ ̱ܢܝ ܒܡ‬ ‫ܬ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ̱‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺ ܽ ܳ ݁ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪݁ .‬ܬ ݂ܘܒ ̱ܝ ݁ܬ ݂ܘܒ ̱ܝ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܽܢܚܘܪ ݁ ܶܒ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܬ ݂ܘܒ ̱ܝ ݁ܬ ݂ܘܒ ̱ܝ ܫܝ�ܘܡ‬

‫‪‬‬

Song of Songs Ch. 

Chapter 

    

  

 

My beloved has gone down to his garden and to the beds of sweet spices, to graze in the gardens and to pick lilies.

I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine. He grazes among the lilies.

You are beautiful, my darling, like delight. 1 You are attractive like Jerusalem, and awesome like the choice one(s). 2 Turn your eyes away from me, for they disturb me. Your hair is like a flock of goats coming up from Mount Gilead. 3

Your teeth are like a flock of shorn sheep which are coming up from the washing, all of whom have twins and none among them has lost an offspring. Like a slice of pomegranate is your neck beyond your silence.

There are sixty queens and eighty concubines and young women without number.

My dove is unique, 4 the perfect one. She is the only child of her mother, and she is the favorite of the one who bore her. The young women see her and the queens praise her, and the concubines, and they praise her. Who is this one who appears 5 like the dawn, beautiful as the moon, clear as the sun, awesome as noble women?

I went down to the garden of the nut trees to look at the fruit of the valleys, to see if the vine had budded and if the pomegranates had blossomed. 6

1 ‘delight’ or ‘favor’. MT reads the proper place name, ‘Tirzah’. See Introduction, Appendix 3: Names. 2

‘choice ones’ or ‘chosen ones’.

4

‘unique’: lit. ‘one’.

3 5 6

‘Mount Gilead’. Cf. 4:1. ‘appears’ or ‘looks out.’ Cf. 7:12.



‫ܬܫܒܚܬ ܬ ̈‬ ‫ܫܒܚܬܐ‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬

‫ܘ‪.‬‬

‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ̈݁ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܶܒ ̈ܣ ܳܡܢܶـܐ‪݁ :‬ܕܢܶܪܥܶـܐ ݂ܒ ܰܓܢ̈ܶـܐ‪ :‬ܘܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫݁ ܳܕ ݂ ܕ ̱ܝ ܶ‬ ‫�ܩـܘܛ‬ ‫ܠܓܢـ ݂‬ ‫ـܬܗ‪ :‬ܘ�ܡܫܟ ݂ܒـ ݂‬ ‫ܢܚـ ݂ܬ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܽܫ ̈ܘ ܰܫܢܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܐ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܕ ݂ ܕ ̱ܝ‪ܳ ݂ :‬ܘܕ ݂ ܕ ̱ܝ ܺܠܝ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܳܪܥܶܐ ݂ܒ ܽܫ ̈ܘ ܰܫܢܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦܝ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܐܢ ݁ܬܝ ܰܩ ܺܪܝܒ ݁ܬܝ ܰܐܝܟ ܶ�ܒ ܳ� ܳܢܐ‪ܳ �ܳ .‬ܐ�ܐ ܰܐܢ ݁ܬܝ ܰܐܝܟ ܽܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪ܰ .‬ܘ݂ܕ ܺܚ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܠـ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ‬ ‫̱ ̱ ݂‬ ‫݂ ̱ ݂ ݂‬ ‫̱ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܓ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ـܝ‪ܰ .‬ܣ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢ ݁ܝܟ ̱ܝ ܶܡܢ ܽܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܪ ݂ܟـ ̱ܝ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ̱ܝ‪ܶ :‬ܡܛـܠ ݁ܕ ܶܗܢܶܝــܢ ܐ ݂ܦ�݂ ܳܕܢـ ̱‬ ‫݁ܓ ܳܙ ܳܪܐ ܕ ܶ�ܙ̈ܶ ܐ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܳܣ ܶܠܩ ܶܡܢ ܽܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܶܓ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ̈ܳ‬ ‫ܣܚ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪݁ .‬ܕ ݂ ܽܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܫ ܰ� ̈� ݁ܟ ̱ܝ ܐܝ ݂ܟ ݁ܓ ܳܙ ܳܪܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܓ ܺܙ ̈� ܳܙ ݂ܬ ܐ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܳܣ ܶܠܩ ܶܡܢ ܰܡ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܝــܢ ܡ ݂ܬܐܡـܢ‪:‬‬ ‫݂ ܰܘܕ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܡܓ ܳܙ�ܐ ܰܠܝ ݁ܬ ݁ܒ ܶܗܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܨܠ ݂ ܳܦܐ ݂ܕ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܶܠ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܒܪ ܶܡܢ ܶܫ ݂ܬ ܶܩ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܺ ܶܶ ܰ ̈ ݁ܳ ܰ ܳ ܺ ݁ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ ܶܡ ܳܢܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܬܝܢ ܐܢܝܢ ܡ�ܟܢ‪ :‬ܘ ݂ܬܡܢܐܝܢ ܕ� ݂ܘܟܢ‪ .‬ܘܥ�ܝܡ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܰ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫݂ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܬܐ‪ :‬ܚـ ݂ ܳـܕ ܐ ̱ܗܝ ܶ� ܳܡـ ̇ܗ‪݂ܰ .‬‬ ‫�ܝ ܶܠـ ݁ܕ ݁ܬ ̇ܗ‪ .‬ܚ ܰܙ ܳ ̈�ـ ̇ܗ‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܒ ܳܝـܐ ̱ܗܝ‬ ‫ܘܢܝ ܬܡ‬ ‫ܚܕ ܐ ̱ܗܝ � ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ݁̈ ܳ ̇ ܰ ̈ ݁ܳ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ܬܐ ܘ ܰܫ ݁ ̈ܒ ܳܚ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܒܢ̈ ݂ܬܐ‪ .‬ܘܫܒܚܗ ܡ�ܟ ݂ܬܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܕ� ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳܶ ܰ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ـܪ ܐ ܰܐܝــܟ ܰܣـ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܪ ܐ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܕ ݂ܟ ܳܝـܐ ܰܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܕ ܳܝܩܐ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܰ� ݂ܦـ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܫ ݁ ܺܦܝـ ܳ ݂‬ ‫ܡܢ ̱ܗܝ ܗ݂ܕ ܐ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܚܝ� ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܪܘ� ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ݁ܰ ̈ ܶ ܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܶܐܢ ݁ ܶܦ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܒܐ ݂ܕ ܰܢ ̈ܚ�‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܐܚܙ ܐ ݂ ܶܒ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܬ ݂ܬ‪ܶ ݁ .‬ܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܥـ ݂ ݀‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ݁ܓ ݂ ܶܦـ ݁ܬܐ‪ܶ :‬ܘܐܢ‬ ‫ܠܓܢ ݂ܬ ܓܘ ܙ ܐ ܢ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݁ܒ ܰܠ� ̱ܘ ܽ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܢܐ‪ܶ.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Song of Songs Ch. 

       7

His head is like a jewel 1 of gold; his curls are bushy 2 and black like a raven.

His eyes are like doves by streams of water, bathed in milk, sitting in perfection. His cheeks are like beds of sweet spices; his lips are like lilies which drip myrrh and nard. His hands are like a cylinder of gold filled with gold nuggets. 3 His torso is a work of ivory on a bellows 4 of sapphire.

His legs are pillars of marble erected on bases of gold. His chest is like what is at5 Lebanon and choice like the cedars.

His mouth is like sweet honeycombs, and his implements 6 are desirable. This is my beloved, and this is my dear friend, O young women of Jerusalem Where has your beloved gone, O beautiful one among women? Where has your beloved headed, so that we may seek him with you?

1

‘jewel’: lit. ‘stone’.

3

‘cylinder of gold filled with’ or ‘ring of gold fitted out with’.

2 4 5 6 7

‘bushy’ or ‘arranged, coiffed’. ‘bellows’ or ‘cushion’.

‘what is at’: lit. ‘that of’.

‘implements’ or ‘accoutrements’.

In MT and Leiden, ch. 6 begins with this v.



‫ܬܫܒܚܬ ܬ ̈‬ ‫ܫܒܚܬܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬

‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܗ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܺܟ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܢ‪ܽ :‬ܘ ̈ܐܘ ݁ ܳܟ ܳܡܢ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܽܥ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܦܐ ݂ ݂ܕ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܺܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܦܫ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ‪ܰ .‬ܩ ̈ܘ ܳ� ݂ܬܗ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢܐ‪ܰ :‬ܥܠ ܳܫ ݂ ̈ܒ ܶܩܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ܳܝ̈ܐ‪݁ .‬ܕ ܳܣ ̈ܚ ܳܝܢ ݁ܒ ܰܚ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܕ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫�ܒـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘ� ݂ܬ ݁ ̈ܒـܢ ܰܥـܠ‬ ‫ܰ� ̈� ܰܢ ̱ܳ‬ ‫ܰܫ ܽ‬ ‫�ܡܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܕ ܶܒ ̈ܣ ܶܡـܐ‪ܶ .‬ܣ ̈ܦـ ܳܘܬܶܗ ܰܐܝــܟ ܽܫ ̈ܘ ܰܫ ܶܢـܐ ܕ ܳܢ ݁ ܳ ̈‬ ‫ܛܦـܢ ܽܡـ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݁ ܰܦ ݁ ܰܟܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ܰܡ ̈ܫ ݁ܟ ݂ ܳܒـ ݂ ݂ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂ ݂‬ ‫ܰܘܢ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܕܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܡ� ݂ ܺܟ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܦ ̈ܝ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܣـܗ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒـܐ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ ܳܕ ܐ ݂ܕ ܶܫ ܳܢـܐ ܰܥـܠ‬ ‫ܐ ̈ܝ ݂ ܰܕܘ ̱ܗܝ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܟܪܟܐ ݂ܕ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܡ ݁ܦ ܳܚܐ ݂ܕ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܦܝ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܩܢܝܢ ܰܥܠ ܽܚܘܡ ܶ� ܐ ݂ܕ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܰܡ ݂ܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܳܫ ܰܩܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ܰܥ ܽܡ ̈ܘ ݂ ܶܕ ܐ ݂ܕ ܺܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ‪ܰ .‬ܚ ݂ܕ�ܶܗ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܕ ܶܠ ݂ܒ ܳܢܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܓ ݂ ܶܒܐ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܐ� ܶܙ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ̈ ܳ ܰ ̈‬ ‫ܝܓܝܢ‪ܳ .‬ܗ ܰܢܘ ݁ ܳܕ ݂ ܕ ̱ܝ‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫ܪܓ ݂ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܰܢـܘ ܰܚ ݂ܒـܪ ̱ܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶܚ ݁ ܳܟܗ ܽܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܟ ݁ܟ� ܳ� ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ�ܝܢ‪ .‬ܘܡܐ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ ݂ܺ‬ ‫݁ܒܢ̈ܬ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ� ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪ ݂ܬ ݁ܒܢܶ ̈ܫܐ‪ܳ ݁ � .‬‬ ‫ܝܟܐ ܐ ܰܙܠ ݁ ܳܕ ݂ ܶܕ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܟܐ ݂ܦ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܳܕ ݂ ܶܕ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ‪݁ :‬ܕܢܶ ݂ܒܥܶܝܘ ̱ܗܝ ܰܥ ܶܡ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Song of Songs Ch. 

Chapter 





   

  



I have come to my garden, my sister bride. I have come to my garden. I have plucked my myrrh with my sweet spices, and I have eaten my sweets 1 with my honey. I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, my friends, and drink and get drunk, my loves.

I was sleeping but my mind was agitated. The voice of my beloved, who was knocking: Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, the perfect one. For my head is soaked2 by the dew, and my curls by the night mist. 3

I have taken off my tunic; how can I put it (back) on? I have washed my feet; how can I soil them? My love extended his hand toward 4 the opening, and my emotions were stirred because of him. I arose to open for my beloved, and my hand dripped myrrh, and my fingers dripped myrrh onto the side of the latch.

I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had turned (and) gone away. My soul faltered 5 when he had spoken. I sought him but I did not find him. I called him but he did not answer me. The watchmen who were patrolling in the city found me. They struck me and beat me. The watchmen of the wall took my veil from me.

I adjure you, O young women of Jerusalem: If you find my beloved, tell him that I am sick with love.

How is your beloved better than the beloveds (of others), O beautiful one among women? How is your beloved better than the beloveds (of others), that you adjure us in this way? My beloved is gleaming 6 and red, and choicest of ten thousands.

1

‘sweets’: lit. ‘sweetness’ or ‘joy’.

3

‘night mist’: lit. ‘drops of the night’.

2 4 5 6

‘soaked by’: lit. ‘filled with’. ‘toward’ or ‘away from’. ‘faltered’: lit. ‘went out’. ‘gleaming’: lit. ‘white’.



‫ܬܫܒܚܬ ܬ ̈‬ ‫ܫܒܚܬܐ‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬

‫ܗ‪.‬‬

‫݁ܰ ܳ ܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܠܓ ܰܢـܬܝ‪ܶ .‬ܩ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܐ ݂ ܺܬܝـ ݂ܬ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܛܦـ ݂ܬ ܽܡـܘܪ ̱ܝ ܰܥ ـܡ‬ ‫ܠܓ ܰܢـ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ ܳܚـ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ ܟܠـ ݂‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܬܝـ ݂ܬ ܶ ݂ܰ ݂ ̱‬ ‫݁ܺ‬ ‫݁ ܶܒ ̈ܣ ܳܡ ܰܢܝ ܶܘ ݂ܐܟ ܶܠ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܒ ܺܣ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܒـ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ـܝ‪ .‬ܐ‬ ‫ـܬ ܰܚܡــܪ ̱ܝ ܰܥـܡ ܰܚ ݂‬ ‫ܫܬܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܝܡܘ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ ܰܥܡ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܒܫـ ̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐ ݂ ܽܟܘܠ ̱ܘ ܚ ݂ܒ�ܝ‪ :‬ܘ‬ ‫ܐܫܬܘ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰܪܘܘ ݁ ܳܕ ݂ ̈ܕܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܟܐ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܶܐ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܝ ܺܠـܝ ܳܚـ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ ܰܩ ܺܪ ݂ܝܒـ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܠ ݁ܒ ̱ܝ ܺܥܝܪ‪ܳ .‬ܩ ܶܠܗ ݁ܕ݂ ܳܕ ݂ ܕ ̱ܝ ݁ܕ ܳܢ ܶܩ‬ ‫ܫ‪݁ ܳ .‬ܦ ݂ܬ ̱‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܰ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܝܫܝ ܶܐ ݂ܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܠܝ ܰܛ�‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܘܩ ̈ܘ ܳ� ݂ܬ ̱ܝ ܶܡܢ � ܺܣ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܣܝ ܺ� ܳܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܢܝ ܬܡ‬ ‫ܝܡܬܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛܠ ݁ܕܪ ̱‬ ‫� ̱‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܰ ݁ܰ ܶܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܢܝ‪ܰ :‬ܐ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܟ ܳܢܐ ܶܐ ݁‬ ‫ܠܒ ܺܫ ̇‬ ‫ܝܟ ܳܢܐ ܐܛܢܶ ݂ܦ ܐܢ ܶܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܓ ݂ܬ � ݂ܓܠܝ‪ :‬ܐ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܬ ݁ ܽܟ ݁ܘܬ ̱‬ ‫ܝܗ‪ .‬ܐܫ ݂‬ ‫ܩܒܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ̈ܡ ܰܥܝ ݁ ܳܓ� ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܕܗ ܶܡܢ ܢܶ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܳܕ ݂ ܕ ̱ܝ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫܛ ܺܐ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܥ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ܽܡـ ܳ‬ ‫�ܕ ݂ ܕ ̱ܝ‪ܺ .‬ܘܐܝـ ݂ـܕ ̱ܝ ܢܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܛܦـ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܬܚ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܡ ݂ܬ ܐܢܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܐܦ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ ܢܛـ ݂ܦ‬ ‫ܘ� ݂ ̈ܒ ܳܥـ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ ܡـ‬ ‫ܰܥܠ ܰ� ݂ܕ ܽܣ ݁ܘܟܪ ܐ‪ܳ.‬‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫�ܕ ݂ ܕ ̱ܝ‪ܳ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ݂ ܕ ̱ܝ ܰܐ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܟܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܝ ܢܶ ݂ܦ ܰܩـ ݂ ݀‬ ‫݁ ܶܦ ݂ܬ ܶܚ ݂ܬ ܶܐ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܡܠـܗ‪ .‬ܒܥܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܥܒܪ‪ܰ .‬ܢ ݂ܦ ̱‬ ‫ܬ ݁ܒ ܰܡ ̱‬ ‫ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ‪ܳ :‬ܘ� ܳ‬ ‫ܢܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ� ܐܫܟ‬ ‫ܚܬܗ‪ .‬ܩܪ ݂‬ ‫ܥܢ ̱‬ ‫ܰܽ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܶ ܶ ݁ܰ ݁ܺ ݁ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܨ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫�ܦܘܢ ̱ܝ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܢܝ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܶܐ ݁‬ ‫ـܝ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ ݁ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܢܝ ܢܛܘ� ܐ ݂ܕܡ ݂ܬܟܪܟܝܢ ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܫܟ ܽܚ ̱‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒـ ̱ܘ ܶܡܢـ ̱‬ ‫ܡܚܐ ̱‬ ‫ܪ ܺܕܝܕܝ ܳܢܛ ܰ�ܝ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ ݂ ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܝܬ ܶܟܝܢ ݁ܒܢ̈ܬ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫�ܕ ݂ ܕ ̱ܝ‪ :‬ܐ ݁‬ ‫ܫܬ ܳ� ܶܝܝـ ܢ ܶܠـܗ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ݂ܟ ܺܪܝـ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪ .‬ܐܢ ݁ܬ ̈ܫ ݁ܟ ܳܚܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ـܗ ݂ܬ‬ ‫ܐ ܺ ݂ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡܬܐ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܶ ݁ ܳ ̈ܶ ܰ ݁ ܺ ܰ ݁ ܶ ̈ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܶ ݁ ܳ ̈ܶ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܢܘ ݂ܕ ݂ ܕ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ ܡܢ ܕ ݂ ܕܐ‪ :‬ܫܦܝܪ ݂ܬ ܒܢܫܐ‪ .‬ܡܢܘ ݂ܕ ݂ ܕ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ ܡܢ ܕ ݂ ܕܐ‪ :‬ܕܗ ݂ܟܢܐ ܐܘܡ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܳܕ ݂ ܕ ̱ܝ ܶܚ ܳܘܪ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܩ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܓ ݂ ܶܒܐ ܶܡܢ � ݁ܒ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Song of Songs Ch. 

 

     II



You have stirred my heart, 1 my sister bride, you have stirred my heart with one of your glances, 2 with one strand of your necklace. 3

How lovely are your breasts, my sister bride. How much more lovely than wine are your breasts, and the fragrance of your lotions than all (other) lotions.

Your lips drip honey. All honey and milk are on 4 your lips, and the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of frankincense. A locked garden is my sister bride, a locked garden, a sealed fountain.

Your shoots 5 are a garden of pomegranates with the produce of (its) fruits, henna with nard,

Saffron, reeds and cinnamon; with trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloe with every kind of sweet spice; 6 A garden fountain, a well of running 7 water flowing down from Lebanon.

Arouse yourself, O north (wind), and come, O south (wind). Blow on my garden so that my perfumes will spread. 8 Let my beloved come to his garden and let him eat from the produce of its fruits.

‘stirred my heart’ (twice), or ‘encouraged me’, or captivated my heart’. The exact nuance of the denominative verb here is uncertain.

1 2

‘glances’: lit. ‘eyes’.

4

‘on’: lit. ‘under’.

3 5 6 7 8

‘strand of your necklace’: lit. ‘necklace of your neck’. ‘Your shoots are’ or, less likely, ‘Your nudity is’.

‘every kind of sweet spice’ or ‘every important sweet spice’. ‘running’: lit. ‘living’.

‘spread’: lit. ‘descend’.



‫ܬܫܒܚܬ ܬ ̈‬ ‫ܫܒܚܬܐ‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫ܨܚ ܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬

‫ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܢܝ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܒ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܕ ܐ ܶܡܢ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢ ݁ܝܟ ̱ܝ‪݁ :‬ܒ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܥܶ ܳܩܐ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫ܝܢܝ ܳܚ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ܰ� ݁ ܶܒ ݂ܒ ݁ܬ ̱‬ ‫ܰ� ݁ ܶܒ ݂ܒ ݁ܬ ̱‬ ‫ܰܨ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܰ݁ ܺ ܺ ݁ ܰ ̈݁ ܳ ݁ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ـܪ ܐ‪ܺ .‬‬ ‫ܠܬܐ‪ܳ .‬ܡܐ ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܪܝܢ ݁ܬ ݂ ܰܕ ̈ܝ ݁ܟ ̱ܝ ܶܡܢ ܰܚܡـ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܝــܚ‬ ‫ܡܐ ܫܦܝܪܝܢ ܬ ݂ ܕܝܟ ̱ܝ ܚ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ ܟ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܶܒ ̈ܣ ܳܡ ܰܢܝ ݁ܟ ̱ܝ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܽܟܠ ݁ ܶܒ ̈ܣ ܳܡ ܺܢܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܰ݁ܳ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫�ܒܐ ܬ ܶܚܝܬ ܶܣ ̈ܦ ܳܘܬܶܟܝ‪ܺ .‬‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܡܛ ݂ ܳ ̈ܦܢ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬܶ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ‪ܽ ݁ .‬ܟܠ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܒ ܳܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܝــܚ‬ ‫ܟܟܪܝ ݂‬ ‫ܘܚ ݂ ܳ ݂ ݂ ݂ ݂ ݂ ̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܪܝܚ ܠ ݂ܒ ܳܢܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܬ ݂ܟ ܺܣ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܳ ݁ ܰ ܳ ݁ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܺܐܚ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܬܐ ݂ܕ ܐܚ ݂‬ ‫ܠܬܐ‪ :‬ܓ ݂‬ ‫ܝܕ ܐ‪ :‬ܡܥܝܢܐ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܝܕ ܐ ܚ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܓ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܽ ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܐ� ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݁ ̈‬ ‫ܐܒ ݂ ܳܒܢܶܐ‪ܽ ݁ :‬ܟ ݂ܘܦ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܥܡ ܰܢ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܠܝܚ ݂ܘܬ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ ܦܪܕܝܣܐ ݂ܕ�ܘܡܢܐ‪ :‬ܥܡ ܦ‬ ‫ܪܕܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢܬܐ‪ܽ :‬ܡـ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܽ‬ ‫ܘܪܟ ܳܡܐ‪ܰ :‬ܩ ܳܢܝܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݁‬ ‫ܘܥ�ـ ܰـܘܝ‪ܰ :‬ܥـܡ‬ ‫ܘܢ ܽܡܘܢ‪ :‬ܥـܡ ܩܝܣـܐ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫�ܒـ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܽܟܠ ܺܪܝܫ ݁ ܶܒ ̈ܣ ܳܡܢܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܡܥ ܳܝܢܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܰܓܢ̈ܐ‪ܺ ݁ :‬ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡܝ̈ܐ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ ݂ܕ ܳܪ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ܶܡܢ ܶܠ ݂ܒ ܳܢܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܡܢܐ‪ܰ .‬ܫ ݂ܒ ̱ܝ ݁ܒ ܰܓ ܰܢـ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ ܢܶـ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܬܝ ݁ ܰܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܕܘܢ ݁ ܶܒ ̈ܣ ܳܡ ܰܢـܝ‪ܺ .‬ܢـ ݂ܐܬ ܐ ݂ ܳܕ ݂ ܕ ̱ܝ‬ ‫ܐ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܺܥܝܪ ̱ܝ ݁ܓܪܒܝܐ‪݂ :‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܬܗ‪ :‬ܘܢܶ ݂ ܽܐܟܘܠ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܺܦܐ ܶ� ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݁ ̈‬ ‫ܐܒ ݂ ܳܒ ܰܢܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂‬ ‫݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Song of Songs Ch. 

1



 

   

Chapter 

How beautiful you are, my love! How beautiful you are! Your eyes are (those) of a dove, beyond your silence. Your hair is like a flock of goats coming up from 1 Mount Gilead.

Your teeth are like a flock of shorn ewes coming up from the washing, all of whom have twins and none among them has lost an offspring. 2 Your lips are like a scarlet cord and your speech is lovely like a slice 3 of pomegranate.

Your neck, on account of your silence, 4 is like the tower of David. Your neck is constructed of bands, a thousand shields hang on it — all the weapons of warriors. Your two breasts are like two fawns, twin gazelles which graze among the lilies. 5 When 6 the day cools and the shadows of evening depart, go to the mountain of myrrh and to the high places of frankincense.

You are altogether beautiful, my darling, and there is no blemish in you.

Come from Lebanon, my sister bride; 7 come from Lebanon. Come and cross over from the top of Amana and from the top of Senir and Hermon, and from the den of lions and from the mountains of leopards.

1

‘coming up from’ or ‘ascending’. Also at 6:4.

3

‘slice of’ or ‘the ripe fruit of’.

2

The verse is repeated at 6:5.

MT and Leiden begin v. 4 at this point, attaching ‘Your neck, on account of your silence’ to the end of v. 3.

4 5 6

The v. is repeated at 7:3. ‘When’ or ‘Until’.

7 ‘sister bride’: outside of the Song (also 4:9, 10, 12; 5:1), this unusual phrase does not occur elsewhere in the Old or New Testament.



‫ܬܫܒܚܬ ܬ ̈‬ ‫ܫܒܚܬܐ‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫ܕ‪.‬‬

‫ܝܪ ܐ ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ ܰܩ ܺܪ ݂ܝܒ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ ܳܗܐ ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܗܐ ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪ ܐ ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ‪ܰ �̈ �ܰ .‬ܢ ݁ܝܟـ ̱ܝ ݁ܕ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢـܐ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫�ܒـܪ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܥܪܟܝ ܰܐܝܟ ݁ܓ ܳܙ ܳܪܐ ܕ ܶ�ܙ̈ܶ ܐ ܕ ܳܣ ܶܠܩ ܶܡܢ ܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܶܓ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܫ ݂ܬ ܶܩ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ‪ܰ .‬ܣ ܶ ݂ ̱ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳܳ ܰ ܺ ̈ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪݁ :‬ܕ ݂ ܽܟ ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܝــܢ ܶܡ ݂ܬܐ ̈ܡـܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܶܫ ܰ� ̈� ݁ܟ ̱ܝ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܓܙ ܪܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܓܙ�ܙ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ܕܣܠܩ ܡܢ ܡܣܚـ ݂‬ ‫ܡܓ ܳܙ�ܐ ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫݂ ܰܘܕ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܒ ܶܗܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܠ ܶ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ ܳ�ܐܶܐ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܨܠ ݂ ܳܦܐ ݂ܕ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬܶ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܚܘܛܐ ݂ܕܙܚܘܪ ݂‬ ‫ܘܡ ̱‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܶܠܟܝ ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ܶܫܬ ܶܩܟܝ ܰܐ ݁ܝܟ ܰܡܓ ݁ܕ ܶܠܗ ݁ܕ ܰܕ ܺܘܝܕ‪ܰ .‬ܨ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ ݁ܒܢܶܐ ݂ ̈ܒ ݂ܬ ݁ ܶܟܐ‪ :‬ܐ ܶܠـ ݂ܦ‬ ‫݂ ݂‬ ‫݂ ݂ ̱‬ ‫݂ܳ ݂ ̱‬ ‫݂ܶ‬ ‫ܰܣ ݁ܟ ܺ�ܝܢ ݁ ܰܬ� ܳܝ̈ܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܥ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ‪ܽ ݁ :‬ܟܠ ܳܫ ̈ܠܛܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܰܓܢ̱ ݁ ܳܒ ܶ� ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܶ ݁ ܰ ̈ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܶ ܽ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܳ ̈ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܒܝ̈ܐ ݂ܕ ܳܪܥܶܝܢ ݁ܒ ܽܫ ̈ܘ ܰܫܢܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܬ ܪܝܢ ܬ ݂ ܕܝܟ ̱ܝ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܬ ܪܝܢ ܥܘܙ�� ݂ܬ ܐܡܐ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ ܕ ܽܡـ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܦܘܓ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ‪ :‬ܘܢܶ ݁ܪܟ ܽܢܘܢ ܶܛ ܳ� ܰ ̈ܝ ܰܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ� ܳ� ܳܡـ ݂ܬܐ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪ :‬ܙܶܠ ̱ܝ ܠܛـ ݂‬ ‫ܥ ݂ܕ ݂ ݂ܳ‬ ‫݂ ܰܕ� ݂ ܽܒܘܢ ݁ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܽܟ ܶܠ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪ ܐ ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ ܰܩ ܺܪ ݂ܝܒ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ‪ܽ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ ܶܒ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ ܶ‬ ‫݁ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܳ ݁ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ‪݁ :‬ܬܝ ܶܡـܢ ܶܠ ݂ܒ ܳܢـܢ‪݁ .‬ܬ ݂ܐܬܝــܢ ݂ܘܬ ݁ܥܒ ܺܪܝــܢ ܶܡـܢ ܺܪܝــܫ‬ ‫ܬܝ ܡܢ ܠ ݂ܒܢܢ ܚ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݁ܽ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡـܢ ܽܛـܘ�ܝܰ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܐ� ܰܝـ ܳܘ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰܐ ̈ܡܢܶܐ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܺܪܝܫ ܳܣ ܺܢܝܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܚܪܡܘܢ‪ :‬ܘܡـܢ ܡܪܒـܘܥ ݂‬ ‫ܢܶܡ ܶ� ܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Song of Songs Ch. 

Chapter 

 

 

 

    

Upon my bed at night1 I sought him whom my soul loves. I sought him but did not find him.

I must arise (and) go about in the city; in the streets and in the plazas I will seek him whom my soul loves. I had sought him but did not find him.

The watchmen who were patrolling in the city found me. Have you seen him whom my soul loves? I had passed on from them only a little when I found him whom my soul loves. I seized him and did not release him until I brought him in to the house of my mother, to the room of the one who bore me.

I adjure you, O young women of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the wild deer, that you not stir up or arouse love until it wishes.

Who is this who is coming up from the desert like a cloud of smoke perfumed with myrrh and with frankincense, with every fragrant powder? 2

Look at the bed of Solomon! Sixty warriors from the warriors of Israel are all around it. All of them are holding swords and are experts (in) warfare, each with his sword on his thigh because of fear of the nights. King Solomon has made for himself a tower from trees of Lebanon.

He made its posts of silver, its cover of gold, its cloth of purple, its inner part assembled3 (with) love by the young women of Jerusalem.

Go out and look, O young women of Zion, at King Solomon, at the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his marriage, on the day of the joy of his heart.

1 2 3

‘at night’: lit. ‘in the nights’.

‘fragrant powder’: lit. ‘powder of fragrances’ or ‘powder of sweet spices’. ‘assembled’ or ‘covered’.



‫ܬܫܒܚܬ ܬ ̈‬ ‫ܫܒܚܬܐ‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬

‫ܓ‪.‬‬

‫݁ ܺ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܥــܠ ܰܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܝــܬ ܰܠ ݂ܕ ܶܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡــ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܝــܬܗ ܘ�‬ ‫ܫــܝ‪ :‬ܒܥ ݂‬ ‫ܫܟ ݂ܒــ ̱ܝ ݁ܒ ܰ�ܝ̈ ܰ�ــ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ܒ ܺܥ ݂‬ ‫ܬ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ̱‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܫܟ‬ ‫ܶܽ ܺ ܶ ݁ ܶ ݁ܰ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒ ݁ܦ ܳܠ ܰܛ ܳ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ‪ܶ .‬ܐ ݂ܒܥܶـܐ ܰܠ ݂ܕ ܶܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܒ ܽܫ ̈ܘ ܶܩܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡـ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ـܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܩܘܡ ܢܐ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܬܟܪ ݂ܟ ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܬ ܰܢ ݂ܦܫـ ̱‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱‬ ‫݁ ܺ ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬܗ ܘ� ܐܫܟ‬ ‫ܒܥ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܶ ܶ ݁ܰ ݁ܺ ݁ܰ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܰܠ ݂ܕ ܶܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܶܐ ݁‬ ‫ܚܙ ݁ܝܬܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܝ‬ ‫ܘܢܝ ܢܛܘ� ܐ ݂ܕܡ ݂ܬܟܪܟܝܢ ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܫܟ ܽܚ ̱‬ ‫ܬ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ̱‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܰܩ ܺܠܝܠ�ܥܶ ݂ܒ ܶܪ ݂ܬ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܟ ܶܚ ݂ܬ ܳ� ݂ܬ ݁ܕ ܶܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ‪ :‬ܥ ݂ ܰܕ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܶܕ ܐ ݁‬ ‫ܫܝ‪ .‬ܐ ܰܚ ݁ܕ ݁ܬܗ ܘ�‬ ‫ܬ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܰ݁ܺ ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܠܬܗ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢ ̇ܗ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܶܠ ݁ܕ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܝ‪ :‬ܘ�ܩ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ‪݂ :‬ܥܕܡܐ ݂ܕ ܐܥ‬ ‫ܐܪܦ‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ܐ ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܝܬ ܶܟܝܢ ݁ܒ ܳ ̈ܢـܬ ܽܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܛܒ ̈ܝـܐ ܐܘ ݁ܒ ܽ�ـ ̈ܘ ܰܙܝ� ݂ܕ ܰܚܩــ�‪ :‬ܐܢ ݁ܬ ܺܥܝـ ܳـ�ܢ ܶܘܐܢ‬ ‫ܐ ܺ ݂ ݂‬ ‫ܫܠـܡ‪ :‬ܒ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܬܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܡܬܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܨܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܬܥܝ�ܢ‪݂ � :‬ܬ ܪ ݂‬ ‫ܣܡـܐ ܒ ܽܡـ ܳ‬ ‫�ܩܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܡ ݂ܕ ݁ܒـ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ܥܶܛـ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܡܢ ܺ ̱ܗܝ ܳܗ݂ ܶܕ ܐ ݂ܕ ܳܣ ܳ‬ ‫ـܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܬܶ ܳ� ܳܢـܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ‬ ‫ܡܒ ܳ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫�ܒܘܢ ݁ܬܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡܢ ݁ ܽܟܠ ܶܚ� ݂ܕ ݂ ܶܒ ̈ܣ ܶܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܘܒ ݂‬ ‫݁ܺ‬ ‫ܫܬܝــܢ ݁ ܰܓܢ ݁ ܳܒ ܺ�ܝــܢ ݁ܟ ܺܪ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܣــܗ ݁ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܳܗܐ ܰܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܟܝــܢ ܳܠــ ̇ܗ ܶܡــܢ ݁ ܰܓܢ̱ ݁ ܳܒــ ܶ� ܐ‬ ‫ܝܡــܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܣܪ ܐܝܠ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܕ‬ ‫ܘܡ ̈� ݂ ܰܦܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܒـܗ ܰܥـܠ ܰ�ܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪݁ .‬ܓ ݂ ܰܒܪ ܰܚ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟ� ܽܗܘܢ ܰܐ ܺܚ ̈� ݂ ܰܕܝ ܰܚ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܒܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܛܡـܗ‪ܶ :‬ܡـܢ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܠܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰ�ܝ̈ ܰ� ܳܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕ ݂‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܡܓ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܥ ݂ ܰܒ ݂ܕ ܶܠܗ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܡܘܢ ܶܡܢ ܰܩܝ̈ ܶܣܐ ݂ܕ ܶܠ ݂ܒ ܳܢܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܺ ܳ ݁ ܺ ܶ ݁ܰ ܳ ݁ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬܗ ݁ ܰܕ ݁‬ ‫ܐܪܓ ܳܘ ܳܢـܐ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܓـ ܶܘܗ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ ܕ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܰܥ ܽܡ ̈ܘ ݂ ܰܕܘ ̱ܗܝ ݂‬ ‫ܗܒـܐ‪ .‬ܬ ݂ܟܣܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܕܣܐܡܐ‪ ܽ :‬ܬܫــܘ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡܬܐ ܶܡܢ ݁ܒ ܳܢ̈ܬ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܪܨ ݂ܝܦ ܪ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܶ ܶܶ‬ ‫ܗ�ܘܢ ݁ܒ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܽܦ ̈ܘ ܶܩܝܢ ܰܘ ̈ܚ ܳܙ�ܶܝܢ ݁ܒ ܳܢ̈ ݂ܬ ܶܨ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܫܠܝܡܘܢ‪ :‬ܒ ݂ܟܠܝ� ݂ܕ ݂ܟ�ـܬܗ ܐܡـܗ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ݂ܬ ܽܢ ݂ܘܬܶܗ‪݁ :‬ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܰܘ ݂ܬ ܶ� ݁ ܶܒܗ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Song of Songs Ch. 

 

  

The fig tree has put forth its new 1 fruit; the vines and the blossoms 2 give off fragrance. Arise, my beautiful one, my darling, and come.

O my dove, in the crevices of the rock in the hidden place of the wall show me yourself, 3 and let me hear your voice, for your voice is pleasant and your appearance is lovely. Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that are destroying the vineyards while the vineyards are blooming. My beloved is mine, and I am his, who grazes among the lilies.

Until the day cools and the shadows depart, turn away, my beloved; be like a gazelle or a fawn of deer upon the mountains of sweet spices.

1

‘new’: lit. ‘unripe’.

3

‘yourself’: lit. ‘your appearance’.

2

‘the vines and the blossoms’ or ‘the blossoming vines’.



‫ܬܫܒܚܬ ܬ ̈‬ ‫ܫܒܚܬܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬

‫ܝܗ‪ܽ ݁ .‬ܓ ̈ܘ ݂ܦܢܶ ـܐ ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܺܬ ݁ ܳܬ ܐ �ܶ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܒ ـ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܣܡ ـ ݂ܕ ܶ� ܐ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ـ ̱ܘ ܺܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ݁ ܰܦ ܽܩ ـ ̈ܘܥܶ ̇‬ ‫ܘܡܝ ܶܠ ݂ܟ ـ ̱ܝ‬ ‫ܝܚ ـܐ‪ܽ .‬ܩ ـ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܪ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ ܰܩ ܺܪ ݂ܝܒ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ‪݂ :‬ܘܬܝ ܶܠ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܽ ̈ ܳ ܶ ܽ ܳ ݁ ܶ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܬ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ـܝ‬ ‫ܝܢܝ ܶܚ ܶܙܘ ݂ܟـ ̱ܝ‪ܰ :‬ܘ‬ ‫ܘܢܝ ܒܚܘ�ܢـܐ ݂ܕܫܘܥـܐ‪ :‬ܒܣـ‬ ‫ܐܫܡܥܝܢـ ̱‬ ‫ܣܝ ݂ܳܓـܐ‪ܰ ܶ :‬ܚـ ܳܘܐ ̱‬ ‫� ̱‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳܩ ܶܠ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛܠ ݁ܕ ܳܩܠ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ ݁ ܰܒ ܺܣܝܡ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܘܚ ܶܙܘ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ ܳ�ܐܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ݁ܰ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܚ ݁ ̈ܒ ܰܠܝ ݁ ܰܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܽܚ ݂ܘܕ ̱ܘ ܰܠܢ ݁ ܰܬܥ̈ ܶ�‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܬܥ̈ ܶ� ݂ ܰܕ ݁ ̈‬ ‫ܩܕ ܶܩܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܡ ݂ܕ�ܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܡܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܟ�ܡܝܢ ܕ‬ ‫݁ ܳܕ ݂ ܕ ̱ܝ ܺܠܝ ܶܘ ܳܐܢܐ ܶܠܗ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܳܪܥܶܐ ݂ܒ ܽܫ ̈ܘ ܰܫܢܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܥ ݂ܕ ܢ ݂ ܽܦܘܓ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ‪ :‬ܘܢܶ ݁ܪܟ ܽܢـܘܢ ܛ ̈�ـ�‪ .‬ܐ ݂ܬ ܰܗ ݂ ݇ܦـ ݂ܟ ݁ܕ ܺܡـܝ ܳܠـ ݂ܟ ݁ ܳܕ ݂ ܕ ̱ܝ‪ :‬ܠܛ ݂ܒ ܳܝـܐ ܐܘ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܥ ܰܘܙ ܳܝ� ݂ ܰܕ ܐ�̈ ܶ�‪ܰ :‬ܥܠ ܽܛܘ ܰ�ܝ ݁ ܶܒ ̈ܣ ܳܡܢܐ‪ܶ.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Song of Songs Ch. 

Chapter 

  

        

Like a lily of the cypress, (like) a lily of the valley,

Like lilies among thorns, so is my darling among the young women.

Like an apple among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men. 1 In his shadow I felt desire and I sat down, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. 2 Bring me to the banquet hall, 3 (and) arrange love over me.

They supplied me with delicacies; they surrounded me with apples. For I am sick (with) love. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me.

I adjure you, O young women of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or by the wild deer4 that you not stir up or arouse love until it wishes. 5

The voice of my beloved! Look at this one who is coming, leaping over the mountains, jumping over the heights. My beloved is like a gazelle or a fawn of deer. Look, he is standing behind our wall staring in the windows, peering 6 in the lattices.

My beloved answered me: “Arise, my beautiful one, my darling, and come.” For now winter is over and the rain has passed away and is over.

Flowers have appeared in the land; the time of pruning has arrived; and the call 7 of the turtle-dove is heard in our land.

1

‘young men’: lit. ‘sons’.

3

‘banquet hall’: lit. ‘wine chamber’.

2 4 5 6 7

‘taste’: lit. ‘palate’.

‘wild deer’: lit. ‘deer of the field’.

This v. is repeated in 3:5 and — minus the animal references — 5:8 and 8:4. ‘peering’: lit. ‘directing (his gaze)’. ‘call’: lit. ‘voice, sound’.



‫ܬܫܒܚܬ ܬ ̈‬ ‫ܫܒܚܬܐ‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬

‫ܒ‪.‬‬

‫ܘܫ ܰܢ ݂ܬ ܽܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܰܢ ݂ܬ ܰܫ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܘ ܳܝܢܐ‪ܽ :‬ܫ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܽܫ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܩܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܽܫ ̈ܘ ܰܫܢܶܐ ݂ ܰܒ ܳܝܢ ݂ܬ ݁ ܽܟ ̈ܘ ݁ ܶܒܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ ܰܩ ܺܪ ݂ܝܒ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ ݁ ܰܒ ܳܝܢ ݂ܬ ݁ܒܢ̈ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܰܚ ܽܙ ܳܘܪ ܐ ݂ܒ ܰܩܝ̈ ܶܣܐ ݂ܕ ܳܥ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܳܕ ݂ ܕ ̱ܝ ݁ ܰܒ ܳܝܢـ ݂ܬ ݁ܒ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܝـܐ‪݁ .‬ܒ ܶܛ ܳܠ ܶـܗ ܶܐ ݂ܬ ܰܪ ݂ܓ ݂ܶ‬ ‫ܪܓـ ݂ܬ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘ�ܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܶܒ ݂ܬ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܚ� ܶ‬ ‫�ܚ ݁ܟ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܒܗ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܢܝ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܚ‬ ‫ܡܪ ܐ‪ .‬ܛ ݁ ܶܟܣ ̱ܘ ܥܠܝ ܪܚ ݂‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܥ� ̱‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܽ ܶ ܶ ܽ ݁ܰ ܺ ܰ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢܝ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܦ ̈ܘ ܳܢ ܶܩܐ‪ܰ .‬ܐ ݂ܟ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܡܬܐ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܢܝ ܒܚܙܘ� ܐ‪ .‬ܡܛܠ ܕ ݂ܟܪܝܗ ݂ܬ ܪ ݂‬ ‫ܳܣ ܽܡ ̱‬ ‫ܪܟ ̱‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܝܫܝ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܢܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܣ ܳܡ ܶܠܗ ݁ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܘ� ܺܡܝܢܶܗ ݁ܬ ܰܥ ݁ܦ ܰܩ ̱‬ ‫ܝܬ ܪ ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܶ ܳ ݁ ܳ̈ ܽ ܺ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܘܡ‬ ‫ܛܒܝ̈ܐ ܐܘ ݁ܒ ܽ� ̈ܘ ܰܙܝ� ݂ܕ ܰܚܩــ�‪ .‬ܐܢ ݁ܬ ܺܥܝـ ܳ�ܢ ܶܘܐܢ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݂ܟܝܢ ܐܘ ܒܢ ݂ܬ ܐܘܪܫܠܡ‪ :‬ܒ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܳ ݂ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪݂ :‬ܥܕܡܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܬܨܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܬܥܝ�ܢ � ݂ܬ ܪܚ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܰܘܪ ܰܥܠ ܽܛܘ ܶ� ܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܳܩ ܶܠܗ ݁ܕ݂ ܳܕ ݂ ܕ ̱ܝ ܳܗܐ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܳܕ ݂ܐܬܶ ܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܡܩܝܶܙ ܰܥܠ ܳ� ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ ܰ ܳ ܰ ̈ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܶ ݁ܶ ݁ܰ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬܢ‪ܺ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܡܕܝــܩ‬ ‫݁ ܳܕ ܶܡܐ ݂ ܳܕ ݂ ܕ ̱ܝ ܠܛ ݂ܒ ܳܝܐ‪ :‬ܐܘ‬ ‫�ܥܘܙܝ� ݂ܕ ܐ��‪ .‬ܗܐ ܗܘ ܩܐܡ ܒܣܬܪ ܐܣـ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡܢ ݁ ܰܟ ̈ܶܘܐ‪ܰ :‬ܡ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܟܢ ܶܡܢ ܳܨܝ ܳ� ݂ܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡܝ ܶܠ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦ ݁‬ ‫ܥܢܐ ݂ ܳܕ ݂ ܕ ̱ܝ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪܬ ̱ܝ‪ܰ :‬ܩ ܺܪ ݂ܝܒ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ‪ :‬ܘܙܶܠ ̱ܝ ܶܠ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܺܠܝ‪ܽ :‬ܩ ̱‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒܪ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܛܪ ܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܳܗܐ ܰܣ ݂ܬ ܳܘܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒܪ ܶܘ ܰܐܙܠ ܶ�ܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܛܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܚܙܝܘ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰܡܥ ݁ ܰܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܳ� ݂ܕ ܽܫ ݂ܘܦ ܺܢ ܳܝܢܐ ܶܐ ݁‬ ‫ܰܗ ݁ ܳܒ ݂ ̈ܶܒܐ ܶܐ ݂ܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‪ܰ .‬ܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܟ ܳܣ ܳܚܐ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܢ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Song of Songs Ch. 

        

I compare you, my darling, 1 to a mare on the chariot of pharaoh.

Your cheeks are comely with chains, 2 and your neck with necklaces. We will make chains of gold for you, with spangles of silver.

With the king in his place at the banquet, 3 my nard gave off its fragrance.

A packet of myrrh is the one who loves me; it dwells 4 between my breasts. A cluster of henna 5 is my beloved in the vineyard of En-gedi.

How beautiful you are, my darling! How beautiful you are! Your eyes are (those) of a dove. 6

How beautiful you are, my beloved! Indeed you are lovely. Indeed our bed is fitted out. The beams of our house are cedars; the timbers (are) of cypress.

1

‘my darling’: lit. ‘my dear one/friend’.

3

‘his place at the banquet’: lit. ‘banquet seat’.

‘chains’ or ‘braids’: decorative items that are braided, either jewelry or hair. Cf. 1:10; 4:9; and P 1 Tim 2:9.

2

4

‘it dwells’ or ‘he dwells’.

‘cluster of henna’: This plant is mentioned also in 4:13. Since fragrance is the theme in both passages, ‘cluster’ here and the plural form of ‘henna’ in 4:13 probably refer to a bunch of the sweet smelling henna flowers.

5

‘those of a dove’. Also 4:1. With slight variation, Song uses ‘dove’ as metaphor or simile for the female lover at 2:14; 5:2, 12; and 6:8. 6



‫ܬܫܒܚܬ ܬ ̈‬ ‫ܫܒܚܬܐ‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬

‫ܽ ݁ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܶ ܽ ݁ܰ ܺ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ ܰܩ ܺܪ ݂ܝܒ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܣܘܣܬ ̱ܝ ܒܡܪܟ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܗ ܕ ݂ܦܪܥܘܢ ܕܡ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܨ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ�ܐܶܝܢ ݁ ܰܦ ݁ ܰܟ ̈� ݁ܟ ̱ܝ ݁ ܰܒܓ ݂ ܽܕ ̈ܘ ܶ�‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܪ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ ݁ܒܥܶ ̈ܩܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܶܠ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ‪ܰ .‬ܥܡ ܺܙ� ̈ܝ ܶܚܐ ݂ܕ ܺܣ ܳ‬ ‫݁ܓ ݂ ܽܕ ̈ܘ ܶ� ݂ܕ݂ ܰܕܗ ݂ ܳܒܐ ܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܥܡ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܡ ݂ ܶܟܗ‪ܰ .‬ܢ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܕܝ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ܺܪܝ ܶܚܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ�ܪ ܳܪܐ ܕ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܬ ݂ ̈ܕܝ ݂ ܽܢܒ ݂ܘܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪܚܡ ܺܠܝ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܣܓܘ� ݂ܕ ݂ ܽܟ ݂ܘܦ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ ܳܕ ݂ ܕ ̱ܝ ݁ܒ ݂ ܰܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܡܐ ݂ܕ ܺܥܝܢ ݁ ܳܓ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܽ‬ ‫ܝܪ ܐ ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ ܰܩ ܺܪ ݂ܝܒ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ‪ܳ .‬ܗܐ ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܗܐ ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪ ܐ ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ‪ܰ �̈ �ܰ .‬ܢ ݁ܝܟ ̱ܝ ݁ܕ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳܗܐ ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦܝܪ ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ݁ ܳܕ ݂ ܕ ̱ܝ‪ܳ :‬ܐ ݂ܦ ݁ ܰܒ ܺܣܝܡ ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ‪ܳ .‬ܐ ݂ܦ ܰܥ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܣܢ ܺܪܨ ݂ܝܦ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ݁ܰ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬܢ ܰܐ� ܶܙ ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܥ� ܶܩܐ ݂ܕ ܳܩ ܰܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܩܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩ�� ݂ܬ ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

Song of Songs 1 I

2  

 





Chapter 

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for your love is better than wine. Your fine lotions are sweet-smelling; 3 your name is the oil of myrrh. Because of this, young women 4 love you.

Draw me after you; we will run. Bring me into your bedroom, O king; we will rejoice and exult in you. We will commemorate your affection more than wine, and your love more than righteous ones.

I am black but I am handsome, O young women5 of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar and like the tent-curtains of Solomon. Do not stare at me because I am black, for the sun has made me black. My mother’s sons harassed me. They made me the guardian of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not guarded. Tell me, you whom my soul loves: How do you pasture and how do you rest them at noon? For why should I be like one in the flock of your sheep which strays away? If you do not know, O beautiful one among women, 6 follow the flocks and pasture your kids by the tents of the shepherds.

̈ ‘song of songs’ ‫ܬܫܒܚܬܐ‬ ‫ܬܫܒܚܬ‬: In Hebrew and Syriac, the ‘cognate genitive’ (e.g., king of kings, lord of lords, vanity of vanities) is a way to express the superlative: ‘the greatest king’, ‘the most powerful lord’, ‘ultimate vanity’. Thus, the title of our book would be best translated in English as ‘The Most Beautiful Song’. 1

2 In MT and Leiden, the title by itself is verse 1:1, and this v. then is v. 2. Since Mosul does not include the title in its numbering system, in our translation each v. in ch. 1 bears a number that is one lower than in the MT and Leiden. See Introduction. Appendix 1: Versification above. 3

‘sweet-smelling’: lit. ‘for a fragrance’.

5

‘young women’: lit. ‘daughters.

4 6

‘young women’ or ‘maidens’.

‘women’ or ‘the women’. Also 5:9, 17.



‫ܣܦܪܐ ܕܬܫܒܚܬ ܬ ̈‬ ‫ܫܒܚܬܐ‬ ‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪ :‬ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܨܚ ܐ‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ܽ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡ ݁ܝܟ ܶܡܢ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܳܛ ݂ ܺܒܝܢ ܰ� ܰ‬ ‫ܡܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܝ ܡܢ �ܘܫܩ ݂‬ ‫ܢܢܫܩ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫܚـܐ ܕ ܽܡـ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܫܡـ ݂ܟ‪ܶ :‬ܡ ܽܛـܠ ܳܗ ܳܢـܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܥ�ܝ̈ ܳܡـ ݂ܬܐ‬ ‫�ܪܝܚ ݁ ܶܒ ̈ܣ ܳܡ ܰܢ ݁ܝܟ ܛ ݂ ̈ܒܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܳ ݂‬ ‫ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݁ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ـܝ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܛـ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܟ‪ .‬ܢܶܚـ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟـܐ �ܩ‬ ‫ܝܢܝ ܒ ݂ܬܪ ݂ܟ‪ :‬ܢـ‬ ‫ـܕ ܐ ܰܘܢـ ݂ ܽܕܘܨ ݁ ܳܒـ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܓ ݂ܕ ̱‬ ‫ܪܗܛ‪ .‬ܐܥܶ ܰܠܝܢـ ̱‬ ‫ܶ݁ ݁ ܰ ܽ ݁ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܺ ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡܬ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܬܕ ݂ܟܪ ܚܘܒ ݂ܟ ܡܢ ܚܡܪ ܐ‪ .‬ܘܡܢ ܬ �ܝ� ܐ ܪ ݂‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܐ�ܐ ܐ ܳܢܐ‪݁ :‬ܒ ܳܢ̈ܬ ܽܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪ܰ .‬ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ܰܡ ̈ܫ ݁ܟ ܰܢـܝ ܰܩـ ݂ ܳܕܪ‪ܰ :‬ܘܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ܳ� ܺ� ܳ‬ ‫ܽܐ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܥـ ݂ܬ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܘܟ ܳܡܐ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ‪̱ ܳ :‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܡܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ـܝ ݁ ܽܕ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ܽ‬ ‫ـܝ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܟ ܳܡـܐ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ـܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ݁‬ ‫ـܝ ܐ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ݁ܬܫـ ̱ܘ ݁ ܺܒ ـܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܙ ܳܘܢܢـ ̱‬ ‫ܡܫـܐ‪݁ .‬ܒܢ̈ ـܝ ܐܡـ ̱‬ ‫ܐܘܟ ܰܡܢـ ̱ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠܝ � ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܛܪ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ� ܶܡܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܢܝ ܳܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܛܪ ݂ܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܟ ̱‬ ‫ܳܣ ܽܡ ̱‬ ‫ܪܡܝ ݁ ܺܕ ̱‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܳܢܐ ܶܪܒܥܶـܬ ݁ܒ ܰܛـ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܟ ܳܢܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܝ‪ܰ .‬ܐ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܪ ܐ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢܝ ܰܡܢ ݁ܕ ܶܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܰܚ ܰܘܐ‬ ‫�ܡـܐ‬ ‫ܝܬ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݁ ܰ ݂ ݂‬ ‫ܪܥ ݂‬ ‫ܬ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ̱‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ ܰܒ ݂ܓ ܳܙ ܳܪܐ ݂ܕܥܶ� ݁ ܰܒ ݁ܝܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܗܘܐ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܛܥ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܶ݁ ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܒܐ ݂ܕ ܳ� ܳ̈ܢـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦܝ ܰܪ ݂ܬ ݁ܒܢܶ ̈ܶܫܐ‪ܳ ݁ .‬ܬܝ ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ ݁ܒܥܶ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܐ � ܬܕܥܝܢ �‬ ‫ܪܥـܝ ݁ܓ ݂ ܰܕ ̈ܝ ݁ܟـ ̱ܝ‬ ‫݁ ܰ ݂ ̈ ݁ ܶ ܳ ݂ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܡܫܟܢܐ ݂ܕ��ܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Qoheleth Ch. 



   



Qoheleth, besides being extremely wise, taught knowledge to the people and he listened to and examined and corrected 1 many proverbs.

Qoheleth earnestly sought to find pleasing sayings and he wrote, in truth, true sayings. Words of the wise are like goads and like nails which are fixed. Large spades 2 are given by the one shepherd.

Of more than these, my son, beware. There is no end to the writing of many books, and much speech is a weariness of the flesh.

The end of the matter; one has heard everything in its entirety. Fear the Lord and keep his commandments, for this is what has been given by the one skillful Worker to every person.

For the Lord will bring all deeds under judgment, concerning all that is secret or public, whether it is good or evil.

1 2

‘corrected’ or ‘arranged’.

‘large spades’ or ‘owners of spades’. The clause is obscure.



‫ܩܘܗܠܬ‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬

‫ܰ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܳ ܺܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܝܪ ݁ ܰܕܗ ܳܘܐ ܽܩ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܠ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ� ݂ܬ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡـܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܘ�‬ ‫ܘܒـ ݁ ܶܕܩ‪:‬‬ ‫ܝܡܐ‪݁ .‬ܕ ܰܡ ܶܠ ݂ܦ ̱ܗܘܐ ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܰ ݁ ܺ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܐܬܩܢ ܡ ݂ܬ� ܣܓܝܐܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܳ ܽ ܶ ܳ ̈ܶ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ ݂ܒ ܳܥܐ ܽܩ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫܬܐ‬ ‫ܘܗܠ ݂ܬ �ܡܫܟܚـܘ ݂ܦ ݂ܬ ݂ܓܡـܐ ݂ܕ� ݂ܒ�ܢـܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܟـ ݂ܬ ݂ܒ ܒܩـ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ̈ ܰ ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܦ ݂ܬ ݂ܓܡܝ ܩ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ̈ܶ ܰ ܺ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ݁ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܶܐ ݂ ܺܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݂ܒـ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܰܠ ̈ܝ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝ̈ ܶܡܐ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܳܙ ܽܩ ̈ܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܐܝ ݂ܟ ܣܟܐ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܩܒ�ܥܢ‪ .‬ܡـ�ܝ ܐܣܟ ݂ܦـ ݂‬ ‫ܶܡܢ ܳܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܝܐ ܰܚ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܒ ܶܣ ݂ܦـ ܶ� ܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ̈ܝܶـܐܐ ܰܠܝـ ݁‬ ‫ܘ� ݁ܬ ܳܝܪ ܐ‬ ‫ـܬ ܽܣـ ݂ܘܦ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ ݁ ܶܒܪ ̱ܝ ܐ ݁ ܰܙܕ ݇ܗܪ‪� :‬ܡ ݂ܟ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ݁ܺ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ݂ ܶܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡ�� ܣܓܝܐܐ‪݂ � :‬‬ ‫ܘ ܰܡ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܫܡـܥ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ـܬܗ ݁ܕ ݂ ܶܦ ݂ܬ ܳܓ ܳܡـܐ ݂ܒ ܳܣ ݂ ܶܟ ـܗ ݁ ܽܟـܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ـܢ ܩـ ݂ ܳـܕܡ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ـܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ـܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ̱ܚܪܝـ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫݂ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܢܐ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܐ ݂ܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܢܘ ̱ܗܝ ܛܪ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛܠ ݁ܕ ܳܗ ܰܢܘ ݁ܕ ܶܡܢ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦ ̈ܘ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݂ܒ ݁ܟܠ ܐ̱ ܳܢܫ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ݂ ܽܟܠ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥܒ ݂ ܳܕ ܐ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰܡܥܶܠ ݁ܒ ݂ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ‪ܰ :‬ܥܠ ݁ ܽܟܠ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܟ ܶܣܐ ܰܘ ݂ܓـ�‪ :‬ܐܢ ܛـ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܶܘܐܢ ݁ ܺܒܝܫ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Qoheleth Ch. 

Chapter 



 





Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years approach when you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them’; Before the sun and the light of the moon and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain.

On the day the guards of the house tremble, and the strong men are alarmed, and the women who grind stop because of scarcity, 1 and (the vision of) the women looking through the windows grows dark. 2

And the gates of the streets are closed, with the lessening of the sound of the women who grind, and one stands up at the sound of birds and all the daughters of song are brought low.

And also one fears height and trembles in its 3 paths — and sleeplessness overtakes him 4 — and the bitter-almond buds, and the locust multiplies, and the caper-bush spreads, and poverty ceases. For a person is going to his house of labor, 5 and mourners walk around in the streets. 308F

309F

  

Before the silver cord is cut and the golden bowl is broken and the pitcher at the spring is shattered and the wheel spins at the well. And the dust returns to the ground as it was, and the spirit returns to the Lord who gave it.

‘Utter emptiness’, says Qoheleth. ‘Utter emptiness! Everything is emptiness!’

1

‘scarcity’: lit. ‘it is small’.

‘and (the vision of) … grows dark’: lit. ‘and the women looking through the windows grow dark.’

2

‘its paths’ or ‘his paths’. Masculine pronouns are retained in our translation of this v.

3

This clause is obscure, and the textual tradition for this verse seems to have suffered serious disturbance.

4 5

‘of labor’. One early P MS reads ‘house of eternity’.



‫ܩܘܗܠܬ‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫ܝܒ‪.‬‬

‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܥܗ݂ܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ� ݂ܟ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈ܘ ܰܡܝ ܥܠ‬ ‫ܝܡ ݂ܘܬ ݂ܟ‪ܰ .‬ܥ ݂ܕ� ܺܢـ ݂ܐܬܘܢ ܰܝـ ̈ܘ ܰܡܝ ݁ ܺܒܝ̈ ܳܫـ ݂ܬܐ‪ :‬ܘܢܶܩ� ݂ ܳܒـܢ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܝ̈ܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܺܬ ܰܐܡܪ ݁ܕ ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܢܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܒ ܶܗܝܢ ܶ� ݂ܒ ܳܝ ̱‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܪ ܐ ܕ ܰܣـ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫـܐ‪ܽ :‬ܘܢـ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܫـ ݂ܟ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܥ ݂ܕ ܳ� ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܪ ܐ ܰ ݂ܘܕ ݂ ܰܟ ̈ܘ ݁ܟ ݂ ܶܒـܐ‪ .‬ܘܢܶ ݂ܬ ܰܗ ݂ ̈ܦ ݁ ܳܟـܢ‬ ‫ܥ� ̈ܢـܐ ݂ ܳܒـ ݂ܬܪ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܳ ܶ݁ ݁ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܽ ܰ ݁ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪ .‬ܘܢܶـ ݁ܬ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܽܘܕܘܢ ܳܡـ ܰ�ܝ ܰܚܝـ ܳـ�‪ .‬ܘܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰ̈ܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܝܘܡܐ ݂ܕܢܬܬ ܙܝܥـܘܢ ܢܛـܘ�ܝ ܒܝـ‬ ‫ܛܠـܢ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ̈ ܳ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܰ ܰ ܶ ̈ ܳ ܳ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܰ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܫܟܢ ܚܙ� ݂ܬܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܟܘܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܛܚܢ ݂ܬܐ ܡܛܠ ܕܙܥܪ‪ .‬ܘܢܚ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ݁ ܰ ݁ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫�ܩـ� ݂ܕ ܶ� ݂ܦـ ܶ� ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܕܘܢ ݁ܬ �ܥܶܐ ݂ܒ ܽܫ ̈ܘ ܶܩܐ‪݁ :‬ܒ ܰܫ ݂ܦ ܽ� ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܳܩ� ݁ܕܛ ܳ ̈ܚ ܳܢ ݂ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܽܢܩـܘܡ‬ ‫ܘܢܬܬ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܢܶ ݂ܬ ܰܡ ݁ܟ ݂ ܳܟܢ ݁ܟܠ ݁ܒܢ̈ ݂ܬ ܽܫ ݂ܘܒ ܳܚܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܥ�ـܘܗܝ ܰܫ ـ ܳ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܳܘ ݂ܐܦ ܶܡـܢ ܰܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ـܐ ܢܶ ݂ܕ ܰܚـܠ ܘܢܶ ݁ܬܬ ܺܙ ܶܝـ ܥ ݁ ܽܒܐܘ� ܳܚـ ݂ܬ ܶܗ‪ .‬ܘܢܶ ݁ ܰܒ ـܥ ܰ ܳ ̱‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰܘܢ ݂ܦ ܰܪܥ ܳܫ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܓܐ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܡ� ܐ‪݂ :‬ܘܬ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܒ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܰܩ ݁ ܳܦܪ‪݂ .‬ܘܬ ݂ܒ ܰܛܠ ݁ ܳܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܕܐ‪ .‬ܘܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܫ ܽܢـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛـܠ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܥ ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܳܕ ܶܐܙܠ ݁ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܠܗ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ܟ ܶܪ ݂ܟ ̱ܘ ݁ܒ ܽܫ ̈ܘ ܶܩܐ ܰܡ� ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܶܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܚܒܠ ݁ ܶܟ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܦـܐ‪ .‬ܘܢܶ ݁‬ ‫ܰܥ ݂ܕ ܳ� ܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ܦ ܶܣܩ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܶܚـܩ ܰܚـ ܽܙܘܪ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܬܐ‬ ‫ܗܒـܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܬ ݁ܬ ݁ ܰܒـܪ ܽܩـ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܓ� ܰܥܠ ݁ ܺܒ ܳܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܠ ܡ ݁ܒܘܥܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܬܪܗܛ ݁ܓ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܰܐܝܟ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ ܬܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܢܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܘܟ ܳ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ ܳܒ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܘܟ ܰܥ ݂ܦ ܳܪ ܐ � ܳ ݂‬ ‫ܗܘܐ‪ .‬ܘܪ ܳ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒܠ ܶܗ ݂ ̈ܒ ܺܠܝܢ‪ܳ :‬ܐ ܰܡܪ ܽܩ ܰ‬ ‫݂ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܠ ݂ܬ‪ܶ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܗܒܠ ܶܗ ݂ ̈ܒ ܺܠܝܢ‪ܽ ݁ :‬ܟܠ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ܶܗ ݂ܒ�‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Qoheleth Ch. 

Chapter 

  

 



 





Send out your bread onto the surface of the water, for after many days you will find it.

Give a portion to seven, even eight, for you do not know what misfortune will happen on the earth. 1

If rain clouds are full, they will pour down onto the ground, and if a tree falls in the south or in a northern place — wherever a tree falls there it will stay. 2

The one who watches the wind will not sow, and the one who studies the clouds will not harvest.

For you do not know the path of the spirit. 3 For as with the formation of the fetus of a pregnant woman, so you do not know the actions of the Lord — all that he does.

Every morning sow your seed, and do not withhold your hand in the evening, for you do not know which will flourish, this one or the other one, or if both together will be good.

Sweet is the light and pleasing to the eyes, and especially for those who see the sun.

For if people live for many years, they should take pleasure in all of them, but let them be mindful of the days of darkness, for they will be many. Everything that is coming is emptiness.

Rejoice, O young person, in the days of your youth. Enjoy yourself and walk in the paths of your heart and in the vision of your eyes, but know that, for all these, the Lord will bring you to judgment. Put anger out of your mind, and cut off evil from your flesh, for youth without understanding is emptiness.

1

‘on the earth’ or ‘in the land’.

3

‘spirit’ or ‘wind’.

2

‘stay’: lit. ‘be’.



‫ܩܘܗܠܬ‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬

‫ܝܐ‪.‬‬

‫ܰ ݁ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܰ̈ ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܰ ܽ ܰ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܬܶ ݁‬ ‫ܫܟ ܺܚܝܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܐܬ ܝܘܡ ݂‬ ‫ܫܕܪ ܠܚܡ ݂ܟ ܥܠ ܐ ܦܝ ܡܝܐ‪ :‬ܡܛܠ ܕ�ܣ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܳ ܶ݁ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ݂ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ‬ ‫�ܫ ݂ܒ ܳܥـܐ ܐ ݂ܦ ܰܠ ݂ܬ ܳܡ ܳܢܝـܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡܛـܠ ܕ� ݂ܬ ܕܥ ܡܢـܐ ݂ܒܝܫـ‬ ‫ܰܗ ݂ܒ ܡܢ ݂‬ ‫ܰܥܠ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܥ� ܰܢ̈ܝ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܥܠ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܢܶܐ ̈ܫ ݁ ܳܕܢ‪ܶ .‬ܘܐܢ ܢܶ ݁ ܶܦܠ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܐܢ ܢܶ ̈ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܢܐ ܐܘ‬ ‫ܝܣܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܬ‬ ‫ܝܣܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܬ ܳܡܢ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܰܒ ݂ܐܬ ܳܪܐ ݂ܕ ܰܓܪ ݁ܒ ܳܝܐ‪ܰ :‬ܐ ݂ ܰܬܪ ݁ܕ ܳܢ ݂ ܶܦܠ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳܢ ܰܛܪ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ‪ܳ � :‬ܙ ܰܪܥ‪ܰ .‬ܘ݂ܕ ܳܚܐܪ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫�ܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܥ�ܢ̈ܐ‪ܳ � :‬ܚ ܶ�݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡܛܠ ݁ܕ� ܳܝ ݂ ܰܕܥ ܐܢ ̱ـ ݁ܬ ܳܡ ܳܢـܐ ̱ܗܝ ܐܘܪܚـܐ ݂ܕܪ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‬ ‫ܘܚـܐ‪ .‬ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ܳܙܢـܐ ݂ܶܓܝــܪ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܒܛܢـ ݂‬ ‫ܛܢܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ݁ ܰܕܥ ݂ ܳ ̈‬ ‫݂ܕ ݂ ܳܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܰܕܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ݂ ܽܟܠ ݁ܕܢܶܥ ݁ ܶܒ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟܠ ܰ� ݂ܦ ܳܪ ܐ ܽܙܪܘܥ ܰܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܪܥ ݂ܟ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܰܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒܘܩ ܐ ݂ ܳܝܕ ݂ܟ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛܠ ݁ܕ� ܳܝـ ݂ ܰܕܥ ܐܢ ̱ـ ݁ܬ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐ ܳܝܢܐ ܰܢ ݂ܟ ܰܫܪ‪ :‬ܐܘ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܐܘ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ‪ܶ :‬ܘܐܢ ݁ܬ ܰ� ܽܝܗܘܢ ܐ ݂ܟ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܛ ݂ ܺܒܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ܶ ܰ݁ܺ‬ ‫�ܚܙ̈ ܰ�ܝ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܝܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܪ ܐ‪ :‬ܘܛ ݂ܒ ���ܢܐ‪ .‬ܘ�‬ ‫ܚ� ܢ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ ܶܕ ܐܢ ܫ ܺܢ̈ܝܢ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝ̈ܐܢ ܺܢܐ ܶܚܐ ݂ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ‪݁ :‬ܒ ݂ ܽܟ ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ ܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܕ ܐ‪ .‬ܘܢܶ ݁ܬ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܟـܪ ܰܝـ ̈ܘ ܰܡܝ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶܚ ܽܫ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܺܝܐܝܢ ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ‪ܽ ݁ .‬ܟܠ ݁ ܳܕ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‪ܶ :‬ܗ ݂ܒ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܚܕܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ‪ :‬ܘܢܶ ܰܛ ݂ܐܒ ܳܠ ݂ܟ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܬ ݂ܟ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܶܠ ݂ܟ ݁ ܽܒܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒـ ݂ܟ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܰ� ̈ܘ ܰܡܝ ܥܠܝܡ ݂‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܶܚ ܳܙܘܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܝ ݁ܟ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕܥ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ݁ ܽܟ ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ ܰܡܥܶܠ ܳ�ܠ ݂ܟ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܰ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ ܶ ݁ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ ܶܡـܢ ݁ ܶܒܣـ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‬ ‫ـܪ ݂ܟ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛـܠ ܕܛ‬ ‫ܘܓܙ ܐ ܡܢ �ܒ ݂ܟ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦܪܩ ܒ‬ ‫ܐܥܒܪ ܪ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܰ ݂ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ܗ ݂ܒ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ� ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Qoheleth Ch. 

       

The beginning of the words of their mouth is foolishness, and the end of their speech is disastrous shame.

A fool multiplies words, but no one knows what was, 1 and who can declare to them what will happen after them?

The labor of fools exhausts them, for they do not know (how) to go to the city. Woe to you, O city, whose king is a youth and whose nobles dine in the morning. Happy are you, O city, whose king is high-born and whose nobles dine at the right time 2 with discipline 3 and not with drunkenness. 4

With laziness the roof falls down, and with lazy hands the house leaks. Bread and wine are made for celebration, and oil that gladdens the living, but silver humiliates and deceives (people) in everything.

Even in your thoughts do not revile a king, and even in your bedroom do not revile a rich man, for the birds of the sky will carry your voice and winged creatures will declare your words.

1

‘was’ or ‘is’.

3

‘with discipline’ or ‘with capability’ or ‘for strength’.

2 4

‘at the right time’: lit. ‘at their time’. ‘drunkenness’: lit. ‘drinking’.



‫ܩܘܗܠܬ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬

‫ܶ ܰ ̈ ݁ܽ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܪܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ‬ ‫ܪܝܫ ܡܠܝ ܦܘܡܗ ܣ ݂ܟ� ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ .‬ܘܚ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܟ ܳ� ܰܡ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܓܐ ܶܡ ܺ�ܝ̈ܢ‪ܳ � .‬ܝ ݂ ܰܕܥ ݁ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܳܡܐ‬ ‫ܰܡ ܽܢܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܶܘܐ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰܣ ݂ ̈ܟ ܶ� ܰܡ�ܶܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܥܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ ݁ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪ܽ .‬ܡܛܠ ݁ܕ� ܺܝ ݂ ܰܕܥ ̱ܘ �ܡܐܙܠ�ܠ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟ ݂ܟܝ ܶܛ�‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܪܘ� ݂ ܳܒ ܰܢ ݁ܝܟ ̱ܝ ݁ܒ ܰ� ݂ܦ ܳܪ ܐ ܐ ݂ܟ ܺܠܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳܘܝ ܶܠ ݂ܟ ̱ܝ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ ݁ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܶ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ ݁ ܶ ݁ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܽܛ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܐ ݂ܟ ܺܠܝــܢ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܟ ݂ܟـ ̱ܝ ݁ ܰܒـܪ ܺܚܐ �ܝــܢ‪ .‬ܘܪܘ� ݂ܒܢܝܟـ ̱ܝ ܒ�ܕܢـ‬ ‫ܘܒ ݁ܝܟ ̱ܝ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕ ܳܝܢ̱‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܘ� ݂ܒ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܫܬ ܳ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒ ݂ܟܫܝܪ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ܰ ݁ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܺ ̈ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܫ ݂ܦ� ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܢ ݂ܬܡܟ ݂ܟ ܬܛܠܝ�‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܒܫ ݂ܦ� ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܐܝ ݂ܕ�ܐ ܢ ݂ܕܠ ݂ܦ ܒ‬ ‫ܰܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܚ ̈ܶܝܐ‪ܶ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܪ ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܕܝܢ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܦܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܚܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰܢܚ ݁ ܽܕܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܡ ݁ ܶܟـ ݂ܟ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܛܥܶܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ܒ ݂ܟܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܬܝ ـ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܛـܘܢ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܦ ݁ܒ ܰܡ ݁ܕ ܳܥ ݂ܟ �ܡ�ܟܐ � ݂ܬܨܚـܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܒܩ‬ ‫ـܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܟ ݂ ܳܒـ ݂ܟ � ݂ܬ ܰܨ ܶܚـܐ �ܥ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܶܪ ܐ ܰܥ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܠ ܳܩ ܳܠ ݂ܟ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ ܰܢ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦܐ ܰܢܚ ܶܘܐ ݂ ܶܦ ݂ܬ ݂ܳܓ ܰܡܝ̈ ݁ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܣ ܳܝܐ ݂ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܬ ܶܪܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

Qoheleth Ch. 

Chapter 

    VI

     

 

As dead flies make a container of perfumed oil to stink, so a little foolishness outweighs wisdom and great honor. The mind of the wise is in their right hand, but the mind of fools is in their left hand. Also, when fools 1 travel along a road, their judgment is lacking, and everything that they think is foolishness!

If the anger2 of a ruler is directed at you, do not abandon your post, for healing forgives many 3 sins. There is an evil which I have seen under the sun like the error which goes out before the ruler:

That a fool sits in high positions of authority while persons of substance sit in a lowly position.

I have seen servants on horses, while rulers were traveling on the ground like servants. The one who digs a pit will fall into it, and a snake will bite the one who breaks down a wall. The one who removes stones will be hurt by them, and the one who splits logs will become exhausted by them.

If an iron tool becomes dull, then he disturbs the face and he multiplies those who are killed. 4 Wisdom is an advantage to those who are skilled.

If the snake bites for lack of charming, there is no benefit in (having) a charmer. The words of the mouth of wise persons are an honor, but fools’ lips destroy them. 5

1

‘fools … their … they think’: lit. ‘fool … his … he thinks’.

3

‘many’ or ‘great’.

2 4 5

‘anger’: lit. ‘spirit’.

‘If … ones’. This is obscure in both P and MT. ‘fools’ … them’: lit. ‘a fool’s … him’.



‫ܩܘܗܠܬ‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫ܨܚ ܘ‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬

‫ܝ‪.‬‬

‫ܰ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܳ ̈ܶ ܳ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬܝــܢ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܡـܐ‪ܺ �ܰ .‬ܩܝـ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܚـܐ ݂ ܰܒ ܺܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܪܝــܢ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳܐܢـܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ـܪ ܐ ̱ܗܝ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܕܒ ݂ܒـܐ ݂ܕܡ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܫܒ ݁‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܐܬ ܬ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂ ܳ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܣ ݂ܟ� ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܰܩܠܝܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ܘܡܢ ܣ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ݂ܒ ܰܝ ܺܡܝܢܶܗ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܶ� ݁ ܶܒܗ ݁ܕ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ� ݁ ܶܒܗ ݁ܕ ܰܣ ݂ܟ� ݂ܒ ܶܣ ܳܡ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܐ ܶ� ݁ ܶܒܗ ܰܚ ܺܣܝܪ‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܳܘ ݂ܐܦ ܰܣ ݂ܟ ܳ� ܳܡܐ ݂ ܳܕ ܐ ܶܙܠ ݁ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܫ ݂ܒ‪ܰ :‬ܣ ݂ܟ ܽ�ـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‬

‫̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܛ ـܐ ݂ܬܶ ܰܣ ـܩ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠܝـ ݁ـܟ‪ܰ :‬ܐ ݂ܬ ܳܪ ݂ܟ ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܐܢ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚ ـܐ ݂ܕܫܠ‬ ‫ܐܣܝ ـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܫܒ ـܘܩ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛ ـܠ ܕ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳܫ ݂ܒ ܳܩܐ ܚܛ ̈ܗܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܐܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ݁ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥܝܝ ݁ܕܢܶ ݂ܦ ܰܩ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪ܰ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܽܛ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ܩ ݂ ܳܕܡ ܰܫ ܺܠܝܛܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܒ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܚܙ ݂‬ ‫ܐ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܺ ̈ܶ ܰ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܬܝ ܶ� ܐ ݂ܒ ܽܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܕ� ݂ܬ ݂ܒ ܣ ݂ܟ� ݂ܒ�ܘܡܐ ܥܫ�ܢܐ‪ .‬ܘܥ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ ܳܟܐ ܢܶ ݁ܬ ݂ ܽܒܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܗ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫�ܟܝܢ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܰܥ ݂ ̈ܒ ݁ ܶܕ ܐ ܰܥܠ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܺ�ܝ̈ ܳܛܢܶܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܥ ݂ ̈ܒ ݁ ܶܕ ܐ ܰܥܠ ܰ� ݂ܟ ܳܫܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܪܥܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܙ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܳܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳܚ ݂ ܰܦܪ ݁ ܽܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܝܘ ̱ܗܝ ܶܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ� ܐ‪ܶ ݁ :‬ܒܗ ܳܢ ݂ܦܠ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ ݂ܬ ܪܥ ܣܝ ݂ܓܐ‪ :‬ܢܟ ݂‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܺ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܐܦܐ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟܐܰ ݂ܒ ݁ܒ ܶܗܝܢ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܨ ܰܠܚ ܰܩܝ̈ ܶܣܐ‪ � :‬ܐ ݂ܒ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕܡܫܢܐ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܘ� ݂ܘܬ ܳܪ ܳܢ ـܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܓ ـܐ‪ܽ .‬‬ ‫ܩܛܝ̈ ـ ܶ� ܰܡ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟ ܺܫܝـ ܶ� ܐ‬ ‫ܘܗܘ ܐ ݁ ̈ܦ ـܐ ݂ ܳܕ ܰܠ ـܚ ܘ‬ ‫ܐܢ ܩــܗܐ ݂ܦ ـܪܙ�‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܳܶ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܫܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܠ ݁‬ ‫ܝܬ ܽ� ݂ܘܬ ܳܪܢ ݁ܒ ܳ� ܽܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܢ ܢ ݂ܟ ݂ܬ ܚ‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ ݂ܕ� ܽܠ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ̈ ݁ ܽ ܶ ݁ ܰ݁ܺ ܳ ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܣ ݂ܟ� ܡܛ ݁ ̈ܒ ܳܥܢ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܠܝ ܦܘܡܗ ܕܚܟܝܡܐ ݂ܬܫܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

Qoheleth Ch. 





     

I turned and I saw under the sun that the race does not belong to the speedy, nor the battle to the mighty, nor bread to the wise, nor wealth to the intelligent, nor praise to the learned, for time and chance befall all of them. People do not know their time. Like fish that are trapped in a cruel net and like birds that are trapped in a snare, so humans are trapped in the disastrous time that falls upon them suddenly. Also this I observed (about) wisdom under the sun, and it was important to me.

[There was] a little city and the people in it were few, and a great king came against it and surrounded it and built up siege-works against it. A poor wise man was found in it, and that poor man saved the city by his wisdom; but no one remembered that poor man.

So I said: Wisdom is better than power, but the wisdom of a poor man is despised and his words are not enacted. And the words of the wise in quiet are better heeded than the shout of a foolish ruler.

Wisdom is better than implements of war, and one error can destroy many good things.



‫ܩܘܗܠܬ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬

‫ܶ ܳ ݁ܳ ܰ ܺ ̈ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓܢ̱ ݁ ܳܒ ܶ� ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ ܶܗ ݂ܦ ݁ ܶܟ ݂ܬ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܗܛܐ‪ܳ :‬ܘ� ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܫܡܫܐ‪ :‬ܕ� �ܩ�ܝ� ܪ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܬ ܶܚ‬ ‫ܚܙ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ݁ܺ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܽ ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܽ ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ� �ܚܟܝܡܐ ܠ‬ ‫ܥܬܢܶـܐ ܽܫ ݂ܘܒ ܳܚـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܡܐ‪ :‬ܘ� �ܣܟܘ ݂‬ ‫ܠܬܢܶܐ ܽܥ ݂ܘܬ ܪܐ‪ :‬ܘ� ��ܕ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ�ܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܡܛܠ ݁ܕ ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ݂ܘܦ ݂ܓܥܐ ݂ܳܓ ݂ ܶܕܫ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܽ ̈ ܶ ܶ ݁ ݁ ܰ ݁ܺ ݁ ܰ ܺ ݁ ݁ ܳ ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܡܛܠ ܕ� ܝ ݂ܕܥ ܒܪ ܐ̱ܢܫܐ ܙ ݂ܒܢܗ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ �ܘ ܢܐ ݂ܕܡܬܬܚܕܝــܢ ܒܡܨܝــܕܬ ܐ ݂ܒܝܫـ‬ ‫ܚܕܝــܢ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫـܐ ݂ܒ ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢـܐ ݂ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܶ� ݂ܦ ܶ� ܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݁ܬ ݁ ܰܬ ̈ܚـ ݁ ܳܕܢ ݁ܒ ݂ ܰܦ ܳܚـܐ‪ܳ .‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢـܐ ܶܡ ݁ܬ ݁ ܰܬ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܫـܐ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂‬ ‫݂ܕ ܳܢ ݂ ܶܦܠ ܰ‬ ‫�ܥܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ܶܡܢ ܶܫ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ ̱ܗܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܘ ݂ܐܦ ܳܗ݂ ܶܕ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ݂ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܚܙ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ݁ܳ ܽ ݁ܳ ܰ ̈ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܺ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܬ ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܗ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠ ̇‬ ‫ܘܚـ ݂ܕ ܳܪ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ܬܐ ܙܥܘܪܬ ܐ‪ :‬ܘ ݂ܒܢܝ ܐ̱ܢܫܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒ ̇ܗ ܙܥܘܪܝܢ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܒܢܐ ܥܠ ̇‬ ‫ܝܗ ܩ�ܩܘܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫـܘܙܶ ݂ܒ ܰܗܘ ܶܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ݂ ܰܟܚ ݁ ܳܒ ̇ܗ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒـ ܳܪ ܐ ܶܡܣ ݁ ܺܟ ܳܢـܐ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܘ ݁‬ ‫ܝܡـܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ـ ݁ܬܐ‬ ‫ܣܟ ܳܢـܐ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܗܘ ܶܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫݂ܒ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܡ ݂ܘܬܗ‪ .‬ܘܐ̱ ܳܢܫ � ܥ ̱ ܰܗ݂ܕ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܣܟ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܗ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܟ ܳܢ ـܐ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ܶܡ ـܢ ݁ ܰܓܢ̱ ݁ ܳܒ ـ ܽܪ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܶܚ ݂ܟܡـ‬ ‫ܘܐܡـ‬ ‫ـܪ ݂ܬ ܐ ܳܢ ـܐ‪ .‬ܛ ݂ ܳܒ ـܐ ̱ܗܝ ܶܚ ݂ܟܡـ ܳ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܡܣ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ̱ܗܝ‪݂ .‬ܘܦ ݂ܬ ݂ܳܓܡܘ ̱ܗܝ � ܡܫܬܡܠܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ̈ ܰ݁ܺ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ̈ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܫ ܺܠܝܛܐ ܰܣ ݂ܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡܠܝ ܚܟܝܡܐ ݂ܒܢܝܚܐ ܡܫܬܡܥܢ‪ :‬ܡܢ ܙܥ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ̈ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܕ ܐ ܰܡ ݁ܘܒ ݂ ܳܕ ܐ ܛ ݂ ̈ܒ ݂ܬܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ܡܢ ܡܐ ܢܝ ܩܪ ݂ܒܐ‪ .‬ܘܚܛ ݂‬ ‫ܛ ݂ ܳܒܐ ̱ܗܝ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Qoheleth Ch. 

Chapter 







 



  



For I paid attention to all these things, and my mind observed all this: That righteous people and wise people and their actions are in the hand of God — whether love or hate a person does not know. All that lies before one is emptiness.

Everyone is like everyone (else). A common fate belongs to the righteous and to the evil, to the good and to the wicked, to the clean and to the unclean, to the one who sacrifices and to the one who does not sacrifice. One who is good is like one who is sinful. One who swears is like the one who fears oaths.

This is the evil in all that is done under the sun — for one fate is for everyone. Also, the heart of humanity is filled with evil, and wicked error is in their mind and in their life, and their end will be with the dead. Every one who has a part among all the living has confidence, for a living dog is better than a dead lion.

For those who are alive know that they will die, but the dead know nothing. And there is no reward for them anymore, for remembrance of them has been vanished.

Their love and their hate and their desire long ago perished, and there is no longer a portion for them in the world amid all that is done under the sun. Come, eat your bread with celebration, and drink your wine with a glad heart, for God takes delight in your actions.

At every time let your garments be white, and do not let oil be lacking from your head.

And experience life with the wife whom you love all the days of your empty life, for that is your portion in life and in your work which you do under the sun.

All that your hand finds to do with your energy, do, for there is no work or reasoning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol 1 where you are going.

1

‘Sheol’: A name for the place of the dead in Israelite thought.



‫ܩܘܗܠܬ‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬

‫ܛ‪.‬‬

‫ܗܒ ݂ܬ ݁ܒ ܶܠ ݁ܒ ̱ܝ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܳ� ݂ܬ ݁ ܽܟ ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ �ܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܠ ݁ܒ ̱ܝ ܚ ܳܙ ܐ ܳ�ـ ݂ܬ ݁ ܽܟـܠ ܳܗ ܳܢـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰ݁ܺ ̈ ܶ ܰ ݁ ܺ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܽ ݁ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ܐ ݂ܦ ܶܣ ܶܢـ ݂ܐܬ ܐ � ܳܝـ ݂ ܰܕܥ‬ ‫ܕܙ ܕ�ܩܐ ܘܚܟܝܡܐ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ�ܗܘܢ ܒ ܳ ݂‬ ‫ܐܝܕ ܐ ݂ܕ ܐ�ܗܐ‪ .‬ܐ ݂ܦ ܪܚ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ‪ܽ ݁ .‬ܟܠ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡܘ ̱ܗܝ ܗ ݂ܒ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܙ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܩـܐ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟܠ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܛ ݂ ̈ܶܒـܐ ܰܘ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫�ܟܠ‪ܶ ݁ .‬ܓ ݂ܕ ܳܫـܐ ܰܚـ ݂ܕ ܰ‬ ‫�� ܺܫܝܥܶـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܒܝ̈ ܶܫـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ ܰܒܚ ܰ‬ ‫�ܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܠ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܝ̈ܐ ܰܘܠ ܰܛ ̈ܶܡܐܐ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܘܠ ݂ܕ ܳ� ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ ܰܒـܚ‪ .‬ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ܛ ݂ ܳܒـܐ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܦ ܰܚܛ ܳܝـܐ‪ .‬ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ� ܳܡ ܳܝܐ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܦ ܰܗܘ ݁ܕ ܶܡܢ ܰܡ ̈ܘ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ ݂ ܳܕ ܶܚܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܝܫـܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟ ـܠ ܳܡ ـܐ ݂ ܶܕ ܐ ݂ܬ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ݂ܗ ܶܕ ܐ ݂ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫـܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛـܠ ݁ܕ ݂ܶܓ ݂ܕ ܳܫ ـܐ ܰܚ ـ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ ݁ܬ ܶܚܝـ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ ݁ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫݂ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ ܽ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒـܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰܒـܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫـܐ ܐ ݂ܬܡ ܺܠـܝ ݂ܒܝܫــܬܐ‪݂ :‬ܘܦܗ�ـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܒܝܫـ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܚ ݂ܪܬ ܽܗܘܢ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܒ ܶܠ ݁ܒ ܽܗܘܢ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰܚ ܰ�ܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ܺܡܝ̈ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܺ‬ ‫݁ܽ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ݂ܦ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ ܽܬ ݂ܘܟ ܳ� ܳܢܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܟ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܠ ܕܢܫܬ‬ ‫�ܒـܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚـܝ ܛـ ݂ܒ‬ ‫�ܟܠ ܰܚ ̈ܝܐ ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܶܡܢ ܐ ܳܪ�ܐ ݂ܕܡܝ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ ܰ ̈ܶ ܳ ܺ ݁ ܳ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܺ ̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܳ� ܳ� ݂ܕ ܺܥܝــܢ ܶܡـ ݁ ܶܕܡ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ـܬ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܠܝـ ݁‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܡܛܠ ܕܚܝܐ � ݂ܕܥܝܢ ܕܡ‬ ‫ܝܬܝــܢ‪ .‬ܘܡܝـ ݂‬ ‫݁ܽ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܽ ݁ܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܘܒ ܐ ݂ܓܪ ܐ‪ .‬ܡܛܠ ܕ ݂ܐܬܥܛܝ ݂ܕ ݂ܘܟܪܢܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ܽ ܶ ݁ܰ ݀ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܠܝـ ݁‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܦ ܪ‬ ‫ـܬ‬ ‫ܚܡ ݂ܬܗܘܢ ܐ ݂ܦ ܣܢ ݂ܐܬܗܘܢ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܦ ܩܢ ݂ܐܬܗܘܢ ܡܢ ܟܕܘ ܐ ݂ܒܕ ݂ܬ‪ .‬ܘܡܢـ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ݁ܽ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܝܬ ܫܡܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܬ ݂ܘܒ �ܥܠܡ‪ :‬ܒ ݂ܟܠ ܡܐ ݂ܕܡ ݂ܬ ݂‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܬܚ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬܝ ݁ܒ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ ܳܛ ݂ ܳܒܐ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܪ ݂ܟ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫݁ܬ ܐ ܐ ݂ ܽܟܘܠ ܒܚ ݂ܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܠܚܡ ݂ܟ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫ܐ�ܛܒـܝ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ ݂ ܰܒ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܰܕ�̈ ݁ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ ̈ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ ܶܚ ܳܘ ܺ�ܝܢ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܬ ݁ܝܟ ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܫ ݂ܟ ܳ� ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܚܐ ܶܡܢ ܺܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܣܪ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܒ ݂ ܽܟܠ �ܕܢ ܢܚ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܚܙܝ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ ܰܥܡ ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܶܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܬ ݁ ܽܟܠ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܰܡܝ ܰܚ ܰ ̈ܝـܝ ܶܗ ݂ܒ ܳܠـ ݂ܟ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛـܠ ݁ܕ ܺܗܝ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܟ ݁ܒ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ̱ܗܝ ܡܢ ݂‬ ‫ܡܠ ݂ܟ ݁ ܰܕ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ܳܥ ܶܡܠ ݁�ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ ݁ܒ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟܠ ݁ܕ ݂ܬܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܟـܚ ܺܐܝـ ݂ ܳـܕ ݂ܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛـܠ ݁ܕ ܰܠܝـ ݁‬ ‫ܝܠـ ݂ܟ‪ܶ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ـܬ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ ܳܕ ܐ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܬ ܳܡܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡܚܫ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ ܘ ݂ܝܕ ݂‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ܘ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܫܝܘܠ ݁ ܰܕ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ܐ ܶܙܠ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Qoheleth Ch. 



 

 V









Then I saw wicked people who were buried and they were coming in, and from the place of the sanctuary they went out and were forgotten 1 in the city where thus they had worked. 2 Also this is emptiness. For punishment for the perpetrators of evil deeds is not carried out swiftly. Because of this people feel encouraged3 to do what is evil.

There is an individual who sins, committing a hundred crimes, but he lives long. 4 But I know that it will be well for those who fear the Lord, who show fear 5 before Him.

But it will not be well for wicked ones, 6 and they, like a shadow, will not prolong (their) days, for they do not show fear before God. There is an emptiness which is done on earth: For there are righteous people who experience the treatment due the wicked, 7 and there are wicked people who experience the treatment due the righteous. I said, also this is emptiness. And I praised pleasure, for there is nothing good for people under the sun except to eat and to drink and to find pleasure. That belongs to them in return for their labor all the days of their life, which God has given them under the sun.

Because of this, I determined to know wisdom and to observe the busyness which is carried out on earth. For by day and by night they do not experience sleep with their eyes.

I have observed all the work of God. Indeed, people are not able to comprehend the work which is done under the sun. All that for which people seek laboriously, they are not able (to achieve). And everything that the wise aspire to know, they are not able to find out. 1

‘were forgotten’ or ‘were missing’.

3

‘people feel encouraged to’: lit. ‘the heart of people is filled in them to’.

2 4 5 6

‘Then … worked’: the verse is obscure in both P and MT. ‘lives long’: lit. ‘one prolongs for him’.

‫‘ ܕܢܕܚ�ܘܢ‬who show fear’: See also v. 13.

‘ones’: lit. ‘man’.

7 ‘there are …the treatment due …’ (twice): lit. ‘there are … to whom it happens like the action of …’.



‫ܩܘܗܠܬ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬

‫ܘܡـܢ ܰܐ ݂ܬ ܳܪܐ ݂ܕ ܽܩ ݂ܘܕ ܳܫـܐ ܶܐ ܰܙܠـ ̱ܘ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݁ܐܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܩܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܪܝܢ ܳܘ ݂ܐܬܶܝܢ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰ� ܺܫܝܥܶܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܕܝܢ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܛܥܝــܘ‬ ‫ܚܙ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܳܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܶܗ ݂ܒ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ̈ ݁ܰ ݁ ܺ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ ܰܒ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܥܓـܠ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛـܠ ܳܗ ܳܢـܐ‬ ‫ܶܡܛܠ ܕ� ܡ ݂ܬܥ ݂ܒܕ ܐ ݂ܬ ݂ܒܥ ݂ܬܐ ܡܢ ܥ ݂ܒܕܝ ܒܝܫـ ݂‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܬܡ ܺܠܝ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ̈ܒ ܰܢܝ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ݂ܒ ܽܗܘܢ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ݁ܕ ݂ ܺܒܝܫ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ܺ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܳܡ ـܐܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܛ ـ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݁ ܰܓ ـܪ ܶܠ ـܗ‪ .‬ܘܝ ـ ݂ܕܥ ܐ̱ܢ ـܐ ݂ܕܢ ـ‬ ‫ܡ ـܢ ܕܚܛ ـܐ ܥ ݂ܒ ـ ݂ܕ ܒܝܫ ـ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ‪݁ :‬ܕܢܶ ݂ܕܚ�ܘܢ ܶܡܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܳ‬ ‫�ܕ ̈ܚ ܰ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫�ܪ ܺܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܥ ـܐ‪ .‬ܘ� ܰܢ ݁ ܺܓܝــܪ ܰܝ ـ ̈ܘ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ܛ ܳ� ـ�‪ܶ .‬ܡܛ ـܠ ݁ܕ�‬ ‫ܺܘܛ ݂ܒ ـ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ ܳܕ ܶܚܠ ܶܡܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܐ� ܳܗܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܝܕ ܰܥܠ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܗ ݂ܒ ܳ� ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܩـܐ ݂ܕ ܳܡܛـܐ �ـ ܳـܘ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ‬ ‫ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܪܥܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛܠ ݁ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ ܳܕ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܩـܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘܐܡـ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ܰ� ܺܫܝܥܶܐ ݂ܕ ܳܡ ܶܛܐ �ـ ܳـܘ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ܰܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ـܪ ݂ܬ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܳܕ ܐ ݂ܕ� ܺܫܝܥܶܐ‪ܺ ܳ.‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܳܕ ݂ܐܦ ܗܢܐ ܗ ݂ܒ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܶܳ‬ ‫ܰ݁ ܶ ܶܳ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫـܐ‪ :‬ܐ �‬ ‫ـܬ ܫ‬ ‫ܘܫܒܚ ݂ܬ ܐܢܐ � ݂ܬ ܚـ ݂ܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ .‬ܕܠܝـ‬ ‫ـܬ ݁ܕܛـ ݂ܒ � ݂ ܰܒـܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫـܐ ݂ܬ ܶܚܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܫܬܐ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܕ ܐ‪ :‬ܘܗܘ �ܘܐ ܠـܗ ݁ܒܥܡܠـܗ‪݁ :‬ܟـܠ ܰܝـܘܡܝ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ ܰܐܟܠ ܘ�ܡ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܚ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ܶܠܗ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ ݂ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܒ ݂ܬ ܶܠ ݁ܒـ ̱ܝ ܶ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢـܐ ݂ ܶܕ ܐ ݂ܬ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ �ܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡܚـ ܳـܙ ܐ ܥܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ‬ ‫�ܡـ ݁ ܰܕܥ ܶܚ ݂ܟܡـ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܬܐ ݂ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܘ ̱ܗܝ � ܳܚ ܶܙ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܠ ܐܪܥܐ‪ .‬ܡܛܠ ܕ ݂ܒܐܝܡܡܐ ܘ ݂ܒ�ܝܐ ܫ ݂‬ ‫�ܥܒ ݂ ܳܕ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳܐ�ـ ܳܗܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛـܠ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܢܶ ݂ܬܡـ ܶـ� ܐ ݂ ܰܒـܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫـܐ ܳ�ـ ݂ܬ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܐ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܽܟܠ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܙ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ ܳܕ ܐ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܫܟـܚ‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪ܽ ݁ .‬ܟܠ ݁ܕ ܳܥ ܶܡܠ ݁ ܰܒـܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫـܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ݂ܒܥܶـܐ‪ �ܳ :‬ܢܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܝܕ ݁ܬ ܶܚ‬ ‫ܘܟـܠ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫�ܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ݁ ܰܕܥ‪ �ܳ :‬ܢܶ ݂ܬܡ ܶ� ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܺܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܟ ܽܚܘ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Qoheleth Ch. 

Chapter 



   

  



Who is like a wise person, and who knows the interpretation of a saying? The wisdom of a person makes their face shine, but the one who has an insolent expression is ugly. 1 Obey the word of a king, and, concerning the utterance of an oath to God, do not be hasty. 2

Go out from before Him, and do not stand by an evil promise, 3 because he will do all that he wishes.

Inasmuch as a king speaks (from) power, 4 who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’

One who obeys a command will not experience a condemnatory word, and the mind of a wise person understands the time of judgment. 5 Because for every desire there is a time of judgment, for the evil of humanity is heavy upon them.

For there is no one who knows what has been, and who can declare to them 6 what will be after them?

There is no one who rules over the spirit 7 so as to restrain the spirit, and there is no power over the day of death and no deliverance on the day of battle. Wickedness will not save its masters. I observed all this, and I determined to know all the work that is done under the sun and the time when a person have been given power over [another] person to harm them.

1

‘ugly’: lit. ‘hated’.

3

‘stand by an evil promise’ or ‘continue in an evil thing’.

5

‘time of judgment’: lit. ‘time and judgment’. Also in v. 6.

‘do not be hasty’: Leiden, like MT, puts this two-word clause at the beginning of v. 3.

2

4 6 7

‘speaks (from) power’ or ‘powerful king speaks’. ‘them’ (twice): lit. ‘him’. ‘spirit’ or ‘wind’.



‫ܩܘܗܠܬ‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫ܚ‪.‬‬

‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳܰ ݁ ܳ ܳ̇ ݁ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܡ ܽܢܘ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܓ ݂ܒـ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ ܰܬܢـ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܪ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪ܶ .‬ܚ ݂ܟܡـ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ‪ :‬ܘܡܢ ܝ ݂ܕܥ ܦܫـܪܗ ܕܡܠـ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰܐ ݁ ܰܦܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ ܰܚ ܺܨ�̈ ݂ ܳܦܢ ܰܐ ݁ ܰܦܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ܢܶ ݁‬ ‫ܣܬܢܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܰܛܪ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫݁ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܗ ݂ܒ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܡܠ ݂ܬ ܡܘܡ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܐ�ܗܐ � ݂ܬ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡـܘ ̱ܗܝ ܙܶܠ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬ ܽܩـܘܡ ݁ܒ ݂ ܶܦ ݂ܬ ܳܓـܡ ݁ ܺܒܝــܫ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛـܠ ݁ܕ ݂ ܽܟـܠ ݁ܕܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܡܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܨܒـܐ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܢܡ ܶܠܠ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܰܫ ܺܠܝܛ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ܰܢܘ ݁ܕ ܺܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܟ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܶܠܗ‪ܳ :‬ܡ ܳܢܐ ܳܥ ݂ ܶܒ ݂ܕ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܽ ݁ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܺܘܕ ܳܝܢܐ ܳܝ ݂ ܰܕܥ ܶ� ݁ ܶܒܗ ݁ܕ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܕܢܛܪ ܦܘܩܕ ܢܐ � ܝ ݂ܕܥ ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܺ ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܗ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝـܐܐ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܙ ݂ܒܢܐ ݂ܘܕܝܢܐ‪ .‬ܡܛܠ ܕ ݂ܒ‬ ‫�ܟܠ ݂�ܒܘ ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܥ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܢܐ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܕ ܳܝ ݂ ܰܕܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫ܗܘܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫�ܡܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܬ ܶܪܗ ܰܡ ܽܢܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܶܘܐ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚـܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܠܛ ܳܢـܐ ݂ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ܟـ ܳ� ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܐ̱ ܳܢـܫ ݁ܕ ܰܫ ܺܠܝــܛ ݁ܒ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡـܐ‬ ‫ܘܚـܐ‪ .‬ܘܠܝــܬ ܫ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܘܙܶ ݂ܒ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܫܥܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠ ܳܛܐ ݂ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠ ݁‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪ .‬ܘ� ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܕܡ‬ ‫ܗܒـ ݂ܬ ܶܠ ݁ܒـ ̱ܝ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬ‪ .‬ܘ�ܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫�ܥܒـ ݂ܕ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡـ ݁ ܰܕܥ ݁ ܽܟـܠ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ� ݂ܬ ݁ ܽܟـܠ ܳܗ ܳܢـܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܚܙܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰܠܛ ݁ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ ܳܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܫܡܫܐ‪ :‬ܘܙ ݂ܒܢܐ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܐܫܘ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Qoheleth Ch. 

 

  

I decided to know and consider and seek wisdom and understanding, and to know the wickedness of the fool and folly and transgression.

I have found woman to be more bitter than death. She is a trap and her heart is a net. Her hands are shackles. Whoever is pleasing to God is saved from her, and whoever sins is seized by her.

‘Look at what I have found,’ Qoheleth said. ‘One thing after another to attain understandings’.

Again I sought but I did not find: One man out of a thousand I have found but I did not find a woman among all of them.

But look at this which I did find: God made humanity upright, but they have sought out many ideas.



‫ܩܘܗܠܬ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬

‫‪ ‬ܟܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܠ‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܪܟ ݂ܬ ܶܐ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܐ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܥـܪ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ݁ ܰܕܥ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܠ ݁ܒ ̱ܝ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܚ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܫܒ ܳܢـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ܒ ܳܥـܐ ܳ ܶܚ ݂ܟܡـ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݁ܰ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂ܬ ܰܥ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܽܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ�ܡܕܥ ܪܫܝܥ ݂ܘܬܗ ܕܣ ݂ܟ�‪ :‬ܘܣ ݂ܟ� ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ ݁ ܳ ݁ ܺ ܺ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܨܝـ ݁ـܕ ݁ܬ ܐ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒـ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ̇ܝܗ ܦܚـܐ‪ :‬ܘ‬ ‫ܘܐܫܟ ܺܚ ݂ܬ ܕܡܪܝܪ ܐ ܳܡܢ ܡܘܬ ܐ‪ :‬ܐܢ̱ܬ ݂ܬ ܐ‪ .‬ܕܗܝ ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰܘܙ ݂ܒ ܶܡ ܳܢ ̇ܗ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ݁ܕ ܳܚܛܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡ ݁ܬܬ ܶܚ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܐ�ܗܐ‪ :‬ܡ‬ ‫ܐ ܳܣ� ܐ ܐ ̈ܝ ݂ ܶܕ ̇ܝܗ‪ܰ .‬ܡܢ ݁ܕܛ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܳܒ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܫܟ ܶܚ ݂ܬ‪ܳ :‬ܐ ܰܡܪ ܽܩ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܕ ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܚܕ ܐ ܰܠ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܠ ݂ܬ‪ܳ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܚܙܝ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܶܕ ݁‬ ‫ܫܟ ܽܚܘ ܰܡܚ ̈ܫ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫܟ ܶܚ ݂ܬ‪ .‬ܐ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܶܡـܢ ܰܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ݂ܘܒ ݁ܒ ܳܥ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܠܦـܐ ܶܐ ݁‬ ‫ܫܝ‪ܳ :‬ܘ� ܶܐ ݁‬ ‫ܫܟ ܶܚـ ݂ܬ‪ܰ .‬ܘܐܢ ̱ـ ݁ܬ ݂ܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܬ ܰܢܶ ݂ܦ ̱‬ ‫̱‬ ‫݂ܽ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫݂ܒ ݂ܟ�ܗܝܢ � ܐܫܟܚ ݂ܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܰܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܰ�̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ݂ܬ ܺ� ܶܝ� ܐ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܐܫܟ ܶܚ ݂ܬ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܰܪܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܙܝ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܶܕ ݁‬ ‫ܘܗ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ܒ ܰܥـܘ ܰܡܚ ̈ܫ ݂ ܳܒـ ݂ܬܐ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Qoheleth Ch. 



 



        

For the protection 1 afforded by wisdom is like the protection afforded by silver, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom keeps alive the one who possesses it. Observe the work of God, for who is able to repair what he damages?

On a good day be of good cheer, and on an evil day, watch yourself. God has made the one along with the other. Concerning speech, people cannot find out what will happen after them.

I have seen everything in my empty days: There are righteous people who perish in their righteousness, and there are wicked people who endure in their wickedness. Do not be extremely righteous, and do not act overly wise, lest you be confounded. Do not be extremely wicked lest you be very much hated. Do not be a fool, lest you die prematurely. 2

It is good that you seize the one while your hand does not let go of the other, for the person who fears God adheres to both 3 of them. Wisdom strengthens a wise person more than ten rulers in a city.

For there is not a righteous person in the land who does what is good and does not sin. Also do not pay attention to all the words that wicked people speak. Do not heed your servant who reviles you,

for your heart knows that many times you yourself have reviled others.

All these things I tested by wisdom. I planned to become 4 wise, but it was beyond me. (It is) very far away 5 and extremely deep; who can find it?

1

‘protection’ (twice): lit. ‘shade’.

3

‘both’: lit. ‘all’

2 4 5

‘prematurely’: lit. ‘not at your time’. ‘I planned to’: lit. ‘I said that I would’.

‘very far away’: lit. ‘distant from what is’.



‫ܩܘܗܠܬ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬

‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ݁ܺ ܽ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܶܛ ܳ� ܳ� ܕ ݂ ܶܟ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‬ ‫ܣܦܐ‪ .‬ܘ�ܬܝܪ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܝܕ ݂‬ ‫ܶܡܛܠ ݁ܕܛ ܳ�� ݂ܕ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ݂ܕ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݂ܬ ܐ ܶܚܐ ܳܡ ܳܪ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܳܕ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳܐ� ܳܗܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ܽܢܘ ܶܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܙܝ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܟܚ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ܬ ܳܩ ܽܢܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫�ܡܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕ ܰ ݂ܘܕ ܽ ̱ܗܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܳ ݁ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܗܘܝ ݂ܒ ܳܛ ـ ݂ܒ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ܚـ ܺـܙܝ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܳܫ ـ ݂ܟ‪ .‬ܐ ݂ܦ ܳܗ ܳܢ ـܐ‬ ‫ܘܡ ـܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒܝܫـ‬ ‫ܒܝܘܡ ـܐ ܕܛ ݂ܒ ـ ݂‬ ‫ܳܳ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡ�ـ ܳ� ݂ܕ ܳ� ܶܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܟـܚ ݁ ܰܒـܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫـܐ ܶܡـ ݁ܕܡܶ‬ ‫ܘܩܒܠ ܗܢܐ ݂‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܐ�ܗܐ‪ :‬ܥـܠ ܡ ̱‬ ‫݁ ܳܒ ݂ܬ ܶܪܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟܠ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ܺ‬ ‫ـܬ‬ ‫ܠܝ‪ .‬ܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܚܙ ݂‬ ‫ـܬ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩـܐ ݂ ܶܕ ݁ ܰܐܒـ ݂ܕ ݁ܒ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܽܝܩـ ݂ܘܬܗ‪ܺ .‬ܘܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܒ ܰ�ܶ ̈ܘ ܰܡܝ ܶܗ ݂ܒ ̱‬ ‫ܰܪ ܺܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܓܪ ݁ܒ ݂ ܺܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܫ ݂ܘܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕܝܩ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ‪ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ݁ ܰܟܡ ܰ� ݁ܬܝܪ ݁ܕ� ݂ܬ ݂ܬ ܰܡܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܬܢܶـܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓـܝ‪݂ �ܳ .‬ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܫܥ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓـܝ ݂ܕ ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ݁‬ ‫ܣܟـܠ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ� ݂ ܰܬ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡـܐ ݂ܬ ܽܡـ ݂ܘܬ ݁ܕ�‬ ‫݂ܒ ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܛ ݂ܒ ݁ܕ ݂ܬ ܽܐܚـ ݂ܘܕ ݁ܒ ܳܗ ܳܢـܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ܶܡـܢ ܰܗܘ � ݂ܬܪ ݁ ܶܦـܐ ܐܝـ ݂ ܳـܕ ݂ܟ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛـܠ ݁ܕ ܰܡـܢ ݁ܕ݂ ܳܕ ܶܚـܠ‬ ‫ܰ� ܳ� ܳܗܐ‪ܳ :‬ܢ ܶܩ ݂ܦ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ‪ܳ :‬ܛ ݂ܒ ܶܡܢ ܥܶ ܳ‬ ‫�ܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ܰܡܥܫ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ ݁ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܣܪ ܐ ܰܫ ܺ�ܝ̈ܛ ܺܢܝܢ ݁ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܳ ݁ ܰ݁ܺ ݁ ܰ ܳ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ݁ܕܛ ݂ܒ ܘ� ܢܶܚܛܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܛܠ ܕܠܝܬ ܐ̱ܢܫ ܕܙ ܕܝܩ ܒܐܪܥܐ‪ :‬ܕܢ‬ ‫݁ ܶ ܳ ̈ܶ ܰ ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܳܘ ݂ܐܦ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܠــܘܢ ܰ� ܺܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܥــܐ ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ݁ܬܶܠ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒــ ݂ܟ‪݂ �ܳ .‬ܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡــܥ‬ ‫�ܟــܠ ܦ ݂ܬ ݂ܓܡــܐ ݂ܕܢܡ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ܒ ݁ ܳܕ ݂ܟ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܨ ܶܚܐ ܳܠ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ ܰ ܺ̈ ܰ ݁ ܺ ܳ ̈ ܳ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܳ ݁ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܺ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ �̱ܚ ܳ� ܺܢܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܛܠ ܕܙ ݂ܒܢܝܢ ܣܓܝܐܢ ܝ ݂ܕܥ �ܒ ݂ܟ‪ :‬ܕ ݂ܐܦ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܨܚ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪ܶ .‬ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܝ ܰܪ ܺܚ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܪ ݂ܬ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܐܬ ܰܚ ݁ ܰܟܡ‪ܺ .‬‬ ‫ܝܩܐ ܶܡܢ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܒ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܢ ܺܣ ݂‬ ‫ܰ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܘܡܩܐ ݂ܕ ܽ� ̈ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܚܩܐ‪ܽ .‬‬ ‫ܘܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܝܪ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܩܐ ܰܡܢ ܢܶ ݁‬ ‫�‬ ‫ܫܟ ܺܚܝܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Qoheleth Ch. 

Chapter 

 2  IV

        

For who knows what is good for people in life, the few days of their life of emptiness, which they pass by like a shadow? 1 Who can declare to people what will happen after them under the sun? A good reputation is better than fine oil. And the day of death is better than the day of birth.

It is better to enter a house of weeping than to enter a house of feasting, for this is the end of all people. The living will put cheerfulness in their heart. 3 Anger is better than laughter, for in the sadness of the face the heart will be cheerful. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is (in) the house of celebration.

It is better to hear the reproof of the wise than for a person to hear the song of fools.

Like the noise of thorns (burning) under a pot, so is the laughter of fools. This also is emptiness. For oppression destroys the wise, and a bribe destroys the heart.

Better is the end of a matter than its beginning, and patience is better than haughtiness. Do not let yourself become quickly angry, for anger is set in the breast of fools. Do not say, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ For it is not by wisdom that you enquire about these.

Better is wisdom than implements of war, 4 and especially for those who see the sun.

1

‘which they pass by’: lit. ‘and he passes them by’.

3

‘their heart’: lit. ‘his heart’.

2 4

Leiden begins ch. 7 with this verse, following MT. ‘implements of war’: cf. 9:13.



‫ܩܘܗܠܬ‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫ܨܚ ܕ‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬

‫ܙ‪.‬‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶܡܛܠ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ܽܢܘ ܳܝ ݂ ܰܕܥ ܳܡ ܳܢܐ ܛ ݂ܒ � ݂ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫـܐ ݂ܒ ܰܚ ܰ�ـܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪ܶ :‬ܡ ܳܢܝـܢ ܰܝـ ̈ܘ ܰܡܝ ܰܚ ܰ ̈ܝـܝ‬ ‫ܥܒܪ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܶܛ ܳ�ـ ܳ�‪ܰ .‬ܡ ܽܢـܘ ܰܢܚـ ܶܘܐ � ݂ ܰܒـܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫـܐ ܳܡ ܳܢـܐ ܢܶـ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܗ ݂ܒ ܶܠܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܳܒ ݂ܬܪܗ ݁ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܛ ݂ܒ ܫܡܐ ܡܢ ܡܫܚܐ ܛ ݂ܒܐ‪ .‬ܘ�ܘܡܐ ݂ܕܡܘܬ ܐ ܛ ݂ܒ ܡܢ �ܘܡܐ ݂ܕܝܠ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳܛ ݂ܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ ܳܒ ݂ ܶܟܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰܐܙܠ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡـ ܰܐܙܠ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫�ܒ‬ ‫ـܬ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛـܠ‬ ‫ـܬ ܡܫـ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫�ܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ ܰܚܝ ܳ� ܶܗ ݂ܒ ܛ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ � ݁ ܶܒܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳ ݂ܗ ܶܕ ܐ ̱ܗܝ ܚ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܳ ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܳ ܶ ܽ ݁ܰ ܺ ܽ ܰ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܫܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ݁ ̈ܦܐ ܢܶܛ ݂ܐܒ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܓܙ ܐ ܡܢ ܓܘܚܟܐ‪ .‬ܡܛܠ ܕ ݂ܒ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܛ ݂ܒ ܪ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܐ ݂ܒ ܳ�‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܚ ݂ ܽܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ� ݁ ܳܒܐ ݂ܕ ܰܣ ݂ ̈ܟ� ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝ̈ ܶܡܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳܛ ݂ܒ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ݁ ܳܟ ݂ܐܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝ̈ ܶܡܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܳܫ ܰܡܥ ܳܙܡ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܣ ݂ ̈ܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܩ ݂ܕ ܳܣܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ ܽ ݂ܓ ݁‬ ‫ܘܚܟ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰܣ ݂ ̈ܟ�‪ܳ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܶܗ ݂ܒ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܳܩ� ݂ܕ ݂ ܽܟ ̈ܘ ݁ ܶܒܐ ݂ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܳ ܶ݁ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫�ܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܝܐ ܰܡ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒ ݂ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܡܐ‪ .‬ܘܡܘܒ ݂ܕ ܐ �ܒܐ ܡ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ݁ܶ ݁ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܘܛ ݂ ܳܒـܐ ܰܢ ݁ ܺܓܝـ ܽـܪ ݂ܘܬ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܛ ݂ ܳܒܐ ̱ܗܝ ܐ̱ܚܪܝܬܗ ܕ ݂ܦ ݂ܬ ݂ܓܡܐ ܡـܢ ܩ ݂ܕܡܝـ‬ ‫ܘܚـܐ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫ـܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳܪ ܽܡ ݂ܘܬ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܪܓܙ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܽܪܘܓ ܳܙ ܐ ݂ܒ ܽܥ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܬ ܰܪܗ ݂ܒ ݁ܒ ܽܪܘ ܳܚ ݂ܟ � ܶܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒܐ ݂ܕ ܰܣ ݂ ̈ܟ� ܢܶ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܺ�ܝܚ‪.‬‬ ‫� ݂ܬ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ� ݂ ܺܬ ܰܐܡܪ ܳܡ ܳܢܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ ܰܩ ݂ ̈ܕ ܳܡܝܶܐ ܛ ݂ ܺܒܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ܶܡܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛܠ ݁ܕ� ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ܳܫܐܠ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ܰܥܠ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܒ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ̈ ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫�ܚܙ̈ ܰ�ܝ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܝܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ܡܢ ܡܐ ܢܝ ܙܝܢܐ‪ :‬ܘ�‬ ‫ܛ ݂ ܳܒܐ ̱ܗܝ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Qoheleth Ch. 





What has existed in the past was decreed by name, and it is known that they 1 are human, and they are not able to dispute with One who is more mighty than they.

For there are many words which increase emptiness. What profit is there for a person?

1

‘they’ (three times): lit. ‘he’.



‫ܩܘܗܠܬ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬

‫ܩܕܝܡ‪ܶ :‬ܐ ݂ܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܡܗ‪ܶ .‬ܘܐ ݂ ܺܬ ݂ ܰܝܕܥ ݁ܕ ܽܗܘ ݂ ܰܒـܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫـܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ܶܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪܝ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶܡܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܟـܚ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܠ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕܢ ܰܥܡ ܰܡܢ ݁ܕ ݂ܬ ܺܩ ݂ܝܦ ܶܡܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ݁ ܶܦ ݂ܬ ݂ܳܓ ̈ܶܡܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܶܐܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬ � ݂ ܰܒـܪ‬ ‫ܣܓܝܢ ܶܗ ݂ܒ�‪ܳ .‬ܡ ܳܢܐ ܽ� ݂ܘܬ ܪ ܳܢܐ ܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܶܡܛܠ ݁ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Qoheleth Ch. 

Chapter 

 



     

There is an evil I have seen under the sun, and it is widespread among humanity:

People to whom God gives wealth and possessions and honor, so that nothing is lacking from all that they desire, but God does not enable them to consume any of it. Instead strangers consume it after them. This is emptiness and a sickness. If man fathers a hundred children and lives many years so that his lifetime is long, 1 but he does not feel satisfied by (his) goods and he also has no burial place, (then,) I said, a stillborn child is better off than him. Because though it comes into emptiness and goes out into darkness and its name is covered in darkness

and it has not seen or known the sun, 2 this latter one has a better rest than the former.

Even if one lived a thousand years twice over, but did not experience pleasure 3 — is not every one going to the same place? Everything for which people labor (goes) into their mouth, 4 yet their soul is not satisfied. 5

For there is more profit for the wise person than for the fool. Why is it that a poor person knows to go toward life? 6 What is visible to the eyes is better than the wandering of one’s appetite. 7 And this also is emptiness and anguish of spirit.

1

‘his lifetime is long’: lit. ‘the days of his years are numerous’.

3

‘experience pleasure’: lit. ‘see good’.

2 4 5 6

‘known the sun’ or ‘… the sun or known (anything)’. ‘(goes) into their mouth’: lit. ‘is in his mouth’. ‘satisfied’: lit. ‘filled’.

‘go toward life’ or ‘to walk with the living’. The meaning of the line is uncertain.

‘wandering of the appetite’: lit. ‘walking of the soul’. The meaning of the clause is uncertain.

7



‫ܩܘܗܠܬ‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫ܘ‪.‬‬

‫ܺ ݁ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝܐܐ ̱ܗܝ ܰܥܠ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܒ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܚܙ ݂‬ ‫ܐ ݂‬ ‫݁ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܠ ܶ�ܠܗ ܰܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܽܥ ݂ܘܬ ܳܪܐ ܘܢܶ ݂ ̈ܟ ܶܣܐ ܺܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܩ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ܰܚ ܺܣܝܪ ܰ‬ ‫�ܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ ܶܡـ ݁ ܶܕܡ‬ ‫ܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ܕܢ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܽ ݂ ܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ ܰܐܟܠ ܶܡܢܶܗ‪ܶ .‬ܐ ܳ� ܓ ݂ ܰܒܪ ܽܢ ݂ܘܟܪܝܳ‬ ‫ܠܛܗ ܰܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܢ ܟܠ ܡܐ ܕܪ ܐܓ‪ .‬ܘ� ܐܫ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ ݂ ݁ܳ ݂ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܶ ݂ܐܟ ܺܠܝܘ ̱ܗܝ ܡܢ ܒ ݂ܬܪܗ‪ .‬ܗܢܐ ܗ ݂ܒ� ܘ ݂ܟܪܝܗ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܐܢ ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܠ ݂ܕ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܳܡܐܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܫ ܺܢ̈ܝܢ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳ ̈ܝـܐܢ ܺܢܐ ܶܚـܐ‪ :‬ܘܢܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܣܓـܘܢ ܰܝـ ̈ܘ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ̈ܫ ܰܢـܘ ̱ܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܽ ݁ܳ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܶ ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܪ ݂ܬ ݁ܕܛـ ݂ܒ ܽ ̱ܗܘ‬ ‫ܩܒܘܪܬ ܐ � ݂ܬܗܘܐ ܠܗ‪ .‬ܐ‬ ‫ܣܒܥ ܶܡܢ ܛ ݂ ̈ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪ܳ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡܢܶܗ ܰ�ܚܛܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܶܗ ݂ܒ ܳ� ܶܐ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܶܚ ܽܫ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܐ ܺܢ ܰܐܙܠ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܶܚ ܽܫ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܡܗ ܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܶܣܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ‪ܳ :‬ܘ� ܺܝ ݂ ܰܕܥ‪ܺ .‬ܢܝܚ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗ ܳܢܐ ܳܛ ݂ܒ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ܳ� ܳ‬ ‫ܳܐ ݂ܦ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܳ� ܳ‬ ‫�ܡـܐ ܳ� ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܽܐܠܘ‬ ‫�ܚـ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܚܝܐ ܐ ܶܠ ݂ܦ ܫܢ̈ܝܢ ݁ܕ ݂ܬ ݁ܪܬܝܢ ܰܙ ݂ܒܢ̈ܝܢ‪ :‬ܘܛ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܬ ܳܪܐ ܐ ܶܙܠ ݁ ܽܟܠ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܽܟܠ ݁ܕ ܳܥ ܶܡܠ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ‪ܰ :‬ܘܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ ܳ� ܰܡ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳܢـܐ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܶܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫�ܣ ݂ܟـ ܳ�‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫�ܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡـܐ ܶܡـܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ܽ� ݂ܘܬ ܳܪ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܟ ܳܢـܐ ܳܝـ ݂ ܰܕܥ‬ ‫ܶܡܛܠ ݁ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰܐܙܠ ܰ‬ ‫�ܚ ̈ܶܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳܳ ܶ ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ݂ ܳܦܐ ݂ܕ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܳܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܛ ݂ܒ ܶܚ ܳܙܘܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ̈�ܢܶܐ ܶܡܢ ܗܠ ݂ܟ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕܢ ݂ܦܫܐ‪ .‬ܘܐ ݂ܦ ܗܢܐ ܗ ݂ܒ�‬

‫‪‬‬

Qoheleth Ch. 

   

  





Sleep is sweet to laborers, 1 whether they eat little or much; but the wealth of the rich does not allow them to sleep.

There is a sickening evil that I have seen under the sun: Wealth which is guarded by its owner to their harm, and then that wealth perishes in a bad venture. Should he father a son, he will have nothing in his hand.

As he came out from his mother’s womb, so naked he will return, leaving as he came. And nothing that he gained by his labor will depart in his hand. This, too, is a sickening evil: As people came in, so they depart. So what is the profit in all (their) laboring for the wind?

And also, all their days they eat in darkness and in much anger and in fury and in mourning and in sickness.

This is what I, Qoheleth, have seen: It is good and beautiful to eat and to drink and to find 2 pleasure in all the labor which a person does under the sun (in) the few days of life that the Lord gives them, for this is their portion. And also, all people to whom the Lord gives wealth and possessions and enables them to eat from them and to receive their portion and to rejoice in their labor — this is a gift from God.

For they will not much remember the days of their life, since God will occupy them with the pleasures of their heart.

1 2

‘laborers’ and ‘they’ and ‘them’: lit. ‘a laborer’ and ‘he’ and ‘him’. ‘find’: lit. ‘see’.



‫ܩܘܗܠܬ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬

‫ܰ݁ܺ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܬܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܳ� ܳܚܐ‪ܶ .‬ܐܢ ܽܙܥܘܪ ܶܘܐܢ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓـܝ ܳܐ ݂ ܶܟـܠ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ـܪ ܐ �‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܒ ܳܥـܐ �ܥܬܝـ‬ ‫ܚ�ܝܐ ܫ ݂‬ ‫ܳܫ ݂ ܶܒܩ ܶܠܗ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ݁ܽ ܳ ܳ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫـܐ‪ܽ :‬ܥـ ݂ܘܬ ܳܪܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬܢ ܰܛـܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ـܬ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡـ ܶܪܗ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܟܘܪܗܢܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒܝܫ‬ ‫ـܬ ݁ܬ ܶܚܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܚܙܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ݁ܶ‬ ‫�ܒܝܫܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܳܘ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ݂ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ ܺܒ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܒ ݂ܕ ܽܥ ݂ܘܬ ܳܪܐ ܰܗܘ ݁ܒܥܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܕܗ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܘܠ ݂ܕ ݁ܒ ܳܪ ܐ‪ :‬ܘ� ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܪܛـܠ ܢܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܟ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܦـ ݂ܘܟ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܣـ ̇ܗ ݁ ܶܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܦܩ ܶܡـܢ ݁ ܰܟ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡـ ܰܐܙܠ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܡـܗ‪ :‬ܥ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ܳ� ܳܢ ܶܣ ݂ܒ ݁ܒ ܰܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܡܠܗ ݁ܕ ܺܢ ܰܐܙܠ ݁ ܺܒ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܕܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܫـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܐ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܟ ܳܢـܐ ܶܓܝــܪ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ ܳܐܬ ܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢـܐ ܶܐ ܰܙܠ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܳܘ ݂ܐܦ ܳܗ ܳܢـܐ ݂ ܽܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܗ ܳܢـܐ ݂ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܢـܐ ܽ� ݂ܘܬ ܳܪ ܳܢـܐ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܥܡܠ ܽ‬ ‫݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟܠ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫�ܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳܶ‬ ‫̈ܰ‬ ‫ܘܓــ ܳܙ ܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝــܐܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܶܚܡــ ݂ܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܐܦ ݁ ܳܟــܠ ܰܝܘܡــܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܒ ܶܚܫ ݂ܘܟــܐ ܐ ݂ܟــܠ‪ :‬ܘ ݂ܒܪ ݂‬ ‫ܘܒ ݂ܐܒ�‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪܗ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܐ ܳܢܐ ܽܩ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫ ݁ ܺܦܝــܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ݁ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܠ ݂ܬ‪ܳ .‬ܛـ ݂ܒ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ ܰܐܟـܠ ܘ�ܡܫـ‬ ‫ܚܙ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܠـܗ ݁ܕ ܳܥ ܶܡـ ݁‬ ‫ܠ�ܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫـܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡ ܳܢܝـܢ ܰܝـ ̈ܘ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ‬ ‫ܘ�ܡܚܙ ܐ ܛ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܠ�ܬ ܶܚܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܽ ܽ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫݂ܕ ܰܚ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ܠܗ ܡܪ�ܐ‪ .‬ܡܛܠ ܕܗܘ�ܘ ܡܢ ݂ܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܠܛـܗ ܶ‬ ‫ܳܘ ݂ܐܦ ݁ ܽܟܠ ܐ̱ ܳܢܫ ݁ܕ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ܶܠܗ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ ܰܐܟـܠ‬ ‫ܪ�ـܐ ܽܥـ ݂ܘܬ ܳܪܐ ܘܢܶ ݂ ̈ܟ ܶܣـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘܐܫ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܚــܕ ܐ ݂ܒ ܰܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܗ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܢــܗܘܢ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫�ܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ ̱ܗܝ‬ ‫ܡܠــܗ‪݂ .‬ܗܕ ܐ ܡــ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰܣــ ݂ܒ ܡܢــ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ܳܐ� ܳܗܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ ܰ ܰ ݁ܺ ܶ ܰ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛـܠ ݁ ܰܕ ܳܐ�ـ ܳܗܐ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܛ‬ ‫ܥܢـܐ ܶܠـܗ‬ ‫ܠ ܕܠܘ ܣܓܝ ܢܥ ̱ܗ݂ܕ ܝܘܡ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܰܚ ݂ ܽܕܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ܕ� ݁ܒܗ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Qoheleth Ch. 

Chapter 



   

 

  

Do not be hasty with your mouth, and do not let your mind be quick to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Because of this, let your words be few.

Because a dream comes with much busyness, and the voice of a fool with a multitude of words.

When you make a vow to God, do not delay in paying it, for he has 1 no pleasure in fools. You, then — pay what you vow!

It is better for you not to make a vow, than to make a vow and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth cause your body to sin, and do not say before God that it was a mistake, lest God be angry because of what you say and destroy the work of your hands.

For among a multitude of dreams and futilities 2 and many mistaken words, 3 you must fear God.

And if in the city you see oppression of the poor and miscarriage of justice, 4 do not be astonished at the thing, for (one) high official watches over (another) high official, and high officials are over them. The profitability of the land is in everything; the king is served by the field. 5

That one who loves silver is not satisfied with silver, and the one who loves wealth does not keep possession of it. This also is emptiness. With an abundance of goods, those who consume it increase. So what is (its) value to the owner except as something to look at? 6

1

‘He has’: lit. ‘there is’.

3

‘many mistaken words’: lit. ‘many words of error.’

2 4 5 6

‘dreams and futilities’ or ‘futile dreams’.

‘miscarriage of justice’: lit. ‘plunder and justice’.

‘king … field’: This verse is obscure in both MT and P.

‘something to look at’: lit. ‘as an appearance of the eyes.’



‫ܩܘܗܠܬ‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬

‫ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ݁ܳ ܽ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܪܗ ݂ܒ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܦـ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ܩـ ݂ ܳـܕܡ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂ܟ‪ .‬ܘ�ܒـ ݂ܟ � ܢܣـ‬ ‫� ݂ܬܣـ‬ ‫ܪܗ ݂ܒ �ܡܦܩـܘ ܡܠـ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝ ـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܐܢ ̱ ـ ݁ܬ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥ ـܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛ ـܠ ܳܗ ܳܢ ـܐ ܢܶ ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܳ� ـ ܳܗܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛ ـܠ ݁ ܰܕ ܳܐ� ـ ܳܗܐ ݂ ܰܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ‬ ‫݁ ܶܦܬ ܳܓ ܰܡܝ̈ ݁ܟ ܽܙܥ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܐܬ ܥܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܐܬ‬ ‫ܶܡܛــ‬ ‫ܢ�ܢــܐ‪ .‬ܘܩܠــܗ ݁ܕܣ ݂ܟــ� ݂ܒܣــ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܠ ݁ܕ ݂ܐܬ ܐ ܶܚ�ܡــܐ ݂ܒܣــ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܶܦ ݂ܬ ݂ܳܓ ̈ܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܳܰ ܰ ݁ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܳ� ܽܡ ݂ܘܬܶܗ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛـܠ ݁ܕ ܰܠܝـ ݁‬ ‫ܘܚܪ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ‬ ‫ܐ ܰܡ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ ܕ� ݂ܕܪ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܢ ݂ܕܪ ܐ ��ܗܐ‪݂ � :‬ܬ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ� ݂ܒ ܳ� ܳܢܐ ݂ܒ ܰܣ ݂ ̈ܟ�‪ .‬ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ݁ܕ ܳ� ݂ ܰܕܪ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ݁ܦ ܽܪܘܥ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܛ ݂ܒ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ݂ܕ� ݂ܬ ݁ ܽܕܘܪ‪ܶ :‬ܡܢ ݁ܕ ݂ܬ ݁ ܽܕܘܪ ܘ� ݂ܬ ܰܫ ܶܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܛ ܽܝܘ ݂ ܶܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ݁ܬܶܠ ݁ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܪ ݂ܟ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ݂ ܺܬ ܰܐܡܪ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܰܐ ܳ�ـ ܳܗܐ ݁ܕ ܽܛـ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥܝܝ ܺ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂ܟ �ܡ‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܓܙ ܰܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܰܥܠ ܳܩ ܳܠ ݂ܟ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰܢܚ ݁ ܶܒܠ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܢܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫�ܥܒ ݂ ܳܕ ܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܐ ̈ܝ ݂ ܰܕ ݁ܝܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ̈ ܶ ܶ ܳ ̈ܶ ܰ ݁ ܺ ̈ܶ ݁ ܽ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܥܝܝ‪ .‬ܐܢ ̱ـ ݁ܬ‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܐܬ ܶܚ ̈� ܶܡـܐ ܘܗ ݂ܒـ� ݂ܘܦ ݂ܬ ݂ܓܡـܐ ܣܓܝـܐܐ ܕܛـ‬ ‫ܰܡܛܠ ݁ܕ ݂ܒܣـ ݂ܰ‬ ‫� ܳ� ܳܗܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶܘܐܢ ܽܥ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܒ ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ̈ܣ ݁ ܺܟܢܶܐ ܰܘܚܛ ݂ܘܦ ܳܝܐ ݂ ܺܘܕ ܳܝܢـܐ ݂ܬܚـ ܶـܙ ܐ ݂ ܰܒܡ ݂ ܺܕܝܢ̱ـ ݁ܬܐ‪݂ � :‬ܬ ݂ܬ ܰܡـܗ ݁ ܳܒـ ̇ܗ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܳܪ ܳܡܐ �ܥܶܠ ܶܡܢ ܳܪ ܳܡܐ ܳܢ ܰܛܪ‪ܳ .‬ܘܪ ܺܡܝܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒ ݂�ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟܠ ܽ ̱ܗܘ‪ܰ :‬ܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܬ ܳ�ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫�‬ ‫�ܚܩ� ܰܡ ݂ܦ ܰܠܚ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܟܐ‬ ‫݁ ܳ ܶ ݁ܶ ݁ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ݁ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢـܐ‪ܰ � :‬ܢܩ ݁ ܶܕܝــܘ ̱ܗܝ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ܳܗ ܳܢـܐ‬ ‫ܕܪܚܡ ܟܣܦܐ‪ � :‬ܢܣܒܥ ܟܣܦܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܕܪܚـܡ ܡܡ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܗ ݂ܒ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܽ ܳ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘ ݂ܬ ݀ ݁ ܰܟ ܺܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܢܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܣܓܝܘ ܐ ݂ ܽܟ ̈ܘ ܶܠ ̇‬ ‫ܚܙ ݂ܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܝܪ ܐ �ܩ�ܝ ̇ܗ‪ :‬ܐ � ܐܢ‬ ‫ܘܓܐܐ ܕܛ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ ݂‬ ‫ܒܣ ݂‬ ‫݂ܕ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Qoheleth Ch. 

    III



Better a youth who is poor but wise, than an old king who is foolish, who no longer knows how to be careful. For he left prison to become king; for even in his kingdom he was born poor. I saw all those living who were walking about under the sun with the young successor1 who will arise in his place.

There is no end to all the people, to all who were before him, and also the ones who come later will not rejoice in him. For this also is emptiness and anguish of spirit.

Guard your foot when you enter God’s house. For drawing near to listen is better than the sacrifices which fools give. 2 For they do not know (how) to do what is good.

1 2

‘young successor’: lit. ‘second youth’.

‘the sacrifices which fools give’: lit. ‘the gift of the sacrifices of fools’.



‫ܩܘܗܠܬ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫ܨܚ ܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܝـܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܚ ݁ ܺܟܝــܡ‪ܶ :‬ܡـܢ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟـܐ ܳܣ ݂ ܳܒـܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܛـ ݂ܒ ܰܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܟܝــܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܟـܠ‪݁ :‬ܕ� ܳܝـ ݂ ܰܕܥ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ݁ܙܕ ܳܗ ܽܪܘ ݂ܬ ݂ܘܒ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܳ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܐ ܺܣܝـ ܶ� ܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦـܩ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟـ ݂ܘܬܗ‬ ‫ܡ� ݂ ܽܟـܘ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛـܠ ܕ ݂ܐܦ ܒܡ‬ ‫ܶ ܶܡܺܛܠ ݁ܕ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܝܠ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܟܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܗ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪ܰ :‬ܥܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܐ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܽܟܠ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ݂ܬܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܽܢܩܘܡ‬ ‫ܚܙ ݂‬ ‫�ܟܝܢ ݁ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܚ� ݂ ܰܦܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܽܣـ ݂ܘܦ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟـܠ ܰ�ܥ ܳܡـܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܟ�ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܠ ݁‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡـܘ ̱ܗܝ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ܐ̱ܚ ܳ� ܶ�ـܐ �‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܚܕܘܢ ݁ ܶܒܗ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ ܳܕ ܐܦ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܶܗܒ ܳ� ܘܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܪ ݂ ܳܦܐ ݂ܕ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܛܪ ܪ ݂ܓ ܳܠ ݂ܟ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܳܕ ܶܐܙܠ ܶ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ݂‬ ‫�ܒ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܡ‬ ‫ܘܗ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ݂ ܶܕ ݂ ̈ܒ ܶܚܐ ݂ܕ ܰܣ ݂ ̈ܟ�‪ܶ .‬ܡܛܠ ݁ܕ� ܳ� ݂ܕ ܺܥܝܢ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ܘܒ � ܶܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡـܥ‪ :‬ܛـ ݂ܒ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ݁ܕܛ ݂ܒ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܡ‬

Qoheleth Ch. 

Chapter 



 



   

   

Then I turned and I saw all the wrongs that are done under the sun. Look at the tears of the oppressed! They have no one to comfort them from the power of their oppressors (with) strength, and they have no helper.

So I celebrated the dead who have already died more than the life of those who are still living. Better than both of these is the one who has not yet come into existence, for that one has not yet seen the evil business that is done under the sun.

I have seen that all labors and all good results of labor come from people’s envy of one another. This also is emptiness and anguish of spirit. Fools fold their hands and devour their own flesh.

One handful with serenity is better than several handfuls with labor and anguish of spirit. I turned and I saw the emptiness under the sun.

There is an individual man without a partner and who lacks a son or brother, yet there is no end to all his labor and his eye is not satisfied with riches. For whom am I laboring and depriving myself of pleasure? This also is emptiness and an evil business. Two are better than one, for they have a good wage for their labor;

If they fall, one can raise up the other. 1 But woe to the solitary ones, for if they fall there is no one to raise them up. 2 And if two lie together, they will be warm, but how can a solitary one stay warm?

And if someone would overpower an individual, two could stand up to him. A three-strand cord is not readily cut.

1 2

‘the other’: lit. ‘his fellow’.

‘ones … they … them’: lit. ‘one… he … him’.



‫ܩܘܗܠܬ‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬

‫ܕ‪.‬‬

‫ܝܬ ܳ� ݂ܬ ݁ ܽܟܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܡܫـܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܘܗ ݂ܦ ݁ ܶܟ ݂ܬ ܶܐ ܳܢܐ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ـܬ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ‬ ‫ܛ�ܘ ̈ܡܝܶܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܥ ݂ܒ ݁ ܺܕܝܢ ݁ܬ ܶܚܝـ‬ ‫ܚܙ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݂ ܶܕ ̈ܡܥܶܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܛ�ܝ̈ ܶܡܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܡܒ ܳܝ ܳܐܢـܐ ܶܡـܢ ܺܐܝـ ݂ ܳـܕ ܐ ݁ܕ ܳܛ ܽ�ـ ̈ܘ ܰܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܠ ݁‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ܰܚܝــ�‪.‬‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܠ ݁‬ ‫ܡܥ ݁ܕ ܳܪ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ̱ܘ‪ܶ :‬ܡܢ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ ݂ܕ ܶܗ ܽܢܘܢ ܰܚ ܺܝܝܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗ ܳܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܫ ݁ܒ ܶܚ ݂ܬ ܐ ܳܢܐ‬ ‫�ܡܝ̈ ݂ܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܟ ݂ ܰܒܪ ܺܡ ݂‬ ‫ܥܕ ݁ ܺܟܝܠ ܳ� ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛـܠ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܚـ ܳـܙ ܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܛ ݂ܒ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܶܡܢ ݁ܬ ܰ� ܽܝܗܘܢ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ‪ܰ :‬ܡܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ ܳܕ ܐ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ݂ ܶܕ ܐ ݂ܬ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫݂ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ݁ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܐ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܽܟܠ ܰ�ܥ ̈ܡ ܶ� ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ ܳܕ ܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛـܠ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ݁ ܳܟܫ ܶ� ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܙ‬ ‫ܛ� ܶܢـܗ ݁ܕ ݂ܰܓ ݂ܒـ ܳܪ ܐ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰܚ ݂ܒ ܶܪܗ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܶܗ ݂ܒ ܳ� ܘܛܘ ܳܪ ݂ ܳܦܐ ݂ܕ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܥ ݁ ܶܦܩ ܺܐ ̈ܝ ݂ ܰܕܘܗܝ‪ܳ :‬ܘ ݂ ܶܐܟܠ ݁ ܶܒ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܣ ݂ܟ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܣܪܗ‪.‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ̈ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ݂ ܳܦܐ ݂ܕ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܛ ݂ܒ ܡ� ܽܫܘܥ� ܳܢܝ ܳܚܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡܢ ܡ� ܚܘ ݂ܦܢܐ ܥܡ�‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗ ݂ܦ ݁ ܶܟ ݂ܬ ܶܐ ܳܢܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܗ ݂ܒ� ݂ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܚܙ ݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ـܬ ܽܣـ ݂ܘܦ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ـܬ ܶܠـܗ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܠ ݁‬ ‫ܘܠܝـ ݁ ݀‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܬ ܶܪܝــܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒـ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܘ ܳܐܚـܐ ܰܠܝـ ݁ ݀‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫�ܟـܠ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܠܗ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ܰܥܝܢܶܗ ܳ� ܳܣ ݂ܒ ܳܥܐ ܽܥ ݂ܘܬ ܳܪܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܢ ܶܐ ܳܢܐ ܳܥ ܶܡـܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܰ‬ ‫ـܝ‬ ‫ܚܣـܪ ܰܢ ݂ܦܫـ ̱‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ݂ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܶܗ ݂ܒ ܰ� ̱ܗܘ‪ :‬ܘܥܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܢ ܛ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܐܓ ܳܪ ܐ ܛ ݂ ܳܒܐ ݂ܒ ܰܥܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ܽ‬ ‫ܳܛ ݂ ܺܒܝܢ ݁ܬ ܶܪܝܢ ܶܡܢ ܰܚ ݂ܕ‪ܺ ݁ .‬‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܕ‪ܶ ݁ .‬ܕ ܐܢ ܳܢ ݂ܦـܠ‪ܰ :‬ܠܝـ ݁‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܒ ܶܪܗ‪݁ .‬ܕ ܳܘܝ ܠܗ ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܶܕ ܐܢ ܢܶ ݁ܦ ܽ�ܘܢ‪ܰ :‬ܚ ݂ܕ ܡ ܺܩܝܡ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ ܰܡـܢ‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ܺܢܩ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܡܝܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܚ ݂ܕ ܰܐ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܟ ܳܢܐ ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܟ ݂ ܽܒܘܢ ݁ܬ ܶܪܝܢ‪ :‬ܢܶܫܚ ܽܢܘܢ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܶܘܐܢ ܢܶ ݁‬ ‫ܫܚܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡـܘܢ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ܽܢܩ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܫܢ ܰܚ ݂ܕ‪݁ :‬ܬ ܰ�ܝـ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܘܐܢ ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܳ� ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܥܓـܠ‬ ‫�ܩـ ݂ܘܒ ܶܠܗ‪ .‬ܘܚܘܛـܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܬܠـ ݂‬ ‫ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ܦ ܶܣܩ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Qoheleth Ch. 





   

  

I know that all which the Lord has made will be forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing can be taken away from it. The Lord has made (it) so that people will fear Him.

What has been already, is (now); and everything that will be has been from great antiquity. And God seeks the persecuted one who is outcast. 1 Again I saw under the sun: (In) the place of justice, there is wickedness. And (in) the place of righteousness, there is injustice.

I said to myself: God will judge the righteous person and the wicked person, because there is a time for every desire and every deed there.

I said to myself concerning the speech of people: God created them and [it is] to show that they are like animals.

To them (all) befalls the fate of humans and the fate of animals; one fate befalls all of them. The death of the one is like the death of the other. They all have the same 2 spirit. There is no advantage possessed by humans over animals, for everything is emptiness.

Each one goes to the same place. Each one was from dust, and each one returns to the dust. Now, who knows whether the spirit of humans goes upward and the spirit of animals goes down beneath the earth?

So I saw that there is nothing good among them except that people take pleasure in their works, for that is their portion. For who is there who can enable them to see what will come after them?

1‘who

is outcast’ or ‘who is persecuted’. spirit’ or ‘same breath’: lit. ‘one spirit’.

2‘same



‫ܩܘܗܠܬ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬

‫ܗܘܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܰܠܡ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ‪ܽ :‬ܗܘ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܥ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ ܰܠܝـ ݁‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬ ܰ‬ ‫�ܶ ݂ܕܥܶ ݂ܬ ݁ܕ ݂ ܽܟܠ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ ܽܦـܘ‪:‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ܒ ܰ�ܪ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡܢܶܗ ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ݁ܕܢܶ ݂ܕܚ ܽ�ܘܢ ܶܡܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬܘܗܝ‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܗܘܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ܳܡܐ ݂ܕܢܶـ ܶ‬ ‫ܳܡܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡـܢ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓـܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܐ�ـ ܳܗܐ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܰܟ ݁ ܽܕܘ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ ̱‬ ‫ܢܶ ݂ܒܥܶܐ ܰܠ ݂ ܺܪܕܝ ݂ ܳܦܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݂ ܶܪܕ ݂ܦ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪ܰ :‬ܐ ݂ ܰܬܪ ݁ ݂ܕ ܺܕ ܳܝܢـܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܬ ܳܡـܢ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ݂ܘܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܥـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬܪ ݁ܕܙܶ ݂ ܕ ܳܩـܐ‪݁ :‬ܬ ܳܡـܢ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܚܙ ݂‬ ‫݂ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܘ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫ܝܥـܐ ܐ ܳ�ـ ܳܗܐ ݂ ܳܕ ܐܢ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛـܠ ݁ܕ ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢـܐ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ݂ܬ ܐ ܳܢܐ ݂ܒ ܶܠ ݁ܒـ ̱ܝ‪�ܳ :‬ـ ݂ܬ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩـܐ ܘ�ـ ݂ܬ ܪܫ‬ ‫ܳ ݁ ܳܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܬܡܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫�ܟܠ ݂‬ ‫�ܟܠ ݂ ܽ�ܒܘ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܡ� ܳ� ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ̈ܒ ܰܢܝ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܶܐ ܽܢـܘܢ ܰܐ ܳ�ـ ܳܗܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܘܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܳܘ ܽ�ـܘ‬ ‫ܐܡ ܶܪ ݂ܬ ܐܰ ܳܢܐ ݂ܒ ܶܠ ݁ܒ ̱ܝ ܶ ܰܥܠ ܰܡ ̱‬ ‫݂ܕ ܶܗ ܽܢܘܢ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܒ ܺܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪ ܐ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܕ ܳܫـܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܺܥܝـ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ـܪ ܐ‪݂ܶ .‬‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܳܡ ܶܛܐ ݂ܶܓ ݂ܕ ܳܫـܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ̈ܒ ܰܢـܝ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫـܐ ݂ܶ‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܕ ܳܫـܐ ܰܚـ ݂ܕ ݁ ܳܓـ ݂ ܶܕܫ‬ ‫݂ܽ‬ ‫ܘܚـܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ�ـ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܰܡ ݁ܘܬܶܗ ݁ܕ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ ܳܡـܐܶ ݂ܬ ܳܗ ܳܢـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘܚـ ݂ ܳـܕ ܐ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܡܝ ݁ܬ ܽܪ ݂ܘܬܶܗ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܶܡܢ ݁ܒ ܺܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪ ܐ ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛܠ ݁ܕ ݂ ܽܟܠ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ܶܗ ݂ܒ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܥ ݂ܦ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ܳܗ ݂ ܶܦ ݂ܟ ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟܠ ܳܐ ܶܙܠ ܰ� ݂ܬ ܳܪܐ ܰܚ ݂ܕ‪ܽ ݁ .‬ܟܠ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ܦ ܳܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ݁ ܺ ܳ ܳ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܽܢܘ ܳܝ ݂ ܰܕܥ ܶܐܢ ܽܪܘܚ ݁ܒ ܰܢ ̈ܝ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܳܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ܺܗܝ‬ ‫�ܩـܐ �ܥܶـܠ‪ :‬ܘܪܘܚ ܒܥܝــܪ ܐ ܢܚـ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܚܬ � ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬ ݁‬ ‫ܪܥܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܕ ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫ـܕ ܐ ܐ̱ ܳܢـܫ ݁ ܰܒ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܕ ܳܛ ݂ܒ ݁ܒ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܶ :‬ܐ ܳ� ݂ܕܢܶܚـ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ ܰܕ ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛـܠ ݁ܕ ܺܗܝ ܺ ̱ܗܝ‬ ‫ܚܙ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܰ ܽ ܰ ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܝܘ ̱ܗܝ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟܠ ݁ܕܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܢ ݂ܬܗ‪ .‬ܡܛܠ ܕܡܢܘ ܢ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܬ ܶܪܗ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Qoheleth Ch. 

II

          

 

Chapter  For everything there is a time, and a time for every desire under the sun.

A time to give birth, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill, and a time to revive; a time to tear down, and a time to build. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to lament, and a time to dance.

A time to throw stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to abstain from embracing. A time to destroy, and a time to seek; a time to bind, and a time to loosen. A time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. So what profit is there in the work that a person does?

I have seen the business which the Lord has given to humanity with which to be busy —

Everything that he makes which is beautiful in its time 1 — and he has put eternity 2 in their minds, so that people cannot discover the work which the Lord has created from the first until the last. I know that there is nothing good among them except to find pleasure and to do what is pleasing in their lives.

And also everyone should eat and drink and see what is pleasing in all their labor; that is a gift of the Lord.

‘Everything … time —’: Unlike MT, P presents two successive relative clauses here, which do not form a complete sentence.

1 2

‘eternity’ or ‘labor, trouble, exhaustion’ in some P MSS.



‫ܩܘܗܠܬ‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫ܓ‪.‬‬

‫ܨܚ ܒ‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬

‫݂ܽ‬ ‫�ܟܠ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܟܠ ݂ ܽ�ܒܘ ݂ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫�ܡ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰ� ݂ܒ‪ܰ :‬ܘܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܡ ݂ܬ‪ܰ .‬ܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܠ ݂ܕ‪ܰ :‬ܘܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܩܪ ܺܢܨ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܣܬܪ‪ܰ :‬ܘܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܛܠ‪ܰ :‬ܘܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܡ ܳܚ ܽܝܘ‪ܰ .‬ܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ �ܡ‬ ‫ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ �ܡ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܩ ݂ ܽܕܘ‪ܰ :‬ܘܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ܒ ݁ ܳܟܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡܓ ܰܚ ݂ܟ‪ܰ .‬ܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܪ ܳܩ ݂ ܽܕܘ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܺ ̈ܶ‬ ‫̈ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܦـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢـܐ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܦـܩ‪ܰ :‬ܘܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢـܐ‬ ‫ܡܟܢܫـܘ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܪܡ ܽܝܘ ݂ ܺܟ ݂ܐܦـܐ‪ :‬ܘܙ ݂ܒܢـܐ ܠ ݂‬ ‫�ܡܬ ܰܪ ܳܚ ܽܩܘ ܶܡܢ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܛܪ‪ܰ :‬ܘܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒ ݂ ܽܕܘ‪ܰ :‬ܘܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ܒ ܳܥܐ‪ܰ .‬ܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ �ܡ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ�ܪ ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܡ ܳܠܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܬܩ‪ :‬ܘܙ ݂ܒܢܐ ܠ‬ ‫ܡܚܛ‪ܰ .‬ܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ �ܡ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܢܐ‪ܰ .‬ܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܚܡ‪ܰ :‬ܘܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܙ ݂ܒ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ ܳܡ ܳܢܐ ܽ� ݂ܘܬ ܳܪܢ ݁ ܰܒ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܳܕ ܐ ݂ܕ ܽܗܘ ܳܥ ܶܡܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰ� ݂ ̈ܒ ܰܢܝ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܥܶ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ܬܥ ܳ� ܽܝܘ ݂ ܶܒܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܙ ݂‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ݁ܒ ܶܠ ݁ܒ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܰ :‬ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܢܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ� ݂ܬ ܳܥ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟܠ ݁ܕ ܳܥ ݂ ܶܒ ݂ܕ ݁ܕ ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦܝܪ ݁ܒ ܰܙ ݂ܒܢܶܗ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܫܟـܚ‬ ‫ܳܳ ܳܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܺ ܺ ܳ ܰܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܪ ݁ܝܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܐ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܐ̱ܢܫܐ ݂‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܡܪ�ܐ ܡܢ ܪܝܫ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ܥܕܡܐ �̱‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ݁ܕܛ ݂ܒ ݁ܒ ܰܚ ܰ�ܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܛ ݂ܒ ݁ܒ ܽܗܘܢ‪ :‬ܐ � �ܡܚܕ ܐ ܘ�ܡ‬ ‫ܘ� ݂ܕܥ ݂ܬ ܕܠ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܶ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܠ�ܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟـ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ‬ ‫ܡܠـܗ‪ :‬ܡـ‬ ‫ܳܘ ݂ܐܦ ݁ ܽܟܠ ܐ̱ ܳܢܫ ݁ܕܢܶ ݂ ܽܐܟܘܠ ܘܢܫܬܐ‪ :‬ܘܢܚܙ ܐ ܛ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܳܡܪ ܳ�ܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Qoheleth Ch. 



 

  

 

Who knows whether that one will be wise or foolish, yet they will gain control of all that I have labored to earn and for which acted wisely under the sun. This also is emptiness! Then I turned to calm my mind about all that I had labored to earn under the sun.

For there is a person who labors with wisdom and with knowledge and with energy, who then must give it as an inheritance 1 to someone who has not labored for it. This also is emptiness and a great evil. What do people gain for all the toil and for all the mental striving 2 that they expend under the sun?

For all their days are pain, and their business 3 is anger. Also at night their mind does not rest. This also is emptiness.

There is no good for people except that they should eat and drink and show themselves pleasure in their labor. But this also I saw to be from the hand of the Lord, For who eats and who drinks, apart from Him?

Because to the person who is pleasing to 4 him he gives wisdom and knowledge and pleasure, but to sinners he gives the drive to increase and to acquire — but in order to give (it) to someone who is pleasing to the Lord. This also is emptiness and anguish of spirit.

1

‘inheritance’: lit. ‘portion, share’.

3

‘business’ or ‘striving’.

2 4

‘mental striving’: lit. ‘determination of heart’. ‘to Him’ and ‘to the Lord’: lit. ‘before Him’ and ‘before the Lord’.



‫ܩܘܗܠܬ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬

‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ‪ܶ :‬ܘܐܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܳܝ ݂ ܰܕܥ ܶܐܢ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝܡ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܣܟـܠ‪ .‬ܘܢ‬ ‫ـܝ ݁ ܶܕ ܳܐܢـܐ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰܠـ ܳܛ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܟـܠ ܰ�ܥܡܠـ ̱‬ ‫ܥܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܶܗ ݂ܒ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܠ ݂ܬ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܚ ݁ܟ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܽ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܡ� ݂ܕܥܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ݂ܦ ݁ ܶܟ ݂ܬ ܶܐ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܶܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܫܝܶܫ ܳ� ݂ܬ ܶܠ ݁ܒ ̱ܝ‪ :‬ܥܠ ܟܠ�ܥ‬ ‫ܡܠ ݂ܬ ݁ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܪ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ �� ܳܢ ܳܫـܐ ݂ܕ�‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ܘ ݂ܒ ݂ܟܫ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ݂ܘܒ ݂ܝܕ ܳ ݂‬ ‫ܡܠܗ ݁ܒ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܶܡܛܠ ݁ ܺܕ ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ݁ܳ ̇ ܳ ܶ ܳ ̇ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܡܢ ݂ܬܗ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܶܗ ݂ܒ� ݂ܘܒ‬ ‫ܥܡܠ ܒܗ‪� :‬ܗ ݂ܒ ܠܗ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ ܰܪ ݁ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬

‫݁ܕ ܳܡ ܳܢܐ ܳܗ ܶܘܐ � ݂ ܰܒܪ ܐ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟܠ ܰ�ܥ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬ‬ ‫ܡܠܗ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܶ� ݂ܒ ܳ� ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ܶ� ݁ ܶܒܗ ݁ܕ ܽܗܘ ܳܥ ܶܡܠ ݁�ܬ ܶܚܝـ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܶܫܡ ܳܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫̈ܰ‬ ‫ܘܓـ ܳܙ ܐ ܥܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܢ� ܶܢـܗ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ݁ܒ ܺ� ܳܝـܐ � ܳܫ ݂ ܶܟـ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܡܛܠ ݁ܕ ݂ܟܠ ܰܝܘܡـ ܳܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܟ ݂ܐܒـܐ ܘܪ ݂‬ ‫ܶ� ݁ ܶܒܗ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܶܗ ݂ܒ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݁ܶ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܠܝـ ݁‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ ݁ܕ ܳܛ ـ ݂ܒ ݂ܰ‬ ‫�ܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫ ـܗ‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ܒ ـ ܳܪ ܐ ܐ � ݂ܕ ܺܢ ݂ ܽܐܟ ܺـܘܠ ݂ܘܕܢܫــܬܐ‪݂ :‬ܘܕܢܚ ـܘܐ ܛ ݂ܒ ـ ݂‬ ‫݁ܒ ܰܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܠܗ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ܳܗ݂ ܶܕ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܕ ܶܡܢ ܐ ݂ ܳܝܕ ܐ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܙ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܶ ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܫܬܐ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫�ܒܪ ܶܡܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܡܛܠ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ܽܢܘ ܢܶ ݂ ܽܐܟܘܠ‪ :‬ܘܡܢܘ ܢ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ܒ ـ ܳܪ ܐ ݁ܕ ܳܛ ـ ݂ܒ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛ ـܠ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚ ـ ݂ ܽܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ـܬܐ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ܘ ݂ܝܕܥـ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡ ـܘ ̱ܗܝ‪ �ܳ :‬ـ ܶܗ ݂ܒ ܶܚ ݂ܟܡـ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܽ ܰ ܰܳܽ ܰ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫�ܚ ܳܛܝ̈ܶܐ ܳ� ܶܗ ݂ܒ ܥܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡـ ݁ܬܠ ܰ�ܠ ݂ܕܛـ ݂ܒ ܩـ ݂ ܳـܕܡ‬ ‫ܡܟܢܫـܘ‪ :‬ܘ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ �ܡܘܣ ݂ܦܘ ܘܠ ݂‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘܐܦ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܶܗܒ ܳ� ܘ ܽܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ݂ ܳܦܐ ݂ܕ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳܡ ܳ ݂‬ ‫݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Qoheleth Ch. 







  



 

I did not withhold from my eyes anything they wanted, 1 and I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure. For my mind took pleasure in all my labor, and this was my portion 2 from all my labor.

Then I considered all the work that my hands had done and all the labor that I had expended to do (it): Indeed, everything was emptiness and anguish of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.

So I decided to examine wisdom and misconduct and foolishness, for who is the man who comes after the king in judgment? So with whoever did it. 3 And I saw that there is more benefit in wisdom than foolishness, as (there is) more in light than darkness. Wise people have eyes in their head, but fools travel in darkness. But I know that the same fate comes to all of them.

I said to myself: ‘If the fate of the fool comes to me also, then why have I tried excessively to be wise?’ 4 I said to myself: ‘This also is emptiness!’

For the fool speaks excessively. 5 For there is no lasting memory of the wise person and the fool. Like the days which are already coming, then everyone is forgotten. How the wise person will die just like the fool!

So I hated life, because the labor that is done under the sun seemed evil to me. For everything is emptiness and anguish of spirit.

And I hated all that I had labored to earn 6 under the sun, because I will leave it to the one who comes after me;

1

‘wanted’: lit. ‘requested’.

3

‘So … did it’ or ‘So with what he made him’: The clause is obscure.

2 4

‘portion’ or ‘reward’.

‘tried excessively to become wise’ or ‘become excessively wise’.

‘For the fool speaks excessively’: The relationship of this clause to the rest of the verse is unclear.

5

‘that I had labored to earn’: The noun �‫ ܰܥܡ‬can mean either labor or what is earned by labor. Here and in 2:20 the latter is clearly intended.

6

ܳ



‫ܩܘܗܠܬ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݂ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܠ ݁ܒ ̱ܝ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܽܟܠ ܰܚـ ݂ܕ ܳܘܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܗܝܢ‪ .‬ܘ� ݂ܟ ܺܠ ݂‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ݁ ܰܕ ܶܫܐܠ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܝ � ݂ܟ ܺܠ ݂‬ ‫ܘܗ ܶܕ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘ ݂ܬ ݀ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܶܠ ݁ܒ ̱ܝ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܠܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܝ‪݂ ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܚܕܝ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟܠ ܰ�ܥܡ ̱‬ ‫ܡܢ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܰܥܡ ̱‬ ‫ܳܳ ܰ ܰ ̈ ܺ̈ܰ ܰ ܽ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܡ� ݂ܕܥܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܠ ݂ܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫�ܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ̱ܝ ܐܝ ݂ܕܝ‪ :‬ܘ ݂ܒ ݂ܟܠ�ܥ‬ ‫�ܥܒ ݂ܽܕ ܐ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܘܚ ܶܪ ݂ܬ ܐ ܳܢܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟܠ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽܟܠ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ܶܗܒ ܳ� ܘܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ݂ ܳܦܐ ݂ܕ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܘܠܝ ݁ܬ ܽ� ݂ܘܬ ܪܢ ݁ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܶܪ ݂ܬ ܶܐ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܟ ܽ�ـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛـܠ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ܽܢـܘ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪ :‬ܘ�ܡ ݂ܬܥ ݂ܒܪ ܢـ ݂‬ ‫݁ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ‪ܶ ݁ :‬ܟܢ ܰܥܡ ܰܡܢ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ݂ܒ ݁ ܶܕܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܕ�ܶ ܽܥܘܠ ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܰ݁ܺ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܰ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܬܝܪ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܗܪ ܐ ܶܡܢ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ �ܬܝܪ ܡܢ ܣ ݂ܟ� ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܕ�‬ ‫ܚܙ ݂‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ܽ� ݂ܘܬ ܪܢ ݁ܒ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫ܶܚ ܽܫ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܒ ܺܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܟܐ ܐ ܶܙܠ‪ .‬ܘ�ܶ ݂ܕܥܶ ݂ܬ ܐ ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܶܓ ݂ܕ ܳܫܐ ܰܚـ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܝܫܗ‪ .‬ܘܣ ݂ܟ� ݂ܒܚܫ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܳܓ ݂ ܶܕܫ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܘܐܡـ ܶ‬ ‫ـܪ ݂ܬ ܶܐ ܳܢـܐ ݂ܒ ܶܠ ݁ܒـ ̱ܝ‪ܶ :‬ܐܢ ܰܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ݁ ܶܓ ݂ܕ ܳܫـܐ ݂ܕ ܰܣ ݂ܟـ ܳ� ܳܐ ݂ܦ ܺܠـܝ ܢܶܓـ ݁ ܰܕܫ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳܢـܐ‬ ‫ܰ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡܠ ݂ܬ ݁ܒ ܶܠ ݁ܒ ̱ܝ ݁ ܳܕ ݂ܐܦ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܶܗ ݂ܒ� ̱ܗܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ݁ܟ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܐ ܳܢܐ ܰ� ݁ܬ ܳܝܪ ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܡܡ ܶܠܠ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫�ܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܝܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ ܽܕ ݂ܘܟ ܳܪ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܛܠ ܕܣ ݂ܟ� ܡܢ �‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ܰܥܡ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܰܣ ݂ܟ ܳ� ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܰܠܡ‪ܰ .‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܰܝܘ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܰܟ ݁ ܽܕܘ ܐ ݂ܬܝܢ‪݂ .‬ܘܟܠ ܶܡ ݁ܬܛܥܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܳܢܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܡ ݂ܘܬ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ܰܥܡ ܰܣ ݂ܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫�ܚ ̈ܶܝܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ݂ ܺܒܝܫ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ ܳܕ ܐ ݂ ܶܕ ܐ ݂ܬ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܠܝ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ـܬ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܐ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܢ ݂‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ ݁ܬ ܶܚܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܽܟܠ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ܶܗܒ� ܘܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ݂ ܳܦܐ ݂ܕ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܠܝ ݁ ܶܕ ܳܐܢܐ ܥܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛܠ ݁ܕ ܳܫ ݂ ܶܒـܩ ܐ̱ ܳܢـܐ‬ ‫ܘܣܢ ݂‬ ‫ܡܠ ݂ܬ ݁ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ܐ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܽܟܠ ܰ�ܥܡ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ݂ܕܗܘܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܪ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܗ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Qoheleth Ch. 

Chapter 

  

   





I said to myself: ‘Come, I will test you with pleasure: See what is good!’ But indeed also this was emptiness.

I said of laughter, ‘What good is it?’ 1 And of pleasure, ‘What do you accomplish?’

I planned 2 to delight my body with wine — with my mind being attentive to wisdom and keeping a hold on prudence — until I could discern what is good for people to do under the sun in the few days 3 of their lives.

I multiplied servants for myself; 4 I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself. I made for myself parks and gardens, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.

I made for myself reservoirs of water from which to irrigate a grove that produced trees.

I acquired for myself male and female slaves, and I had a huge household staff. Also I had greater holdings of bulls and sheep than all who were before me in Jerusalem.

I also accumulated silver and gold for myself, and the possessions of kings of cities. I got for myself male and female singers and the joy of men. I got for myself male and female cupbearers.

I accumulated5 wealth more than all who were before me in Jerusalem, but also my wisdom remained.

1

‘What good is it?’: lit. ‘What is the profit?’.

3

‘in the few’: lit. ‘the number of’. Also 5:17 and 7:1.

2 4 5

‘planned’: lit. ‘thought in my mind’. ‘servants’ or ‘works’.

‘accumulated’: lit. ‘increased and gathered’.



‫ܩܘܗܠܬ‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫ܒ‪.‬‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܶ ܳ ݁ܶ ݁ ܳ ܶ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܐ ݂ܦ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܶܗ ݂ܒ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ݂ܬ ܐܢܐ ܠܒ ̱ܝ‪ :‬ܬ ܐ ܐ ݂ܒܩ ݂ܝܟ ܒܚ ݂ܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ :‬ܘܚܙܝ ܛ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ݁ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܳܡ ܰܢܐ ̱ܗܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܓܘܚܟܐ ܐܡܪ ݂ܬ ܡܢܐ ܗܢܝܢ‪ .‬ܘ�ܚ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܒ ܳܣ ܽܡܘ ݂ܒ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܒ ܶܠ ݁ܒ ̱ܝ ܰܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܺܐܚܝـ ݂ـܕ‬ ‫ܡܪ ܐ ݂ ܶܒܣ ܳܪ ̱ܝ‪ .‬ܘ ܶܠ ݁ܒ ̱ܝ ܳܪܢـܐ ݂ܒ ܶܚ ݂ܟܡـ ݂‬ ‫ܺܪܢ ݂‬ ‫ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ـܬ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡـܐ ݂ ܶܕ ܐܚـ ܶـܙ ܐ ܐ ܳܝܢـܐ ܛـ ݂ܒ ܰ� ݂ ̈ܒ ܰܢـܝ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫـܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ݁ܥܒـ ݂ ܽܕܘܢ ݁ܬ ܶܚܝـ ݂‬ ‫݁ܒ ܰܣ ݁ ܽܟ ݂‬ ‫ܘܠܬܢـ ݂‬ ‫ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡ ܳܢܝܢ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܰܡܝ ܰܚ ܰ�ܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܳ̈ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܨܒ ݂ܬ ܺܠܝ ݂ ܰܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ .‬ܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫�ܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܠܝ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܣܓ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ܺܠܝ ܰܥ ݂ ̈ܒ ݁ ܶܕ ܐ‪݁ :‬ܒ ܺܢ ݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܥܶ ݂ܒ ݁ ܶܕܬ ܺܠܝ ܰܓܢ̈ܶܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܣܐ‪ .‬ܘܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦ� ݁ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܨܒ ݂ܬ ݁ܒ ܽܗܘܢ ܐ�̈ ܳ� ܺܢܝܢ ݁ܕ ݂ ܽܟܠ ݁ ܺܦܐ�ܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܶ ܺ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܩ ܽܝܘ ܶܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ܳܝ̈ܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܢܗܝܢ ܳܥ ݂ ܳܒܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݂ܦ ܰܪܥ ܐ�̈ ܳ�ܢܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥ ݂ܒܕ ݂ܬ ܠܝ �ܡܡ ݂‬ ‫ܩܢ ݂ ܺ ܰ ̈ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ̈ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܓܐܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ܶܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢـܐ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܠܝ ܳ ܥ ݂ܒ ܶܕ ܐ ܘܐܡܗ ݂ܬ ܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܒܢـܝ ݁ܒܝــܬܐ ܗܘܘ ܠـܝ ܣـ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܝ ݁ ܽܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܘ� ܐ ܰ ݂ܘܕ ܳ�ܢ̈ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܺܠܝ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܽܟܠ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܕ ݂ܬ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ̈ ݁ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܫ ݂ܬ ܺܠܝ ܳܐ ݂ܦ ݁ ܶܟ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܦܐ ݂ ܰܘܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܕ ̈� ܳܢـ ݂ܬܐ‪ .‬ܥܶ ݂ܒـ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܬ ܺܠـܝ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ‪ :‬ܘܩܢ�ܢـܐ ݂ܕܡ�ܟـܐ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ݁̈ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ݁ ܳ ̈ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܒ ݂ ̈ܒ ܰܢـܝ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫـܐ‪ .‬ܥܶ ݂ܒـ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܬ ܺܠـܝ ܳܫ ܰܩ ـ ̈ܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܡܫܒܚܢـܐ ܘܡܫܒܚ�ܝـ ݂ܬܐ‪݂ :‬ܘܒܣ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ̈ܩ ܳܝ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܝ ݁ ܽܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫�ܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܝܪ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܽܟܠ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܣܦ ݂ܬ‪� :‬‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ܰܡ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ‬ ‫ܪܒ ݂ܬ ܰܘ ݂‬ ‫ܳܩ ܰܡ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܬ ܳܠ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Qoheleth Ch. 



 

  





There is no remembrance of former ones, nor of those who come later. There will be no remembrance of them by those who will come at the last. I, Qoheleth, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

I determined to investigate and to consider with wisdom all that is done under the sun. The Lord has given humanity an evil business to be occupied with. I have seen all the labor which is done under the sun, and indeed 1 everything is emptiness and anguish of spirit. 2

A damaged thing cannot be put right, and what is missing cannot be counted.

I said to myself: ‘Indeed, I have become great, and I have increased wisdom beyond all who were in Jerusalem before me. My mind has observed much wisdom and knowledge’. So I determined to become acquainted with wisdom and knowledge and proverbs and understanding, but I discovered that this also was anguish of spirit, because in much wisdom is much anger, and the one who increases knowledge, increases pain.

1

‘indeed’: lit. ‘behold’.

‘anguish of spirit’ or ‘pounding the wind’: See the note in (ii) D. in Introduction, The Present Translation.

2



‫ܩܘܗܠܬ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬

‫ܝܬ ݁ ܽܕ ݂ܘܟ ܳܪܢ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫�ܩ ݂ ̈ܕ ܳܡܝܶܐ‪ܳ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ܳ� ܰ�̱ܚ ܳ��ܶܐ ݂ܕ ܳܗ ܶܘܝܢ‪ܰ .‬ܠܝـ ݁‬ ‫ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ ݁ ܽܕ ݂ܘܟـ ܳܪܢ ܰܥـܡ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܚܪ ݁ܝܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܗܘܝܢ ܒ‬ ‫ܝܣܪ ܶܐܝܠ ݁ ܽܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܰܥܠ ܶܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܳܢܐ ܽܩ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܠ ݂ܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܗܘ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ܒ ܳܥـܐ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܘ�ܶܗ ݁ ܶܒ ݂ܬ ܶܠ ݁ܒ ̱ܝ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܥـܠ ݁ ܽܟـܠ ݁ ܶܕ ܐ ݂ܬ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ� ܽܢـܘ ݂ܒ ܶܚ ݂ܟܡـ ݂‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ݂ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪ .‬ܥܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰ� ݂ ̈ܒ ܰܢܝ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ݂ܬܥ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ ܶܒܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܶ ܶ ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܠ�ܥܒ ݂ ܳܕ ܐ ݂ ܶܕ ܐ ݂ܬ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ ܽܟ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ݁ܬ ܶܚܝ ݂ܬ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ݂ ܳܦـܐ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ݂ ܽܟܠ ܡـܕܡ ܗ ݂ܒـ�‬ ‫ܚܙ ݂‬ ‫݂ܕ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܚ ܺܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪ ܐ ܳ� ܶܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݂ ܳܘܕ ܐ ܳ� ܶܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܟܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܟܚ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ܬ ܰܩܢ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ܬܡ ܳ� ܽܝܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܪܒܬ ܰܘ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܥـܠ‬ ‫ܰܡܠ ݂ܬ ܐ ܳܢܐ ܰܥܡ ܶܠ ݁ܒ ̱ܝ �ܡ‬ ‫ܐܘܣܦـ ݂ܬ ܶܚ ݂ܟܡـ ݂‬ ‫ܐܡܪ‪ :‬ܐ ܳܢܐ ܳܗܐ �ܶ ݁ ܶ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܘ ݂ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟܠ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ݂ܘܕ ݂ܝܕ ݂‬ ‫ܘܓܐܐ ݂ܕ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܩܕܡܝ ݁ܒܐܘܪܫܠܡ‪ .‬ܘܠ ݁ܒ ̱ܝ ܚܙ ܐ ܣ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܶܗ ݁ ܶܒ ـ ݂ܬ ܶܠ ݁ܒ ـ ̱ܝ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪ :‬ܘ ܰ ̈ܡ ـ ݂ܬ ܶ�‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܘܠܬ ܽܢ ـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܣ ݁ ܽܟ ݂‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪ :‬ܘ ݂ܝܕܥـ ݂‬ ‫�ܡ ـ ݁ ܰܕܥ ܶܚ ݂ܟܡـ ݂‬ ‫ܘ�ܶܕܥܶܬ ݁ ܳܕ ܐܦ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܽܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ݂ ܳܦܐ ݂ܕ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ ݂ ݂‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܐܬ ܽܪܘܓ ܳܙ ܐ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܐܬ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂ ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܰ ܽ‬ ‫�ܡـ ݁ ܰܕܥ‪ܰ :‬ܡـܘ ܶܣ ݂ܦ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ܣ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܡܛܠ ݁ܕ ݂ܒܣ ݂ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܺܟܐ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Qoheleth I

         

Chapter 

The words of Qoheleth, 1 son of David, king of Jerusalem.

‘Utter emptiness!’ 2 says Qoheleth. ‘Utter emptiness! Everything is emptiness’. What gain is there for people from all the labor that they do under the sun?

A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever.

The sun rises, and the sun sets, then it returns to the place where it rises, where again it will rise. Going to the south and then circling to the north — constantly circling — the wind goes and the wind returns on its rounds.

All streams flow into the sea, but the sea is not filled. At the place where the streams go, there they will return to flow (again). All words are tiresome. No one gets enough speaking, 3 and the eye does not get enough seeing, and the ear is not filled with hearing.

That which has been, is about to be, 4 and that which has been done, will be done. There is nothing new under the sun.

Everyone says: 5 ‘Look at this; it is new!’ But it existed already from the ancient times in the past. 6

1

‘Qoheleth’: See the note in Introduction, Appendix 3: Names.

3

‘gets enough … enough’ or ‘is sated with’ (twice).

2 4 5 6

‘Utter emptiness’: See the note (ii) A in Introduction, The Present Translation. ‘is’ or ‘about to be’.

‘Everyone says’: lit. ‘Everyone who speaks and says’. ‘in the past’: lit. ‘which were before’.



‫ܣܦܪܐ ܕܩܘܗܠܬ‬ ‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪ :‬ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܨܚ ܐ‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬

‫�ܟܐ ܽܕ ܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܶܦ ݂ܬ ܳܓ ܰܡܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܽܩ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܠ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܒܪ ݁ ܰܕ ܺܘ ݂ܝܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܗܒܠ ܶܗ ݂ ̈ܒܠܝܢ‪ :‬ܐ ܰܡܪ ܩ ܰ‬ ‫݂ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܠ ݂ܬ‪ܶ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܗܒܠ ܶܗ ݂ ̈ܒܠܝܢ‪݁ .‬ܟܠ ܡܕܡ ܗ ݂ܒ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳܡ ܳܢܐ ܽ� ݂ܘܬ ܪ ܳܢܐ � ݂ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟܠ ܰ�ܥܡ� ݂ܕ ܽܗܘ ܳܥ ܶܡܠ ݁�ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܳܕ ܳܪܐ ܳܐ ܶܙܠ‪ܳ ݂ :‬ܘܕ ܳܪܐ ܳܐ ݂ܬܶ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܰܠܡ ܰܩ ܳܝ ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܳܕ ܰܢܚ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬܪ ݁ܕ݂ ܳܕ ܰܢܚ ܽܗܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ܒ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܶܡܢ ݁ܬ ܳܡܢ ݁ܬ ݂ܘܒ ܢܶ ݂ܕ ܰܢܚ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪ :‬ܘ�ܪ ݂ܒ ܫ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܠ�ܠܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓ ݁ܪܒ ܳܝـܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ݂ܬ ݁ܟ ܳܪ ݂ ܽܟـܘ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ܟـ ܶܪ ݂ܟ‪ܳ :‬ܘ ܶܐܙܠ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܢܐ‪ :‬ܘ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ܟ ܶܪ ݂ܟ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܐ ܶܙ‬ ‫ܘܚـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܕ ܳ� ݂ܬܶܗ ݁ ܳܬ ܶܐ ݂ܒ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟܠ ܰܢ ̈ܚ� ܳܪ ܶܡܝܢ ݁ܒ ܰܝ ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܬ ܳܡܢ ܶܗ ܽܢܘܢ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܡܐ � ܶܡ ݂ܬܡ�‪݂ � :‬ܬܪ ݁ ܳܕ ܺܐܙ ̱ܠܝܢ ܰܢ ̈ܚ�‪݂ :‬‬ ‫ܝܒܝܢ ܺ‬ ‫݁ ܳܬ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰܐܙܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ ܶܦ ݂ܬ ܳܓ ̈ܶܡܐ ܶ�ܝــܢ‪ �ܳ .‬ܢܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܒـܥ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒـ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܠܡ ܰܡ ܳܠـܘ‪ .‬ܘ� ܳܣ ݂ܒ ܳܥـܐ ܰܥ ܳܝܢـܐ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫�ܝܐ ݂ܶܐܕ ܳܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܠ ݁‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ‪ܽ :‬ܗܘ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ ܶܕ ݂ܐܬ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ‪ܽ :‬ܗܘ ܳܗ ܶܘܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܳܡܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ‬ ‫ܚܕ ݂ܬ ݁ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪݂.‬‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶܡܢ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܕ ݂ܬ ܽ ̱ܗܘ‪݁ .‬ܟ ݂ ܰܒܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܡ ܶܠܠ ܺܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟܠ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ‪ܺ :‬‬ ‫ܚܙܝ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ‪ܶ ݂ :‬‬ ‫�ܡܝـ ܢ ݁ܕ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܩ ݂ܘܕ ܺܡܝܢ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

              

She girds her hips with strength, and she makes her arms strong.

She discerns that her business is good, and her lamp is not extinguished all night. She extends her arms with skill, and her hands to the spindle.

She stretches out her hands to the poor, and she extends her arms to the destitute. The children of her house are not afraid of snow, because all of them are clothed in scarlet garments. She makes covers for herself, garments of fine linen and purple.

Her husband is known in the cities, when he sits among the elders of the land. She makes linen and sells (it), and she delivers sashes to the merchants. Strength and honor are her clothing, and she is cheerful about the future. 1 She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the law of compassion is on her tongue.

The ways of her house are visible, 2 and she does not eat the bread of laziness.

Her children rise up and call her blessed, and her husband praises her: ‘Many of her daughters acquire riches, but you surpass all of them’.

Beauty is dishonest and loveliness is worthless, but a woman who fears the Lord is praiseworthy. Give her the fruit of her hands and her deeds will praise her in the gate.

1 2

‘future’: lit. ‘later day’.

‘visible’: lit. ‘revealed’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܠ‬ ‫‪� ‬‬

‫ܘܫ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܣܪ ݂ܬ ݀ ܰܚܨ̈ܶ ̇ܝܗ ݁ܒ ܽܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܢܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܪܪ ݂ܬ ݀ ݁ܕ ܳ�ܥܶ ̇‬ ‫ܝܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܬ ݁ܕ ܳܛ ݂ ܳܒܐ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܬܶ ܐ ܽܓܘܪ ݁ ܳܬ ̇ܗ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ݂ ܳܕܥܶ ݂ܟ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܛ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܡ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܫܪ ݂ܳܓ ̇ܗ ܺ� ܳܝܐ ݂ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܽ ܳܳ‬ ‫݁ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ݀ ݁ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܕ�ܥ ̇‬ ‫ܘܥܙ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܪ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ܺ :‬ܘܐ ̈ܝ ݂ ܶܕ ̇ܝܗ �ܡ‬ ‫ܝܗ ܐܘܫܛ ݂ܬ ܒ ݂ܟܫ‬ ‫ܺ ̈ ܶ ̇ ݁ ܶ ܰ ݀ ܶ ̈ ݁ܺ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ ̇ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܛ ݂ ݀‬ ‫�ܒܝ̈ ܶܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܝ ݂ܕܝܗ ܦܫܛ ݂ܬ �ܡܣܟܢܐ‪݂ :‬ܘܕ�ܥܝܗ ܐ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܰ̈ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܘ� ݂ ܳܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܠܓܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ݂ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫�ܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ ̇ܗ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܰܬ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܠܝܢ ̱ܗܘܘ ܒܢܝ ܒ‬ ‫ܝܫܝــܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽܙܚܘ� ܳ� ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ݀ ܳ ̇ ܰ ̈ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ� ܐ ݂ ܰܘܕ ݁‬ ‫ܐܪܓ ܳܘ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܥ ݂ܒܕ ݂ܬ ܠܗ‪ :‬ܘܢܚ‬ ‫ܬܫܘ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܺܝ ݂ ܺܕܝܥ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܳܣ ݂ ̈ܶܒܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܠ ̇ܗ ݁ ܰܒ ܳܝܢ ݂ܬ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕ ̈� ܳܢ ݂ܬܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܟ ݂ܕ ܳ� ݂ܬ ݂ܒ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫݁ܶ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܬ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ܳܢܐ ܥܶ ݂ܒ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ݀ ܰܘܙ ݁ܒ ܰܢ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܐܣܪ ܰܚ�̈ܶ ܐ �ܶܗ ݁ ܰܒ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܟ‬ ‫ܬ ܰܠ ݂ܟ ܰ�ܥ̈ ܳ�ܝܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܐ̱ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܕ ܐ ݂ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ݂ܕ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܽܥ ܳ‬ ‫�ܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫ ̇ܗ‪݂ :‬ܘܬܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܪ ܳ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪ܳ :‬ܘܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ̇ܗ ݁ ܶܦ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܰܥܠ ܶ� ܳܫ ܳܢ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܬ ݁ܒ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ̇ܗ‪ܰ .‬ܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܳ� ܶܐ ݂ܟ ܰܠ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܓ�ܝܢ ܐܘ�ܚ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܚܡ ̇ܗ ݂‬ ‫ܚܒ ܳ� ܳܢܐ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗ‪ :‬ܘ ܰ� ̱ܗ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܛ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܳܩܡ ̱ܘ ݁ܒܢ̈ܶ ̇‬ ‫ܥܠ ̇ܗ ܰܫ ݁ܒ ܳܚ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰ ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݁ܪܬ ̱ܝ ܰܥܠ ݁ ܽܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܬ ̇ܗ ܩ ܰܢ̈ܝ ܽܥ ݂ܘܬ ܳܪܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܓܐܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒܢ ݂‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܪܝــܩ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܽܫـ ݂ܘܦ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘܐܢ ̱ـ ݁ܬ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ ݂ܕ݂ ܳܕܚـ ܳـ� ܶܡـܢ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ـܐ‪ܺ :‬ܗܝ‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ܶ ݁ ܳܓ� ̱ܗܝ �ܐ�ـ ݂‬ ‫݁ܰ‬ ‫݂ܬ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݁ ܰܒܚ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ̇ ܶ ݁ ܺ ܶ ܺ ̈ ܶ ̇ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܽ ܳ ̇ ܳ̈ ܶ ̇ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܗ ݂ܒ ̱ܘ ܠܗ ܡܢ ܦܐ � ܐ ݂ܕ ܐܝ ݂ܕܝܗ‪ .‬ܘܢܫܒܚܘܢܗ ݂‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕܝܗ ܒ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

               

The words of king Lemuel, 1 the prophet, which his mother taught him. She said to him: Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!

Do not give your strength to women, nor your paths to the foods of kings. Beware of kings, O Lemuel, of kings who drink wine and of rulers who drink liquor.

Lest you drink and you forget what you have decreed and you pervert justice due all the poor people.

Let liquor be given to those who mourn, and wine to those who are embittered, So that they can drink and forget their pains, and not remember their distresses. Open your mouth with a word of truth, and judge all wicked sons.

Open your mouth with a righteous judgment and judge the poor and the needy.

A capable wife, who can find? For she is more rare than jewels. There are none to be compared to her.

The heart of her husband trusts in her, and she does not lack provisions. She does good things for him, not bad things, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works her hands according to her will. She is like a merchant ship whose products arrive from far away.

And she arises in the night and sets out food for the children of her house, and work for her servant girls.

She views a field and buys it, and with the income 2 of her hands she plants a vineyard.

1 2

‘Lemuel’: Syriac ‫‘ ܡܘܐܝܠ‬Moel’. ‘income’: lit. ‘fruits’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬

‫�‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ̈ ݁ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܐܝܠ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܒ ܳܝܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ݂ ܳܪܕ ݂ܬܶܗ ܶܐ ܶܡܗ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܡ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ ܕܡ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ݂ܬ ݀ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ�ܝ ݁ ܶܒܪ ̱ܝ‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫ܘ�ܝ ݁ ܰܒܪ ݁ ܰܟܪܣ ̱ܝ‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫ܘ�ܝ ݁ ܰܒܪ ܢܶ ݂ܕ ܰ�ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ݁ܬܶܠ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܟ ܳܠ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ̈� ݁ ܶܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܠ ݂ܟ �ܢܶ ̈ܫܐ‪ܽ :‬ܘܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬ ݂ܟ �ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ ݇ ܶ ܰ ̈ ݁ ܶ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܝــܢ ܰܚܡـ ܳ‬ ‫ـܪ ܐ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܘܡـܢ ܰܫ ܺ�ܝ̈ܛـܐ‬ ‫ܶܡܢ ܰܡ ̈� ݁ ܶܟܐ‪ܽ :‬ܡܘܐܝܠ‪ :‬ܐܙܕܗܪ‪ .‬ܡܢ ܡ�ܟܐ ݂ܕܫ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݂ܕ ܳܫ ݂ܬܝܢ ܰܫ ݂ܟ ܳܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ܳ ܶ ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬܐ ݂ܘܬܶܛܥܶܐ ܰܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܕ� ݂ܬ‬ ‫ܡܒ ݁ܕ ܳܩ ܳܢܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܬܛܥܶܐ ݂ ܺܕܝ ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܽܟ� ܽܗܘܢ ݁ܒܢ̈ܝ ܶܡ ̈ܣ ݁ ܺܟܢܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܪ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݂ܒ ܰܫ ݂ܟ ܳܪ ܐ ܰ� ݂ ܺܒܝ̈ ܶ�‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫�ܡ ܺܪܝ ܰ�ܝ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܳܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܳ‬ ‫݁ ܶ ݁ܽ‬ ‫ܫܬܘܢ ܘܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܛܥܘܢ ݁ ܺܟ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܒܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܕܢ‬ ‫ܘܥ ̈ܩ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ܬ ݂ܘܒ � ܢܶ ݁ܬ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܟ ܽܪܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ܽ ݁ ܰ ܳ̈ ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ ݁ ܶ ܳ ܽ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ݂ܕܩ‬ ‫�ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܒ�ܝܐ �ܘ �‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܫܬܐ‪ܽ ݂ .‬ܘܕܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܦ ݂ܬܚ ܦܘܡ ݂ܟ ܒܡ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂ܟ ݁ܒ ݂ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ‪ܽ ݂ .‬ܘܕܘܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܚ ݁ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ̈ܣ ݁ ܺܟܢܶܐ ܰܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܒܝ̈ ܶܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܦ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܺ ̈ܶ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܟܚ‪ܺ �ܰ .‬ܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪܬ ܐ ܰܡ ܽܢܘ ܶܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܢ̱ܬ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ܟܫ‬ ‫ܐܦـܐ ܛ ݂ ̈ܒـ ݂ܬܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ݂ ܕ ̈ܡܝــܢ‬ ‫ܝܪ ܐ ̱ܗܝ ݁ ܶܓܝــܪ ܡـܢ ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܬ ݂ ܺܟܝܠ ܶ‬ ‫�ܥܠ ̇‬ ‫ܐܣ ܳܢܐ � ܰܚ ܰܣܪ ܳܠ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܗ �ܒܗ ܕ ݂ܒܥܠ ̇ܗ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܰ ݀ ܶ ܳ ܳ̈ ܳ ܳ ܺ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥ ݂ܒܕ ݂ܬ ܠܗ ܛ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ ܘ� ݂ܒܝܫ ݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܳ ݀ ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ܳܢܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ̈ܕ ̱ܝ ܐ ̈ܝ ݂ ܶܕ ̇ܝܗ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܶ� ݂ܒ ܳ� ܳܢ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܥ ݂ܬ ܥܡܪ ܐ ݂ܘܟ‬ ‫ܳ ݀ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ݁ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܽ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܬ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܦܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܬ ݁ܓܪ ܐ‪ :‬ܕܡܢ ܪܘܚܩܐ ܐ ݂ܬ�ܐ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ܓ‬ ‫ܗܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ݀ ݁ ܺ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ݀ ܶ ܽ ݁ܳ ܰ ̈ ܰ ݁ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ̇ܗ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܡ ݂ܬ ܒ�ܝܐ‪ :‬ܘ�ܗܒ ݂ܬ ܡܐ ݂ܟܘܠܬܐ � ݂ܒܢܝ ܒ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܳܕ ܐ ܠܛ�ܝ̈ ݂ܬ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ݀ ݁ ܽ ܳܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܢܬܗ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ݁ ܺܦܐ ܶ� ܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܐ ̈ܝ ݂ ܶܕ ̇ܝܗ ܢܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܨܒ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܪܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܚܪ ݂ܬ ܒ ݂ܦܘ�ܚܢܐ ܘ ݂ܙܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

    

Three things are stately 1 in their movement, and four are attractive in their motion:

A young lion is stronger than any other animal and has no fear, and it does not turn back from any other animal. A rooster who struts among the hens, and a he-goat who goes at the front of the flock, and a king who speaks among peoples. Do not covet so that you will not be disgraced. And do not stretch out your hand to your mouth deceitfully.

From the fat of milk, butter comes forth, and if you push your hand against the nose, blood comes forth. So also strife proceeds from angry disagreement.

1

‘stately’ or ‘dignified’: lit. ‘upright, straight’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܟܛ ݁ܬ ܳܠ ݂ܬ ܶܐܢ ܶܝܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ܺ� ܳܝ�ܢ ܰܗ ݂ ܳ ̈‬ ‫ܐܪܒܥ ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦܝܪ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟ ݂ܬ ܶܗܝܢ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܗ ̈� ݂ ܳܟܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ܳ ܽ ܶ ݁ܽ ܳ ݁ ܺ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪ ܐ‪ .‬ܘ� ݂ ܳܕ ܶܚܠ‪ :‬ܘ� ܳܗ ݂ ܶܦ ݂ܟ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܽܟ ܳܠـ ̇ܗ‬ ‫ܠ ݁ܓܘܪ�ܐ ݂ܕ ܐܪ�ܐ ݂ܓܢ̱ܒܪ ̱ܗܘ ܡܢ ܟܠ ̇ܗ ܒܥ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܺܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫــܐ ݂ ܳܕ ܶܐܙܠ ݁ܒ ܺܪܝــܫ ݁ܓــ ܳܙ ܳܪܐ‪:‬‬ ‫� ܳܘ ݂ ܰܐܒ ݁ ܳܟ ـܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݁ ܰܙܕ ݁ ܰܪܟ ـܠ ݁ ܰܒ ܳܝܢــ ݂ܬ ݁ܬ � ܳܢ ݂ܽܓ ـܘ�ܝ ݂ܬܐ‪݂ :‬‬ ‫ܘ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܡ ܶܠܠ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܛ ܺܐ ܳܝܕ ݂ܟ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܒ ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ܰܪ ݂ܓ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ܰ�ܛ ܰܥܪ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ݂ ܰܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂ܟ ݁ܒܥܶ ݁ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܬܐ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݁ ܽܦـܘܩ‬ ‫ܠܓ ܡܢ ܫܘܡܢܗ ܕܚ ݂‬ ‫ܐܘܬ ܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘܐܢ ݁ܬ ݂ܟ ݁ ܽܒܘܫ ܐ ݂ ܳܝܕ ݂ܟ ܰܥܠ ܚ ݂‬ ‫�ܒܐ ܢ ݂ܦܩ ܶܐ ܚ ݂‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳܡܐ‪ܳ .‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ ܶܡܢ ܶܚܪ�ܢܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܐܦܐ ܢ ݂ܦܩ ݁ܕܝܢܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

    

 

        

A generation which makes haughty its eyes and lifts up its eyelids.

A generation whose teeth are swords and whose teeth 1 are knives to consume the poor of the land and the destitute of people. The leech has three beloved daughters. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that do not say, ‘Enough!’:

Sheol, a barren woman, land which does not have sufficient water, and fire which never says, ‘Enough!’.

The eye which laughs at its father and scorns the old age of its mother — ravens of the valley will peck out and young eagles will devour it. Three things are too mysterious for me, and four I do not know:

The way of an eagle in the sky, and the way of a snake on a rock, and the way of a ship in the heart of the sea, and the way of a man in his youth.

This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth and says, ‘I have not done anything’. Under three things the earth quakes, and under four it cannot bear up: Under a servant when he becomes king; and under a fool who becomes full of food; And under a hated woman who obtains a husband; and under a maidservant who drives out her mistress. Four things are little on the earth, yet they are the wisest of the wise:

Ants, which have no strength in them but they prepare their food in summer; Hyraxes, which are lacking in strength but make for themselves houses in rocks; Locusts, which have no king but all assemble together;

Lizards, which fasten (themselves) with their hands and live in the houses of kings.

1

‘teeth’: lit. ‘molars/jaw-teeth’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܚ‬

‫݁ ܳܕ ܳܪܐ ܳܡܐ ݂ܕ ܳ� ܳܡܢ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܘ ̱ܗܝ‪݁ :‬ܬܶܡ ܰ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܶܩܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܺ ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܺ�ܝ̈ ݂ ܰܒـܘ ̱ܗܝ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ ܰܐܟـܠ � ܶܡ ̈ܣ ݁ ܺܟ ܶܢـܐ‬ ‫݁ ܳܕ ܪܐ ݂ܕ ܰܣ ݂ܦ ܺܣ� ܐ ܐܢ ܶܝܢ ܶܫ ܰ�ـܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪ .‬ܘܣܟ�ܢـ ݂‬ ‫݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‪ܳ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܘܒܝ̈ ܶܫܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ̈ ܶ ݁ ܳ̈ ܰ ݁ ܺ ̈ ܳ ݁ ܳ ܶ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܳ ̈ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܽ� ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩܐ ݂ܬ ܳܠ ݂ܬ ܗܘܝ ܠܗ ܒܢܢ ܚܒܝ ݂ܒܢ‪ .‬ܬܠ ݂ܬ ܐܢܝܢ ܕ� ܣ ݂ܒܥܢ‪݂ :‬ܘܕ‬ ‫ܐܪܒـܥ �‬ ‫ܳܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܪ ܐ ݂ ܰܟ ݁ ܽܕܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܗ‪ܰ :‬ܘܐܪ ܳܥܐ ܳ� ܳܣܒ ܳܥܐ ܰܡ ܳܝ̈ܐ‪ܽ .‬ܘܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ ܳ� ܳܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܝܘܠ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܺܐܚܝ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ݀ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܚܡ ̇‬ ‫ܡܪ ܐ ݂ ܰܟ ݁ ܽܕܘ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܥ ܳܝܢܐ ݂ܕ ܳܓ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܶܕ ܳܐܡ ̇ܗ‪ :‬ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܟܐ ܰܥܠ ܐ ݂ ܽܒ ̇‬ ‫ܚܨ ܳܘܢ ̇ܗ ܽܥܘ� ݁ ܶܒـܐ ݂ܕ ܰܢܚــ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗ‪ :‬ܘܫܝܛܐ ܣܝܒ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܘܢ ̇ܗ ݁ܒ ܰܢ̈ܝ ܢܶܫܪ ܐ‪ܳ.‬‬ ‫ܘܢܶ ݂ܐܟ ܽ� ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܢܝ‪݂ .‬ܘܕ‬ ‫ܐܪܒܥ � �ܶ ݂ܕܥܶ ݂ܬ ܐܢ ܶܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܬ ܳܠ ݂ܬ ܐܢ ܶܝܢ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܟ ̈ܣ ܳܝܢ ܶܡ ̱‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚـܐ ܶܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܐܘܪ ܳܚܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ ܰܥܠ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܪ ܐ ݂ ܰܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ‪ܽ :‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܐ ݂ܕ ܶܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܠܦـܐ ݂ܒ ܶ� ݁ ܶܒـܗ‬ ‫ܘܥـܐ‪ܽ :‬ܘ ܳ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܰܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܡ ݂ܘܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕ�ܡܐ‪ :‬ܘܐܘܪܚܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ݂ܒܥܠ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܳ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ̇ܗ‪ܳ .‬ܘܐܡـ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܬ ܐ‪ܳ .‬ܐ ݂ܟ ܳ� ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܟ ݂ܦـ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ ܽܦـ ܳ‬ ‫ـܪ ܐ ܶܡـ ݁ ܶܕܡ �‬ ‫ܳܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ ̱ܗܝ ܐܘܪܚܐ ݂ܕ ܐܢ̱ܬ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ܓܝ‬ ‫ܥܶ ݂ܒ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܬ ܳܠ ݂ܬ ܳܙܝ ܳܥܐ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܐ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܟ ܳܚܐ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܒܥ ܳ� ܶܡ ݁‬ ‫ܝܒ ܽܪܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪܥܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫݁ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܥ ݂ܒ ݁ ܳܕ ܐ ݂ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܰܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܣ ݂ܟ ܳ� ݂ܕ ܳܣ ݂ ܰܒܥ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܠ ݂ܟ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫݁ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܳܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݁ܦ ܳܩܐ � ܳܡ ݁ܪܬ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ܣܢ ݂‬ ‫ܪܒܥ ܶܐܢ ܶܝܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܽܙܥܘ� ܳ�ܢ ݁ ܰܒܐܪ ܳܥܐ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܰܐ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܢܶܝܢ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝ̈ ܳܡܢ ܶܡܢ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝ̈ ܶܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ̈ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܺ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܛܐ ܰܠܚ ܽ‬ ‫ܝ� ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܒ ܽܗܘܢ‪ .‬ܘܡܛ ݂ܝܒܝܢ ܡܢ ܩ‬ ‫ܫܘܫܡܢܐ ݂ܕܚ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ̈ܶ ܰ ܺ ܺ ݁ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܝ�‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫ܘܥ ݂ܒ ݁ ܺܕܝܢ‬ ‫ܚܓܣܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒܨܝܪܝܢ ܒܚ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ ̈ܒ ݁ܬܐ ݂ܒ ܽܫ ̈ܘܥܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ ܺ ݁ܽ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩ ̈ܡ ܶ� ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܐ ݂ܟܚ ݂ ܳܕ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪ :‬ܘܡ ݂ܬܟܢܫܝܢ ܟ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܳ ̈ ݁ ܶ ܰ ݁ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܣ ݁ܒ ݂ ܳܟܐ ݂ ܺܒܐ ̈ܝ ݂ ܶܕ ̇ܝܗ‪ :‬ܘܥܡܪ ܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܒܬܐ ݂ܕܡ‬ ‫ܘܐܡ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

XIII

   

       

Chapter  The words of Agur, 1 son of Jakeh, 2 who received prophecy, and his strength prevailed, and he spoke to Ithiel: 3 ‘For my judgment is lacking, and human wisdom is not in me.

I do not know wisdom and I have not learned the knowledge of the holy ones’. 4

He said to me: ‘Who has ascended to heaven and come down? And who has seized the wind in their hands? And who has bound the waters in a cloth? And who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name and what is his son’s name, if you know? All the utterances of God are tested, and he is a help to those who trust in him. Do not add to his words lest he rebuke you and you be proved false.

Two things I have asked of you. Do not withhold (them) from me before I die: Put falsehood 5 and lying speech far away from me, and give me neither poverty nor wealth. Give me a sufficient livelihood. Lest I be full and prove faithless and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’ or lest I become poor and steal and swear by the name of my God.

Do not deliver slaves to their masters lest they curse you and you are condemned. A generation that curses its fathers, and does not bless its mother.

A generation that is pure in its own eyes and it is not cleansed of its own filth.

1 2 3 4 5

‘Agur’: Syriac ‫‘ ܐܓܘܪ‬Agor’

‘Jakeh’: Syriac ‫‘ ܝܩܝ‬Yaqiy’;.

‘Ithiel’: Syriac ‫‘ ܐܬܠܝܐܝܠ‬Athliyel’. ‘the holy ones’ or ‘holiness’.

‘falsehood’ or ‘worthlessness’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܨܚ ܝܓ‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬

‫ܠ‪.‬‬

‫ܺܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܬܡـ ܺـܨܝ ܰܚܝـ ܳـ�‪ܶ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡ ـܪ‬ ‫ܐܓ ـܘܪ ݁ ܰܒ ـܪ ܰ� ܺܩ ـܝ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܰܩ ݁ ܶܒ ـܠ ݂ܢܒܝ ـ ݂‬ ‫ܰܡ�ـ ܶܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܽ ݂‬ ‫� ݂ܬ ܺܠܝܐܝܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ݁ܺ ܽ ݁ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܰܚ ܺܣܝܪ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ� ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܝ‪ .‬ܘܠܝܬ ܒܝ ܣ‬ ‫ܥܝ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܶ ܺܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܩ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ� ��ܦ ݂ܬ ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܘ� �ܶ ݂ܕܥܶ ݂ܬ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܶܐ ܰܡܪ ܺܠܝ ܰܡ ܽܢܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ ݂ܒ ܽܚ ̈ܘ ݂ܦ ܰܢܘ ̱ܗܝ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܢܚ ݂ܬ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܣܠܩ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ ܰܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܽܢܘ ܶܐ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܽܢܘ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܥܶ ݂ܒ ܶ� ̇ܝܗ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܽܢܘ ܰܐ ܺܩܝܡ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‪ܰ .‬ܐ ܰܝܢܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ�ܪ ܰܡ ܳܝ̈ܐ ݂ܒ ܽܫܘ ܶܫ ݁ ܳܦܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܫܡـܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܢـܘ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܶܪܗ‪ :‬ܐܢ ܳܝ ݂ ܰܕܥ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ݂ ܺܟ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܣ ܰܝܥ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܺܡܐܡ ܰ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ ܰܕ ܳܐ� ܳܗܐ ܓ ݂ ܶܒܝܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ� ݂ ܰܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܦ ܰܥܠ ܶܡ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪݁ :‬ܕ� ܰܢ ݁ܟ ܳܣ ݂ܟ ݂ܘܬ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܒ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܰܬ ݁ܪܬܶܝܢ ܶܫ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܝ ܰܥ ݂ܕ� ܐ ܽܡ ݂ܘܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܠ ݂ܬ ܶܡ ܳܢ ݂ܟ‪݂ � .‬ܬ ݂ܟ� ܶܡ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܶܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܥـ ݂ܘܬ ܳܪܐ � ݂ܬ ݁ܬܠ ܺ�ܠـܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪܚܩ ܶܡ ̱‬ ‫ܡ�� ݂ ܰܟ ݁ ܳܕ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪ .‬ܘܡܣܟܢ ݂‬ ‫ܢܝ ܣܪܝܩ ݂‬ ‫ܘܡ ̱‬ ‫ܰܗ ݂ܒ ܺܠܝ ܽܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܪ ܐ ܶܡ ܰܣ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪ�ـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ݂ܕ ܳ� ܶܐ ݂ܬ ܰܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܟـܢ ܶܘܐܓ ܽܢـ ݂ܘܒ‪ܺ :‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܡـܪ ܰܡ ܽܢـܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܒܥ ܶܘ ݁ ܰܐܟـ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܒ‪ܺ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳ� ܶܐ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡـܐ‬ ‫ܡ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂ ܰܒ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܡܗ ݁ ܰܕ ܳܐܠܗ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ� ݂ ܰܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ ܰܥ ݂ܒ ݁ ܳܕ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ‪݁ :‬ܕ� ܽܢ�ܘܛ ݂ܟ ݂ܘܬ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܝ ݂ܒ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܕ ܳܪܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳܐܒ ܰܗܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ܰܢܨ ܶܚܐ‪ܶ .‬ܘ� ܶܡܗ ܳ� ݂ ܰ‬ ‫݂ܳ‬ ‫ܢܒ ܶܪ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳܳ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܶ݁ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ܰ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܓ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܕ ܪܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܕ ݂ܟܐ ݂ܒ��ܢܝ ܢ ݂ܦܫܗ‪ .‬ܘܡܢ � ݂ܐܬܗ � ܐܬܬܫ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

           

With a large number of evildoers, transgression increases, but the righteous will rejoice at their downfall. Discipline your children and they will give you rest and will give delight to your soul.

By a great many evildoers a people is broken, but blessed is the one who keeps the law.

By words servants are not disciplined, for they know that they will not be beaten. 1

If you see someone who is impetuous in speech, know that a fool is better than they.

Those who are pampered from their childhood will become servants and at their end they will despair. 2

An angry person provokes strife, and a wrathful person multiplies wrongdoing.

A person’s pride will bring humiliation, but humility will increase a person’s honor.

Those who partner with a thief hate themselves; they make oaths for him but they do not declare. People’s sin makes a stumbling block for them, but the one who trusts in the Lord will be secure. Many seek a ruler’s favor, but justice for a person comes forth from the Lord.

A wicked person is an abomination to the righteous, and the way of the upright is an abomination to the wicked.

1

2

‘not be beaten’: lit. ‘one does not beat’. ‘despair’ or ‘lament’: lit. ‘groan’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬

‫݁ܒ ܽܣܘܓ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܕܘܢ ݁ܒ ܰܡ ݁ ܽܦ ݁‬ ‫ܐܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ܳܣ ݂ ܶܓܐ ܰܥ ܳܘ�‪ܰ .‬ܘܙ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܩܐ ܢܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܠܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܝܚ ݂ܟ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫݂ ܺܪܕܝ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ݂ܟ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܺܢܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܒ ܶܣܡ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܳܫ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܓܐܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ܶܡ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܰܪܥ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ݂ܕ ܳܢ ܰܛܪ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣܐ ܽܛ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܒܣ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫݁ܒ ̈ܡ� � ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݂ ܶܪܕܐ ܰܥ ݂ܒ ݁ ܳܕ ܐ‪ܳ .‬ܝ ݂ ܰܕܥ ݁ ܶܓܝܪ ݁ܕ� ݂ ܳܒ ܰܠܥ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܣ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܙ ݁ܝܬ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܐܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܗ ݂ܒ ݁ܒ ܶܡ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕܥ ݁ܕܛ ݂ܒ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܶܡܢܶܗ ܰܣ ݂ܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܶ ܰ ݁ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܚܪ ݁ܝܬܗ ܢܶ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܰ�ܚ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕܡ ݂ܬܦܢܩ ܡܢ ܛ�ܝ ݂ܘܬܗ‪ :‬ܥ ݂ܒܕ ܐ ܢܗܘܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܒ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ݁ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܙܬ�ܐ ܡܣܓܐ ܥܘ�‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ܚ ݂‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ܪ ݁ܓ ݂‬ ‫ܡܬܢܐ ݂‬ ‫ܡܓܪ ݂ܓ ܕܝܢܐ‪݂ .‬‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݁ ܺܟ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܳܪ ܽܡ ݂ܘܬܶܗ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ݂ܬ ܰܡ ݁ܟ ݂ ܺܟܝܘ ̱ܗܝ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܝܟ ݂ܘܬܶܗ ݁ ܰܬ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܓܐ ܶܠܗ ܐ ܳܝܩ ܳܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫݁ܕ ݂ ܳܦ ܶܠܓ ܰܥܡ ݁ ܰܓ ܳܢ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪ܳ :‬ܣܢܶܐ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ‪ܳ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܦ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܩܝܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܘ ܳ� ܰܡ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܕ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ ܡܘܡ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܠܗ ݁ܕ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܳܥ ݂ ܶܒ ݂ܕ ܶܠܗ ݁ܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ݂ܬ ݂ ܺܟܝܠ ܰ�ܥܠ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܫܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܩ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܺ ̈ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ ܰ ̈ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܛܐ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܳܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ̱ܗܘ ܳܢ ݂ ܶܦܩ ݁ ܺܕܝܢܶܗ ݁ܕ ݂ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܓܝܐܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒܥܝܢ ܐ ܦܝ ܫܠ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ݁ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܺ ݁ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܨܬ ܐ ܛ ܳܡܐܐ ̱ܗܝ ��ܘ �‪.‬‬ ‫ܛܡܐ ܽ ̱ܗܘ �ܙ ܕܝܩܐ ݂ܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ �ܘ �‪ .‬ܘܐܘܪܚܐ ݂ܬ ܪ‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

              

Individuals who will not accept reproof and stiffen their neck will be suddenly broken, and there will be no cure for them. When the righteous are numerous, the people celebrate, but under a government of evildoers, the people groan.

He who loves wisdom causes his father to rejoice, but he who associates with1 prostitution will destroy his possessions. A king by justice makes the land stable, but an evil person damages it.

People who are divided against their neighbors spread a net on their walkways.

Wicked persons are trapped by their wrongdoing, but the righteous exult and rejoice.

For the righteous know the cause of the poor, but the wicked do not understand (such) knowledge. Scoffers set cities ablaze, but wise persons subdue anger.

When a wise man disputes with a foolish person, he 2 is angry and he mocks but he does not become enraged. Those who shed blood hate the pious, but the righteous love them.

Fools give vent to all their anger, but wise persons think to themselves. When a ruler listens to a lying report, all his servants are evil.

A poor person and an oppressor 3 encounter one another; the Lord gives light to the eyes of both of them.

The king who judges in truth — his throne will be established in justice.

The rod and reproof give wisdom, but the youths who are not disciplined bring shame to their mother.

1

‘associates with’: lit. ‘grazes upon or among’.

3

‘an oppressor’: lit. ‘one who inflicts pain’.

Our translation retains the masc. sg. of P and MT in order to show the ambiguous identity of the subject of the three participles. 2



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬

‫ܟܛ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ݁ ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܥܓـܠ ܢܶ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ݂ ܰܒـܪ‪ .‬ܘ ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܫܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܶܠܗ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܒ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ‬ ‫ܡܩ ݁ ܶܒܠ ܡܟܣܢ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܝ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܗ ܐ‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܓܐܐ ݂ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܩܐ ܳܣ ݂ ܶܓܐ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܽܫܘܠܛ ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ̈ܘ � ܶܡ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܰ�ܚ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܒܣ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܢ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒ ݂ܕ ܶܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܢ�ܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܕܪ ܶܚܡ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܢܚ ݁ ܶܕ ܐ � ݂ ܽܒܘ ̱ܗܝ‪ .‬ܘ݂ܕܪܥܐ ݂ܒܙܢܝ ݂‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܩܝܡ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰ� ܳܘ ܳ� ܰܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ‪݂ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܚܣܪ ܳܠ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟ ݂ܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܦ ܰܠ ݂ܓ ܰܥܠ ܰܚ ݂ܒ ܶܪܗ‪ :‬ܡ ܺܨ ݁ܝܕ ݁ܬ ܐ ݂ ܳܦ ܶܪܣ ܰܥܠ ܗ ݂‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ݂ܒ ܰܥ ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܗ ܶܡ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܺܨ ݂ܝܕ‪ܰ .‬ܘܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ ܢ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܒܚ ܘܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܕ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ݁ܺ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ݁ܺ ܳ ܶ ̈ ݁ ܺ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܙ ܕܝܩܐ ݂ܓܝܪ ܝ ݂ܕܥ ܕܝܢܐ ݂ܕܡܣܟܢܐ‪ .‬ܘ�ܘ � � ܡ‬ ‫ܣܬ ݁ ܰܟܠ ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܘܚ ݁ ܺܟܝ̈ ܶܡܐ ܰܡ ݁ ܺ ܽ‬ ‫݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܶ� ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܡܝ̈ ܳܩܢܶܐ ܰܡ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܩܕܝܢ ݁ ܰܟ� ݂ ܶܟܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܓ ܳܙ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟܝܢ ܪ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܳ ܳܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܓ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ܘ� ܶܡ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ݂ ܺܦܝܪ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ܰܚ ݁ܟܝܡܐ ݂ܕ ܐܢ ܥܡ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ܣ ݂ܟ�‪ .‬ܘܪ ݂ܶܓܙ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܣܝܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘܙ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܩܐ ܳܪ ܺ‬ ‫�ܚ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܶ� ܐ ܳܐ ̈ܫ ݁ ܰܕܝ ݁ܕ ܳܡܐ ܳܣܢܶܝܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡܝܢ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ݂ܒ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܬܗ ݁ ܽܟ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܰܡ ݁ ܶܦܩ ܰܣ ݂ܟ ܳ�‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܥ�ܢܶܗ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܫ ݂ܒ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ ݁ ܳ ݁ ܽ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܰ ܳ ̈ ܺ ܽܶ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ݂ܕ ݁ܓܠܬܐ‪ :‬ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܦ�ܚܘ ̱ܗܝ �ܘܠܝܢ ܐܢܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܠܝܛܐ ݂ܕܫܡܥ ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܶܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܒܐ ݂ܦ ܰܓܥ ̱ܘ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ݁ܒ ܰܚ ݂ܕ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂ ܶܟ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܟ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܗܪ ܰ� ̈�ܢܶܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ܰ� ܽܝܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܽ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܫܬܐ‪ܽ ݁ :‬ܟܘܪܣܝܶܗ ݁ܒ ݂ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ ܢܶ ݂ܬ ܰܩܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡ�ܟܐ ݂ ݂ܕܕ ܐܢ ܒܩܘ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܳ� ݁ ܺ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ݂ܕ� ݂ ܶܪܕܐ‪ܰ :‬ܡ ݂ܒ ܶܗ ݂ܬ � ܶܡܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪ .‬ܘܛ‬ ‫ܗܒܝܢ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܫ ݂ܒܛܐ ܘܡܟܣܢ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 



At the rise of evildoers, people hide, but at their destruction the righteous multiply.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܚ‬

‫݁ܒ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ܶܡ ݁ܬ ܰܛ ܶܫܐ ݂ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܒ ݂ܐܒ ݁ ܳܕ ܽܢܗܘܢ ܢܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܣܓܘܢ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܩܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

             

Blessed is the person who fears always, but those who harden their heart will fall into disaster. A roaring lion and a growling bear is an evil person who holds power over poor people. The ruler who lacks judgment — many are his oppressions, — but those who hate treachery will prolong their days. Those who are guilty of a person’s blood — when they flee to the pits, let no one help them.

Those who walk blamelessly will be saved, but those whose paths are crooked fall into a pit. Those who work the land will have an abundance of food, but those who chase after vanity will have an abundance of poverty.

A faithful person has many blessings, but wicked persons will not go unpunished in their wrongdoing. One who shows favoritism is not good, for he will betray 1 a person for a piece of bread.

Miserly persons 2 rush after wealth and do not know that ruin is about to come upon them. Those who reprove a person will find more friends than those who divide with their tongue.

Those who steal from their father and mother and then say, ‘I have no sin!’ are companions of evildoers.

The greedy person stirs up strife, but one who trusts in the Lord will flourish.

Those who rely on their own mind are fools, but those who walk in uprightness will be delivered.

The one who gives to the poor will not be in want, but those who turn their eyes away from the poor will get many curses. 3

1

‘betray’: lit. ‘deliver’.

3

‘get many curses’: lit. ‘his curse will multiply’.

2

‘miserly persons’: lit. ‘a person with an evil eye’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬

‫ܐܝܢ ـܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫�ܙܒ ـܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܛ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒ ـܘ ̱ܗܝ � ݂ ܰܒ ـܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫ ـܐ ݂ ݂ܕ ܳܕ ܶܚ ـܠ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܟ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܩ ܶܫ ـܐ ܶ� ݁ ܶܒ ـܗ‪ܳ :‬ܢ ݂ ܶܦ ـܠ‬ ‫݁ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ݁ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ ݀ ܳ ܳ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫܬ ܰܠܛ ܰ� ܳܘ ܳ� ܰܥܠ ܰ�ܥ ܳܡܐ ܶܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܟ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ ܳܪ�ܐ ܰܢܗܡ‪݂ .‬ܘܕܒܐ �ܗܒ ݂ܬ ܩ�‪ .‬ܕ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܥ� ܳܢـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܺܝ̈ܐܝــܢ ݁ ܽܬ ̈ܘ݁ ܰܟـܘ ̱ܗܝ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܛـܐ ܰܚ ܺܣܝــܪ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܢـܐ ݂ܕ ܳܣ ܶܢـܐ ܢܶ ݂ܟـ�‪ܰ :‬ܢ ݁ܓـ ܽܪܘܢ‬ ‫ܫܠ‬ ‫ܰ̈ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܘܡ ݂ܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܰܠ ̈ܓ ݂ ܰܒ ܳܝܐ ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫݁ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܫܝܫ ݁ ܰܒ ݂ܕ ܳܡܐ ݂ܕ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܳܫܐ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܥܪܘܩ‪ .‬ܘ� ܰܢܥ ݁ܕ ܽܪܘܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ܰ̈ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܶܠ ݂ܟ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܽܡܘܡ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܗ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݁ ܶܦܠ ݁ܒ ܽܓ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ� ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚ‬ ‫�‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܢ‬ ‫ܡ‬ ‫ܩ‬ ‫ܡܥ‬ ‫ܘܕ‬ ‫ܩ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܺ ܽ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ܶ ݁ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁ܕ ݂ ܳܦ ܰܠܚ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܒܥ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܟ ܽܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܡܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ݂ܕ ܳܪ ܶܗܛ ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܬܪ ܣܪܝܩ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ :‬ܢܣܒܥ ܡ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܠܗ � ܢܶ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܶܣܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܡܢܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܐܢ ݁ ܽܒܘ� ݁ ܳܟ ݂ܬܗ‪݂ .‬ܘܒܝܫܐ ݂ܒܥ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ ݁ ܰ ݁ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܦܐ ܳ� ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦܝܪ‪݁ .‬ܒ ܰܩ ܳܨ�ܐ ܶܓܝܪ ݁ܕ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ݂ܕܢܣܒ ܒ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܽ ܳ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܥــܬܪ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒــ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣܪ ܳܢــܐ ܐ ݂ܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܝܫــܐ ܰܥ ܶܝܢــܗ‪ .‬ܘ� ܝــ ݂ܕܥ ܕܚ‬ ‫ܣــܬ ܰܪܗ ݂ܒ �ܡ‬ ‫ܡ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܥ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫܟܚ‪ :‬ܛ ݂ܒ ܶܡܢ ܰܗܘ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܶܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܶܟܣ � ݂ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ‪ܶ �ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܡܦ ܶܠ ݂ܓ ݁ܒ ܶ� ܳܫܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܛ ݂ܦ ܶܡܢ ܰܐ ݂ ܽܒܘ ̱ܗܝ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܡـܪ ݁ܕ ܰܠܝـ ݁‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܶܐ ܶܡـܗ‪ܳ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ ܺܠـܝ ܚܛـ ܳܗܐ‪ܰ :‬ܫ ݁ܘܬ ݂ ܰܦـܐ ̱ܗܘ‬ ‫ܕܚ‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳܳ‬ ‫ܕ ݂ܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ �ܘ �‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܡܓ ܶܪ ݂ܓ ܶܚܪ ܳ� ܳܢܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ݂ ܶܟܠ ܰ�ܥܠ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܢܐ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܢܶ ݂ܕ ܰܗܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܦ ܶ� ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ݂ ܺܟܝܠ ܰ�ܥܠ ܶ� ݁ ܶܒܗ‪ܰ :‬ܣ ݂ܟ� ̱ܗܘ‪݂ .‬ܘܕܡܗܠ ݂ܟ ܒ ݂ܬܡ‬ ‫ܪܟܢ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܘܗܝ ܶܡܢ ܶܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫�ܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܣܪ ܶܠܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳ� ܶܗ ݂ܒ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܟ ܳܢܐ‪ �ܳ :‬ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܟ ܳܢـܐ‪݁ :‬ܬܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܓـܐ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܛܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

            

Evildoers flee when no one is chasing them, but the righteous are confident like a lion. In the iniquity of the land, its rulers are numerous, but righteous people who know justice will endure.

A poor person who harms a poor person is like a violent rain which has no benefit. Those who forsake the law praise themselves in crime, but those who keep the law fortify themselves. Evil people do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord know all good things. A poor person walks in integrity, but the paths of a wealthy person are crooked.

The one who keeps the law is a wise child, but those who serve worthlessness shame their parents.

Those who multiply their possessions by means of interest and usury will leave them to those who show compassion to the poor.

Those who close their ears so that they will not hear the law, 1 — even their prayer is defiled.

Whoever leads the upright astray into an evil path will fall into a pit, but those of integrity will inherit good things. Wealthy people are wise in their own eyes, but a poor person who has understanding despises them.

In the power of the righteous is great glory, but in the rise of evildoers there is loss.

People who conceal their wrongdoing will not succeed, but those who confess their sins and abandon them, will receive mercy from God.

1

‘the law’ or ‘instruction’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬

‫ܟܚ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܕ ܳܪ ݂ ܶܕ ݂ܦ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܪܩܘܢ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ݂ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘܙ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܩܐ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܐ ܳܪ�ܐ ܢܶ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ݂ܟ ܽ�ܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܰܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠ ̇ܗ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ܳܣ ݂ ܶܓܝܢ ܰܫ ܺ�ܝ̈ܛܢܶ ̇‬ ‫ܝܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܩܐ ݂ܕ ܳ� ݂ܕ ܺܥܝܢ ݁ ܺܟ ܽܐܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܰܢ ݁ܓ ܽܪܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ܺ ܳܶ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܺ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܛܐ ݂ܕ ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ ܶܒܗ ܽ� ݂ܘܬ ܳܪܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܒ‬ ‫݁ܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ܡ‬ ‫ܣܟ ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ܟ �ܡܣܟܢܐ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܡܛܪ ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝــܢ ݁ܕ ܳܢ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݁ܒ ܺܚܝــܢ ݁ܒ ܰܥـ ܳܘ�‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܛܪܝــܢ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܳܫ ݂ܒ ܺܩܝــܢ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܣـܐ‪ :‬ܡ‬ ‫ܰܡ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܫܢܝܢ ܰܢ ݂ܦܫ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܳ ܺ ݁ܽ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܶ ܺ ̈ ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܓ ݂ܒ� ܐ ݂ܒܝܫܐ � ܡ‬ ‫ܣܬ ݁ܟ ܺܠܝܢ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ݂ܕ ݂ ܳܒܥܶܝܢ �ܡܪ�ܐ‪݂ � :‬ܕܥܝܢ ܟ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ ܛ ݂ ̈ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܺ ܳ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܬ ܳܝܪ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܥ ̈ܩ ܳܡܢ ܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܣܟܢܐ ܡܗܠ ݂ܟ ܒ ݂ܬܡܝܡ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ .‬ܘܥ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳܢ ܰܛܪ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܪ ܽܝܩ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܡ ݂ܒ ܶܗ ݂ܬ � ݂ ܽܒܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܠܬ ܳܢܐ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ ݂ ܳܦ ܰܠܚ‬ ‫ܘܣܐ‪݁ :‬ܒ ܰܪ ܐ ̱ܗܘ ܰܣ ݁ ܽܟ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܰ ݁ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܶ݁ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡـܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܒ ܺܩܝܘ ̱ܗܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݁‬ ‫ܡܪ ܶܚـܡ ܰܥـܠ‬ ‫ܕܡܣܓܐ ܩܢ�ܢܗ ܡܢ ܩܨ� ܐ ܘܡܢ ܪܒ ݂‬ ‫ܶܡ ̈ܣ ݁ ܺܟܢܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳܽ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܨܠ ݂ܘܬܗ ܛ ܳܡܐ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܰܕܡ ܰܣ ݁ ܰܟܪ ݂ܐ ̈ܕ ܰܢܘ ̱ܗܝ‪ :‬ܕ� ܢܫܡܥ ܢܡܘܣܐ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܦ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ̈ ܶ ܺ ݁ܽ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܶ ܺ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪݁ :‬ܒ ܽܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ� ܐ ܳܢ ݂ ܶܦܠ‪݂ .‬ܘܬܡܝܡܐ ܢ‬ ‫ܐܪܬܘܢ ܛ ݂ ̈ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕܡܛܥܐ ݂ܬ ܪܝ� ܐ ݂ܒܐܘܪܚܐ ݂ܒ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݁ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܬ ܳܝܪ ܐ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝܡ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܝ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ܥ‬ ‫ܘܠܬ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܳܒ ܰܣܪ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܟ ܳܢܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܽܟ ݂‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫݁ ܽ ܳ ܰ݁ܺ ̈ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܒܥܘܫܢܐ ݂ܕܙ ܕ�ܩܐ ܣ ݂ܓܝܐ ݂ܬܫܒ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ̈ܘ � ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ�ܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܟ ܶܣܐ ܰܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܨܠܚ‪ܰ .‬ܘ݂ܕ ܰܡـܘ ݁ ܶܕ ܐ ݂ ܰܒ ̈ܚ ܳܛـ ܰܗܘ ̱ܗܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܗ‪ܰ �ܳ :‬ܢ ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥ ݂ ܰܒـܪ ܶܡܢـ ܽ‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܪ ܰܚܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܥ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ ܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

     

     

The north wind is harsh even though it is called by the name ‘right hand’. Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the face of another. 1

One who takes care of a fig tree will eat from its fruit, and those who are attentive to their master will be praised. As faces do not resemble other faces, so hearts do not resemble hearts. Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, so also human eyes are never satisfied.

Smelting tests silver, and a furnace, gold, but people by the mouth of those who praise them. The heart of evildoers seeks wickedness, and the heart of the upright seeks knowledge. 2

If you strike a fool in the midst of the assembly, you will not benefit him nor will you drive away his foolishness. When you work as shepherd, know the faces of your flock and pay attention to your herd. For property will not last forever, nor does one pass it on from generation to generation. Grass sprouts and plants appear and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered in. Lambs are for your clothes, and kids are for your food.

And the milk of goats is for your food, for the food of your household.

1

‘another’: lit. ‘his neighbor’.

‘The heart of evildoers … seeks knowledge’: the second half of this verse is entirely missing from MT. See Introduction, Noteworthy Readings, Dependence upon the Septuagint (LXX).

2



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬

‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܝܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܚܐ ݂ܕ ܰܓ ݁ܪܒ ܳܝܐ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ܺܡ ܳܝܢܐ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪ ܳ ݂‬ ‫݁ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܨ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܳܠ ܶܛܫ ݁ ܰܦ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܦܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ݂ܒ ܶܪܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܦܪܙ� ݂‬ ‫ܠܦܪܙ� ܠܛܫ‪݂ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܺ ܶ ̇ ܰ ܺ ݁ ܳ ܶ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳܢܛܪ ݁ܬ ܐ ݁ܬ ܐ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݂ ܽܐܟܘܠ ܡܢ ܦܐ �ܝܗ‪݂ .‬ܘܕܙܗܝܪ ܒܡܪܗ‪ :‬ܢ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݁ ܰܒܚ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫�ܦ� ܽܨ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܳܕ ܶܡܝܢ ݁ ܰܦ� ܽܨ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦܐ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ � ݂ ܳܕ ܶܡܝܢ ܶ� ݁ ܰܒ ̈ܘ ݂ܬ ܐ � ݁ ܰܒ ̈ܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫܝܘܠ ܰܘ ݂ܐܒ ݁ ܳܕ ܳܢܐ ܳ� ܳܣ ݂ܒ ܺܥܝܢ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ ܳܐ ݂ܦ ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܝܢܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ � ܳܣ ݂ܒ ܳܥܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܟـ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܐ‪ܽ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܳ�ܪ ݂ ܳܦܐ ݂ ܳܒ ܶܩܐ � ܺܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܒـ ܳܪ ܐ ܶܡـܢ ݁ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫�ܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܒـܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܘܡـܐ ݂ ܰܕܡ ܰܫ ݁ ̈ܒ ܳܚ ܰܢـܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܳ ̈ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܺ ݁ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܺ ̈ܶ ܳ ܶ ܺ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܒܐ ݂ܕ�ܘ � ݂ܒܥܐ ݂ܒܝܫܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ�ܒܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܟܐ ܢܐ ݂ܒܥܐ ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܽ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܬܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡـ ݁ ܶܕܡ � ܰܡـ ݁ܘܬܪ ܐܢ ̱ـ ݁ܬ ܶܠـܗ‪ .‬ܐ ݂ܦـ�‬ ‫ܐܢ ܳܡ ܶܚܐ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ �ܣ ݂ܟ� ݂ܒ ݂ܓـܘ ܟܢـ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒܪ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ܰܣ ݂ܟ ܽ� ݂ܘܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡ‬ ‫ܳܡܐ ݂ܕ ܳܪܥܶܐ ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕܥ ܰܐ ݁ ܰ ̈ܦܝ ܳ� ܳܢ̈ ݂ܟ‪ܺ .‬‬ ‫ܘܣܝܡ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܟ ܰܥܠ� ݁ܓ ܳܙ ܳܪ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܚܕ ܳܢܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ܳ� ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܳ� ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܰܠܡ ܽܐ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ ݁ ܳܕ ܳܪܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܕ ܳܪܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܶ ܺ ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܶ ܶ ݁ܳ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܣܒܐ ݁ܕܛܘ� ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܘܚ ܥܡܝܪ ܐ‪ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܬܚܙܝ ݂ܬ݂ܕܐܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬܟܢܫ ܥ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܶܐܡ ܶ� ܐ ܰ� ݂ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܬ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܫ ݂ܟ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܓ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ�̈ܐ �ܡܐ ݂ܟ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ܳ ܰ ܶ ܽ ݁ܳ ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܚ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܒܐ ݂ܕ ܶ�ܙ̈ ܐ �ܡܐ ݂ܟܘܠܬ ݂ܟ‪ :‬ܘ�ܡܐ ݂ܟܘܠܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

         

    

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what it will bring forth. Let a stranger praise you, and not your mouth, and another, not your lips.

A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but the anger of a fool is heavier than both of them.

Anger is aggressive, and wrath is turbulent, but who can stand up before jealousy? Better is open rebuke than concealed friendship.

Blows from a friend are better than kisses from an enemy.

A person who is satisfied tramples on honey, but to a person who is hungry even bitter things are sweet.

Like a bird fleeing its nest, so are people who move from their place.

Like oil and perfume which delight the heart, so are those who give delight to their neighbor with the soul’s counsel. Do not forsake your friend or the friend of your father, and do not go to your brother’s house at a time of your distress. Better is a neighbor who is close by, than a brother who is far away. Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, and take away from me the reviling of those who reproach me.

A prudent person sees wickedness and hides, but fools pass it by and suffer loss. 1 The cloak is seized from those who pledged surety for a stranger, and their pledge is on account of a stranger.

Those who bless their neighbor with flattery in a loud voice will not be regarded differently from those who utter a curse. Like the drops which drip down on a rainy day, so is a quarrelsome wife.

1

Cf. 22:3.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬

‫ܟܙ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚܪ‪݂ܶ � .‬ܓܝܪ ܳܝ ݂ ܰܕܥ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ܳܡ ܳܢܐ ܳ� ܶܠ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܬ ݂ܒ ܰܗܪ �ܝܘܡܐ ݂ܕ‬ ‫� ݂ܬ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂ܟ‪ܰ .‬ܘܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܢܫ ݁ܒ ܳܚ ݂ܟ ܽܢ ݂ܘܟ ܳܪ ܳ�ܐ‪ܳ :‬ܘ� ݂ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܪ ܳܢܐ‪ :‬ܘ� ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܺ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܛܠ ܳܚ ܳ�‪ܽ .‬‬ ‫ܘܓ ܶܙܗ ݁ܕ ܰܣ ݂ܟ� ܰ� ܺܩܝܪ ܶܡܢ ݁ܬ ܰ� ܽܝܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܪ‬ ‫�ܩܝܪ ܐ ݂ܟ ݂ܐܦܐ‪ :‬ܘܢ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܦܐ ܽܪܘܓ ܳܙ ܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪ܺ :‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ܽܢܘ ܽܢܩܘܡ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܛ� ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܡ ܳܪ ܽܚ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ̱ܗܝ ܚ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ݁ ܳܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܛ ݂ ܳܒܐ ̱ܗܝ ܡܟܣܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܓ�ܝܐ‪ :‬ܡܢ ܪܚܡ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܰ݁ ܺ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܽ ̈ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܗ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܒܥܶ ݁‬ ‫ܠܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܦܝ�ܢ ܡܚܘ ݂ܬܗ ܕܪܚܡܐ‪ :‬ܡܢ �ܘܫܩ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ݁ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܢܬܐ ܐ ݂ܦ ܰܡ ܺܪܝ ܳ� ݂ܬ ܐ ܰܚ�ܝ̈ܢ ܐܢ ܶܝܢ ܳܠ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢ ݂ܦܫܐ ݂ܕܣ ݂ܒܥܐ ݂ܕܝܫܐ ݂ܟܟ�� ݂ܬܐ‪ .‬ܘܢ ݂ܦܫܐ ݂ܟ ݂ܦ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܶ� ݂ܦ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܳܢܝܐ ܶܩ ܳܢ ̇ܗ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܰܢܐ ̱ܗܘ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܳܙ ܐܥ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܽܕ ݁ܘܟ ݂ܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܚܐ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܚ ݁ ܶܕܝــܢ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒـܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܰܢـܐ ̱ܗܘ ܰܡـܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܡـܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܒ ܶܣـܡ ܰ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܒـ ܶܪܗ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܶܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ܕ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܡ ݂ܟ ܳܘܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܳܪ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬ ܰܐ ܽܚـ ݂ܘܟ ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ܽܥـܘܠ ݁ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒـܘܩ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܡܗ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܽܐܒـ ݂ܘܟ ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡـܐ‬ ‫�ܒܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݂ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ݂ ܳܒ ܳܪ ݂ܟ‪ܳ .‬ܛ ݂ܒ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒ ݂ ܳܒܐ ݂ܕ ܰܩ ܺܪ ݂ܝܒ‪ܶ :‬ܡܢ ܐ ܳܚܐ ݂ܕ ܰܪ ܺܚܝܩ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܝ ܶܚ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܕ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚ ̈ܣ ݂ ܳܕ ܰܢܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ݁ ܰܟܡ ݁ ܶܒܪ ̱ܝ‪ :‬ܘ ܰܚ ݁ ܳܕ ܐ ܶܠ ݁ܒ ̱ܝ‪݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܒܛܠ ܶܡ ̱‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܳ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒܪ ̱ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ݁ܐܬ ܰܛ ܺܫܝ‪ܰ .‬ܣ ݂ ̈ܟ ܶ� ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠ ̇‬ ‫ܚܣܪ ̱ܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܪܝܡܐ ܚܙ ܐ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܐ ݁ ̈ܦܝ ܽܢ ݂ܘܟ ܳܪ ܳ�ܐ ܶܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܢ ݂ܘܟ ܳܪ ܳ�ܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒ ܰܡܪܛܘܛܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡܢ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܶܪ ݂ܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܟܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܒ ܶܪ ݂ܟ ܰ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܒ ܶܪܗ ݁ܒ ܽܫ ݂ܘܦ ܳܪ ܽܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܒ ܳܩ� ܳܪ ܳܡܐ‪̱ � :‬ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ܦ ܺܪܝܫ ܶܡܢ ܰܗܘ ݁ܕ�ܛ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܶܕ� ݁ ܳܦܐ ݂ܕ ܳܢ ܶܛ ݂ܦ ݁ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ܕ ܰܣ ݂ܓ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ ̱ܗܝ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ݂ܬ ܐ ܰ� ܳܨ ݁ܝܬܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

          XII

  

In their own eyes lazy people are more wise than seven persons who utter knowledge. 1 Persons who involve themselves in disputes which are not their own are like those who grab the ears of a dog. Just like boastful people hurling words like sharp, deadly arrows,

So are those who cheat their neighbor and, when it becomes known, say, ‘I was making a joke’. When there is no wood, the fire goes out, and when there is no one provoking (it), a quarrel will subside.

A gridiron (is) for coals, and wood (is) for a fire, and a gossip (is for) inciting a quarrel. The words of a gossip stir up trouble, and they go down into the chambers of the heart. 2

Like base 3 silver overlaid on a clay pot, so are inflamed lips and an evil heart. By their talk enemies are recognized, even though an ambush is concealed within them. And even if they lower their voice, do not trust them, for seven evils are inside them. Those who conceal hatred in their heart will have their wickedness exposed in the assembly.

The one who digs a pit will fall into it, and those who roll a stone will have it come back onto themselves. A lying tongue hates the truth, and a gossiping tongue causes trouble.

1

‘utter knowledge’ or ‘speak with discernment’.

3

‘base’: lit. ‘rejected’.

2See

note on 18:8, which in MT is identical to this v.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫ܨܚ ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܚ‬

‫ܚܒ ܳ� ܳܢܐ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝܡ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܝ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ‪ܳ :‬ܛ ݂ܒ ܶܡܢ ܰܫ ݂ܒ ܳܥܐ ܳ� ̈ܗ ݁ ܰܒܝ ܰܛ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܥܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܕܡܠܛ ܒ ݂ܕܝܢܐ ݂ܕ� ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܝܕ ݁ ܶܒܐ ݂ ̈ܕ ܰܢܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܟ� ݁ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܠܗ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܰܗܘ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ݂ ܰܕ ܺܐܚ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܺ ̈ ܶ ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ ܶ ̈ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܟܙܢܐ ݂ܕܫ ݂ܒܗ� ܢܐ ܡܫܕܝܢ ܡ�‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܓܐ � ܐ ܫ��ܢܐ ݂ܕܡܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܳܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܰܢܐ ̱ܗܘ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܳܢ ݂ ܶܟـܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܣܬ ݁ܟ ܺܠܝـ ܘ ̱ܗܝ‪ :‬ܐ ܰܡـܪ ܶܡ ݂ܓ ܰܚـ ݂ܟ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܒـ ܶܪܗ‪ .‬ܘܡـܐ ݂ܕ‬ ‫݁ ܶܓ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܟ ݂ܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ݁ ܰ ̈ ܶ ݁ܳ ݁ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܬܪ ݁ܕ ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫ܘܫܐ‪ܰ :‬ܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܳܫ ݂ܽܓ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܰܡ ܽܨ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܐ ݂ܕܠܝܬ ܩܝܣܐ‪ :‬ܕܥܟܐ ܢܘܪ ܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܛ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܩܠ ܽ ܶ ܰ ̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܟ ܳܢܐ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܡܓ ܶܪ ݂ܓ ܶܗ ݂ܪܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܠܓܘܡ� ܐ‪ :‬ܘܩܝܣܐ �ܢܘܪ ܐ‪݂ܰ :‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܛ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬ ̈ܘ ܶܢܐ ݂ܕ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪܟ ܳܢܐ ܳܫ ݂ ̈ܓ ܳܫܢ‪ .‬ܘ ܳܢ ̈ܚ ݁ܬܢ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩܪܝܡ ܰܥܠ ܶܚ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܣ�ܝܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܺܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܨܦـܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢـܐ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦـ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܳ� ̈ܩـ ݁ ܳܕܢ‪ :‬ܘ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒـܐ‬ ‫ܐܡܐ ܰܡ‬ ‫݂ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶܡܢ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬܗ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݂ ܰܝܕܥ ܳܣ ܳܢܐܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ݂ܰܓ ܶܘܗ ݁ܟ ܺܡܝܢ ݁ܟ ܺܡ ܳܐܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶܘܐܢ ܰܡ ܶܡ ݂ܟ ܳܩ ܶܠܗ‪݂ �ܳ :‬ܬ ܰܗ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܡܢܝܘ ̱ܗܝ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܒ ݂ܰܓ ܶܘܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܒܥ ݁ ܺܒܝ̈ ܳܫܢ ܐ ݂‬ ‫݁ܰ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܶ ܺ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܟܣܐ ܣܢ ݂ܐܬ ܐ ݂ܒ�ܒܗ‪ :‬ܬ ݂ܬܓ� ݂ܒܝܫܬܗ ܒ ݂ܟܢ‬ ‫ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܥ�ܘܗܝ ݁ܬ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ� ܐ‪ܳ :‬ܢ ݂ ܶܦܠ ݁ ܶܒܗ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ܰ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳܚ ݂ ܰܦܪ ݁ ܽܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܘܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܥ ݁ ܶܓܠ ݁ܟ ݂ܐܦܐ‪̱ ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܽ ݁ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܫܢܐ ݂ܕ ݁ ܳܓ� ܣܢܐ ܩܘܫܬܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܦܘܡܐ ܛ ݁ܪܟܢܐ ܥ ݂ܒ ݂ܕ ݂ܽ‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

              

Like snow in the summer and like rain at the harvest, so honor is not suitable for a fool.

Like a bird and winged creatures which fly in the air, so a baseless 1 curse wanders about.

A whip (is) for a horse and a goad (is) for a donkey, so also a goad (is) for a foolish person. Do not address fools according to their foolishness, lest you also be like them. Instead, speak with fools according to your wisdom so that they will not think to themselves that they are wise.

Those who send a message by a fool drink wrongdoing from under their feet.

If you can bestow walking on a lame person, then you can receive a word from the mouth of a fool. Like a stone in a sling, so is one who praises a fool.

Thorns sprout in the hand of a drunkard, and insanity in the mouth of a fool. The flesh of a fool suffers much, and a drunkard crosses the sea.

Like a dog that returns to its vomit, so are the fools who act senselessly in their foolishness. If you see people who are wise in their own eyes — a fool will flourish better than they.

When sent out, a lazy person says: ‘A lion is on the path, and a lion is among the squares’.

Like a door which rotates on its hinge, so lazy people turn over in their bed.

Lazy people hide their hand in their pocket; 2 it would tire them to bring it to their mouth. 1 2

‘baseless’ or ‘undeserved’. ‘pocket’: lit. ‘bosom’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬

‫ܟܘ‪.‬‬

‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܶܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܐ ݂ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐܝ ݂ܟ ݁ ܰܬ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܣ ݂ܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܚ�݂ ܳܕ ܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ � ܳ�ܐܐ ܐ ܳܝܩ ܳܪ ܐ‬ ‫ܠܓܐ ݂ܒ ܰܩܝܛܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ܶ ܳ ܳ ܳ ݁ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܩܬܐ ݂ ܳܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܗ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܛܬܐ ܣܪ‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܝܟ � ݂ܦܪ ܐ ܘܚܝܘ ݂ܬ ܟ ݂ܢܦܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܦ�ܚܢ ܒܐܐܪ‪ :‬ܗ ݂ܟܢܐ ܠ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ܣ ݂ܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܩܬ‬ ‫ܙ‬ ‫ܦ‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܢ‬ ‫ܟ‬ ‫ܗ‬ ‫‪:‬‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܪ‬ ‫ܚܡ‬ ‫ܠ‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܩܬ‬ ‫ܙ‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫‪:‬‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܘܣܝ‬ ‫�ܣ‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܘܛ‬ ‫ܫ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫� ݂ܬ ݁ܬܠ ݁ ܶܦ ݂ܬ ݂ܳܓ ܳܡܐ‬ ‫�ܣ ݂ܟ� ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܰܣ ݂ܟ ܽ� ݂ܘܬܗ‪݁ .‬ܕ� ܐ ݂ܦ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ݁ ܰܕ ܶܡܐ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ݁ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ݂ܟ‪݁ .‬ܕ ܳ� ܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܒܪ ݁ܒ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ ݁ܕ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝܡ ܽ ̱ܗܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ � ܡܠܠ�ܥܡ ܣ ݂ܟ� ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܚܟܝܡ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ܰ ܰ ݁ܰ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ݂ܒ ܰܝ ݂ܕ ܰܣ ݂ܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܡܢ ݁ܬ ܶܚ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ܪ ݂ܓܠܗ ܫ ݂ܬܐ ܥܘ�‪ :‬ܡܢ ܕܡܫܕܪ ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܶܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܠ ݂ܺ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ ݁ܕ ܰܣ ݂ܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܪ ܐ‪݁ :‬ܬ ܰܩ ݁ ܶܒܠ ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܐܢ ݁ܬ ݁ܬܠ ܗܠ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܺܟ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܦܐ ݂ܒ ܶܩ ܳ‬ ‫�ܣ ݂ܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫�ܥܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ ܰܡܢ ݁ ܰܕܡ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܒܚ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟ ̈ܘ ݁ ܶܒܐ ܺܝ ܰܥܘ ݁ ܺܒ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܕܗ ݁ܕ ܰܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ ݁ܕ ܰܣ ݂ܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ‪ :‬ܘܫܛܝ ݂‬ ‫ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ ܳܚܐܶܫ ݁ ܶܒܣ ܶܪܗ ݁ܕ ܰܣ ݂ܟ ܳ�‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒܪ ܰ� ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܒܐ ݂ܕ ܳܗ ݂ ܶܦ ݂ܟ ܰܥܠ� ݁ܬ ܽ� ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܰܟ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܰܢܐ ̱ܗܘ ܰܣ ݂ܟ� ݂ܕ ܳܫܛܐ ݂ܒ ܰܣ ݂ܟ ܽ� ݂ܘܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܐܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܙ ݁ܝܬ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝܡ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܝ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܦ ܳܩܚ ܰܣ ݂ܟ� ܛ ݂ܒ ܶܡܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ݁ ܰܕܪ‪ܰ :‬ܐ ܳܪ�ܐ ݂ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܒ�ܢܐ ܡܐ ݂ܕܡ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܽܫ ̈ܘ ܶܩܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ ܰܡܪ ݂‬ ‫ܐܪ�ܐ ݂ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܰܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܒ ܳ� ܳܢܐ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܗ ݁ ܰܦ ݂ܟ ݁ܒ ܰܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ܟ ܶܪ ݂ܟ ܰܥܠ ܳ�ܨ ܰ� ݁ܪܬܶܗ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܣܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܒܠ ܶܐܢ ܶܝܢ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ‪ :‬ܢܶ� ܶܐ ݂ܕ ܰܢ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܛܫܐ ܺܐ ̈ܝ ݂ ܰܕܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܒ ܽܥ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܚܒ ܳ� ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

 

It is not good to eat a lot of honey nor to search after glorious words.

Like a ruined city which has no wall, so are the people who cannot be patient.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܚ‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ̈ܶ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܡܫ ݁ ̈ܒ ܳܚ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ ܰܐܟܠ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܒ ܳܫܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ‪ܰ � :‬ܫ ݁ ܺܦܝܪ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ� �ܡ ݂ܒ� ܐ ܡ�‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ ݁ܳ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ـܬ ܳܠـ ̇ܗ ܽܫـ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܰܢـܐ ̱ܗܘ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒـ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܳ� ܰܢ ݁ ܺܓܝـ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܰܠܝـ ݁‬ ‫ـܪ ܐ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ـܬܐ ݂ܬ ܪܝܥـ‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݂‬ ‫ܽܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܚܗ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

    

a      

When you find honey, eat (only) what you need, lest, if you are sated you vomit it. Let your foot not be frequently in the house of your friends, lest they get their fill of you and hate you.

Like an axe or a sword or a sharp arrow, such is the person who gives false testimony against a neighbor.

Like a tooth which is bad and like an unsteady foot, so is trust in a liar on a day of trouble.

A person who removes the cloak from a neighbor on a cold day is like one who throws vinegar on a cord 1 and like one who afflicts a suffering heart. Like a moth 2 in a garment and like woodworm in wood, so distress afflicts the heart of a person.

If your enemies are hungry, give them something to eat, and if they are thirsty, give them something to drink. When you do these things, you heap coals of fire on their head, and the Lord will reward you. 3 As the north wind produces 4 rain, similarly a hostile 5 face and a secretive 6 tongue (produce bad things).

Better to live on the corner of a roof than to live with a quarrelsome wife in a house of (many) rooms. 7

Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news which comes from a distant land. Like one who stops up a fountain or destroys a source of water, so is the just person who falls down before the wicked.

1 2

‘on a cord’. P is obscure. ‘moth’: lit. ‘worm’.

Romans 12:20 quotes Prov 25:21–22. P Romans 12:20 closely resembles both the Greek and P texts of Prov 25:21–22.

3 4

‘produces’: lit. ‘conceives, is pregnant with’.

6

‘secretive’: lit. ‘hiding’ or ‘hidden’.

5 7

‘hostile’: lit. ‘bad’.

‘rooms’ or ‘dissensions’: lit. ‘divisions’. Cf. 21:9.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬

‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬

‫ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ݁ ݁ܶ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܒܥ‪݁ :‬ܬ ݂ ܺܬ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܬ ݂ܟ ܰܐ ݂ ܽܟܘܠ‪݁ .‬ܕ ܳ� ݂ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ݁ܬܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܒܝܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܐ ݂ܕ ܐܫܟܚܬ ܕ ݂ܒܫܐ‪ :‬ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ܳܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ� ݂ ܰܬ ݂ܬ ݁ ܶܟ ݂ܒ ܶܪ ܓ ܳܠ ݂ܟ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܡ ݂ܟ‪݁ .‬ܕ ܳ� ܢܶ ݁‬ ‫ܣܒ ܳܥ ݂ܟ ܘܢܶܣܢܶ ݂ܝܟ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܒ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥܐ ܘ ܰܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܳܦ ݂ ܽܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܓـܐ ܳܪܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܦܐ ݂ܶ‬ ‫ܫܢ ܳܝܢـܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܰܢـܐ ̱ܗܘ ݁ܓ ݂ܒـܪ ܐ ݂ܕܡܣــܗ݂ܕ ܣـܗܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ܰܥܠ ܰܚ ݂ܒ ܶܪܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܕ ܓ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܰܢܐ ̱ܗܘ ݁ܬ ݂ܘܟ ܳ� ܶܢـܗ ݁ܕ݂ ܰܕ ݁ ܳܓـ� ݂ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܶܫ ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡـܐ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܶܪ ݂ܓ� ܡܙ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫݂ ܽܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘ�ܨ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܛܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܚ ݂ܒ ܶܪܗ ݁ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ܕ ܰܩ ݂ܪܬ ܐ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܰܗܘ ݁ܕ ܳܪ ܶܡـܐ ܰܚـ� ܰܥـܠ‬ ‫ܰܡܢ ݁ܕ ܳܫ ܶܩܠ ܡܪܛ‬ ‫ܶ݁ ܳ ܳ ݁ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܶ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ� ݂ܬ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫�ܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܶ�ܪ ݂ܦ �ܒܐ ݂ܟ‬ ‫ܝܣـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܝܒܐ‪ .‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܳܣ ܳܣܐ �ܡܐܢܐ‪ :‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܒܠܛ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܰܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܪ ܐ � ݁ ܶܒܗ ݁ܕ ݂ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܗ ݂ܟܢܐ ݂ܟܪ� ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܡ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ܟ‪ܰ :‬ܐ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܐܢ ݁ܟ ݂ ܶܦܢ ݁ܒܥܶ ݁‬ ‫ܨܗܐ‪ :‬ܐܫ ܳܩܝ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܟ ܳܠܝ ̱ܗܝ‪ .‬ܘܐܢ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒܕ ܶܠܗ‪ܽ ݁ :‬ܓܘܡ ܶ� ܐ ܕ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܝܫܗ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ ܳܚ ݂ ܶܕ ܐ ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ܰܥܠ ܺܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ـܐ ݂ ܳܦـ ܰܪܥ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ܕ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ݁ܬ ݁ ܶ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳܠ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܽ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ ̈ܶ ܺ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܫ ܳܢܐ‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܕܪܘܚܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܓܪܒܝܐ ݂ܒܛܢܐ ܡܛܪ ܐ‪ :‬ܗ ݂ܟܢܐ ܐ ܦܐ ݂ܒܝܫ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܳ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦܝܪ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܥܡܪ ܰܥܠ ܩܪܢܐ ݂ܕ ܐܓـܪ ܐ‪ :‬ܡـܢ ܕ�ܡܥܡـܪ ܥـܡ ܐܢ ̱ـܬ ݂ܬ ܐ �ܨܝـ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܳܦ ܰܠ ݂ ̈ܓ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܒ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ̈ ܰ ܺ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܰܢܐ ̱ܗܘ ܛ ݁ ܳܒـܐ ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦܝـ ܳ‬ ‫ـܪ ܐ ݂ ܳܕ ݂ܐܬܶ ܐ ܶܡـܢ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥـܐ‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܟܙܢܐ ݂ܕܡܝܐ ܩܪܝ� ܐ �ܢ ݂ܦܫܐ ܨܗ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܩܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪܚ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܕ ܳܣ ݂ ܰܟܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢܫ ܰܡ ݁ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥܐ‪ :‬ܘ ܰܡ ݁ܦ ܳܩ ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝـܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚ ݁ ܶܒـܠ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܰܢـܐ ̱ܗܘ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩـܐ ܳܡـܐ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݂ܕ ܳܢ ݂ ܶܦܠ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܰ� ܳܘ �‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

      

     

 

These also are profound proverbs of Solomon, which the friends 1 of Hezekiah, king of Judah, wrote.

The glory of God is that he conceals a matter, and the glory of a king is that he searches out a matter. The heavens are high and the earth is deep, and the mind of a king is unsearchable. Remove the dross from the silver so that the vessel will go out pure.

The wicked will be scattered before the king, and he will establish his throne on righteousness. Do not boast before a king, and do not stand in the place of nobles.

For it is good when he says to you, ‘Come up here closer!’ — better than that he humiliate you before a ruler. What your eyes have seen — say that. Do not go forth hastily to make a charge, lest when you go to law later your friend revile you.

Bring a legal action against your neighbor, but do not reveal another secret, Lest someone who hears revile you and many people think ill of you. The one who speaks a word is a gold apple in a silver ornament.

A gold ring and a fine jewel — such is the admonition of the wise to the attentive ear. Like snow coming down on a day of harvest, cooling the heat, so are reliable messengers to those who send them; they revives the spirit of their masters.

Like cloud and wind with no rain, so is the person who boasts dishonestly about (making) gifts. By patience a ruler is persuaded, and a gentle tongue breaks bones.

1

‘friends’ or ‘associates’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬

‫ܟܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ̈ ܶ ݁ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܘ ݂ܐܦ ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰܡ ݂ܬ ܰ�ـܘ ̈ܗܝ ݁ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܒـ ̱ܘ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡـܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܶܚ ܰܙ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܝـܐ‬ ‫ܝܡـܘܢ ܥܡܝܩـܐ‪ :‬ܕ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܽܝܗ ݂ ܳܘܕ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܶ ݁ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܰ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ‪݂ :‬ܘܬܫܒ‬ ‫�ܟـܐ ܰܡـܢ ݁ܕ ݂ ܳܒـ ܶ� ܐ‬ ‫ܬܫܒܘܚܬܗ ܕ ܐ�ܗܐ ܡܢ ܕܡܛܫܐ ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ܰܥ ܺܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܫ ܰܡ ܳܝܐ ܳܪ ܺܡܝܢ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ � ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ܒ ܶ� ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܩܐ‪ .‬ܘ�ܒܗ ܕܡ‬ ‫݁ܓ ݂ ܰܒܘ ܽܣ ܳܘ� ܳܢܐ ܶܡܢ ܺܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܐ‪݁ :‬ܕܢܶ ݁ ܽܦܘܩ ܳܡ ܳܐܢܐ ݂ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ݁ܕ ݂ ܶܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܒ ݁ܕ ܽܪܘܢ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ܶܡܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ .‬ܘܢܶ ݂ܬ ܰܩܢ ݁ ܽܟܘܪܣܝܶܗ ݁ܒ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܽܝܩ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݂ܒ ܰܗܪ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܕ ݁ܘܟ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܪܘ� ݂ ܳܒܢܶܐ � ݂ܬ ܽܩܘܡ‪.‬‬ ‫� ݂ܬ‬ ‫ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦܝܪ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܶܓܝܪ ݁ܕ ܺܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܳܠ ݂ܟ‪ܶ :‬ܐ ݂ܬ ܰܩ ܰܪ ݂ܒ �ܥܶـܠ‪ܳ :‬ܛـ ݂ܒ ܶܡـܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܡ ݁ܟ ݂ ܳܟـ ݂ܟ‪ :‬ܩـ ݂ ܳـܕܡ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ ܶ ݁ ݂ܶ ݁ ܰ ̈ ܰ ܰ ̈ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫܠܝܛܐ‪ .‬ܡܕܡ ܕܚܙܝ ��ܢܝܟ‪ :‬ܗܘ ܐܡܪ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ݁ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܽ ݁ܰ ܳ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܣܕ ݂ܟ ܳܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ݁ ܽܦܘܩ ܰܠ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܢܚ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ‪ .‬ܕ� ݂ܟ ݂ܕ ܬ ݂ ܕܘܢ ܒܐܚܪ‬ ‫ܡܕܢ ܡܣܪ ݂‬ ‫ܗܒܐ ݂‬ ‫ܳܳ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܪ ܳܢܐ � ݂ܬ ݂ܓ�‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܢ ݂ܟ ݁ ܽܕܘܢ ܰܥܡ ܰܚ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ݂ܟ‪ .‬ܘܐ̱ܪ ܙ ܐ ܐ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳ� ܰܡܢ ݁ܕ ܳܫ ܰܡܥ‪ܰ :‬ܢܚ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܕ ݂ܟ‪ .‬ܘܢܶ ܽܪܢܘܢ ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܟ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܐܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ ݂ ܰܒܢ ܽܓܘ݂ ܳܕ ܐ ݂ܕ ܺܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܚ ܽܙ ܳܘܪ ܐ ݂ܕ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܡ ܶܠܠ ܡ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ݁ܽ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝ̈ ܶܡܐ ܶ� ݂ܕ ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ܳܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܥܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܕܫܐ ݂ ݂ܕܕ ݂‬ ‫ܗܒܐ ܘܣܪܕܘܢ ܛ ݂ܒܐ‪ :‬ܗ ݂ܟܢܐ ܡܟܣܢ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܦ ܶܝـܓ ܽܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܳܳ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݂ܟ ܳܙܢܐ ݂ܕ ܳܡܐ ݂ܕ ܳܢ ܶܚ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܬ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡـܐ‪ܳ .‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢـܐ ܺܐ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܙܓـ ݁ ܳܕ ܐ‬ ‫ܠܓـܐ ݂ܒ ܰܝܘܡـܐ ݂ܕܚــ�݂ܕ ܐ‪݂ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܡܫ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܰܢܘܗܝ‪ :‬ܘ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܳܫܐ ܕ ܳܡ ܰ�ܘܗܝ ܰܡ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡܢܐ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܐ ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫ܥ�ܢ̈ܶܐ ܽܘܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݂ܒـ ܰܗܪ‬ ‫ܝܬ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܰܢܐ ̱ܗܘ ܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ݂ܕܡ‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܟ ܳܙܢܐ ݂ܕ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒ ݂ܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݁ ܳ ̈ܓ ܳܠ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܡܘ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ݁ ܺ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܰܢ ݁ ܺܓ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܪ ݂ܘܬ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܟܐ ݂ܬ ݂ ܰܒܪ ݁ ܰܓ� ܶܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܚܐ ܡ ܰܫ ݁ ܰܕܠ ܰܫ ܺܠܝܛܐ‪ .‬ܘ�ܫܢܐ ܪܟ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

  

I saw and took it to heart and received instruction.

If you sleep a little and slumber a little and you put your hand(s) a little on your chest,

Poverty will come before you, and destitution will overtake you like a courier. 1

1

Cf. 6:10–11.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܰ ݁ ܶ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܐ ܳܢܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܒ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ܒ ܶܠ ݁ܒ ̱ܝ‪ :‬ܘܩܒܠ ݂ܬ ܡ‬ ‫ܪܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܙ ݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܺܠܝܠ� ݁ ݂ܬܶܕ ܰܡ ݂ܟ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܠܓ ܶܘܐܢ ܰܩ ܺܠܝܠ� ݁ܬ ܽ�ܘܡ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܘܩ ܺܠܝܠ� ݁ܬ ܺܣܝܡ ܐܝ ݂ ܳܕ ݂ܟ ܰܥܠ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܳ� ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ݁ ܶ ݁ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܛܒ ܳܠ ܳܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܕ ݁ܬ ܰܐܙܠ ݂‬ ‫ܩܕܡܝܟ ܡܣܟܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪݂ :‬ܘܬ݂ܕܪ ݂ܟ ݂ܟ �ܪ ݂ܝܟ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

               

For the righteous will fall and get up seven times, but wicked ones will be overthrown by evil.

When your enemies fall, do not rejoice, and when they are overthrown let not your heart exult,

Lest the Lord see and it be displeasing in his eyes, and He turn away his wrath from him. Do not envy the wicked, and do not be jealous of evildoers,

For there is no future for the wicked. The lamp of evildoers will be extinguished. My son, fear the Lord, and rule, and do not mingle with foolish ones.

For their ruin comes suddenly, and who knows the end of their years? I say these things to the wise: It is not good to show favoritism in judgment, Nor to say to a wicked person, ‘You are righteous’. The peoples will curse such individuals, and the nations will revile them.

Those who rebuke will be made pleasant, 1 rich blessing will come to them. They will kiss the lips of those who rebuke.

Make ready your works in the market place, and make preparation in your field, and then build your house. Do not be a witness who lies against your neighbors; do not tear them down with your lips.

Do not say, ‘I will do to them as they have done to me. I will repay them according to their actions’. I passed by the field of a lazy man and by the vineyard of a man who lacks sense.

All of it was overgrown, filled with brambles, and its surface was covered with vines. 2 And its stone walls were fallen down.

1 2

‘pleasant’ or ‘rejoice’.

‘vines’ or ‘moles’: lit. ‘things that creep’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܠ‬ ‫‪� ‬‬

‫ܶ ܽ ݁ܰ ܰ ܰ ̈ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܰ݁ܺ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܶ ܺ ݁ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܬ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܦܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܒܥ ܙ ݂ܒܢܝܢ ܢ ݂ܦܠ ܙ ܕܝܩܐ ܘܩܐܡ‪ .‬ܘ�ܫܝܥܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܒܝܫܬܐ ܢ‬ ‫ܡܛܠ ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݁‬ ‫ܚܕ ܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܠܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ܒ ݁ܟ‪݂ �ܳ :‬ܬܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܳܡܐ ݂ܕ ܳܢ ݂ ܶܦܠ ݁ܒܥܶ ݁‬ ‫ܣܬ ܶܚ ݂ܦ‪ � :‬ܢ ݂ ܽܕܘܨ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ‪ :‬ܘܢܶܬ ݁ ܶܒܐܫ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܘܗܝ‪ :‬ܘ ܰܢ ݁ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܓ ܶܙܗ ܶܡܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ ܪ ݂‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶܰ‬ ‫ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܣܡ ݁ܒ ݂ ܺܒܝ̈ ܶܫܐ‪ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬ�ܢ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈ܘ �‪.‬‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܬ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫�ܒܝ̈ ܶܫܐ ܳ� ܳܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܪ ݂ܓ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰ� ̈ܘ � ܢܶ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ �ܗܘܢ ܚ ݂‬ ‫ܰܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܰܚܠ ݁ ܶܒܪ ̱ܝ ܶܡܢ ܳܡܪ ܳ�ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܡܠ ݂ܟ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܥܡ ܳܫܛܝ̈ܐ � ݂ܬ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܠܛ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪܗܘܢ‪ .‬ܘ ܰܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܶܓܝܪ ܳܐ ݂ܬܶ ܐ ݂ܬ ݂ ܳܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܦܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܡܢ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܫ�ܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ ܰܡ ܽܢܘ ܳܝ ݂ ܰܕܥ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݁ ݁ ܰ ݁ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳܗ ܶܠܝܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܦܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ‪ܰ � :‬ܫ ݁ ܺܦܝܪ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܚ ݁ ܺܟܝ̈ ܶܡܐ ܐ ܰܡܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ‪� .‬ܡܣܒ ܒ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳܐ ݂ܦ ܳ� ܺ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ‬ ‫�� ܳܘ � ݂ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕܝܩ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ‪ .‬ܢ ܽ�ܘܛܘܢܶܗ ܰܥ ̱̈ܡ ܶܡܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰܢܨ ̈ܚ ܳ�ܢܶܗ ܐ ̈ܡ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܽ ݁ܺ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܡ ݁ ̈ܟ ܳܣܢܶܐ ܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܪܟ ݂ܬܐ ܛ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܡܘܢ‪ .‬ܘܥܠܝܗܘܢ ܬ ݂ܐܬ ܐ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܘ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܘ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ ܰܢܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܩܘܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ܟ ܳܣ ܺܢܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ݁ܶ ݁ܶ ܶ ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܬܕ ݁ܒ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܛܝܶ ݂ܒ ݁ܒ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܠ ݂ܟ‪݂ .‬ܘܒ ݂ܬܪܟܢ ܬ ݂ܒܢܐ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܰܕ�̈ ݁ܟ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܥ ݁ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܳܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܕ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݁ ܳܓ� ܰܥܠ ܰܚ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ݂ܟ‪݂ � .‬ܬ ݂ ܰܦ ݂ܬ ݁ܦ ݂ܬܝܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܒ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܺܠܝ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ܺ‬ ‫ܳܘ� ݂ ܺܬ ܰܐܡܪ ݁ ܶܕ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܥܝܘ ̱ܗܝ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܥܒ ݂ܕ ܶܠܗ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܰܕ ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܥܠ ܰܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ݁ ܰܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܒ ܳ� ܳܢܐ ܥܶ ݂ܒ ܶܪ ݂ܬ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܩܠܗ ݁ܕ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܡܗ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܰܚ ܺܣܝܪ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݁ ܽ ܶ ܶ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܰ ݁ ܰ ̈ ܽ ̈ ݁ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ̈ ݁ ܺ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܐܦـܐ‬ ‫ܘܣܠܩ ܟܠܗ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܬܡܠܝ �ܥܪ ܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܟܣܝܘ ܐ ܦܘ ̱ܗܝ ܚܘ�ܕ ܐ‪ .‬ܘܣܝ ݂ܓܘ ̱ܗܝ ܕ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܶܐ ݁‬ ‫ܣܬ ܶܚ ݂ܦ ̱ܘ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

           

  

Do not envy wicked people, and do not desire to be with them.

For the thought of their heart is wickedness, and their lips utter evil.

A house is built with wisdom, and with intelligence it is established altogether.

By knowledge its rooms are filled (with) all property and treasure and delight. Better a wise person than a strong one, and a knowledgeable one than a powerful one.

By provocation war is waged, but rescue (comes) by an abundance of counsel. Wisdom throws down fools, and in the gate they do not open their mouth. One who schemes to do harm is called an evildoer.

The ideas of a fool are sin, and wickedness is human impurity.

As for evildoers, wickedness will lead them in the day of calamity.

Save those who are being led to death; do not hold back. And do not refrain from redeeming those who are seized for killing. And if you say, ‘I do not know (something)’, know that God examines the thoughts of the heart, and he who protects your life knows and repays people according to their actions. 1 My son, eat honey, because it is good, and honeycomb is sweet on your palate.

Thus also you should achieve wisdom for yourself. Then there will be a future for you, and your hope will not be cut off. O wicked one, do not lie in ambush at the dwelling of the righteous and do not plunder their dwelling.

1

Portions of Prov 24:12 are quoted inexactly in Matthew 16:27 and Romans 2:6.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬

‫ܟܕ‪.‬‬

‫ܗܘܐ ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ܰ�ܢ ݁ܒ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܶ� ܐ ݂ ܺܒܝ̈ ܶܫܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬܶ ܰܪ ܓ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ ̱ܗܘ ܳܪ ܶܢܐ ܶܠ ݁ܒ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ݂ ܺܒ ݁‬ ‫ܘܥܘ� ܡ ̈ܡܠܢ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ݁ ܶ ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ ܽ ݁ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ܡ ݂ܬܒܢܐ ݂ܒܝܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܒܣ‬ ‫ܘܟ� ݂ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ݁ܬ ܶܩܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܒ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ܺܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܩ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܠܝܢ ݁ ܰܬ ܳܘ ̈ܶܢܐ ݂ ܽܟܠ ܶܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܘܒ ݂ܝܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܰ݁ܺ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܰܓܢ̱ ݁ ܳܒܪ ܰܚܝ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܝܕ ݂‬ ‫ܛ ݂ܒ ̱ܗܘ ܚܟܝܡܐ ܡܢ ܥܫܝܢܐ‪݂ .‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܓܐܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܳܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܶ ܳܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܒ ݂ܽܓܘܪ ݂ܳܓܐ ܡ ݂ܬܥ ݂ܒ ݂ܕ ܩܪ ݂ܒܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܦܘܪܩܢܐ ݂ܒܣ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܚ ݁ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ܳܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܝܐ �ܣ ݂ܟ�‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܪܥܐ � ݂ܦ ݂‬ ‫ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܐܫܘ‪ܳ �ܰ :‬ܘ ܳ� ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܶ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܫ ݂ܒ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ ܳܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܺ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒܪ ܐ̱ܢܫܐ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ ܕܣ ݂ܟ� ܚܛ ݂‬ ‫ܬܪܥ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ̱ܗܝ‪ .‬ܘܛܡ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ ݂ܬ݂ܶܕ ݁ ܰܒܪ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪݁ :‬ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ ܽܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ��ܘ � ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܐܘ�ܨ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܰܦ ܳ� ܐ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܙܒܢ � ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ݁ܬ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܺܪܝܢ � ܰܡ ݁ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ� ܶܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܕܝــܢ �ܩܛــ�‪� :‬‬ ‫݂ܬ ܽܚܘܣ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܺ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ݁ܰ ݁ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ݂ܕ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒـܐ‪ :‬ܐ ܳ� ـ ܰܗܐ ̱ܗܘ ݁ ܳܒ ـ ܶ� ܐ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕܢܶܛ ـܪ‬ ‫ܘܐܢ ܬ ܐܡـܪ ܕ� ܝ ـ ݂ܕܥ ܐ̱ܢ ـܐ‪ :‬ܕܥ ܕ ݂ܬܪܥܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܳܫ ݂ܟ‪ܽ :‬ܗܘ ܳܝ ݂ ܰܕܥ‪ܳ ݂ .‬‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܦ ܰܪܥ � ݂ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ݁ܳ ܺ ܳ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ܒ ܶܚ ݁ ܳܟ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܚܠ ݂‬ ‫ܐ ݂ ܽܟܘܠ ݁ ܶܒܪ ̱ܝ ݁ ܶܕ ݂ܒ ܳܫܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡܛܠ ݁ܕܛ ݂ܒ ܽ ̱ܗܘ‪݂ .‬ܘܟܟܪ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܢ ݂ܦ ܳܫ ـ ݂ܟ ݁ܬܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܟ ـܚ‪݂ .‬ܘܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܬ ܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ـܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܒ ـ ܳܪ ݂ܟ �‬ ‫ܳܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢ ـܐ ܐ ݂ܦ ܶܚ ݂ܟܡـ ݂‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܳܠ ـ ݂ܟ ܚ ـ ݂‬ ‫ܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ܦ ܶܣܩ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ� ݂ ܰܬ ݂ܟ ܶܡܢ ܰܥ ܳܘ� ݂ܒ ݂ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡܫܪ�ܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܪܗ ݁ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ‪ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬ ݁ ܽܒܘܙ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

   

For the effect 1 of wine is like the bite 2 of a snake, and like the venomous viper which flies.

Your eyes will see strange things, and then your heart will speak perverse things.

Then you will be like one who lies down in the middle of the sea, and like a sailor in a great storm

Then you will say, ‘They struck me, but I did not feel pain’, and ‘They were mocking me, but I was not aware. When will I awake? Then I will go (and) seek it (again)’.

1 2

‘effect’: lit. ‘end’.

‘bite’: lit. ‘wound’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܶܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܡ ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܳܦ ܰܪܚ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܠܒ ܶܡܛܠ ݁ܕ ܰܚ ݂ܪܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܚܡ ܳܪ ܐ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܡܚ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ܰ ݁ ܳ ܳ ݁ ܽ ܳ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܕܝܢ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܟ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܦܝ̈ ݂ ܳܟ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܓ ��ܢܝܟ ܡܐ ݂ܕܚ� ̱ܝ ܒܢ ݂ܘܟܪ‬ ‫ܡܡ ܶܠܠ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܕ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܶܘܐ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ܳܠ ݂ܟ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܰܗܘ ݁ܕ ܰܫ ݂ ܺܟ ݂ܝܒ ݁ܒ ܶ� ݁ ܶܒܗ ݁ܕ ܰ� ܳܡܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ܰܡ ܳ� ܳܚـܐ ݂ܒܡܚܫـܘ�‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܪܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܢܝ‪ :‬ܘ� ܶܚ ܶܫ ݂ܬ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܰܐܡܪ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ‪ .‬ܐܡ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ‬ ‫ܡܒ ܺܙܚܝܢ ̱ܗ ܰܘܘ ݁ ܺܒܝ‪ :‬ܘ� ܳܝ ݂ ܰܕܥ ̱ܗ ܺܘ ݂‬ ‫ܡܚܐ ̱ܶ‬ ‫ܠܗ ܶ ݂‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܐ ݁ܬܬܥܝܪ‪ :‬ܘܐܙܠ ܐ ݂ܒܥ ̇‬ ‫ܝܗ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

            XI



So that you will have a future and your hope will not be destroyed.

Listen, my son, and be wise, and direct my thoughts into your heart. Do not be drunk with wine, and do not gorge on meat,

Because one who gets drunk on wine and gorges on meat will perish, and one who sleeps will wear rags. Listen to the father who sired you, and do not despise the old age of your mother.

Acquire truth, and do not sell wisdom or understanding or instruction.

The father of a righteous child will rejoice and exult; and he will sire a wise son, and his father will rejoice in him.

Your father and your mother will rejoice in you, and the one who bore you will exult. Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes keep my ways.

For a prostitute is a deep pit, and a promiscuous 1 woman is a narrow 2 well.

Suddenly she will destroy, and many people will multiply wrongdoing. Who has woe? Who has misery? Who has a dispute? Who has misfortunes? Who has wounds without cause? Whose eyes are dim? Is it not those who tarry over wine and who seek out the drinking hall 3? Do not get drunk on wine. Instead, converse with righteous persons and walk and talk with them. 4

Do not fix your eye on wine the color of which is 5 red in the cup; instead, concentrate on righteousness. 178F



1

‘promiscuous’: lit. ‘alien’.

3

‘seek out’ or ‘trample’.

2

‘narrow’ or ‘inaccessible’.

‘Do not get drunk … talk with them’: the second half of this verse is entirely missing from MT. See Introduction, Noteworthy Readings, Dependence upon the Septuagint (LXX).

4

5

‘which is red’: lit. ‘the eye of which is red’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܛ‬ ‫ܨܚ ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܠ‬

‫‪� ‬‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܬ ܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ݂ܟ � ܢܶ ݂ܓ ܰܡܪ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕ ݂ܬܗܘܐ ܠ ݂ܟ ܚ ݂‬ ‫ܗܘܝ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝܡ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܬ ܽܪܘܨ ݁ ܰܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ݁ ܶܒܪ ̱ܝ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ̱ܝ ݁ܒ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪܥ ݂‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܳܐ ܽܣܘܛ ݁ܒ ݂ ܶܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܪ ܳܘܝ ݁ܒ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܪ ܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܐܣܘܛ ݁ܒ ݂ ܶܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܕ ܰܪ ܳܘܝ ݁ܒ ܰܚܡ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܳ :‬ܘ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܒ ݂ܕ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݁ܕ݂ ܳܕ ܶܡ ݂ܟ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܪ ܐ‪ܺ :‬ܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܒܫ ݁ ܰܒ� ݁ܕ ܳܥ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܽ ݁ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܒ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܶܕ ܳܐܡ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܘ�ܕ ݂ܟ‪ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬ ܽܫܘܛ ܣ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ � ݂ܒ ݂ܘܟ ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ݁ܳ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ܘܣܘܟ� ܘܡ‬ ‫ܩܘܫܬܐ‬ ‫ܪܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܢܝ‪ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬ ܰܙ ݁ ܶܒܢ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܶ ܶ ܽܰ‬ ‫ܪܘܙ ܰܘ ݂ ܽܢܕܘܨ ܐ ݂ ܽܒܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘܢܘ ܶܠ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ‪ :‬ܘܢܚܕ ܐ ݂ܒܗ ܐ ݂ܒܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܚܕܘܢ ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܟ ܰܐ ݂ ܽܒ ݂ܘܟ ܶܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܡ ݂ܟ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݁ܬ ݂ ܽܕܘܨ ܳ� ܶܠ ݁ܕ ݁ܬ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰܗ ݂ܒ ܺܠܝ ݂ ܶܒܪ ̱ܝ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܟ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘ� ̈� ܰܢ ݁ܝܟ ܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ ܢܶܛ ܳ�ܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ ܳܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪ܺ ݂ .‬‬ ‫݁ ܽܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ ܽܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘ�ܨ ܳܢܐ‪ܽ :‬ܢ ݂ܘܟ ܳܪ ݁ܝܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ� ܐ ̱ܗܝ ݁ ܶܓܝܪ ܥܡܝܩܐ ܙ ܢ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܰܡ ݁ܘܒ ݂ ܳܕ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܶܐܐ ܰܥ ܳܘ� ܰܡ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܓܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ܺ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܺ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܽ ̈ ݁ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫�ܦـ ݂ܬܐ‬ ‫�ܡܢ ܘ�ܐ‪ :‬ܘ�ܡܢ ܕܘܘ ݂ܕ ܐ‪ :‬ܘ�ܡܢ ܕܝܢܐ‪ :‬ܘ�ܡܢ ܒܝܫ ݂ܬܐ‪ :‬ܘ�ܡـܢ ܨ ܘ‬ ‫ܰܳ‬ ‫ܡܩܢ̈ܐܢ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳܓܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ݂ܕ ܰܡܢ‬ ‫ܶܳ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܺ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܳ�ܐ‪݂ �ܳ .‬ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܗܘܐ‬ ‫ܐ � ݂ܕ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܡܘܚܪܝܢ ܒܚܡܪ ܐ‪ .‬ܘܡܥ ݂‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫ܩܒܝܢ ܐܝ ݁ ܳܟܐ ݂ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫ܰܳ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܶܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܪܘܝ ܒܚܡـ‬ ‫ـܪ ܐ‪ .‬ܐ � ܰܡ ܶܠ ـܠ ܰ�ܥ ـܡ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫ ـܐ ܙ ܕ�ܩ ـܐ‪ .‬ܘܗܘܝــܬ ܡܗܠ ـ ݂ܟ ܥܡــܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܡ ܶܠܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ� ݂ ܰܬ ݂ܶ�ܕ ܰܥ ܳܝܢ ݂ܟ ݁ܒ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܳܙ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܓܐ ܰܥܝܢܶܗ ݁ܒ ݂ ܳܟ ܳܣܐ‪ .‬ܐ � ܺܪܢܝ ݂ܒ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܽܝܩ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

                

If you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider what is set before you, Lest you put a knife in your mouth, if there is a man of courage. 1

Do not desire his food, because his bread is the bread of treachery.

Do not approach the wealthy, but in wisdom stay away from them.

For if you fix your eye on him, he will not be visible to you, because he will make for himself wings like an eagle and fly to the sky. Do not dine with the envious, 2 and do not desire their food.

For it is like someone swallowing a hair — so you eat and drink with that person but their heart is not with you.

The food which you eat you will vomit up, and you will ruin your pleasant words.

Do not speak before a fool, because such a one will despise your words. Do not alter a boundary which is ancient, and do not intrude on the field of orphans,

For their Redeemer is mighty, and he will defend their cause with you. Direct your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.

Do not withhold discipline from children, for if you strike them they will not die. For (when) you beat them with a rod, you rescue their soul from Sheol. My son, if your heart is wise, then my own heart also will rejoice. My very soul 3 will exult when your lips utter what is right.

Let your heart not envy sinners, but (be) in the fear of the Lord every day,

1

The v. is obscure.

3

‘my very soul’: lit. ‘my kidneys’, as a seat of the emotions (so MT).

2

‘stingy’ or ‘envious’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬

‫ܟܓ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܽ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܕܥ ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ݁ܕ ܺܣܝܡ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܢ ܳ� ݂ܬ ݂ܒ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ �ܡܚܫܡܘ ܥܡ ܫܠܝܛܐ‪ :‬ܐ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡ ݁ܝܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂ܟ‪ܶ :‬ܐܢ ܺܐܝܬ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܕ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳ� ݂ܬ ܺܣܝܡ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܟ ܳܝܢܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦܝܫ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܽ ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܘܠܬܗ‪ܶ :‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܰܠ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܡܗ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ̱ܗܘ ݁ܕ݂ ܰܕ ݁ ܳܓ ܽ� ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫� ݂ܬ ܰܪ ݂ܓ ܡܢ ܡ ݂ܐܟ‬ ‫ܶܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ܐ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܦ ܰܪܩ ܶܡܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫� ݂ܬ ݂ܬ ܰܩ ܰܪ ݂ܒ‬ ‫�ܥ ݁ܬ ܳܝܪ ܐ‪ .‬ܐ � ݂ܒ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶܐܢ ݁ ܰܬ ݂ܶ�ܕ ݁ ܶܓܝܪ ܰܥ ܳܝܢ ݂ܟ ݁ ܶܒܗ‪ܶ �ܳ :‬ܡ ݂ܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܳܠ ݂ܟ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛܠ ݁ܕ ܳܥ ݂ ܶܒـ ݂ܕ ܶܠـܗ ݁ ̈ܶܓ ݁ ܶܦـܐ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ‬ ‫ܫܪ ܐ‪ܳ ݂ :‬‬ ‫݁ܕܢܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦ ܰܪܚ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܽ ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܳ� ݂ ܰܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܠܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܫܡ ܰܥܡ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܚ ܳܘ ܳܪ ܐ‪ :‬ܘ� ݂ܬ ܰܪ ݂ܓ ܡܢ ܡ ݂ܐܟ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܳ ݁ܳ ܰ ܶ ݁ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܥ ܶܡـܗ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܘ� ݁ ܶܒـܗ �‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܟܙܢܐ ݂ܓ ܳܝܪ ܕܐ̱ܢܫ ܒܠܥ ܙ ݂ܦܬܐ‪ :‬ܗ ݂ܟܢܐ ܐ ݂ܟܠ ܐܢ̱ܬ ܘܫـ ݂‬ ‫̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܬܝـ ݂ـܒ ܰܐܢ ̱ـ ݁ܬ ܶܠ ـܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚ ݁ ܶܒ ـܠ ܐܢ ̱ـ ݁ܬ ܶܡ ܰ�ܝ̈ ـ ݁ܟ‬ ‫ܚܡ ـܐ ݂ ܳܕ ݂ ܶܐܟ ـܠ ܐܢ ̱ـ ݁ܬ‪݂ :‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܒ ܺܣܝ̈ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܰܣ ݂ܟ ܳ� ܳ� ݂ܬ ܰܡ ܶܠܠ‪ܶ :‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܳܫܐܶܛ ܶ‬ ‫݂ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰ�ܝ̈ ݁ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ� ݂ܬ ܰܫܢܶܐ ݂ܬ ܽܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡܢ ܳܥ ܰܠܡ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܰܚܩ� ݂ܕ ܰ� ݂ܬ ̈ܡܐ � ݂ܬ ܽܥܘܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ݂ ܳܦ ܽܪ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܩܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܬ ܺܩ ݂ܝܦ ܽ ̱ܗܘ‪ܽ .‬‬ ‫ܘܗܘ ݂ ܽܢܕܘܢ ݁ ܺܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܢܗܘܢ ܰܥ ܳܡ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܥܶܠ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܟ �ܡ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ݂ ̈ܐܕ ܰܢܝ ݁ܟ �ܡܐܡܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܝܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܛ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡܛܠ ݁ ܶܕ ܐܢ ܳܡ ܶܚܐ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ܶܠܗ‪ܳ � :‬ܡܐ ݂ܬ‪.‬‬ ‫� ݂ܬ ݂ܟ� ܡܪܕ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ݁ ܶܓܝܪ ܳܡ ܶܚܐ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ܶܠܗ ݁ܒ ܰܫ ݂ܒ ܳܛܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ ܶܡܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܦ� ܐ ܐܢ̱ܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܝܘܠ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠܝ ܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܕ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܶܒܪ ̱ܝ‪ :‬ܐܢ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝܡ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܟ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܦ ܶܠ ݁ܒ ̱ܝ ݁ ܺܕ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܽܢܕ ̈ܘ ܳ�ܢ ݁ ܽܟ ̈ܘ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ‪ܳ :‬ܡܐ ݂ ܰܕܡ ̈ܡܠܢ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ݂ܟ ݁ܬ ܺܪ ܽܝܨ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܳ ݁ ܰ ܳ ̈ܶ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܠܬܗ ݁ܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ݂ ܽܟܠ ܽ�ܘܡ‪.‬‬ ‫� ܢ�ܢ �ܒ ݂ܟ ܒܚܛܝܐ‪ .‬ܐ � ݂ܒ ݂ܕ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 



If you see a person who is skillful in his work, he will stand before kings; he will not stand before unimportant persons.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܛ‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙ ݁ܝܬ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܗܝܪ ݁ ܰܒ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܐܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ ܶܕܗ‪ :‬ܩـ ݂ ܳـܕܡ ܰܡ ̈� ݁ ܶܟـܐ ܽܢܩـܘܡ‪ .‬ܘ� ܽܢܩـܘܡ ܩـ ݂ ܳـܕܡ‬ ‫ܰܚ ܺܫܝ̈ ݂ ܶܟܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

       

      

The mouth of the promiscuous woman is a deep pit, and the one with whom the Lord is angry will fall there. Folly carries away the heart of children, but the rod of discipline removes it from them.

Those who oppress the poor, multiply their wickedness, and those who give to the wealthy (get) damage to themselves.

Incline your ear and heed the words of the wise, and set your mind on my knowledge. Because they are lovely; guard them within yourself, and let them be established likewise on your lips. So that your confidence will be in the Lord, I instruct you today. Behold, I have written to you three times.

That I might make you know counsel and knowledge and quiet and words of truth, so that you may return a word of truth to whomever sends you. Do not oppress the poor because they are poor, and do not afflict the unfortunate ones in the gate;

For the Lord will plead their case, and the damage to their life 1 will be avenged.

Do not be a friend of wrathful persons, and do not go in with persons who are full of anger, Lest you learn their customs 2 and find a stumbling-block for your soul. Do not give yourself as surety because you are in awe of someone.

For if you lack the means to 3 pay, they will take the bed from beneath you. Do not change an ancient boundary, which your ancestors fixed.

1

‘their life’: lit. ‘their soul’.

3

‘the means to’: lit. ‘from the place that’.

2

‘customs’: lit. ‘his laws’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܚ‬

‫݁ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܽ ܳ ̇ ݁ ܽ ܳ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܢـܐ ݂ܕ ܳܪ ܶܓـܙ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܥ�ـܘ ̱ܗܝ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ـܐ‪ܳ :‬ܢ ݂ ܶܦـܠ�‬ ‫ܓܘܡ� ܐ ܥܡܝܩܐ ݂ܦܘܡܗ ܕܢ ݂ܘܟܪ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁ܬ ܳܡܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰܡ ݂ܦ ݂ܪ ܳܕ ܐ ܶ� ݁ ܶܒܗ ݁ܕ ܰܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܚܩ ܶܡܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܛܝ ݂‬ ‫�ܝܐ‪ .‬ܘܫ ݂ܒܛܐ ݂ܕܡܪܕ ݂‬ ‫ܰ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܺ ݁ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܝــܪ ܐ‪ܽ :‬ܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ܳ‬ ‫݁ܕ ݂ ܳܬ ܶܐ ݂ܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܟ ܳܢــܐ ܰܡ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܣܪ ܰܢــܐ ̱ܗܘ‬ ‫ܝܫــܬܗ‪݂ ܰ :‬ܘܕ ܳ�ــ ܶܗ ݂ܒ �ܥ‬ ‫ܣܓــܐ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܐ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ̈ܶܡ ܶ� ݂ܕ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝ̈ ܶܡܐ‪ܺ .‬‬ ‫ܪܟܢ ܶܐ݂ܕ ܳܢ ݂ܟ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣܝܡ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܟ ܺܠ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܬ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܒ ܺܣܝ̈ ܳܡܢ ܶܐܢ ܶܝܢ‪ܰ :‬ܛܪ ܶܐܢ ܶܝܢ ݁ܒ ݂ ܰܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܣ ݂ܟ‪ .‬ܘܢܶ ݂ܬ ̈ܩ ܳܢܢ ܐ ݂ܟܚ ݂ ܳܕ ܐ ܰܥܠ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܶ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܰ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬ ݂ܟ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܕܢ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ܬ ݂ܘܟ ܳ� ܳܢ ݂ܟ ܰܥܠ ܡܪ�ܐ‪ :‬ܐܘܕ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ݂ ܶܟ ݂ܬ ݁ ܶܒ ݂ܬ ܐܢ ܶܝܢ ܳܠ ݂ܟ ܰܥܠ� ݁ܬ ܳܠ ݂ܬ ܰܙ ݂ ̈ܒ ܺܢܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝ ـܐ ܘ ̈ܶܡ ـ ܶ� ܕ ܽܩ ـ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ݁‬ ‫ـܬܐ‬ ‫ܘܫܬܐ‪݁ .‬ܕ ݂ܬ ݁ܗܦ ـ ݂ܟ ܶܡܠـ ݂‬ ‫ܐܘܕ ܳܥ ـ ݂ܟ ܡ�ܟ ـܐ ܘ ݂ܝܕܥـ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܽ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡܢ ݁ܕ ܰܫ ݁ܕ ܳܪ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܕܩ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܣܟ ܳܢܐ ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫�ܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ݁ ܽܬܘ ݂ܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܟܝܢ ܽ ̱ܗܘ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬ ܰܡ ݁ ܶܟ ݂ܟ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ݂ ܳܕ ܶܐܢ ݁ ܺܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܢܗܘܢ‪ .‬ܘ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ܦ ܰܪܥ ܽܥ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܒ ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ܰܢ ݂ܦܫ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܡ� ܽ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܓ ܳܙ ܐ � ݂ܬ ܽܥܘܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪ‬ ‫ܡܬܢܐ‪ .‬ܘܥܡ ݁ܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ܚ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫� ݂ܬܗܘܐ ܪܚܡܐ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ ݁ܽ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܢ ݂ܦ ܳܫ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܕ� ݂ܬ ܰܐܠ ݂ܦ ܶܡܢ ܳܢ ܽܡ ̈ܘ ܰܣܘ ̱ܗܝ‪݂ .‬ܘܬܫܟܚ ܬܘܩܠ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܶܶ‬ ‫ܰܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܒܕ ݁ ܳܒ ܶܗܬ ܰܐܢ ݁ܬ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܰܦ� ܽܨ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦܐ‪.‬‬ ‫� ݂ܬ ݁ܬܠ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܳܫ ݂ܟ ��ܪ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫݂ ݂ ̱‬ ‫ܰܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ݁ܺ ݁ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܐܢ ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܶܡܢ ݁ܬ ܽܚ ݂ܘܬ ݁ܝܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܳܠ ݂ܟ ݁ ܶܓܝܪ ܶܡܢ ܐ ݂ܬܪ ݁ܕ ݂ܬ ݂ܦ ܽܪܘܥ‪ :‬ܢܣܒܝܢ ܬܫܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ� ݂ܬ ܰܫܢܶܐ ݂ܬ ܽܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡܢ ܳܥ ܰܠܡ‪݁ :‬ܕ ݂ܬ ܶܚܡ ̱ܘ ܐ ݂ ܳܒ ܰܗ�̈ ݁ܟ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

         

  X



A reputation 1 is better than great riches, and mercy is better than gold and silver. The rich person and the poor person encounter one another; the Lord made both of them.

A prudent person sees evil defeated and is greatly instructed, but fools pass it by 2 and suffer loss.

The result of humility (is) fear of the Lord, and wealth and honor and life.

Snares and traps are on the troublesome path, and those one who would protect themselves must stay away from them.

Admonish children according to 3 the path and even when they grow old they will not turn aside from it. A wealthy person rules over a poor person, and borrowers are slaves to those who lend to them.

Those who sow evil will harvest treachery, and the rod of their anger will cease.

Those who are generous will be blessed because they give of their bread to the poor.

Destroy the wicked and banish the quarrelsome, then dispute and insult will stop. For if they remain4 in the assembly, they will abuse everyone. God loves those who are pure in heart, and he is merciful to the lips of friends of the king.

The eyes of the Lord guard knowledge, but they destroy the words of liars.

A lazy person, when being sent out, says: ‘A lion is on the path, and now death is in the squares!’ 1

‘reputation’: lit. ‘name’.

3

‘according to’: lit. ‘at the mouth of’.

2 4

‘pass it by’ or ‘pass on to it’; 22:3 is nearly identical to 27:12. ‘remain’ or ‘sit’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫ܟܒ‪.‬‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒـܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܪ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܶܡـܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܝ‬ ‫ܘܡـܢ‬ ‫ܫܡܐ ܶܡܢ ܽܥ ݂ܘܬ ܪܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝܐܐ‪ .‬ܘܛ ݂ ܳܒـܐ ܡܪܚܡܢـ ݂‬ ‫ܺܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܟ ܳܢܐ ݂ܦ ܰܓܥ ̱ܘ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ݁ܒ ܰܚ ݂ܕ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܬ ܳܝܪ ܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܠ ݂ܬ ܰ� ܽܝܗܘܢ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܥܒـܪ ̱ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܐ ݂ܬܪ ݂ ܺܕܝ‪ܰ .‬ܣ ݂ ̈ܟ ܶ� ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ݂ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܥ�ـܘ ̱ܗܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܕ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܥ ܺܫ ܳܝܢܐ ݂‬ ‫ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܣܪ ̱ܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ̈݁ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ‪ܽ :‬‬ ‫ܘܥ ݂ܘܬ ܳܪܐ‪ܺ :‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܠܬܗ ݁ܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܩ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܥܩܒ ̇‬ ‫ܘܚ ̈ܶܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܗ ܕܡܟ ݂‬ ‫ܝܟ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܶܕ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ̈ ݁ ܶ ܰ ̈ܶ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ݁ܕ ܳܢ ܰܛܪ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݂ܬ ܰܪ ܰܚܩ ܶܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܬܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܫܒܐ ݂ܘܦܚܐ ݂ܒܐܘܪܚܐ ܥܣ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܽ ܳ ݁ܽ ܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܐ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܦ ܐܢ ܢܶ ܰܩܫ‪ � :‬ܢܶܣܛܐ ܶܡ ܳܢ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܶܟܣ ܠܛ�ܝܐ ܥܠ ܦܘܡ ̇ܗ ܕ‬ ‫ܰ݁ܺ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰܠܛ ݁ ܶܒܗ ܶܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܟ ܳܢܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܰܥ ݂ܒ ݁ ܳܕ ܐ ܰܢܘܙܶ ݂ܦ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡܢ ݁ܕ ܰܡܘܙܶ ݂ܦ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܬܝܪ ܐ ܢ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳܙ ܰܪܥ ܰܥ ܳܘ�‪ :‬ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܫ ݂ܒܛܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݁ܐܟ ݂ܬܗ ܢܶ ݂ܓ ܽܡܘܪ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܨ ݂ܘܕ ܥܶ ݁ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܡܗ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܡܢ ݁ܕ ܳܛ ݂ ܳܒܐ ܰܥܝܢܶܗ‪ܽ :‬ܗܘ ܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܒ ܰܪ ݂ܟ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܶܗ ݂ܒ ܶܡܢ ܰܠ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܟ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܫ ـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒ ـ ݂ܕ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫�ܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܦ ـܩ ܶ‬ ‫�ܚ ܳ‬ ‫ـܪ ܐ‪݁ .‬ܕ� ܐܢ ܢܶ ـ ݁ܬ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܘܒܛ ـܠ ܕܝܢ ـܐ ܘܨܥـ‬ ‫ܪ� ܳܝ ـܐ‪݂ :‬‬ ‫݁ܰ ܽ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܬܐ‪ܽ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܒ ݂ܟܢ‬ ‫�ܟ� ܽܗܘܢ ܰܢܨ ܰܥܪ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܪ ܶܚܡ ܰܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ � ܳܝܢܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܕ ݂ ܶܟܐ ݂ܒ ܶ� ݁ ܶܒܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܪ ܶܚܡ ܰܥܠ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܘ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܺܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ̈ܘ ݁ܒ ݂ ܳܕܢ ̈ܡ� ݂ ܰܕ ݁ ܳ ̈ܓ ܳܠ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܘ ̱ܗܝ ܕܡܪ�ܐ ܢܛ�ܢ ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܐ‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫ܫܬ݁ ܰܕܪ‪ܰ :‬ܐ ܳܪ�ܐ ݂ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܒ�ܢܐ ܡܐ ݂ܕܡ‬ ‫ܘܗܐ ܶܩܛ� ݂ܒ ܽܫ ̈ܘ ܶܩܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ ܰܡܪ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫ܨܚ ܝ‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

    

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, because they bring it by evil means. The lying witness will perish, but people who listen speak honestly.

Brazen is the face of the wicked, but those who are upright establish their own paths. There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel like that of the Lord.

The horse is readied for the day of battle, but rescue is from the Lord.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܠ‬ ‫‪� ‬‬

‫ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܝܢ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܘܕ ݂ܒܚܐ ݂ܕ�ܘ � ܛܡܐ ̱ܗܘ‪ .‬ܡܛܠ ܕ ݂ܒܥܘ� ܡ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܺ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܣ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܡ ܶܠܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ܫܡ‬ ‫ܘܥܐ ݂ܬ ܪ ܳܝ� ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܗܕ ܐ ݂ܕ ݁ ܳܓ� ܢ ݂ܐܒ ݂ܕ‪݂ .‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܚ ܺܨ�̈ ݂ ܳܦܢ ܰܐ ݁ ܰܦܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰ� ܳܘ ܳ�‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܢܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ܺܪܝܨ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܰܡ ݂ܬ ܶܩܢ ܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ܳܐ ݂ܦ� ܽܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܟ�‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܦ� ݂ܬܪܥ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ̱ܗܘ ݁ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܛ ܰܝ ݂ܒ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪݂ ܰ :‬ܘܕ ܳܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܩ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܣܝܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

             

Those who stop their ears so as not to hear the poor — they too will cry out to God and he will not answer them.

A gift in secret deflects anger, but the one who declines to give incites anger. Doing justice is the joy of the righteous person, but a ruin to those who do evil.

A person who strays from the path of wisdom will rest with the citizens of the underworld. 1

The person who is poor, 2 and loves pleasure and wine and luxury, will not be rich. A wicked person is the substitute for a righteous one, and a deceitful person substitutes for an upright one.

Better to live in the desert than to dwell with a quarrelsome and antagonistic wife.

Desirable treasure and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, and intelligent people swallow up theirs.

The one who seeks righteousness and goodness 3 finds life and righteousness and honor.

A wise man went up against a city of warriors, and he captured the fortress in which they trusted. Those who guard their mouth and their tongue, guard themselves from affliction.

Impudent people, whose reputation is powerful, 4 commit evil in their anger.

The desire of lazy people kills them, for they do not want their hands to do work.

All day long they experience desire, (but) righteous persons give and do not withhold.

1

‘underworld’: lit. ‘of the land/earth’.

3

‘goodness’ or ‘kindness’.

2 4

‘is poor’: lit. ‘who lacks’.

‘whose reputation is for aggression’: lit. ‘strong is his name’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬

‫ܶ ݁ܺ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܕܡ ܰܣ ݁ ܰܟܪ ݂ܶܐ ̈ܕ ܰܢܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪ ܐ � ܳ� ܳܗܐ‪ :‬ܘ� ܢܶܥܢܶܝܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܡܥ �ܡܣܟܢܐ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܦ ܗܘ ܢ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܺ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܓ ܳܙ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܓܙ ܐ‪ .‬ܘ݂ܕ ܳܚܐܣ �ܡܬܠ‪ :‬ܡܥܝܪ ܪ ݂‬ ‫ܡܘܗ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒܛܘܫܝܐ‪ :‬ܡ ݂ܦܪܩܐ ܪ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܶ ݁ ܰ݁ܺ ܳ ܳ ݁ܳ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ̈ ݁ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܚ ݂ܕ ݂ܘܬܗ ܕܙ ܕܝܩܐ ܥ ݂ܒܕ ܐ ݂ܕܝܢܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܬ ݂ܒܪ ܐ �ܥ ݂ܒܕܝ ܥܘ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܐ ݂ܕ ܽܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܳ�‪ܰ :‬ܥܡ ݁ܒ ܰܢ̈ܝ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ݁ܕ ܳܛܥܶܐ ܶܡܢ ܽܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ܢܶ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܰ�ܚ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܥܬܪ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ܺܣܝܪ ܶܠܗ‪ :‬ܘܪܚܡ ܚ ݂ܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ :‬ܘܚܡܪ ܐ‪ :‬ܘ ݂ܒܣܡܐ‪ � :‬ܢ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܚ� ݂ ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܰܬ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܦܗ ݁ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ ܰ� ܳܘ ܳ�‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܠ ݂ܦ ݁ܬ ܺܪ ܳܝ� ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݁ ܳܓ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܳ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܒ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥــܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݂ܕ ݁ܒــ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡــܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܛــ ݂ܒ �ܡــ‬ ‫ܝــܬܐ‬ ‫ܥܡــܪ ܥــܡ ܐ ̱ܢــܬ ݂ܬ ܐ �ܨ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܳܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡܪܓܙ ܢ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ� ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܢܶ ݂ܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܽܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ̇‬ ‫ܝܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܓ‬ ‫ܫܚܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܰܕ ܳܝܪ ܐ‪ܶ :‬ܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܺܣ ݂‬ ‫ܝܡܬܐ ܪ ݂ܓ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܽ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܰ ̈ܶ ܰ ݁ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕ ݂ܒܥܐ ܙ ܕܝܩ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܘܛܝܒ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ :‬ܡܫܟܚ ܚܝܐ‪ :‬ܘܙ ܕܝܩ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪݂ :‬ܘܬܫܒ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ݁ܳ ܰ ݁ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ݁ܺ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܣܢܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܬ ݂ܘܟ ܳ� ܳܢ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܓܢ̱ܒ� ܐ ܣܠܩ ܚܟܝܡܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܟ ݂ܒܫ ܚ‬ ‫ܠ ݂‬ ‫ܘܡܗ ܶ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳܢ ܰܛܪ ݁ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܫܢܶܗ‪ܳ :‬ܢ ܰܛܪ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ ܶܡܢ ܽܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܨ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܡ ܳܪ ܳܚܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ܺܫܝܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܡܗ‪ܳ :‬ܥ ݂ ܶܒ ݂ܕ ܰܥܘ� ݂ ܰܒ ݁ܐܟ ݂ܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ݁ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܛ� ܶܠܗ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܳ� ݂ ܶܒܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ݂ ̈‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܳܕܢ ܺܐ ̈ܝ ݂ ܰܕܘ ̱ܗܝ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܒ�ܢܐ ܩ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܳܕ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪ ݁ܓ ݂ܬܗ ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݂ܘܟܠܗ �‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܓ ܶܪ ݁ܓ ݂ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ ܳ� ܶܗ ݂ܒ‪ :‬ܘ� ܳܚܐܣ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

           

Like a stream of water is the heart of the king in the hands of God; wherever he wishes he directs him.

All the ways of person are upright in one’s own eyes, but the Lord directs the heart.

One who does righteousness and justice is preferred by the Lord more than sacrifice. Pride of eyes and aggressiveness of heart — the lamp of the wicked is sin. 1

The plans of the elect are reliable, 2 but those of the wicked cause damage. 3

The getting of treasure 4 (is) with a lying tongue, and those who seek death are thrown down to ruin. 5

The destruction of the wicked will come upon them, because they do not want to do justice.

Those who pervert their path are aliens, 6 but the deeds of those who are pure are upright. Better to sit on the corner of a roof, than to dwell with a quarrelsome wife. 7

The soul of the wicked is not held in regard in the eyes of their neighbors. By the repentance of a wicked person, a youth becomes wise, and the wise, by their thinking, receive knowledge. A righteous person understands the heart of the wicked and pushes the wicked toward misfortune. 1

This sentence is obscure.

3

‘cause damage’ or ‘lead to want’.

2 4 5 6 7

‘reliable ‘or ‘faithful’.

‘getting of treasure’ or ‘making of a fortune’. ‘to ruin’ or ‘to Abaddon’.

The MT of this clause is obscure. 21:9 is very similar to 25:24.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬

‫ܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ ܺܒܐ�̈ ݂ܕܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ ܰܕ ܳܐ� ܳܗܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ� ݂ ܰܬܪ ݁ܕ ܳ� ݂ ܶܒܐ‪ܰ :‬ܡ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܰܬ ݁ ܳܦܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ܳܝ̈ܐ ܶ� ݁ ܶܒܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܟܢ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܽ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܓ ݂ܒـ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܬ ܺ�ܝـ ܳـ�ܢ ܶܐܢ ܶܝــܢ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢـܝ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫـܗ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ـܐ ܰܡ ݂ܬ ܶܩـܢ‬ ‫ܟ�ܗܝܢ ܐܘ�ܚ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܡܢ ݁ܕ ܳܥ ݂ ܶܒ ݂ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܽܝܩ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܺܘܕ ܳܝܢܐ‪݁ :‬ܓ ݂ ܶܒܐ ܽ ̱ܗܘ �ܡܪ�ܐ ܡܢ ܕ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܬܐ ݂ܕ�ܒܐ‪ :‬ܘܫܪ ݂ܓܐ ݂ܕ�ܘ � ܚܛ ݂‬ ‫ܪܘܡܐ ݂ܕ��ܢܐ ܘܪܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ̈ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܗܝ ̈ܡ ܳܢܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ݂ܕ ݂ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܰܡܚܣ ܳ�ܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܚܫ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܬ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܦـܘܢ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܝــܢ ݁ܕ ݂ ܳܒܥܶܝــܢ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ݂ܒ�ܫܢـܐ ݂ܕ ܓـ�‪ :‬ܘ� ݂ܒܕ ܢـܐ ܢ‬ ‫ܰܡ ݁ܥܒ ݂ ܳܕ ܳܽܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܺܣܝܡـ ݂‬ ‫� ܰܡ ݁ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܬ ݂ ܳܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ܺܢ ݂ܐܬܶ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܠ ܽ‬ ‫�ܒܘ � ܶܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪ܰ :‬ܥܠ ݁ܕ ܳ� ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܝܢܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܕ ݂ ܶܟܐ‪݁ :‬ܬ ܺܪ ܺܝܨܝܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܗ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܓ ݂ܒ ܰܪ ܐ ̱ܗܘ ܽܢ ݂ܘܟ ܳܪ ܳ�ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳܗ ݂ ܶܦ ݂ܟ ܽܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܰܕ ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܐܓ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܒ ܰܥܠ ܰܩ ܳܪܢܐ ݂ ܶܕ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܡܪ ܰܥܡ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ݂ܬ ܐ ܰ� ܳܨ ݁ܝܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܰܦ ܳܩܚ �ܡ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ ݁ܕ ܰ� ܳܘ � � ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܳܙ�ܐ ݂ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܝ ܰܚ ݂ܒ ܰ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܺܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܬ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܗ ݁ܕ ݂ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ݁ ܰܟܡ ܰܫ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܩ ݁ ܶܒܠ ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܪܥ ݂‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܬ ݁ ܰܟܠ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ ܶܠ ݁ܒ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰ� ̈ܘ �‪ܳ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ܶܚܩ ��ܘ � � ݂ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

   

The breath of persons is the lamp of the Lord, searching out all the inner parts. 1

Kindness and truth protect the king, and his throne is established on kindness. The glory of youths is their strength, and the honor of the old is their advanced age. Misery and torment befall the wicked, disease in their inner parts.

1

‘inner parts’: lit. ‘all the rooms of his belly’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܠ‬

‫ܳ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܳܨ�ܐ ݂ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ̱ܗܝ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ‪ܳ ݂ .‬‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܬ ܳ ̈ܘ ܶܢܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܣܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܪ ݂ܓܗ ܕܡܪ�ܐ ܢܫ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܬܐ ܳܢ ܺ‬ ‫ܛܪܝܢ � ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܝܒ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂ܬ ܰܩܢ ݁ ܽܟܘܪܣܝܗ ܒܛ‬ ‫ܛܝܒ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܘܩ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܰ ܺ ̈ ܶ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܓ ݁ ܽܕ ̈ܘ݂ ܶܕ ܐ ܰܚ ܽ‬ ‫ܝ�ܗܘܢ‪ .‬ܘܗ݂ܕܪ ܐ ݂ܕܩܫܝܫܐ ܣܝܒ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܬܫܒܘ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܺ̈ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܠܬ ܳ ̈ܘ ܶܢܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܚ ܳܩܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܪܣܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܢ ܳܩܐ ݂ܦ ݂ܓܥ ̱ܘ ܒ ݂ܒܝܫܐ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫ܡܚ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

             

Do not love sleep, lest you become poor. Instead, open your eyes and be full of food.

A friend says to a neighbor, ‘I have purchased (it)!’ and then he boasts. A person says, ‘There is gold and much fine silver and precious ornaments and lips of knowledge.

Seize the garment of him who has pledged security for the loan of a stranger; seize what he pledged on behalf of a stranger.

Pledge surity for a person using fraudulent goods, 1 and afterwards one’s mouth will be filled with gravel.

A plan is achieved with counsel, and with encouragement war is waged.

The one who discloses a secret is a slanderer. Do not associate with those of rash lips.

Those who curse their father and their mother will have their light extinguished, like a darkened eye. An estate which comes hurriedly at its beginning will not be blessed at its end. Do not say, ‘I will repay wickedness,’ but rather trust in the Lord who will save you.

Diverse scales are an abomination to the Lord, and dishonest balances are not good. The paths of people are directed by 2 the Lord; who can direct their own path?

It is a snare for a person to make a vow to the sanctuary and after making the vow to regret it. A wise king disperses the wicked, and he turns the wheel on them.

1 2

‘fraudulent goods’: lit. ‘the bread of lying’. ‘by’: lit. ‘from before’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬

‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܳ ݁ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ܰ ܶܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܣܒܥ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢ ݁ܝܟ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܬܐ‪ :‬ܕ� ݂ܬ ݂ܬܡ‬ ‫ܣܟܢ‪ .‬ܐ � ݂ܦ ݂‬ ‫� ݂ܬܪܚܡ ܫ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ݁ܶ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܪ ܳ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܒ ܶܪܗ ݁ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܺܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ‪ :‬ܘܗܝܕܝܢ ܢ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݁ ܰܒܚ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܢ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܺ ̈ܶ ܳ ܳ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܺܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܢ̈ـܐ ܰ� ܺܩܝـ ܶ� ܐ‪ :‬ܘ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦـ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܘܓܐܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܟ ݂ܐܦـܐ ܛ ݂ܒـ ݂ܬܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܡـܪ ݁ ܺܕ ܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܗܒـܐ‪ :‬ܘܣـ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܕ ݂ܝܕ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܢ ݂ܘܟ ܳܪ ܳ�ـܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒـ ̱ܘ ܰܡܪܛـܘܛܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡـܢ ݁ܕ ܳ�ـ ܶܪ ݂ܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܥـܠ ܐ ݁ ̈ܦ ـܝ ܽܢ ݂ܘܟ ܳܪ ܳ�ـܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܢܣ ݂ܒـ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܶܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܟܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡ� ݂ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܨ�̈ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡܗ‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ݂ܒܠܚܡܐ ݂ܕ ݁ܓ�‪݂ .‬ܘܒ ݂ܬܪ ܗ ݁ܝܕܝܢ ܢ ݂ܬ‬ ‫ܥܪ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܳܓܐ ܶܡ ݂ܬܥ ݂ ܶܒ ݂ܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܥ ݂ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡ‬ ‫ܚܫ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܡ ݂ܬܩܢܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ݂ܽܓ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܣ� ݂ ܳ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳܓ ܶ� ܐ̱ ܳܪ ܳܙ ܐ‪ܳ :‬ܐ ݂ ܶܟܠ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ� ܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܰܥܡ ܰܡܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܒܢ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬܗ‪݂ � :‬ܬ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܠܛ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ܳ ܳ ܶ ܽ ݁ܳ‬ ‫݁ܕ�ܛ � ݂ ܽܒܘ ̱ܗܝ ܘ� ܶܡܗ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ݂ܟ ܫܪ ݂ܓܗ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܒ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ ܚܫ ݂ܘܟܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ݁ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ ݂ܒܩ ݂ܕܡ‬ ‫ܝܬ ̇ܗ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܒܐܚ ܳܪ ݁ܝܬ ̇ܗ � ݂ܬ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܒ ܰܪ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܪܬ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕܡܣܪ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܰ ݁ܶ ܽ ݁ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ݂ܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪ܶ .‬ܐ ܳ� ܰܣ ݁ ܳܟܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܩ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫� ݂ܬ ܐܡܪ ܕ ݂ܐܦܪܘܥ ܒ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ̈ܣ ݂ܐܬ ܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ݂ܟ� � ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦܝ ܳ�ܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܡܪ�ܐ ܡ ݂ܬܩ� ܘܡ ݂ܬܩ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܛ ܺܡܐܝܢ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܓ ݂ܒـ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܢـܐ ̱ܗܘ ݁ ܰܒـܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫـܐ ݂ܕ ܰܢ ݂ܬ ܶܩـܢ‬ ‫ܡܢ ܩ ݂ܕܡ ܡܪ�ܐ ܡ ݂ܬܩܢܢ ܗ ݂‬ ‫�ܟ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܽܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܰܦ ܰܚܐ ܗܘ � ݂ ܰܒܪ ܐ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ݂ܕ ܳ� ݂ ܰܕܪ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܪ ݁ܕ ܳ� ݂ ܰܕܪ‪ܳ ݁ :‬ܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܐ ܶܠܗ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܩ ݂ܘܕ ܳܫܐ‪ .‬ܘܡܢ ܒ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܰܡ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫�� ܳ ̈ܘ � ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܡ ݂ ܰܒ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܓ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ܟ ܥܠܝܗܘܢ ݁ܓ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

     IX

      

Wine is powerful, 1 and strong drink 2 acts shamefully, and no one who is inflamed by it is wise.

The fury of a king roars like a lion, and those who provoke him err against themselves. It is a person’s glory to eliminate strife, but everyone who is foolish mocks.

Lazy persons are reproached but they will not be silent. They ask at the harvest but there is no water. Thought 3 is deep in the heart of the king, but a wise person will draw it out. Many people are called merciful, but who can find a faithful person?

The righteous who walk in integrity — blessed are their children (who come) after them.

The king sits on the throne of justice, and all evils are scattered before him. Who could say, ‘My heart is pure, and I am acquitted of sins’?

Dishonest scales and dishonest measures 4 — both of them are despised before the Lord.

Even by their deeds — whether their deeds are pure and upright — children are known. The ear that hears, and the eye that sees — the Lord made them.

1

‘powerful’. See note on 19:28 in Introduction, Noteworthy Readings.

3

‘thought’ or ‘a word’.

2

‘strong drink’ or ‘drunkenness’.

4 ‘Dishonest scales … measures’: lit. ‘scales and scales, a measure and a measure’. The repetition (in P and MT) signifies one size set of weights and measures for selling and a different size set for buying.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫ܨܚ ܛ‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬

‫ܟܟ‪.‬‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܽ ܰ ܳ ܰܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܪ ܳܢܝܐ‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܡܨ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ݁‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰܪܚ ݁ ܳܒ ̇ܗ‪̱ � :‬ܗ ܳܘܐ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܫܝܢ ̱ܗܘ ܚܡܪ ܐ‪ .‬ܘܪܘ� ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳܢ ܶܗܡ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܰܐ ܳܪ�ܐ ܽܪܘܓ ܶܙܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܰܘ݂ܕ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܡ ݂ܬ ܶܠܗ‪ܳ :‬ܚܛܐ ܰܥܠ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݁ ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܪ� ܳܢܐ‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܟܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܗ ݁ܕ ݂ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܳܡܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݂ܦ ܶܪܩ ܶܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܫܒ‬ ‫ܡܡܝܶܩ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ܳܳ ܰ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܣ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܡܝ̈ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܒ ܳ� ܳܢܐ‪ :‬ܘ� ܳܫ ݂ܬܩ‪ .‬ܘܫܐܠ ܒܚ�݂ܕ ܐ‪ :‬ܘܠ‬ ‫ܰܺ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ݂ܒ ܶ� ݁ ܶܒܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ݂ ܰܢܕ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܡܝܩܐ ܡ ݂‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪݂ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܓܐܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܪܝܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܶ� ܐ ܡ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡܢܶܐ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܓ ݂ܒـ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ ܶܕܝــܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡܢـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܡ ܽܢـܘ‬ ‫ܣ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܟܚ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ݁ܺ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܽ :‬ܛ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ ܰܠ ݂ܒ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܬ ܶܪܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܙ ܕܝܩܐ ݂ܕܡܗܠ ݂ܟ ܒ ݂ܬܡܝܡ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡـܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ ܽܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܒ ܰܥܠ ݁ ܽܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܣܝـܐ ݂ ݂ܕ ܺܕ ܳܝܢـܐ‪ :‬ܘ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܒـ ݁ܕ ܳ�ܢ ܶܡـܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܝــܢ‬ ‫ܡ�ܟܐ � ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܺܒܝ̈ ܳܫ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܡܢ ܺܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܡܢ ܚܛ ̈ܗܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ݁ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܳܟܝ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ܶܠ ݁ܒ ̱ܝ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܕ ݁ ܺܟ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ݁ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܠܝܢ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ݂ܬ ܰ� ܽܝܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡ ݂ܬܩ� ܘܡ ݂ܬܩ�‪ :‬ܟܝ� ܘ ݂ܟܝ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ݁ܰ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܺ‬ ‫�ܝܐ‪ :‬ܐܢ ݁ܕ ݂ ܶܟܐ ܶܘܐܢ ݁ܬ ܺܪ ܺܝܨܝܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ ܰܝܕܥ ܰܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܰܕ ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܦ ܒ ݂ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܘ ̱ܗܝ ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܶܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܐܢ ܶܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܐܕܢܐ ݂ܕܫܡܥܐ‪ :‬ܘܥܝܢܐ ݂ܕܚܙ�ܐ‪ :‬ܡܪ�ܐ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

  

My son, stop and heed instruction, and do not stray from words of knowledge.

A malicious witness hardens 1 judgment, 2 and the mouth of the wicked swallows it.

Pains are prepared for those who harden judgment, and a blow for a foolish nation.

1 2

‘hardens’ or ‘strengthens’.

‘judgment’ or ‘litigation’. The same phrase occurs in v. 29.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܛ‬

‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܺ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܦܘܫ ݁ ܶܒܪ ̱ܝ‪ :‬ܘܫܡܥ ܡܪܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬܛܥܐ ܡܐܡܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܝܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܥܫܢ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܳܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܕ ܐ ܰ� ܳܘ ܳ� ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ ݁ܕ ܰ� ܳܘ � ܡܛ ݁ ܰܒܥ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ݁ ܺ ̈ܶ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܺ ݁ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡܐ ܰܣ ݂ܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܛ ݂ܝܒܝܢ ܟ ݂ܐܒܐ �ܝܠܝܢ ܕܡܥܫܢܝܢ ܕܝܢܐ‪ :‬ܘܡܚ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

             

A foolish son is a disgrace to (his) father, and like the dripping of rain 1 are the concerns of a wife. A house and possessions are a bequest from a father, but a woman is betrothed to a man from the Lord. Sleep produces sleep, and the soul of the arrogant will go hungry.

Those who keep the commandment save themselves, but those who scorn His ways will be killed.

They are joined to the Lord who show compassion to the poor, and they will be compensated according to their deeds. Chastise your son, for there is hope, but do not desire 2 his abuse.

Wrathful people receive harm, and as they commit sin, they increase their burden.

Listen to advice and receive instruction, so that you will become wise in your ways. 3

Many plans are in a person’s mind, but the Lord’s intention is established. The desire of people is their goodness, and better is a poor person than a wealthy person who lies.

The fear of the Lord (leads) to life, and the one whom it satisfies will abide and will not seek wickedness.

They are lazy who hide their hands in their pocket and do not bring them to their mouth.

When an evil person is beaten, the wise person will take heed, and if you admonish wise persons, they will gain knowledge. 4 The son is a disgrace and shame who plunders his father and oppresses his mother.

1

‘dripping of rain’: lit. ‘dripping of drops’.

3

‘your ways’; MT ‘your end’.

2 4

‘desire’: lit. ‘lift up your soul to’.

‘gain knowledge’: lit. ‘make himself wise (with) knowledge’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬

‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ݁ ܶܕ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܒ‬ ‫�ܦܐ ݂ܕ ܳܢܛ ݂ܦ‪ܶ :‬ܪ ܳܢܝ ̇ܗ ݁ ܰܕ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ݂ܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܗܬ ݂ܬ ܐ ̱ܗܘ � ݂ ܳܒܐ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܣ ݂ܟ�‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫݁ܰ ݁ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܽ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܬ ܰ� ـܐ ̱ܗܘ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܳܐܒ ـܐ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ـܢ ܳܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܒܝــܬܐ ܘܩܢ�ܢ ـܐ‪� :‬‬ ‫ܪ� ـܐ ̱ܗܘ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܡ ݂ܟ ـ ܳܪ ܐ ܐܢ ̱ـ ݁ܬ ݂ܬ ܐ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ݁ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ݂ܬ ݂ܟ ݁ ܰܦܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢ ݂‬ ‫ܢܬܐ‪ .‬ܘܢ ݂ܦܫܐ ܪ ݂‬ ‫ܘܡܬܐ �ܗܒܐ ܫ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳܢ ܰܛܪ ݁ ܽܦ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܕ ܳܢܐ ܶܡ ݁ܙܕ ܰܗܪ ݁ܒ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ݂ܕ ܳܫܐܛ ܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬܗ ܢܶ ݂ܬܩܛܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܪ ܶܚܡ ܰܥܠ ܶܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ݂ ܳ ̈‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫݁ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰ� ܶܘܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܰܕܘ ̱ܗܝ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ܦ ܰܪܥ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܟ ܳܢܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܨ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܪܗ ܳ� ݂ ܰܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ܰܣ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܡܐ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܳܫ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ ܺܪܕܝ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ݂ܟ‪ܶ :‬ܡܛܠ ݁ ܺܕ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܥ�‪ܰ :‬ܥܠ ܰܛܥܢܶܗ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܦ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܬܢܐ ܡܩܒܠ�ܬܘܟܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܟܡܐ ݂ܕܡ‬ ‫݁ܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ܚ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ܶܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩ ݁ ܶܒܠ ܡ‬ ‫ܪܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܕ ݂ܬ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ݁ ܰܟܡ ݁ ܽܒܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܺ ܳ̈ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ݂ܬ ݂ܬ ܰܩ ܰܝܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ܕܡ‬ ‫ܣܓܝܐܢ ܡܚܫ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܒ�ܒܗ ܕ ݂ܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܬܪܥ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ݁ ܺ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܝـ ܳ‬ ‫ـܪ ܐ‬ ‫ܝܒ ـ ݂ܘܬܗ‪ .‬ܘܛ ـ ݂ܒ ̱ܗܘ ܡܣܟܢ ـܐ ܡ ـܢ ܓ ݂ܒ ـܪ ܐ ܥ‬ ‫ܶܪ ݁ܓ ـ ݂ܬܗ ܕ ݂ܒ ـܪ ܐ̱ܢܫ ـܐ ܛ‬ ‫݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ ܶܓܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܽ ݁ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫�ܚ ̈ܶܝܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܚܠܬܗ ݁ܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ݁ܕ ܰܣ ݂ܒ ܳܥ ̇ܗ‪ܽ ݂ :‬ܢܒ ݂ܘܬ‪ :‬ܘ� ܢ ݂ܦܩ ݂ܘܕ ܒ‬ ‫݁ ܶܕ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳܳ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒܗ‪ܳ :‬ܐ ݂ܦ ܳ� ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܛ ܶܫܐ ܐ ̈ܝ ݂ ܰܕܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܒ ܽܥ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ ܰܢܩ ܶܪ ݂ܒ ܐܢ ܶܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܒ�ܢܐ ݂ܕ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫�ܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܳܡܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܕ‪ܰ :‬ܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ܶܡـ ݁ܙܕ ܰܗܪ‪ܶ .‬ܘܐܢ ݁ܬ ݁ ܶܟـܣ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܬ ݁ ܰܟـܠ‬ ‫ܝܡـܐ‪ :‬ܡ‬ ‫ܺܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܕ ݂ ܳܒܐܶܙ � ݂ ܽܒܘܗܝ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܗܬ ܳ�ܐ ܘ ܰܡܚ ݁ܦ ܳܪ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܥܝܩ � ܶܡܗ‪݁ :‬ܒ ܰܪ ܐ ̱ܗܘ ܰܡ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫̱‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

           

Better is the poor person who walks in integrity, than the wealthy whose ways are crooked. 1 It is not good for those who are ignorant, 2 and those who are impetuous with their feet commit sin. People’s senselessness perverts their ways, and in their heart they grumble against the Lord.

Possessions increase the number of one’s friends, and the poor are separated from their friends.

A lying witness will not be forgiven, and those who utter falsehood will not be delivered.

Many offer service before an important person, and gifts are given 3 to the wicked.

All the siblings 4 of the poor hate them, and even their friends stay far away from them. Those who are trouble-makers with their words are not trustworthy, 5 but those who acquire wisdom love themselves.

The one who guards faithfulness finds goodness, 6 but a lying witness will not be acquitted, and those who utter lies will perish. Luxury is not suitable for a fool, nor should a slave rule over nobles.

A person’s wisdom is patience, 7 and one’s glory is to overlook wrongdoing. The fury of a king roars like a lion, 8 but his favor is like dew on the grass. 1

A nearly identical saying occurs at 28:6.

3

‘gifts are given’: lit. ‘one gives gifts’.

2 4 5 6 7 8

‘are ignorant’: lit. ‘whose soul does not know’. ‘siblings’: lit. ‘brothers’.

This first clause in v. 8 is the final clause of v. 7 in L and MT.

Mosul, unlike Leiden, puts this clause at the beginning of 9:9 instead of 9:8.

‘A person’s wisdom is patience’: lit. ‘The wisdom of a man is his patient spirit’. This clause is identical to the initial clause in 20:2.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬

‫ܝܛ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܶ ݁ܺ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܬܝـ ܳ‬ ‫ـܪ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܥ ̈ܩ ܳܡـܢ‬ ‫ܝܡـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪݁ �ܰ :‬ܬܝــܪ ܡـܢ ܥ‬ ‫ܛ ݂ܒ ̱ܗܘ ܡܣܟܢـܐ ݂ܕܡܗܠـ ݂ܟ ܒ ݂ܬܡ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰܡܢ ݁ܕ� ܳܝ ݂ ܰܕܥ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ‪ܰ � :‬ܫ ݁ ܺܦܝܪ ܶܠܗ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ ܰܩ ܺܠܝܠ ݁ܒ ܶ� ݂ܓ ܰ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ‪ܳ :‬ܚܛܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܗ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܪ ܰܥܡ ݁ܒ ܶ� ݁ ܶܒܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܛܝ ݂ܘܬܗ ܕ ݂ܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ܡܥܩܡܐ ܐܘ�ܚ ݂‬ ‫ܘܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܶܐܐ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܦ ܳ� ܶ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܟ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܳܦ ܶܪܫ ܶܡܢ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܶܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܕ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݁ ܳܓ ܳ� ܳ� ܢܶ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܶܣܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܡ ܶܠܠ ݁ ܰܕ ݁ ܳܓ ܽ� ݂ܘܬ ܐ � ܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܦ ܶ� ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܺ ܳܶ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ̈ܶܐܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫܝܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܰܪ ݁ ܳܒܐ‪ .‬ܘܠ ݂ܕ ݂ܒܝܫܝܢ �ܗ ݂ܒ ܡܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡܘܗܝ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܪ ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܐ ܰܚܘ ̈ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܩܝܢ ܶܡܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܟ ܳܢܐ ܳܣܢܶܝܢ ܠܗ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ � ܰ ̱‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܳܝܢܐ ݁ܕ ܰܛ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪ܳ :‬ܪ ܶܚܡ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪܟܢ ݁ܒ ܶܡ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ � ܰܫ ܺܪܝܪ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ ܳܩܢܶܐ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܕ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݁ ܳܓـ ܳ� ܳ� ܢܶ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܶܣـܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܳܣـ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܡ ܶܠـܠ‬ ‫ܕܢܛܪ ܗܝܡܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ :‬ܡܫܟܚ ܛ ݂ܒـ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܰ ݁ ܳ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܺܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܒ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕ ܓܠ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫�ܣ ݂ܟ ܳ� ݂ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ� ܳ�ܐܶܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܢ ܳܩܐ‪ܳ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ� �ܥ ݂ܒܕ ܐ ݂ܕܢ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰܠܛ ݁ܒ ܰܪܘ� ݂ ܳܒܢܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܶܠܗ ݁ܕ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܢ ݁ ܺܓ ܽ‬ ‫ܽܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪ ݂ܘܬ ܽܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܗ ܰܡ ݁ܥܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܥܘ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܚܗ ܺ ̱ܗܝ‪݂ .‬ܘܬܫܒ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳܢ ܶܗܡ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܰܐ ܳܪ�ܐ ܽܪܘܓ ܶܙܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܰܛ ܳ� ܰܥܠ�ܥܶ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܒܐ ܶ� ݂ܒ ܳ�ܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

         

 

The one who makes a reply before listening is a fool and a reviler.

A person’s spirit can endure pain, but who can endure a grieving spirit? A sound heart acquires wisdom, and the ear of the wise heeds knowledge.

Gifts ease the way for a person, 1 and they place that one before important people. A person is innocent in a dispute, 2 but when the other party 3 arrives he will be investigated. A portion resolves a dispute, and it separates the powerful.

A brother who is helped by his brother is like a fortified city whose barricades are like the bolts of a fortress.

From the fruit of peoples’ mouths is their belly satisfied, and a person is satisfied by the produce of their lips.

Death and life are within the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruits.

He who finds a good wife finds what is good, and receives the favor of the Lord. He who drives out a good wife, drives out what is good from his house. 4

A poor person speaks gently, but a rich person speaks aggressively.

There are friends who repay the friendship, 5 and there are friends who are more closely attached than a brother.

1

‘Gifts … person’: lit. ‘The gift of a man makes wide for him’.

3

‘other party’: lit. ‘his neighbor’.

2

‘dispute’ or ‘legal case’.

‘He who drives … house’: This additional sentence in v. 22, absent from MT, is the first portion of a longer expansion contained in LXX.

4

5 ‘There are friends who repay the friendship’: lit. ‘There are those who love those who love them’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬

‫݁ܕ ܳ� ܶܗ ݂ܒ ݁ ܶܦ ݂ܬ ܳܓ ܳܡܐ ܰܥ ݂ܕ ܳ� ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ‪ܰ :‬ܣ ݂ܟ ܰ� ̱ܗܘ ܰܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܕ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ ܰܡ ݂ ܰܟ ݂ܐܒ ݁ܬܐ ܰܡܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚܗ ݁ܕ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܽܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܣ ݁ܝܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܚ ܶܫܗ‪ܽ .‬ܘܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܣ ݁ܝܒ ܺܪ ̇ܝܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ݁ܺ ݁ܳ ܳ ݁ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ ݂ ܰܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܕܢܐ ܚܟܝܡܬܐ ܨܝܬܐ ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܩܢܐ ܳܩܢܶܐ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܰܪܘ� ݂ ܳܒܢܶܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܚܢ ܶܠܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܰܡ� ܳ‬ ‫ܡܩܝ̈ ܳܡܢ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܘܗ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܙ ݁ ܳܟܝ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ݂ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܺܕܝܢܶܗ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ ܶܕ ݂ܐܬ ܐ ܰܚ ݂ܒ ܶܪܗ‪ܳ ݁ :‬ܒ ݂ ܶܕܩ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ� ܳܢܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܒ ܳܝܢ ݂ܬ ܰܥ ܺܫ ̈�ܢܶܐ ݂ ܳܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܶܚ ܳ‬ ‫�ܬ ܐ ܳܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܦ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܶܡܢ ܶܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܢ ̇ܗ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ܳܐܚ ݂ ܶܕ�̈ ̇ܗ ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ܽܣـ ݁ܘܟ ܳܪ ܐ‬ ‫ܐ ܳܚܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰ� ݁ ܰܕܪ ܶܡܢ ܐ ܽܚܘ ̱ܗܝ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱‬ ‫݂ܕ ܶܚܣ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ̈ ܳܳ‬ ‫ܘ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܺܦܐ ܰ�ܝ ݁ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܒܥ ݁ ܰܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬܶܗ ܢܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ ݁ܕ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܬܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܒܥ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪܣܗ‪ .‬ܘܥ ̱ܠ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚ ̈ܶܝܐ ݂ܒ ܰܝ ݂ܕ ܶ� ܳܫ ܰܢܐ ̱ܗܘ‪ܰ .‬ܘ݂ܕ ܳܪ ܶܚܡ ܶܠܗ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݂ ܽܐܟܘܠ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܺܦܐ ܰ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܶ ݁ܰ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܩ ݁ ܶܒـܠ ܶ� ݂ܒ ܳ� ܳܢـܐ ܶܡـܢ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܟـ ܳܚ ܛ ݂ܒـ ݂‬ ‫ܕܡܫܟܚ ܐܢ̱ܬ ݂ܬ ܐ ܳܛ ݂ܒـ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ݂ܘܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܶܦܩ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ݂ܬ ܐ ܛ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܡ ݁ܦܩ ܛ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ ܡܢ ܒܝܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ݁ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܟ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ܳܝܪ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܡ ܶܠܠ ܰ�ܥ ܺܫ ̈� ܳܢ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܡ ܶܠܠ � ܟ ݂ܝܟ ݂ܬܐ‪ .‬ܘܥ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܐܝܬ ܳܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ݂ܕ ܳܢ ܶܩ ݂ܦ ܰ� ݁ܬܝܪ ܶܡܢ ܐ ܳܚܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ �ܚܡܐ ݂ܕ�‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪ܺ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܐ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

           

And in silence they think about desire and mock sound 1 teaching.

Fools take no pleasure in wisdom, because their thought is about folly. 2 And when evildoers come to the depth of wickedness, folly and wrong and dishonor and reproach come upon them. The words of a person’s mouth are deep waters, and a valley where a spring of wisdom flows.

It is not good to show favoritism to the wicked, nor to pervert judgment against3 a righteous person. The lips of fools enter into strife, 4 and their mouth arrives at death.

The mouth of fools is their destruction, and with their lips they ensnare themselves.

The words of the lazy cast them into disaster, and they send them down to the chambers of Sheol. 5 Those who slacken their hands in their work are akin 6 to those who destroy. The name of the Lord is a strong tower, to which the righteous run and are secure. 7

Honor and wealth is their strong city, and their dwelling is inside a strong wall.

A person’s heart is proud before destruction, and humility (comes) before honor. 8

1

‘sound’: lit. ‘good’.

3

‘against’ or ‘concerning’.

2 4 5 6 7 8

‘their thought’: lit. ‘the thinking of his mind’. ‘strife’, ‘judgment’ or ‘a legal dispute’. See the similar sentence at 26:22. ‘are akin’: lit. ‘are a brother’.

‘secure’: lit. ‘fortified, strong’.

This clause also occurs in 15:33.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬

‫ܝܚ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ݁ܺ ܽ ܶ ܳܶ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܽ ݁ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܦ ܳܢܐ ܛ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܒܫܬܝܩ ݂ܘܬܗ ܪ ܢܐ ݂ܒܪ ݁ܓ ݂ܬܐ‪ :‬ܘܡܡܝܩ ܒܝ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܶ ܶ ݁ܶ ݁ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܝ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪ .‬ܡܛܠ ܕܪ ܢܐ �ܒܗ ܒܫ‬ ‫ܰܣ ݂ܟ� � ܳ� ݂ ܶܒܐ ݂ܒ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳܳ ܽ ܳ ܺ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܘ ܰܥـ ܳܘ� ܘ ܰܨܥـ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܳ :‬ܐ ݂ܬ ܳ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ـܪ ܐ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܐܬ ܐ �ܘ � �ܥܘܡܩܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒܝܫ ݂‬ ‫ܥ�ـܘ ̱ܗܝ ܫܛܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܘ ܶܚ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܕ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̈ ܰ ܺ ̈ ܶ ܶ ܰ ̈ ݁ ܽ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܚ� ݂ܕ ܳܢ ݂ ܰܒܥ ܰܡ ݁ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܝܐ ܥܡܝܩܐ ܡܠܝ ܦܘܡܗ ܕ ݂ܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ‪ :‬ܘܢ‬ ‫ܘܥܐ ݂ܕ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݁ ݁ ܰ ݁ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܦܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ܳܘ �‪ܰ � :‬ܫ ݁ ܺܦܝܪ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܦ�‬ ‫�ܡܣܒ ܒ‬ ‫�ܡܨ� ݂ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ ܰܥܠ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ‪.‬‬ ‫̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܠܢ ݁ܒ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܡܛܐ ܶܠܗ � ܰܡ ݁ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡܗ‬ ‫ܶܣ ݂ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܣ ݂ܟ� ܥ̈ ܳ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ ݁ܕ ܰܣ ݂ܟ ܳ� ݂ܬ ݂ ܳܒ ܰܪ ܐ ̱ܗܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬܗ ܳ� ݂ܐܕ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ̈ ݁ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܠܬ ̈ܘ ܢܶـܐ‬ ‫ܚܒ�ܢـܐ �ܡܝـܢ ܠـܗ ܒ ݂ܒܝܫـ‬ ‫ܡ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܘܗܢܶܝــܢ ܰܡ ̈ܚـ ݂ܬܢ ܶܠـܗ ݂‬ ‫݂ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܝܘܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܝܢܐ ݂ ܰܕܡ ܰܪ ݁ ܶܦܐ ܺܐ ̈ܝ ݂ ܰܕܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ ܰܒ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܶܕܗ‪ܰ :‬ܐ ܽܚܘ ̱ܗܝ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ݂ܕ ݂ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚ ݁ܒ ܳ� ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܰܡܓ ݁ܕ ܰ� ̱ܗܘ ܰܥ ܺܫ ܳܝܢܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܗܛ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܠܗ ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡܗ ݁ܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܺܫ ܳܝܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺܐ ܳܝܩ ܳܪ ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܥ ݂ܘܬ ܪܐ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ ݁ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܽܥܘܫܢܶܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܽܫܘܪ ܐ ܰܥ ܺܫ ܳܝܢܐ ܰܡܫܪ�ܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܺܐ ܳܝܩ ܳܪ ܐ ܽܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ݁ܬ ݂ ܳܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܢܶ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܺܪܝܡ ܶ� ݁ ܶܒܗ ݁ܕ ݂ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ ܳܟܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

    

VIII

         

The shedding of blood elicits judgment before a ruler.

The one who would acquit the wicked and condemn the righteous is an abomination before the Lord.

Why do possessions come to a fool who has no plan1 to acquire wisdom? A friend is a friend at all times, and a sibling 2 is born for distress.

A foolish person commits to give surety for a neighbor.

One who loves wrongdoing loves deceit and conflict, and those who make their doorway tall seek destruction of themselves. One who has a deceitful heart will not obtain good, and one who has a devious tongue will fall into wickedness. Those who give birth to a fool have shame; the father (of a fool) will not rejoice in him. A glad heart benefits the body, but a contentious spirit dries up the bones.

Those who take a bribe are wicked, for they pervert the path of justice.

The face of an intelligent person looks about upon3 wisdom, but the eyes of the fool are on the depths of the earth. A foolish son angers his father and embitters the one who bore him.

It is not good to oppress a righteous person, nor to beat the righteous who utter upright things.

Those who restrain their words have knowledge, and those who have patience are wise persons.

A fool who keeps silent will be considered wise, but those who loosen their lips will be considered foolish.

1

‘plan’ or ‘capacity’: lit. ‘heart’.

3

‘looks upon’ or ‘has the appearance of’.

2

‘sibling’: lit. ‘brother’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܚ‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫݂ܘ ܳܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܓ ܶܪ ݂ܓ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܫ ݂ܕ ݁ܕ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܰܫ ܺܠܝܛܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܙ ݁ ܶܟܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܡܚ ܶܝ ݂ܒ ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܛܡܐ ̱ܗܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫�� ܳܘ ܳ�‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܠܗ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ ܶ‬ ‫�ܣ ݂ܟ ܳ�‪݁ :‬ܕ ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳܢܐ ܳܐ ܶܙܠ ܶ�ܠܗ ܶܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܢܐ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܽ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܽ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳܳ ܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫�ܙܒܢ ܪܚܡܐ ܪܚܡ ̱ܗܘ‪ .‬ܘܐܚܐ �ܘ�ܨ ܢܐ ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܒܪ ܐ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܰܣ ݂ܟ ܳ� ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܕܗ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܠܡ ܺܐ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܪ ݂ܒ ܰ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܒ ܶܪܗ ܰ� ܳܪ ݂ ܽܒ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ݂ܪܬ ܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ܺ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳܪ ܶܚܡ ܰܥܘ�‪ܳ :‬ܪ ܶܚܡ ܥܶ ݁ܬܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܪܝܡ ݁ܬܪܥܶܗ‪ܳ ݁ :‬ܒܥܶܐ ݂ܬ ݂ ܳܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܫܝܩ �ܒܗ � ܡܫܟܚ ܛ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ݂ܕܗ ݂ܦ ݂ܟ �ܫܢܗ‪ :‬ܢ ݂ܦܠ ܒ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܒ ݁‬ ‫݁ܕ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܠ ݂ܕ ܰܣ ݂ܟ ܳ� ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܬ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ‪ܳ :‬ܘ� ܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܕ ܐ ݂ ܶܒܗ ܐ ݂ ܽܒܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ ܳܚ ݂ ܳܕ ܳ�ܐ ܰܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܦܪ ݁ ܽܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܳܟ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܒܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫܡܐ‪ܽ .‬ܘܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܝ ݁ܒ ܳܫܐ ݂ܰܓ� ܶܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܚܕ ܐ ܰ� ܳܘ ܰ� ̱ܗܘ‪ܳ .‬ܨ ܶ� ݂ܶܓܝܪ ܽܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܡܢ ݁ܕ ܳܢ ܶܣ ݂ܒ ܽܫ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܐ ݂ܕ݂ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘ� ̈� ܰܢـܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܣ ݂ܟـ ܳ� ݂ܒ ܽ�ـ ̈ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܡܩ ̇‬ ‫ܝܗ‬ ‫ܘܠܬ ܳܢـܐ ܳܚܝـ �ܢ ݁ܒ ܶܚ ݂ܟܡـ ݂‬ ‫ܐ ݁ ܰܦܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܣ ݁ ܽܟ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܓܙ ܰ� ݂ ܽܒܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܣ ݂ܟ ܳ�‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܰܡ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫�ܝ ܶܠ ݁ܕ ݁ܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ܰܡܪ‬ ‫ܰ݁ܺ ̈ ܶ ܳ ܺ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫�ܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ ܳ� ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦܝܪ‪ܳ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ܳ� ܶ‬ ‫ܡܬ ݂ܟ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܪܝܢ ݁ܬ � ܳܝ� ݂ܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܚܐ �ܙ ܕ�ܩܐ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܠ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ̈ ܳܰ ܺܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ ܰܢ ݁ ܺܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܗ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܓ ݂ܒ ܰܪ ܐ ̱ܗܘ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪ ܐ ܽܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕܚܣ ݂ܟ ܡ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ ܝ ݂ܕܥ ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܬܝܩ‪ܰ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܠܬ ܳܢـܐ‬ ‫ܫܛܝܐ ݂ܕܫ‬ ‫ܚܫ ݂ܒ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ ܰܫ� ̈ܝـܢ ܶܣ ݂ܦـ ܳܘ ݂ܬܗ‪ܰ :‬ܣ ݁ ܽܟ ݂‬ ‫ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܫ ݂ܒ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

            

Better is some dry bread with serenity — better than a house full of contentious sacrificial meals. 1

A capable servant will be set over a shameful son, and will apportion 2 the inheritance between the brothers. A smelting-pot tests silver and a crucible, gold, and the Lord proves the heart.

A wicked person obeys the lips of villains, but a righteous person does not heed the tongue of villains.

Those who mock the poor anger their Creator, and those who celebrate misfortune will not be acquitted. Children’s children are the crown of the elderly, and the glory of children is their parents.

Trustworthy speech is not fitting for a fool, neither is lying speech fitting for a righteous person.

A precious stone 3 is lovely in the eyes of the one who owns it, and wherever it is turned it is understanding.

One who conceals wrongdoing seeks friendship, but the one who hates to conceal (it), separates from friend and family.

A threat shatters the heart of a wise person, but a fool, instead of (getting) a rebuke is beaten, yet does not perceive. Contentious people seek wickedness; a messenger who has no compassion is sent to them.

Anxiety and fear befall a wise person, and to fools in their senselessness. For those who repay goodness with evil, evil will not depart from their house.

1

‘contentious sacrificial meals’ or ‘sacrifices of contention’.

3

‘precious stone’: lit. ‘a stone of loves’.

2

‘will apportion’ or ‘will share a portion of’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬

‫ܝܙ‪.‬‬

‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܰ ܳ ܰ݁ܺ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܛ ݂ܒ ̱ܗܘ ܠܚܡܐ �ܒܝܫܐ ݂ܒܫ�ܝܐ‪ :‬ܛ ݂ܒ ܡܢ ܒ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ ܰܕܡ� ݂ ܶܕ ݂ ̈ܒ ܶܚܐ ݂ ݂ܕ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ̈ܶ ܰ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ܰ ݁ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܬ ܳ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܗܬ ܳ�ܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܒܝܢ ݂ܬ ܐܚܐ ݂ܢܦܠ ݂ܓ �‬ ‫ܰܥ ݂ܒ ݁ ܳܕ ܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܽܟ ݂‬ ‫ܘܠܬܢܐ ܢܫܬܠܛ ܒ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ܡ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܘܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܐ‪ܽ ݂ :‬‬ ‫�ܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܳ�ܪ ݂ ܳܦܐ ݂ ܳܒ ܶܩܐ ܺ‬ ‫�ܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ݂ ܳܒ ܰܚܪ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܳ� ܐ ݂ܬ � ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰ�ܢ̈ ݂ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ � ܳܫ ܰܡܥ � ܳܫ ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ܰ�ܢ̈ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳܓ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ܰܥܠ ܶܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܓܙ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܟ ܳܢܐ ܰܡ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫�ܒܪ�ܶܗ‪݂ ܰ :‬ܘܕ ܳܚ ݂ ܶܕ ܐ ܰܠ ݂ܬ ݂ ܳܒ ܳܪ ܐ � ܢܶ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܶܣܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁ܟ ܺܠܝ� ݂ܕ ܳܣ ݂ ̈ܒܐ‪݁ :‬ܒܢ̈ܝ ݁ܒ ܰ�ܝ̈ܐ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪݂ :‬ܘܬܫ ݁ ܽܒ ݁‬ ‫ܘܚܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܰ�ܝ̈ܐ ܐ ݂ ܳܒ ܰܗ�̈ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ݁ܺ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ݁ܳ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫� ܳ� ܳܐ�ܐ �ܣ ݂ܟ� ܣ ݂ܦ ݂ܬܐ ܡܗܝܡܢܬܐ‪ :‬ܘܐ ݂ܦ� �ܙ ܕܝܩܐ ܣ ݂ܦ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܓ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܽ ݁ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫݁ ܺܟ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪ ܐ ܗܝ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܝ ܰܡܢ ݁ܕ݂ ܺܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܦܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܘܟ�‬ ‫ܝܠܗ ܺ ̱ܗܝ‪ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬܪ ܕܡ ݂ܬܦܢܝܐ‪ :‬ܣ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܰܫ ݁ܦ ܳ ̱‬

‫̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܰ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ݁ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ ܳܣܢܶܐ � ܰܡ ݁ ܳܟ ܽܣܘ‪ܶ :‬ܡܢ ܳܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ ݂ ܳܦ ܶܪܫ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܡܟܣܐ ܥܘ�‪ :‬ܒܥܐ ܪܚܡ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܡܐ ܳܫ ܶܚܩ ܶ� ݁ ܶܒܗ ݁ܕ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܠ ݂ܦ ݁ ܳܟܐ ݂ܬ ܐ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܕ ܰܣ ݂ܟ� ܘ� ܳܪ ݂ܶܓܫ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܺ ݁ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݁ ܰܕܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܥ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ ܰܡ ܰ� ݂ ܳܟܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ܺ‬ ‫ܚܡܝܢ ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫ܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ܚܪ�ܝܐ ݂ܒܥܐ ݂ܒܝܫܬܐ‪ .‬ܘܡ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ݁ܺ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ܚܟܝܡܐ‪ :‬ܘ�ܣ ݂ܟ� ݂ܒܫܛܝ ݂ܘܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳܢ ݂ܦܠ ܪܢܝܐ ݂ܘܕܚ ݂‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܳ ܰ ݁ܺ ݁ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ܺ ݁ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕ ݂ܦܪܥ ܒܝܫܬܐ ܚܠ ݂ܦ ܛ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪݂ � :‬ܬܥܢ ݂ܕ ܒܝܫܬܐ ܡܢ ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

      

Evil persons devise wickedness, and from their own mouth fire is kindled. An evil person provokes a dispute, and worthless persons persecute their friends.

Evil persons entice their neighbor and lead them in a path that is not good. They signal with their eyes and then plot an overthrow; they contrive with their lips and then complete wicked things. Old age is a crown of glory, and in the path of righteousness it is glorified.

A patient person is better than a mighty person, and those who control themselves than those who capture a city. A lot falls onto the lap of vicious persons, but their judgment proceeds from before the Lord.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫݁ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܐ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ݁ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡܗ ܳ� ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܟܙ ܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ �ܘ � ܚܫܠ ܒ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܳܳ‬ ‫ܡܓ ܶܪܓ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܪ ܳܝܩܐ ܳܪ ݂ ܶܕ ݂ܦ ܰ� ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܟܚ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ �ܘ � ݂ܰ ݂‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܐ ݂ܕ ܳ� ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܫ ݁ ܶܕܠ ܰܚ ݂ܒ ܶܪܗ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܟܛ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰ� ܳܘ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒܠ ܶ�ܠܗ ݁ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ̈ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܠ ܳܘܪ ܶܡܙ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢـܘ ̱ܗܝ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܘܓ ܰܡـܪ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܫـ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܗܦܝ ݂ܟـ ݂ܬܐ‪ :‬ܘܡ ݂ܬܪܥـܐ ݂ܒܣ ݂ܦـܘ ݂ܬܗ‪݂ܳ :‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܺܒܝ̈ ܳܫ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܺ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ݁ܺ ܽ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݁ܒ ܳܚܐ‪.‬‬ ‫� ܟܠܝ� ݂ܕ ݂ܬܫܒܘܚܬܐ ܣܝܒ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܒܐܘܪܚܐ ݂ܕܙ ܕܝܩ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܡ‬ ‫ܘܚ ـܐ ܶܡ ـܢ ݁ ܰܓܢ̱ ݁ ܳܒ ـ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܒ ܳܛ ـ ݂ܒ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܰܢ ݁ ܺܓܝــܪ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܟ ݁ ܶܒ ـܫ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫ ـܗ ܶܡ ـܢ ܰܗܘ ݁ ܰܕ ܺܐܚܝـ ݂ـܕ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱ ݁ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݁ ܽ ݁ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܳܢ ݂ܦ ܳ� ݂ ܶܦ ݂�ܬܶܗ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܳܢ ݂ ܶܦܩ ݁ ܺܕܝܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܓ ܒܥܘܒܗ ܕ�ܢ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

            

The wrath of a king is (like) messengers of death, but a wise person will extinguish it.

In the brightness of the king’s face is life, and his approval is like an early cloud. For those who acquire wisdom, it is better than gold; and for the one who acquires understanding, it is more valuable than silver.

The path of the upright turns away from wickedness, and those who guard their way take care of their soul. Shameful behavior (goes) before ruin, and before misfortune is a haughty spirit.

Better a person who is humble in spirit and humble in demeanor, than one who divides spoil with the mighty. One who closely studies a thing will find success, 1 and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord. The wise of heart knows understanding, and those whose speech2 is sweet increase learning.

Understanding is a fountain of life for those who know it, but disciplining fools is folly. The mind of a person knows what his mouth says, and on its lips it will increase learning.

Honey in the comb is the speech of the wise, and sweet to their soul and healing to their bones.

There is a path which appears to people 3 to be right, 4 but its ways are ways of death.

Those who cause suffering experience 5 suffering, and from their own mouth ruin comes to them.

1

‘success’: lit. ‘good’.

3

‘appears to people’: lit. ‘appears in his eyes’. Cf. 14:12.

2 4 5

‘speech’: lit. ‘lips’.

‘right’ or ‘straight’.

‘experience’: lit. ‘have’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬

‫ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ݂ ܰܢܕ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܰ ̈ܶ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܟܝ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚ ݂‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܡ� ݂ܟܐ ܐܢܘܢ ݁ܕܡܘܬ ܐ‪݂ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܨ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ� ݂ܒ ܳ�ܢܶܗ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ݁ ܰܦ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܥ� ܳܢܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܺܟܝ ܳܪ ݁ܝܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ݁ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ‪݂ :‬ܘܕܩܢܐ ܣ‬ ‫ܘܟ�‪ :‬ܡ ܰܝ ݁ܬܪ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܶܠܗ ܶܡܢ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳܩܢܶܐ ܶܚ ݂ܟܡ ݂ܬܐ ܛ ݂ ܳܒܐ ̱ܗܝ ܠܗ ܡܢ ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܺܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܶ ݁ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ܺܙܗܝܪ ݁ܒ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ‪ܳ :‬ܢ ܰܛܪ ܽܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܒܝ� ݂ܕ ݂ܬ �ܝ� ܐ ܡܣܛܐ ܡܢ ܒ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ݁ܬ ݂ ܳܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܨ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ݁ ܽܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܗ ܳܢܐ ܳܪ ܽܡ ݂ܘܬ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܪ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݁ ܺܟ ݂ܝܟ ܰ� ̈�ܢܶܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡܢ ܰܗܘ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܛ ݂ܒ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܰܡ ݁ ܺܟܝ ݂ܟ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܦ ܶܠ ݂ܓ ݁ ܶܒ ݂ܙܬ ܐ ܰܥܡ ܰܥ ܺܫ ̈�ܢܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܽܛ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ݂ܬ ݂ ܺܟܝܠ ܰ�ܥܠ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܡ‬ ‫ܘܒܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܬܐ‪ :‬ܡܫܟܚ ܛ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܣܬ ݁ ܰܟܠ ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܦ ܽ� ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝܡ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ ܳܝ ݂ ܰܕܥ ܽܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ�‪ܰ .‬ܘ݂ܕ ܰܚ� ܳܝ̈ܢ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬܗ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܘ�ܦ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܰ� ܗܘ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܰܡ ݁ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܝـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܳ� ݂ܕ ܺܥܝܢ ܶܠܗ‪ .‬ܘܡܪܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕܣ ݂ܟـ� ܫ‬ ‫ܘܥܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ̈ܝܐ ܽܣ ݁ ܳ ̱‬

‫̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܦ ܽ� ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ܳܝ ݂ ܰܕܥ ܺܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬܶܗ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܘ�ܦ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫݁ܰ݁ܳ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ ݂ܕ ܶܕ ݂ܒ ܳܫܐ ܺܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܡܪܗ ݁ܕ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝـܐ ̱ܗܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡـܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܐܣܝـܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ̱ܗܝ‬ ‫�ܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫـܗ‪ :‬ܘ‬ ‫ܟܟܪ ݂‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܠܓ� ܰܡܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܽܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܳܙ�ܐ ݂ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢـܝ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫـܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ݂ܬ ܺܪܝـ ܳـ� ܐ ̱ܗܝ‪ܽ .‬ܘܐܘ� ܳܚـ ݂ܬ ̇ܗ ܐܘ� ܳܚـ ݂ܬܐ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܐܢ ܶܝܢ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܺ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܝܗ ܳܠ ̇ܗ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ݁ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܒ ̇‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ܕ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܳܫ ̇ܗ ܐ ݂ܬ ܐ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܳܕ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢ ݂ܦܫܐ ܡ ݂ܟ ݂ܐܒܬܐ ݂ܟ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

    

       

The intention 1 of the heart is from the person, but the speech of the tongue is from the Lord.

All the ways of persons seem pure in their own eyes, but the Lord directs their ways. 2 Show your deeds to the Lord and he will direct3 your thoughts.

All the works of the Lord belong to those who obey him, and the wicked will be kept for the evil day.

All those who are arrogant in their heart are unclean before the Lord, and those who stretch out their hand against their neighbor will not be absolved of wickedness. By goodness and truth iniquity is remitted, and the fear of the Lord turns away from wickedness.

When the ways of people are pleasing to the Lord, then he will punish their enemies. Better is little with righteousness than much income without justice.

The mind of people plan their ways, but the Lord directs 4 their steps.

An inspired oracle is on the lips of a king, so his mouth will not make an error in judgment.

The weighing of the scales is the justice of the Lord, and all honest weights are his works. Kings who do evil are an abomination, because in righteousness a throne is established.

The lips of a righteous person are a delight to a king, and he loves the speech of the upright

1

‘intention’: lit. ‘thought, meaning’.

3

‘direct’, ‘correct’ or ‘establish’.

2 4

‘directs’ or ‘corrects’.

‘directs’ or ‘corrects’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬

‫ܝܘ‪.‬‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ܕ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܡ�� ݂ܕ ܶ� ܳܫ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܢ ܒܪ ܐ̱ܢܫܐ ݂ܬܪܥ ݂‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰܡ ̱‬ ‫݁ܽ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܓ ݂ܒـ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ̈ܟ ܳܝـܢ ܶܐܢ ܶܝــܢ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢـܝ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫـܗ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ـܐ ܰܡ ݂ܬ ܶܩـܢ‬ ‫ܽܟ�ܗܝܢ ܐܘ�ܚـ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܓ ܺܠܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܰܕ�̈ ݁ܟ‪ܰ :‬ܘܢ ݂ܬ ܶܩܢ ܰܡܚ ̈ܫ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ܬ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ̈ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܺ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܛܝــܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡـܐ‬ ‫ܡܥܝܢ ܶܠܗ‪ .‬ܘ�ܘ �‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܘ ̱ܗܝ ܕܡܪ�ܐ �ܝܠܝܢ ܕܡ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݂‬ ‫݂ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ݂ ܽܟܠ ݁ܕ ܳܪܡ ݁ܒ ܶ� ݁ ܶܒܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ݂ܕ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫܛ ܺܐܝـ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܛܡܐ ̱ܗܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ـܕܗ ܰܥـܠ ܰܚ ݂ܒـ ܶܪܗ‪� :‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܶ ܶ ݁ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢ ݂ܬܚܣܐ ܡܢ ܒ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ ܰ ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܬܐ ܶܡ ݁‬ ‫ܪ�ـܐ ܰܡ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܗ ݁ܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܛܝـܐ ܶܡـܢ‬ ‫ܒܛܝܒ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܘ ݂ܒܩـ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݂ ܶܒـܩ ܰܥـܘ�‪ .‬ܘ݂ ܶܕܚܠـ ݂‬ ‫݁ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܶ� ݂ܒ ܳ�ܢܶܗ ݁ܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬܗ ݁ܕ ݂ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ܰܠ ݂ܒܥܶ ̈ܠ ݁ܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܰܒܘ ̱ܗܝ ܢܶ ݂ܦ ܽܪܘܥ‪.‬‬ ‫̈ ܳܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܺ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܓܐܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ̱ܠ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ� ݂ܒ ݂ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܛ ݂ܒ ̱ܗܘ ܩܠܝܠ ݁ܒ ܰܙ ݁ܕܝܩ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ :‬ܡܢ ܣ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܟ ݂ܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ� ݁ ܶܒܗ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܫ ݂ܒ ܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬܗ‪ .‬ܘܡܪ�ܐ ܡ ݂ܬܩܢ ܗ ݂‬ ‫ܨܡܐ ܰܥܠ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬܶܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ݂ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ ܳ� ܢܶܛܥܶܐ ݂ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ̈ ݁ ܽ ܽ ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܘ ̱ܗܝ ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܡ ݂ܬܩ� ݂ܕܩ‬ ‫ܡ ݂ܬܩ� ݂ܕܡܣ ݂ܐܬ ܐ ݂ܕܝܢܗ ܕܡܪ�ܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܶܽ ܰ ̈ ݁ ܶ ܳ ݁ܺ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܽ ݁ܰ ܰ݁ܺ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ̱ܗܘ ܰܡ ݂ܬ ܰܩܢ ݁ ܽܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܣܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܛܡܐܝܢ ܐܢܘܢ ܡ�ܟܐ ݂ܕܥ ݂ܒܕܝܢ ܥܘ�‪ .‬ܡܛܠ ܕ ݂ܒܙ ܕܝܩ ݂‬ ‫̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܬ � ܶܝ� ܐ ܳܪ ܶܚܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ� ݂ܒ ܳ�ܢܶܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ� ݁ ܳܟܐ ܶܣ ݂ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ‪ .‬ܘܡ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

     

The heart of the righteous person ponders faithfulness, but the mouth of the wicked speaks evil things.

The Lord is far from evildoers, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. The light of the eyes makes the heart glad, and a glad heart fattens the bones. The ear that heeds the reproof of life lodges among the wise.

Those who reject discipline hate themselves, but those who heed reproof acquire wisdom. The fear of the Lord is instruction of life, and the glory of the humble goes before them.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܶ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܰ݁ܺ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ܰ‬ ‫ܡܡ ܶܠܠ ݁ ܺܒܝ̈ ܳܫ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܟܚ �ܒܗ ܕܙ ܕܝܩܐ‪ :‬ܪ ܢܐ ݂ܒܗܝܡܢ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܛ ܰܪ ܺܚܝܩ ̱ܗܘ ܡܪ�ܐ ܡܢ �ܘ �‪݂ .‬ܘܒ‬ ‫ܨܠ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܩܐ ܳܫ ܰܡܥ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܒ ܶܣܡ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ ܳܛ ݂ ܳܒܐ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ̈�ܢܶܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡܢ ݁ ܰܓ� ܶܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫� ݂ܶܐܕ ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ܳܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܥܐ ܰܡ ݁ܟ ܳܣ ܽܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܒ ܳܝܢ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝ̈ ܶܡܐ ݂ܬ ݂ ܽܒ ݂ܘܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܶ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܠܒ ܕܡܣ� ܡ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܳܣܢܶܐ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ ܳܫ ܰܡܥ ܰܡ ݁ܟ ܳܣ ܽܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܳܩܢܶܐ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܽ� ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܺܟ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܟܐ ܳܐ ܳܙ �� ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܠܬܗ ݁ܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܦ ܳܢܐ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܬܫܒ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܓ ݁ ܶܕ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

  VII

           

The heart of the upright seeks knowledge, but the mouth of evildoers utters wicked things.

All the days of the poor are bad, but those who are merry are at ease all the time. Better to fear the Lord (with) a little — better than (to have) the vast treasures of evildoers. Better a meal of vegetables and a good reputation — better than fattened oxen with hatred.

A wrathful person provokes strife, but a patient person calms it before it comes about.

The paths of the lazy are full of thorns, but the paths of the upright are clear. 1

A wise son makes his father rejoice, but a foolish son is a disgrace to his mother.

A person who is foolish lacks judgment, but a person of understanding walks correctly. 2

Those who honor the assembly cause plans to go astray, but by an abundance of advisors counsel is strengthened.

People have joy in their speech, and it is good for them to speak in a timely way.

The way of life is upward for astute persons, so that they may avoid Sheol below. The Lord tears down the house of the boastful, but he confirms the boundary of widows.

Wicked schemes are an abomination before the Lord, but pleasant words are pure. Those who take a bribe destroy themselves, but those who hate to take a bribe will live.

1 2

‘clear’ or ‘smooth’.

‘correctly’: lit. ‘straight ahead, uprightly’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫ܨܚ ܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܳ ܺ ̈ܶ ܳ ܶ ܺ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ܰ‬ ‫ܡܡ ܶܠܠ ݁ ܺܒܝ̈ ܳܫ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܒܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܟܐ ܢܐ ݂ܒܥܐ ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫݁ܽ ܽ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܺܣܝ̈ ܶܡܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܗ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܫܝܢ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܫܠܝܢ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܟ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܟ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܺܒ ܺ‬ ‫�ܙܒܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܟ�ܗܘܢ ܝܘܡ ݂‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳܛ ݂ܒ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ܕ ܰܚܠ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰܩ ܺܠܝܠ‪ :‬ܛ ݂ܒ ܶܡܢ ܺܣܝ̈ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ ܰܪܘ� ݂ ܳܒ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ̈ܘ �‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ܶ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܡܦܛ ̈ܡܐ ݂ܒ ܶܣܢܶ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪܩܐ‪ :‬ܘܚ ݂ܘܒܐ ݂ܕܫܡܐ‪ :‬ܛ ݂ܒ ܡܢ ܬܘ� ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܛ ݂ ܳܒܐ ̱ܗܝ ܫܪ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳܳ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܒـ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܢ ݁ ܺܓܝــܪ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܥـ ݂ܕ ܳ� ܳܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ـܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܬ ܐ‪݂ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܡܕ ܶܥـ ݂ܟ‬ ‫݁ܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ܚ ݂‬ ‫ܡܓܪ ݂ܓ ܗ ݂‬ ‫ܡܬܢܐ ݂‬ ‫ܳܠ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܕ ̈ܚ ݂ ܰܒ ܳ�ܢܶܐ ܰܡ ̈� ܳܝܢ ݁ ܽܟ ̈ܘ ݁ ܶܒܐ‪ܽ .‬ܘܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܬ � ܶܝ� ܐ ܰܫ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܚ ݁ ܶܕ ܐ ܰ� ݂ ܽܒܘܗܝ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܣ ݂ܟ ܳ� ݂ ܶܒ ݁‬ ‫ܗܬ ݂ ܰܬ ܐ ̱ܗܘ ݁ ܶܕ ܶ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܡܗ‪.‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ ܺ ܺ‬ ‫݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܶܠ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܠܬ ܳܢܐ ݂ܬ ܪ ܳܝ� ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܽܟ ݂‬ ‫ܣܟܠ ܰܚܣܝܪ � ݁ܒܐ ̱ܗܘ‪݂ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܺ ܰ ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܓܐܐ ݂ܕ ܳܡ ̈� ݁ ܰܟـܝ ܶܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ ܺ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܽ‬ ‫�ܟـܐ‬ ‫ܶܡܥܒܪܝܢ ܡܚܫ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܡܝܩܪܝܢ ݁ܟܢܘܫܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܒܣ ݂ܳ‬ ‫݂ܬ ݂ܬ ܰܩ ܰܝܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕܡ ܰܡ ܶܠܠ ݁ܒ ܰܙ ݂ܒܢܶܗ‪ܰ :‬ܫ ݁ ܺܦܝܪ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܚ ݂ܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳܳ ݁ ܶ ܶ ܶ ܽ ݁ ݁ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ ܰܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܩ ܳܢܐ ̱ܗܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܽܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܬ ݁ܝܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܠܬܢܐ‪ :‬ܕܢܣܛܐ ܡܢ ܫܝܘܠ�ܬ‬ ‫�ܣ ݁ ܽܟ ݂‬ ‫݁ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܰܪܪ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܝܬܐ ݂ܕܫ ݂ܒܗ� ܢܐ ܥܩܪ ܡܪ�ܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܬܚܘܡܐ ݂ܕ ܐ�ܡܠ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܡ ̈ܣ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܢ ܶܐܢ ܶܝܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰܡܚ ̈ܫ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ܬܐ ݂ ܺܒܝ̈ ܳܫ ݂ܬܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ݂ ̈ܟ ܳܝܢ ̈ܡ� ݂ ܰܒ ܺܣܝ̈ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܒ ݂ܕ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ ܰܐ ܳܝܢܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚܕ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ݂ܕ ܳܣܢܶܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܡ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰܣ ݂ܒ ܽܫ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܩ ݁ ܶܒܠ ܽܫ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܕ ܐ‪ܳ :‬ܚ ܶܝܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

            

A gentle word deflects wrath, but a harsh word incites anger.

The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive, but the mouth of fools pours forth a curse.

In every place the eyes of the Lord are watching the good and the wicked.

A healing tongue 1 is a tree of life, and the one who eats from its fruit will be satisfied by it.

Fools mock the instruction of their father, but prudent persons heed reproof. In the house of the righteous is great strength, but the crops of the wicked will perish.

The lips of the wise utter knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright. The Lord rejects the sacrifices of the wicked, but his delight is in the prayer of the upright.

The Lord rejects the way of the wicked, but he loves the one who does righteousness. The discipline of those who do not know is disaster — it is obvious, and those who hate reproof will die.

Sheol and Abaddon are before the Lord, and so also are people’s hearts.

The wicked do not love one who rebukes them, and they do not walk with the wise. A glad heart adorns the body, but a sorrowful heart pains the spirit.

1

‘a healing tongue’: lit. ‘healing of a tongue’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬

‫ܝܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܰ݁ ܺ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܫ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܓ ܳܙ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ܺ ݂‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪ .‬ܘܡ ݂‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ܪܟ ݂ܝܟ ݂ܬܐ ܡܗܦ ݂ܟܐ ܚ ݂‬ ‫ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܡܥܝܪ ܐ ܪ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ݁ܺ ̈ ܶ ܰ ݁ܰ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܛܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܦܘܡܐ ݂ܕܣ ݂ܟ� ݂ܓܣܐ ܠ ݂‬ ‫�ܫܢܐ ݂ܕܚܟܝܡܐ ܡܫܦܪ ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫݁ܒ ݂ ܽܟܠ ܰܐ ݂ ܰܬܪ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܳܚܝ ܳ�ܢ ݁ܒܛ ݂ ̈ܒܐ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ݂ ܺܒܝ̈ ܶܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܶ� ܳܫ ܳܢܐ‪ܺ :‬ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝ� ܳܢܐ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ‪ܳ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ݂ ܶܐܟܠ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܺܦܐ ܰ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܒܥ ܶܡܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܣܝ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܽܐܒܘܗܝ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܪܝܡ ܳܢܛܪ ܰܡ ݁ܟ ܳܣ ܽܢܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣ ݂ܟ� ܡܡܝܩ ܒܡܪܕ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫݁ ܰ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܰ݁ܺ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܝ�‪ .‬ܘ ܰܥ ̱ ̈ܠ ܳ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ܺܢ ݂ ̈‬ ‫ܒ ݂ܒܝܬܗ ܕܙ ܕܝܩܐ ܣ ݂ܓܐ ܚ‬ ‫ܐܒ ݁ ܳܕܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܶ� ݁ ܰܒ ̈ܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܣ ݂ ̈ܟ� � ݂ ܺܟ ܺܐܢܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܣ ݂ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝ̈ ܶܡܐ ܡ ̈ܡܠܢ ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܶ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܨܠ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܬ � ܶܝ� ܐ ܶ� ݂ܒ ܳ�ܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕ ݂ܒܚܐ ݂ܕ�ܘ � ܡܣ� ܡܪ�ܐ‪݂ :‬ܘܒ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܣ� ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܐ ݂ܕ�ܘ � ܡ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘܪ ܶܚܡ � ܳܝܢܐ ݂ܕ ܳܥ ݂ ܶܒ ݂ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܽܝܩ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܺ ݁ ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܗܝ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܳܣܢܶܝܢ ܰܡ ݁ܟ ܳܣ ܽܢـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܡܪܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܐܝܠܝܢ ܕ� � ݂ܕܥܝܢ ܒ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ ݂ܰܓ ܳ ̱‬ ‫ܽ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܡ ݂ܘܬܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪ܳ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ܶ� ݁ ܰܒ ̈ܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܡ‬ ‫ܫܝܘܠ ܘ ݂ܐܒܕ ܢܐ ݂‬ ‫�ܡܢ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܶܟܣ ܶܠܗ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܥܡ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝ̈ ܶܡܐ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ� ܳܪ ܶܚܡ ݁ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܶܠ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ ܰܚ ݁ ܳܕ ܳ�ܐ ܰܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܦܪ ݁ ܽܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܡܐ‪ :‬ܘ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ ݂ ܳܟ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܒܐ ܰܡ ݂ ܰܟ ݂ܐܒ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

           

Their wealth is the crown of the wise, and the conduct 1 of fools is their senselessness. A truthful witness saves lives, but the lying witness utters treachery.

The fear of the Lord is a strong hope, and he will be a protector for his children. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, for those who turn aside from the snares of death. The honor of a king is in a multitude of people, and when the people are gone 2 a king is shattered.

The patient person is very wise, but a short-tempered person is very foolish. Those who cool their anger are healers of their heart, but jealousy is rottenness in the bones. Those who harm the poor anger their Creator, and they honor the Lord who show compassion to the unfortunate. The wicked will be overthrown by their evildoing, but those who are confident that they have no sins are the righteous.

Wisdom resides in the heart of the just, but it is not known in the heart of fools. Righteousness lifts up a people, but sins diminish nations.

A king’s pleasure is in a prudent servant, and by his wisdom the evildoer is overturned. Those who are confident that they have no sins are the righteous, but wrath will destroy even the wise.

1 2

‘conduct’ or ‘deliberation’.

‘when the people are gone’: lit. ‘at the end of the people’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝ� ܕ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝ̈ ܶܡܐ ܽܥܘܬ ܽܪܗܘܢ‪ .‬ܘ ܽܗ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦ ݂ ܳܟܐ ݂ܕ ܰܣ ݂ ̈ܟ ܶ� ܳܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܛܝ ݂ܘܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܟܕ ݁ܟ ܺܠ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܳ ݁ܳ ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܡ ܶܠܠ ܢܶ ݂ܟ ܳ� ܳܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܕ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݁ ܳܓ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܟܗ ܡ ݂ܦ� ܐ ܢ ݂ܦܫ ݂ܬܐ ܣܗܕ ܐ ݂ܕܩ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ݂ܒ ܰܣ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܥ ܺܫ ܳܝܢܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘ� ݂ ̈ܒ ܰܢܘ ̱ܗܝ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܠܬܗ ݁ܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܣ ݁ܬ ܳܪ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܟܘ ݁ ܶܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܥܐ ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ‪ܶ �ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܚܠܬܗ ݁ܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܳܤܛܝܢ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܰܦ ̈ܶܚܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݁ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܟܙ ݁ ܶܕ ݂‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰܡ ݁ ܽܒ ܳ ̱‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܰܣ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦܗ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ ܶܡ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ݂ ܰܒܪ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܕܝܪ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܚ ݁ܒ ܰܥ ܳܡܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝܐܐ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܟܛ ݁ܕ ܰܢ ݁ ܺܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܗ ܳܛ ݂ܒ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܽܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܪ ܐ ܽܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܚܗ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝܡ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ ݂ ܰܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܟܠ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܰ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ܳܣܐ ݂ܕ ܰܓ� ܶܡܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܝܐ ̱ܗܘ ݁ܕ ܶ� ݁ ܶܒܗ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܛ� ܰܢܐ ̱ܗܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܡܬܗ‬ ‫ܠ ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܡܦܝ ݂ܓ ܚ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫�ܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫� ݁ܕ݂ ܳܕ ݂ ܰܒܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܝ ܰܩـܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܓـܙ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡـܢ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ݂ܒـ ݁ ܶܕܗ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܟ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܺܒܝــܫ ݁ ܺܒܝــܫ‪ܰ :‬ܡ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܪ�ـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܪ ܶܚܡ ܰܥܠ ݁ ܳܒܝ̈ ܶܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܫ ݂ܘܬܶܗ ܶܡ ݁‬ ‫ܣܬ ܶܚ ݂ܦ ܰ� ܳܘ ܳ�‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ݂ܬ ݂ ܺܟܝܠ ݁ܕ ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫ܠܒ ݁ܒ ݂ ܺܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܠܗ ܚܛ ̈ܗܐ‪ܰ :‬ܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܰܝܩܐ ̱ܗܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܶܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓ ݁ܒ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܺܟܐ ̈ܢܶܐ ݂ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ ݂ܕ ܰܣ ݂ ̈ܟ� � ݂ܬ ݂ܬ ݂ ܰܝܕܥ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܪ ܐ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܰ݁ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܬ ܰܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܪܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܙܥܪܝܢ ܐ ̈ܡ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ܚܛ ̈ܗܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܥ ܳܡܐ‪ .‬ܘܡ‬ ‫ܠܕ ܙ ܕܝܩ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܠܗ ܶ� ݂ܒ ܳ�ܢܶܗ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܬ ܳܢܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ܰܡ ݂ܬ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫـܗ ܶܡ ݁‬ ‫ܣܬ ܶܚـ ݂ܦ �ـܘ �‪.‬‬ ‫�ܟܐ ݂ܒ ܰܥ ݂ܒ ݁ ܳܕ ܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܽܟ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ ̈ܶ ܺ ܰ‬ ‫�ܚ ݁ ܺܟܝ̈ ܶܡܐ ܰܡ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܓ ܳܙ ܐ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ܳܐ ݂ܦ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ݂ܕ ݂ܬ ݂ܟܝܠ ݁ܕܠܝܬ ܠܗ ܚܛܗܐ‪ܰ :‬ܙ ݁ܕܝܩܐ ̱ܗܘ‪ .‬ܪ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

          



There is a path which people think is right, but its ways are ways of death. 1 Even in laughter the heart is sad, and the aftermath of its joy is grief.

From their ways people will be satisfied with what is presumptuous in their heart, and good people will be satisfied by their worship. 2 A child believes everything that is said, but a prudent person distinguishes good from bad. A wise person is reverent3 and turns away from evil, but a fool gets involved in it boldly.

In everything they do, impetuous people do not take counsel, but wise people are cautious. Fools inherit senselessness, but prudent people are allotted knowledge.

Evil people will fall down before the good, and the wicked will come to the gate of the righteous. Poor people are hated even by their neighbors, but those who love the wealthy are numerous. Those who treat their neighbors with contempt commit sin, but blessed is the one who is compassionate toward the poor.

Evildoers go astray who do wicked things, but the merciful and the righteous do all good things. Those who do wicked things do not understand compassion and faithfulness, but compassion and faithfulness are with those who do good deeds. 4

In everything about which you are anxious, there is one thing that is profitable. The one who is deficient in his livelihood will be comfortable and cheerful. The Lord will heal every pain, and he will damage the utterances of the lips of evildoers.

1

14:12 is similar to 16:25.

3

‘reverent’ or ‘is afraid’.

2

‘by their worship’: lit. ‘from the reverence of his soul’.

‘Those who do wicked … do good deeds’: the second half of this verse is entirely missing from MT. See Introduction, Noteworthy Readings, Dependence upon the Septuagint (LXX).

4



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬

‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬

‫ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܽܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܐ ݂ܕ ܳܣ ݂ܒ ܺܪܝܢ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ܺܪ ܳܝ� ܐ ̱ܗܝ‪ܽ .‬ܘܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬ ̇ܗ ܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬܐ ܐܢ ܶܝܢ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܐ ݂ܦ ݁ܒ ܽܓ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚ ݂ܪܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ݂ ܽܕ ݂ܘܬܗ ܐܘܢ ݁ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܚܟܐ ܢܶ ݂ ܰܟ ݂ܐܒ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܛ ݂ ܳܒܐ ܢܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܗ ܢܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܒܥ ܰܡܢ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ܳܪܚ ݁ܒ ܶ� ݁ ܶܒܗ‪݂ܰ .‬‬ ‫ـܬܐ‬ ‫ܡܢ ܐܘ�ܚ ݂‬ ‫ܣܒܥ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܶܕܚܠـ ݂‬ ‫݂ܕ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܠ ܶܡ ܳ�‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܡܢ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܫ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ݂ ܳܦ ܶܪܫ ܛ ݂ܒ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܺܒܝܫ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳܺ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ ݁ܺ ݁ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ݂ ܳܕ ܶܚܠ‪ :‬ܘܤܛܐ ܡܢ ܒܝܫܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܟ� ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܠܛ ݁ ܳܒ ̇ܗ ݁ܬ ݂ ܺܟܝ� ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܳܶ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܡܝܣ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܠܝ�‪݁ :‬ܟܠ ݁ܕܥ ݂ܒ ݂ܕ � ܡ ݂ܬܡܠ ݂ܟ‪݂ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܳ ݁ܺ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܺܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘܥ ܺ� ܶ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ݂‬ ‫ܠܓܝܢ ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫�ܪܬܝܢ ܣ ݂ܟ� ܫܛܝ ݂‬ ‫ܡܦ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܢܶ ݁ܦ ܽ�ܘܢ ݁ ܺܒܝ̈ ܶܫܐ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܛ ݂ ̈ܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܬܪܥܶܗ ݁ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ� ̈ܘ � ܺܢ ݂ܐܬܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܒ ܰ�ܘܗܝ ܣܢܶܐ ܶܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܟ ܳܢܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܰ� ܰ‬ ‫ܳܐ ݂ܦ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܡܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ݁ܬ ܳܝܪ ܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܺܝܐܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܡܪ ܶܚܡ ܰܥܠ ܶܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܒ ܶܪܗ ܳܚ ܶܛܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܟ ܳܢܐ ܽܛ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳܫܐܶܛ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܳ ݁ ܺ ݁ ܺ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ ܺ ̈ ܶ ܳ ݁ ܺ ݁ ܽ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫�ܘ � ܛܥܝܢ ܕܥ ݂ܒܕܝܢ ܒܝܫ ݂ܬܐ‪ .‬ܘܡ�ܚܡܢـܐ ܘܙ ܕ�ܩـܐ ܥ ݂ܒܕܝــܢ ܟ‬ ‫�ܗܝــܢ ܛ ݂ ̈ܒـ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳܽ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ̈ ݁ܰ ݁ ܺ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܬ ݁ܟ ܽ�ܘܢ‪ .‬ܡܪܚܡܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕܝܢ ܘܗܝܡܢـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܥ ݂ܒܕܝ ܒܝܫ ݂ܬܐ‪� :‬ܚܡܐ ܘܗܝܡܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ � ܢ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܥܡ ܳܥ ݂ ̈ܒ ݁ ܰܕܝ ܛ ݂ ̈ܒ ݂ܬܐ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܝܢ ـܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܺܨܝــܪ ݁ܒ ܽܥ ـ ܶ‬ ‫݁ܒ ݂ ܽܟ ـܠ ݁ܕ ܳ� ـ ܶ� ݂ܦ ܰܐܢ ̱ـ ݁ܬ‪ :‬ܚـ ݂ ܳـܕ ܐ ܺ ̱ܗܝ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ـ ݁ܘܬ ܳܪܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܪܗ‪ܺ :‬ܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܚ ـܐ‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒ ܺܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ـܐ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܣـܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ‪ܽ ݁ .‬ܟܠ ݁ ܺܟ ݂ܐܒ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܡ�ـ� ݂ܕ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦـ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰ�ـ ̈ܘ �‬ ‫ܘܡ ̱‬ ‫ܚܣܪ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܡ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

          

A wise woman builds a house, but a foolish woman demolishes it with her (own) hands. One who walks in integrity is reverent before the Lord, but devious persons 1 despise him.

A rod and shame are in the mouth of a fool, but the lips of the wise protect them.

Where there are no oxen, the feed-troughs 2 are clean, but a large harvest (comes in) by the strength of an ox.

A faithful witness is not proved false, and the one who utters falsehood is a deceitful witness. 3 A wicked person seeks wisdom and does not find it, but knowledge is found by a person of understanding.

Everything is against a foolish person, but the lips of the wise are a weapon of knowledge. Prudent people, by their wisdom, will understand their path, but the path of fools is in error.

The houses of the wicked need cleansing properly, 4 but the houses of the righteous are acceptable. Fools commit sins, but upright sons are a pleasure. 5

The knowledgeable mind has grief, 6 and the stranger does not participate in its joy. 7 The house of the wicked will perish, but the tent of the upright will flourish.

1

‘devious persons’: lit. ‘one who is false in his way’.

3

This clause uses the same four words as in 6:19, but in a different order.

2 4 5 6 7

‘feed-troughs’ or ‘stalls’.

‘properly’ or ‘directly, immediately’.

‘are a pleasure’ or ‘(do) what is the desire (of God)’. ‘has grief’: lit. ‘has grief for itself’.

This sentence is v. 10 in Leiden and MT.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬

‫ܝܕ‪.‬‬

‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ݁ܺ ݁ܳ ܳ ݀ ݁ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ݂ ܺܒ ̈‬ ‫ܐܝ ݂ ܶܕ ̇ܝܗ ܣ ܰܚ ݂ܦ ݂ܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܢ̱ܬ ݂ܬ ܐ ܚܟܝܡܬܐ ݂ܒܢ ݂ܬ ܒܝܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܣܟ ݂‬ ‫݁ܰ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܫܝܩ ݁ ܽܒ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܳ ݁ :‬ܕ ܶܚܠ ܶܡܢ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܗ‪ܳ :‬ܫܐܛ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕܡܗܠ ݂ܟ ܒ ݂ܬܪܝܨ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܽ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ̈ ܳ ܽ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܺ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܽܶ‬ ‫ܒ ݂ܦܘܡܗ ܕܣ ݂ܟ� ܙܩܬܐ ܘܨܥܪ ܐ‪ .‬ܘܣ ݂ܦܘ ݂ܬܗܘܢ ܕܚܟܝܡܐ ܢܢܛ�ܢ ܐܢܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ̈ ܳܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܒ ܰܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܰ ݁ ݁ܰ ܶ ܶ ܽ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܠܗ ݁ܕ ݂ܬ ܳܘܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܓܐܐ ݂ܕܥ ̱ܠ ݂‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܬܪ ݁ܕܠܝܬ ܬܘ� ܐ‪݁ :‬ܕ ݂ܟܝܢ ܐܘ�ܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‪ .‬ܘܣ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ݁ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܳ :‬ܣ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܗܕ ܐ ܡܗ‬ ‫ܗܕ ܐ ̱ܗܘ ݁ ܰܕ ݁ ܳܓ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܡܢܐ � ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܒ‪݂ .‬ܘܕܡܡܠܠ ܟܕ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܺ ̇ ܺ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܬ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܟܝ ܳܚܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܣ ݁ ܽܟ ݂‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪ :‬ܘ� ܢܫܟܚܝܗ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܝܕ ݂‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ݂ ܳܒܥܶܐ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦـ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܣ ݂ܟـ� ݂ ܽܟـܠ ܶܡـ ݁ ܶܕܡ ܰܣ ܽܩـ ݂ܘܒ� ̱ܗܘ ܶܠـܗ‪ .‬ܘܙܝܢـܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܝܕܥـ ݂‬ ‫݂ܕ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝ̈ ܶܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ݁ ܰ݁ ܰ ܽ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܥܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܝ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܬܗ ܡܣܬܟܠ ܐܘܪܚܗ‪ .‬ܘܐܘܪܚܐ ݂ܕܣ ݂ܟ� ݂ܒܛ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ݂ܒ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܳ ݁ ܰ ܽ ݁ ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ ܺ ܳ ܺ ݁ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ�̈ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܩܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܩ ݁ܒ ܺܠܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܬܝܗܘܢ ܕ�ܘ � ݂ܬ ܪܝ� ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ܒܥܝܢ ܕܘܟܝܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܒ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܣ ݂ ̈ܟ� ܳܥ ݂ܒ ݁ ܺܕܝܢ ܚܛ ̈ܗܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒܢ̈ܝ ݁ܬ � ܶܝ� ܐ ܶ� ݂ܒ ܳ� ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ݁ܰ ܽ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ̱ܗܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫـܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܰܚـ ݂ ܽܕ ݂ܘܬܗ � ܢܶ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܠـܛ ܽܢ ݂ܘܟ ܳܪ ܳ�ـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ ܰܝ ݁ ܽܕ ܶ ݂‬ ‫ܘܥܬܢܐ‪ :‬ܟܪ�ـ ݂‬ ‫݁ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܫܟ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ܺ� ܶܝ� ܐ ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܒ ݂ܕ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ � ܺܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݁‬ ‫ܪܘܙ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 



The righteous person eats and is satisfied, but the belly of the wicked is empty. 1

1

‘empty’: lit. ‘lacking’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬

‫ܘܣ ݂ܒ ܳܥܐ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ ܳܐ ݂ ܶܟܠ‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫ܪܣܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ݂ܬܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܣܪ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 



          

One who despises a saying will be ruined by it, but the one who fears a commandment will be saved. Deceitful persons will have nothing good, but the wise whose deeds are upright — indeed their way will also ascend to the top. 1 The law of wisdom is a fountain of life for those who turn from the snares of death.

Good insight produces favor, but the way of evildoers is toward destruction. Every prudent person acts knowledgeably, but a fool utters worthless things.

A wicked messenger falls into disaster, but a faithful messenger is one who heals.

Poverty and shame destroy discipline, 2 but the one who guards reproof will be praised.

Proper desire is pleasing to the soul, but the abomination of evildoers is far from knowledge.

The one who walks with a wise person will become wise, and the one who walks with a fool will come to harm. Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are given good things.

Good people can bequeath an inheritance to their grandchildren, and the wealth of sinners is preserved for the righteous.

Those who have no livelihood 3 for themselves destroy wealth for many years, and people perish entirely

All who spare the rod hate their child, and those who love their children diligently discipline them.

‘Deceitful persons … to the top’: the second half of this verse is entirely missing from MT. See Introduction, Noteworthy Readings, Dependence upon the Septuagint (LXX).

1

2 3

‘destroy discipline’ or ‘are destroyed (by) discipline’. ‘livelihood’: lit. ‘dwelling’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬

‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܽ ݁ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ ܰܘܙ ݂ܒ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܬܐ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ݁ ܰܒܠ ܶܡ ܳܢـ ̇ܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݁ ݂ܕ ܳܕ ܶܚـܠ ܡـܢ ܦܘܩܕ ܢـܐ‪ :‬ܢܫـ‬ ‫݁ܕ ݂ ܳܒ ܶܣܐ ܰܥܠ ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ݁ܺ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܺ ̈ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܢ ݁ ܽܟ ݂ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ�ـ ݂ܕ ݂ܬܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ܚܟܝܡܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܬ �ܝــ�ܢ ݂‬ ‫ܘܠܬܢܐ � ݂ܬܗܘܐ ܠܗ ܛ ݁ܝܒܘ‪݂ .‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܗ ݁ܬ ܰܣܩ ܺ‬ ‫ܳܐ ݂ܦ ܐ ܶ‬ ‫�ܪܝܫ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥܐ ܗܘ ݁ܕ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ‪ܶ �ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܳܤܛܝܢ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܰܦ ̈ܶܚܐ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݁ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܣܐ ݂ܕ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ܰܡ ݁ ܽܒ ܰ ̱‬ ‫ܳܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܽܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܳ� ܳܛ ݂ ܳܒܐ ܳ� ܶܗ ݂ܒ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ‪ܽ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ̈ܘ � � ݂ܒ ݁ ܳܕ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܽ ݁ ܳ ܶ ܺ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܟ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܡܡ ܶܠܠ ܣ ܺ� ܳܝܩ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܟܠ ܕܥ ݂ܒ ݂ܕ ܥܪܝܡܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܝܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ݁ ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪ܺ .‬ܘܐܝܙ ݁ ܰܓ ݁ ܳܕ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡܢܐ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܝܐ ̱ܗܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܝܙ ܓܕ ܐ �ܘ � ܢ ݂ܦܠ ܒ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܒܛܠܝܢ ܡܪܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ .‬ܘ݂ܕܢܛܪ ܡܟܣܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ :‬ܢ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݁ ܰܒܚ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܣܟܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܘܨܥܪ ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳܺ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܺܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ̈ܘ �‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܦ ܺܪ ܳܝܩܐ ̱ܗܝ ܡܢ ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܪ ݁ܓ ݂ܬܐ �ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ܬ ݂ܒܣܡ ܢ ݂ܦܫܐ‪ .‬ܘܛܡ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ‪ :‬ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܶܠ ݂ܟ ܰܥܡ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝܡ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܶܠ ݂ܟ ܰܥܡ ܰܣ ݂ܟ�‪ :‬ܢܶ ݂ ܰܒܐܫ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ̈ܶ ܶ ݁ ܽ ݁ ܺ ݁ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܺ ̈ ܶ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܽ‬ ‫�ܚܛܝܐ ݂ܬܪܕ ݂ܘܦ ܒܝܫܬܐ‪ .‬ܘܙ ܕ�ܩܐ ܢ‬ ‫�ܡܘܢ ܠܛ ݂ ̈ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܰܓܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܳܛ ܳܒܐ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܛܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪ ݂ܬ ܰ� ݂ ̈ܒ ܰܢܝ ݁ܒ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ‪ .‬ܘܡ ݂ܬ‬ ‫�ܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ ܽܥ ݂ܘܬ ܶܪܗ ݁ܕ ܰܚܛ ܳܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̈ ܰ ݁ ܺ ܳ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܽܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙ ܐ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܬ ܐ ܰܐ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ ܽܥـ ݂ܘܬ ܳܪܐ‪ .‬ܘܐ̱ ܳܢ ̈ܫܝــܢ ܐ ݁ ܰܒـ ݂ܕ ̱ܘ‬ ‫ܘܡܪ ܐ‪ :‬ܫ�ܝܐ ܣܓܝ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܳܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܓܡ‬ ‫ܝܪ ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܳܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ـܬ ܳܪ ݂ ܶܕܐ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟܠ ݁ܕ ܳܚܐܣ ܰܥܠ ܰܫ ݂ܒܛܗ‪ܳ :‬ܣܢܶܐ ܰܠ ݂ܒـ ܶܪܗ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕܪ ܶܚـܡ ܰܠ ݂ܒـ ܶܪܗ‪݂ :‬‬ ‫ܚܦܝܛܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

      

 VI

   

A wise son obeys his father, but a wicked son who will not accept rebuke will perish. Good people are satisfied with the fruits of their speech, but the souls of evildoers perish.

Those who guard their speech take care of themselves, but those who open wide their lips bring ruin to themselves. A person who does no work is continually taken with desires, but the life of an energetic person flourishes. 1

A righteous person hates a false utterance, and the wicked will be ashamed and mortified.

Righteousness protects those who have integrity in their way, but their sin will destroy sinners. There are those who make themselves to be rich though they possess nothing, and there are those who make themselves to be poor though possessing much.

The ransom of people’s lives is their wealth, whereas a poor person does not receive (even a) rebuke.

The light of the righteous is jubilant, but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished. A wicked person in depravity does wickedness, but those who take counsel are wise.

Property (which comes) from iniquity will diminish, but that which is gathered by righteousness will increase. Better is the person who begins to help — better than the one who depends on hope. And the tree of life brings hope.

1

‘flourishes’: lit. ‘becomes fat’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬

‫ܝܓ‪.‬‬

‫ܝܫܐ ݂ܕ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ܶܡ ݁‬ ‫݁ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܩ ݁ ܶܒܠ ݁ ܳܟܐ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ‪ܺ :‬ܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰܡܥ ܰ� ݂ ܽܒܘ ̱ܗܝ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܒ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܒܥ‪ .‬ܘ ܰܢ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܫ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ܺܢ ݂ ̈‬ ‫݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܳܛ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡܢ ݁ ܺܦܐ ܰ�ܝ ݁ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ ܢܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܒ ݁ ܳܕܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳܢ ܰܛܪ ݁ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܚ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬܶܗ‪ܳ :‬ܥ ݂ ܶܒ ݂ܕ ݁ܬ ݂ ܳܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡܗ‪ :‬ܡܙܕܗܪ ܒܢ ݂ܦܫܗ‪݂ .‬ܘܕ ݂ܦ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܽ ܰ ݁ܰ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܳܕ ܐ � ܳܥ ݂ ܶܒ ݂ܕ‪ܰ .‬ܘܢ ݂ܦ ܳܫܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ܺܫ ̈�ܢܶܐ ݂ܬ݂ܕ ܰܗܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܝܓ ݂ܬܐ ܪܡܐ ݂ܒܪ ܐ̱ܢܫܐ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫�ܙܒܢ ܒ� ݂ܓ ݂‬ ‫ܰ݁ܺ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܘ ܳ� ܢܶ ݂ܒ ܰܗ ݂ܬ ܘܢܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ݂ܕ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܪ ܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܚܦܪ‪.‬‬ ‫ܙ ܕܝܩܐ ܣܢܐ ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܰ݁ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ݁ ܽ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܙ ܕܝܩ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܬ�ܛܪ �ܝܢܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܬܡܝܡ ܒܐܘܪܚܗ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫�ܚܛ ܳܝܐ ݂ܬ ݁ܘܒ ݂ ܺܕܝܘ ̱ܗܝ ܚܛ ݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܡܡ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬ �ـ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܬ ܺܪܝܢ ܰܢ ݂ܦܫ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ ܰܠܝـ ݁‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ـܬ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܟـܢ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫـܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ـܗܘܢ‪ܺ .‬ܘܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܓܐܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܩܢܐ ܣ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܳܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫݁ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܟ ܳܢܐ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܩ ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ ݁ܕ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܽܥ ݂ܘܬ ܶܪܗ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܡܩ ݁ ܶܒܠ ݁ܟܐ ݂ܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܘܙ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܩܐ ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܪ ݂ܳܓܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ̈ܘ � ܢܶ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܳ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܡ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܒܪ ܐ̱ܢܫܐ ݂ܒܝܫܐ‪ :‬ܒܨܥܪ ܐ ܥ ݂ܒ ݂ܕ ܒ‬ ‫�ܟܝܢ‪ܰ :‬ܚ ݁ ܺܟܝ̈ ܶܡܐ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܰ݁ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܓܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܢ�ܢܐ ݂ܕܡܢ ܥܘ� ܢܙܥܪ‪ .‬ܘ݂ܕܡ ݂ܬܟܢܫ ܒܙ ܕܝܩ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫ ܶܪ ܐ ܰܠܡ ܰ� ݁ ܳܕ ܽܪܘ‪ܳ :‬ܛـ ݂ܒ ܶܡـܢ ܰܗܘ ݁ܕ ݂ܬ � ݂ܒ ܰܣ ݂ܒـ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܺ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܛ ݂ܒ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ݂ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝ� ܳܢـܐ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ܶ ܰ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܰܣ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܕܚܝܐ ܡ‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

              

Good people will be satisfied from the fruits of their speech, and everyone will be rewarded according to the work of their hands.

The way of fools seems attractive in their own eyes, but the one who accepts counsel is wise. Fools makes known their anger immediately, 1 but prudent people conceal their insult.

A righteous person speaks truth 2 openly, 3 but a deceitful person is a witness of wickedness. There are those who utter idle talk (like) the stab (of a knife), but the tongue of the wise heals. Truthful lips are upright, but a hasty witness has an evil tongue.

Deceit is in the mind of the wicked person who plots wickedness, but for those who deliberate peace 4 there is rejoicing.

What is deceitful is not attractive to a righteous person, but the wicked are full of wicked things. The Lord hates lying lips, but he delights in those who act faithfully. 5

A prudent person is a throne of knowledge, but the heart of fools proclaims wickedness.

The hand of the powerful will rule, and deceitful ones will become tribute. A frightening word troubles the hearts of people, but a cheerful word makes them glad.

Righteous persons give their friends good advice, but the path of the wicked leads them astray.

Game does not come along for a deceitful man, but an outstanding person is a valuable possession. In the path of the righteous there is life, but the path of the wrathful is toward death. 1

‘immediately’: lit. ‘son of his day’.

3

‘openly’: lit. ‘which is seen’.

2 4 5

‘truth’ or ‘faithfulness’. ‘peace’ or ‘well-being’.

‘act faithfully’: lit. ‘do faithfulness’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܚ‬

‫ܳ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܣܒܥ‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܳܛ ݂ ܳܒܐ‪ܶ :‬ܡܢ ݁ ܺܦܐ ܰ�ܝ ݁ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ ܢܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ ܐ ̈ܝـ ݂ ܰܕܘ ̱ܗܝ‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ݁ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢܫ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݂‬ ‫ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ܦ ܰܪܥ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܪܚܗ ݁ܕ ܰܣ ݂ܟ ܳ� ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰܡܥ � ܶܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪ ܐ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܘ ̱ܗܝ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ ܶܡ ݁‬ ‫�ܟܐ‪ܰ :‬ܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܰ‬ ‫ܽܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ̱ܗܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܕܥ ܽܪܘܓ ܶܙܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܛ ܶܫܐ ܰܨ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܣ ݂ܟ ܳ� ݂ ܰܒܪ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܥܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ ܰܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܪܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܡܐ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܳܙ�ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܡ ܶܠܠ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܳܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܬ ܰܢܐ ̱ܗܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܗܕ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥܘ� ܰܢ ݁ ܽܟ ݂‬ ‫ܗܝܡܢ ݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ ܳܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܡܪܝܢ ܰܣ ݂ܦ ܺܣ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ ܳܕ ܓ ܳܫܐ‪ܳ �ܶ :‬ܫ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ݁ܕ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝ̈ ܶܡܐ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܣܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܽ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܡܣܪ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܬܐ ݂ܬ ܺ� ܳܝ�ܢ‪ .‬ܘ ܳܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܕ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܣ ݂ܦܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ܕܩ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ‪ܳ �ܰ :‬ܘܠ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܶ� ܳܫܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ܶ ݁ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝــܢ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܡ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫�ܟܝــܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡـܐ‪݁ :‬ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܢ ݂ܟ� ݂ܒ�ܒܗ ܕ ݂ܒܝܫܐ ܚܫܠ ܒ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܰܚ ݂ ܽܕܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ݁ܺ ܳ ܶ ݁ܶ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ܶ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܡܠܝܢ ݁ ܺܒܝ̈ ܳܫ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ܙ ܕܝܩܐ ܡܕܡ ܕܥ‬ ‫� ܰܫܦܝܪ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ̈ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܳ ݁ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡ ܽܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣ ݂ܦܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ݁ܓܠ ݂ܬܐ ܡܣ� ܡܪ�ܐ‪ .‬ܘ� ݂ܒܐ ݂ܒܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܥ ݂ܒܕܝܢ ܗ‬ ‫݁ܺ ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܰ ̈ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܒܪ ܐ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ‪ܽ ݁ :‬ܟ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ�ܒܐ ݂ܕܣ ݂ܟ� ܩܪ ܐ � ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܘܪܣܝܐ ̱ܗܘ ܕ ݂ܝܕ ݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܰ ܺ ̈ܶ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܰܠܛ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܢܟܝ̈ ܶ� ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܝܕ ܐ ݂ܕܥܫ�ܢܐ ݂ܬ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ � ܰܡ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠܬܐ‪ܶ ݁ �ܶ :‬ܒܗ ݁ܕ ݂ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ ܳܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚ ݁ܕ ܳ�ܐ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ݂ܕܚ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ ܛ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫�ܚܐ‪ .‬ܘܡ ݂‬ ‫ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ݁ ܰ ܳ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܽܶ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܛ ݂ ܳܒܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ ܳܡ ܶܠ ݂ܟ ܶܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܡܗ‪ܽ .‬ܘܐܘܪܚܗܘܢ ܕ�ܘ � ݂ܬܛܥܐ ܐܢܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ܰ� ܺܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܝ�‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܘܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪ ܐ ݂ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ݂ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ݂ܢܟ‬ ‫� ܢܣܬܩܒܠ�ܨܝܕ ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܽ ܳ ܰ݁ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ‪ܽ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݁ܐܟ ݂ܬܢ̈ܐ � ܰܡ ݁ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܐܘܪܚܐ ݂ܕܙ ܕܝܩ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

   

        

The one who loves discipline, loves knowledge, and the one who hates reproof is a fool. It is good for the person who keeps the will of the Lord, but a wicked person will be condemned. A person will not be established by iniquity, 1 but the root of the righteous will not be disturbed.

A vigorous wife is the crown of her husband. And like a wood-borer or worms in wood, the woman who does wicked things destroys her husband. The plans of the righteous are justice, but the deliberations of the wicked are treachery. The words of the wicked are deadly ambushes, 2 but the mouth of the upright rescues them. The wicked are overthrown and are not found, but the house of the righteous is made firm.

People praise the speech of the prudent, but the one who lacks judgment is scorned.

Better are poor persons who serve themselves — better than those who are boastful but lack food. Righteous persons know the hunger3 of their animal, but the mercies of the wicked are withheld. The one who works in the ground will have an abundance of food, but the one who chases after emptiness lacks judgment. A wicked person desires to perform evil, but the root of the righteous sprouts. 4 By the wickedness of their lips the wicked are captured, but a righteous person escapes from adversity. 1

‘by iniquity’: lit. ‘by/in his iniquity’.

3

‘hunger’ or ‘life’; lit. ‘soul’.

2 4

‘deadly ambushes’: lit. ‘ambushes for blood’. ‘sprouts’ or ‘flourishes’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬

‫ܝܒ‪.‬‬

‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܺ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ ܳܣܢܶܐ ܰܡ ݁ܟ ܳܣ ܽܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܣ ݂ܟ� ̱ܗܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕܪܚܡ ܡܪܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ :‬ܪܚܡ ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܳܢ ܰܛܪ ܶ� ݂ܒ ܳ�ܢܶܗ ݁ܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܶ ܰܛ ݂ܐܒ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰ� ܳܘ � ܢܶ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܝ ݂ܒ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ‪݂ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ� ܢܶ ݂ܬ ܰܩܢ ݁ ܰܒܪ ܐ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ݂ܒ ܰܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܠܗ‪ .‬ܘܥܶ ܳܩ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܩܐ � ܽܢܙܘܥ‪.‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ܶ ܺ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܳܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܥـܐ ݂ܒ ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܣـܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ܟ ܺܠܝ� ̱ܗܝ ܕ ݂ܒܥܠ ̇ܗ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܒܠܛ ݂‬ ‫ܐܢ̱ܬ ݂ܬ ܐ ܓ ݂ܒܪ ܢ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ݂ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܳ ݁ܰ ݁ ܺ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ܐܢ̱ܬ ݂ܬ ܐ ܥ ݂ܒܕ ݂ܬ ܒܝܫ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܗ ݂ܟܢܐ ܡܘܒ ݂ܕ ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܡܚ ̈ܫ ݂ ܳܒܬ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܩܐ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܽܗ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦ ݂ܟ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰ� ̈ܘ � ܢܶ ݂ܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫̈ܶܡ ܶ� ܕ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ܳܟ ̈ܡ ܳܢܢ ܰܠܕ ܳܡܐ‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ܺ� ܶܝ� ܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܦ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܦ ܶ� ܐ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݂ܟ ܽܚܘܢ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰܒ ݁‬ ‫ܢܶ ݂ܬ ܰܗ ݂ܦ ݁ ܽܟܘܢ ܰ� ̈ܘ �‪ :‬ܘ� ܢܶ ݁‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܩܐ ܢܶ ݂ܬ ܰܩ ܰܝܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݂ܽ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܬ ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫ ݁ܒ ܺܚܝܢ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ ܰܚ ܺܣܝܪ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܥ�ܢܶܗ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܺܫܝܛ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܽܟ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ܺ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݂ܒـ ܰܗܪ ܰܘ ܺ�ܪܝـ ݂ـܟ‬ ‫ܛ ݂ܒ ̱ܗܘ ݂ܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ܡܣܟܢܐ ݂ܕܡܫܡܫ ܢ ݂ܦܫܗ ܛ ݂ܒ ܡـܢ ܗܘ ܕܡ‬ ‫ܠܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ ܳܝ ݂ ܰܕܥ ܶܡܢ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܳܫܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܒ ܺܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܪܗ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܚܡ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܕܝܢ ܰ� ܰ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ܰܐ ܺܚ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܕ ݂ ܳܦ ܰܠܚ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܒܥ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܚ ܺܣܝܪ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܥ� ܰܢܐ ̱ܗܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܡܐ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕܪ ܶܗܛ ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܬܪ ܣܪܝܩ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ ݁ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪ .‬ܘܥܶ ܳܩ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܩܐ ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܓ ܰ� ܳܘ � �ܡܥܒ ݂ܕ ܒ‬ ‫ܫܘܚ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܫܐ‪ܳ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܦ ܶܠܛ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ ܶܡܢ ܽܐ ܳ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܰܥ ܳܘ� ݂ܕ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬܶܗ ܶܡ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܶܚ ݂ܕ ݁ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܨ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

   

 

Those who withhold grain during a disaster will leave it to their enemies, but blessing will be on the heads of those who sell (it). Those who seek what is good, seek good will, and evil comes upon those who seek it. Those who trust in their wealth will fall, but the righteous will sprout like foliage.

Those who build a house with deception will leave groans to their children, and those who are not tranquil in their house will apportion the wind to their children. And the fool will be a servant to the wise. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, but the lives of evildoers will be scattered.

If a righteous person scarcely lives, where will the wicked and the sinful be found? 1

1

This text is quoted exactly in P 1 Peter 4:18.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܠ‬ ‫‪� ‬‬

‫ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫݁ܕ ݂ ܳܟ ܶ� ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܒ ܺܩܝܘ ̱ܗܝ ܰܠ ݂ܒܥܶ ݁ ̈‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ ݂ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘ�ܨ ܳܢܐ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݁‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܥܠ‬ ‫�ܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܰܒܘ ̱ܗܝ‪݂ .‬ܘܒܘܪܟ ݂‬ ‫ܺܪܝ ܶܫܗ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܢܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܙ ݁ ܶܒܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܳ ݁ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪ܺ ݁ :‬ܬ ݂ܐܬܶ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕ ݂ܒܥܐ ܛ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ‪ :‬ܒܥܐ � ݂ܒ�ܢܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܕ ݂ܒܥܐ ݂ܒ‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ݂ ܺܟܝܠ ܰ�ܥܠ ܽ�ܥ ݂ܘܬ ܶܪܗ ܳܢ ݂ ܶܦܠ‪ܰ .‬ܘܙ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܩܐ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܰܛ� ݂ ܶܦܐ ܢܶ ݂ܦ ܽ‬ ‫ܪܥܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ̈ ݁ ܶ ܳ̈ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ܶ ݁ ܶ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܕ ݂ܒܢ ـܐ ݂ܒܝــܬܗ ܒܥ ـ‬ ‫ـܬܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܫܒ ـܘܩ ܠ ݂ܒ� ـܘ ̱ܗܝ ܬܢܚ ـ ݂ܬܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܕ� ݂ܟ ـܐܫ ܒ ݂ܒܝـ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܢܦ ܶܠ ݂ܓ ܰ� ݂ ̈ܒ ܰܢܘ ̱ܗܝ ܪܘܚܐ‪ .‬ܘܣ ݂ܟ� ܢܗܘܐ ܥ ݂ܒ ݁ܕ ܐ �ܚܟܝܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܺܦܐ ܰ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ ܺܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝ� ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܒ ݁ܕ ܳ�ܢ ܰܢ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܫ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ̈ܘ �‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܣܢ ܳܚ ܶܝܐ‪ܰ :‬ܪ ܺܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܛ ܳܝܐ ܰܐ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܟܐ ܶܡ ݁‬ ‫�ܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܐܢ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܥܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݂ ܰܟܚ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

   

    

   

A slanderer will reveal a secret, but a person who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing confidential. 1 A people which has no leader will fall, and their salvation will be by abundant counsel.

Wicked people do evil when encountering a righteous person, for they hate those who wait hopefully.

A gracious woman upholds honor for her husband, but a seat of shame is the woman who hates truth. The lazy even in their wealth are poor, but the strong uphold knowledge. 2

Gracious people bestow good rewards on themselves, but pitiless persons destroy their own body.

An evil person produces deceitful works, but those who sow righteousness have truth as their pay. A righteous person 3 belongs to life, but one who commits iniquity belongs to death.

The Lord despises those who are perverse of heart, and he is pleased with those who are blameless in (their) way. Those who stretch out their hand against their neighbor will not be innocent of wickedness, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered. Like a gold ring in the nose of a sow is a beautiful woman who stinks (with regard to) taste.

The desire of righteous persons is for good things, but the hope of the wicked is for wrath. There are those who sow and bring in much, and there are those who gather what is not theirs and that (seems) little to them.

The person who is blessed will be rich, and the one who curses in turn will be cursed.

1

‘a thing confidential’: lit. ‘a word concealed’.

3

‘a righteous person’: lit. ‘a son of righteousness’.

‘The lazy … uphold knowledge’: the second half of this verse is entirely missing from MT. See Introduction, Noteworthy Readings, Dependence upon the Septuagint (LXX).

2



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬

‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܽ ܶ ݁ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܟ�ܩܪ� ܐ ݂ܓ� ܐ̱ܪ ܙ ܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܕܡܗܝܡܢ ܒܪܘܚܗ‪ :‬ܟܣܐ ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܠܗ‪ܳ :‬ܢ ݂ ܶܦܠ‪ܽ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܘܪܩܢܶܗ ݁ܒ ܶܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ܒ ܳܪ ܳܢܐ ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫ܰܥ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓ ܳܝܐܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܣ ݁ ܶܟܝܢ ܰ‬ ‫�ܕ ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܺܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܰܡ ݂ ܶܒܐܫ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܳܕ ܰܐܪܥ ܰ‬ ‫�ܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܳܣܢܶܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܣ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܣܝـܐ ݂ ܶܕܝــܢ ݁ܕ ܰܨܥـ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ܒـ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܽ ݁ .‬ܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܬܐ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ـܪ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܡܟـܐ ݂ܬܫܒـܘ‬ ‫ـܬܐ ܡܣ ݂‬ ‫ܐܢ̱ܬ ݂ܬ ܐ ܳ ܡܪܚܡܢܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܐܢ ̱ ـ ݁ܬ ݂ܬ ܐ ܳܣ ܰܢܝ ـ ݂ܬ ܫــܪ ܪܐ‪ .‬ܚ ݂ܒ�ܢ ـܐ ܐ ݂ܦ ݁ܒܥ ـ ݂ܘܬܪܗܘܢ ܗܘܝــܢ �ܪ ݂ܝܟܝــܢ‪ .‬ܘܥܫ ̈�ܢ ـܐ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܺܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܣ ݂‬ ‫ܡܟܝܢ ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܶ ݁ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܽ ̈ ܶ ̈ܶܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܝـܐ ܳܪ ܶܡـܐ �ܢ ݂ܦܫـܗ ܚـܘ ݂ܒ� ܛ ݂ܒـܐ‪ .‬ܘܡـܘܒ ݂ܕ ܦ ݂ܓـܪܗ ݁ܓ ݂ܒـܪ ܐ ݂ܕ�‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܪ ܶܚܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܳ̈ ܶ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܽ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܫܬܐ ̱ܗܘ ܐ ݂ܓ ܶܪܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܐ ݂ܕܥܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ݂ܕܙ ܪܥ ܙ ܕܝܩ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ :‬ܩ‬ ‫ܪܫܝܥܐ ܥ ݂ܒ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪ܰ � :‬ܡ ݁ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܽܝܩ ݂ܘܬ ܐ �ܚܝܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܕܥ ݂ܒ ݂ܕ ܒ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܘ� ݂ ܶܒܐ ݂ ܰܒ ܶ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰܠܥ ܺܩܝ̈ ܰܡܝ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝܢ ݁ ܰ ݂ܕܕ ܳ� ܽܡܘܡ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܣ� ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܡ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܳ ܶ݁ܶ ܶ ݁ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘܙ ܳ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܫܛ ܺܐ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ ݂ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܩܐ ܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܦ ܶ� ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܕܗ ܰܥܠ ܚ ݂ܒܪܗ‪ � :‬ܢܙܟܐ ܡܢ ܒ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ݁ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ ݁ܰ ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ـܪܬ ܐ ܰܣ ܰ‬ ‫ܪ�ـ ݂ܬ‬ ‫ـܪܬ ܐ‪ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢـܐ ̱ܗܝ ܐܢ ̱ـܬ ݂ܬ ܐ ܫܦܝـ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ ݂ܒܢܚܝــܪ ̇ܗ ܕܚܙܝـ‬ ‫ܩܕܫܐ ݂ܕ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݂‬ ‫ܰܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܒܪ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ݂ܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܓ ܳܙ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪ‬ ‫ܪ ݁ܓ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܩܐ ݂ܒܛ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ ݂ܕ ܺܕ ܶ‬ ‫ـܬ ݁ ܰ ݂ܕܕ ܳ� ݂ ܺܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܠـܗ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܠܗ ܳܙ ܰܪܥ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܡܟ ܶܢـܫ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܽܙܥـܘܪ ܽ ̱ܗܘ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ ܰܡܥܶـܠ‪ܺ .‬ܘܐܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܠܝܛܐ ݂ܬ ݂ܘܒ ܢܶ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܺܠܝܛ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܳܫܐ ݂ܒ ܺܪ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܬܐ ݂ܬ݂ܕ ܰܗܢ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 



V

          

The Lord despises false balances, and he desires 1 honest scales. Where crudeness 2 enters, disgrace (also) enters, but wisdom belongs to the humble. The hope of the upright will be rewarded, but the arrogance of evildoers will be cast down.

Wealth is of no profit on the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. 3 The righteousness of blameless persons directs 4 their way, but the wicked fall in their iniquity.

The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but evildoers are captured in their iniquity. When wicked persons die, their hope perishes, and the hope of the wicked perishes.

A righteous person is delivered from hardship, and the evildoer enters (it) instead. Evildoers by their mouth ruin their neighbor, but the righteous by (their) knowledge are strengthened.

By the prosperity 5 of the righteous a city is fortified, and it rejoices at the destruction of evildoers. By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.

People who scorn their neighbor are lacking judgment, but a person of understanding keeps silent.

1

‘desires’ or ‘is pleased with’.

3

Cf. 10:2.

2 4 5

‘crudeness’ or ‘impudence, shamelessness’. ‘directs’ or ‘prepares’.

‘prosperity’ or ‘goodness’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬

‫ܝܐ‪.‬‬

‫ܰ ܰ̈ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܳܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܣ� ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܰܡ ݂ܬ ̈ܩ� ݂ܬ � ܶܝ� ܐ ܳ� ݂ ܶܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܣ ݂ܐܬ ܐ ݂ܕܢ ݂ܟ� ܡ‬ ‫ܰܰ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܰܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܳ :‬ܥܐܶܠ ܰ�ܨ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܪ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܡ ݁ ܺܟܝ̈ ݂ ܶܟܐ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܐ ݂ܬܪ ܕܥܐ� ܙܠܝ� ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܣ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ܺ� ܶܝ� ܐ ܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ܦܢܶܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘܪ ܽܡ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ � ݂ܬ ݁‬ ‫ܣܬ ܶܚ ݂ܦ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ݁ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܦ ܳܨ�ܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܡ ݁ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܓܙ ܐ‪ .‬ܙ ܕܝܩ ݂‬ ‫� ܡܗܢܐ ܥ ݂ܘܬ ܪܐ ݂ܒܝܘܡܐ ݂ܕܪ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܰܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܽܝܩ ݂ܘܬܶܗ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܬ ܺܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ݂ܬܶ ݂ܬ ܽܪܘܨ ܽܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܠܗ ܢܶ ݁ ܶܦܠ ܰ� ܳܘ �‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܽܝܩ ݂ܘܬ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ܺ� ܶܝ� ܐ ݂ܬ ݂ ܰܦ ܶ� ܐ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ݂ܒ ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܘ�ܗܘܢ ܢܶ ݁ܬ ݁ ܰܬ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܕܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰ� ܳܘ ܳ�‪ܳ :‬ܐ ݂ ܶܒ ݂ܕ ܰܣ ݂ܒ ܶܪܗ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܒܪ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ݂ ܺܒܝ̈ ܶܫܐ ܐ ݂ ܶܒ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳܡܐ ݂ܕ ܺܡ ݂‬ ‫ܘ�ܨ ܳܢܐ ܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܦ ܶ� ܐ‪ .‬ܘ�ܶ ܽܥܘܠ ܰ� ܳܘ ܳ� ܳ‬ ‫ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ ܶܡܢ ܽܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܚ� ݂ ܰܦܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܰ݁ܺ ̈ ܶ ܺ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ� ܳܘ ܳ� ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ܢܶ ݂ܬ ܰܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܢܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܚ ݁ ܶܒܠ ܚ ݂ܒܪܗ‪ .‬ܘܙ ܕ�ܩܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܝܕ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܳ ܰ ܽ ݁ ܰ݁ܺ ̈ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܒ ݂ܐܒ ݁ ܳܕ ܽܢܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ݂ܬܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܕ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܛ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܗܘܢ ܕܙ ܕ�ܩܐ ݂ܬܥܫܢ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ܶ ܺ‬ ‫݁ܒ ݂ ܽܒ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܦ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ � ݂ܬ ݁‬ ‫ܣܬ ܶܚ ݂ܦ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܪܟ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܬ � ܶܝ� ܐ ݂ܬ ݁ܬ ܪܝܡ ݂‬ ‫ܡܕܝܢ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܒ ܶܪܗ‪ܰ :‬ܚ ܺܣܝܪ ܶܪ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳܫܐܶܛ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܠܬ ܳܢܐ‪݁ :‬ܒ ܶܫ ݂ܬ ܳܩܐ ܳܥ ܰܡܪ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܽܟ ݂‬ ‫ܥ�ܢܐ ̱ܗܘ‪݂ܰ .‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

    

The hope of the righteous is in joy, but the hope of the wicked will perish. The way of the Lord is a stronghold for the blameless, but destruction for those who commit wickedness.

The righteous person will never be shaken, but the wicked will not live on the earth. The mouth of the righteous person utters wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut off. The lips of the righteous know what is kind, 1 but the mouth of the wicked, perversities.

1

‘kind’ or ‘pleasing’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܰ ܽ ݁ ܰ݁ܺ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ܺܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܐܒ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܟܚ ܣ ݂ܒܪܗܘܢ ܕܙ ܕ�ܩܐ ݂ܒܚ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܟܛ ܰܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܫܢܐ ܽܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܗ ݁ܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ ̈ܒ ݁ ܰܕܝ ܰܥܘ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܠܬ ܺܡܝ̈ ܶܡܐ‪݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ܳ� ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܠ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ܰܠܡ ܳ� ܽܢܙܘܥ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܥܡܪܘܢ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܫ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫� ݁ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ ݁ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܟܐ ܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ܦ ܶܣܩ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܡ ܶܠܠ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ̈ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܺ ܳ ܳ ̈ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܽ ܳ ܽ ܽ ݁ ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܦܝ̈ ݂ ܳܟ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܒ ܣ ݂ܦܘ ݂ܬܗ ܕܙ ܕܝܩܐ ܝ ݂ܕܥܢ ܛܝܒ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܦܘܡܗܘܢ ܕ�ܘ � ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

            

 

The one from whose lips wisdom is uttered beats with a rod the person lacking judgment. Wise people hide knowledge, but the mouth of a reckless person is close to destruction. The possessions of the wealthy are strong cities, and their poverty is the destruction of the poor.

The work of a righteous person (leads) to life, but the products of the wicked (lead) to sin.

One who keeps discipline is (on) the path of life, but one who hates reproof is a fool. The lips of evildoers secretly plot hostility, and the one who utters a curse lacks judgment.

With many words an evildoer is not delivered, but those who restrain their lips have understanding. Choice silver is the tongue of the righteous, but the heart of the wicked is bitterness.

The lips of the righteous are very merciful, but fools die in their lack of judgment.

The blessing of the Lord produces wealth, and there is no pain with it. The fool laughs while doing harm, but wisdom (is) understanding to a person.

A wicked person is led off to destruction, but hope is given to the righteous.

As when a storm suddenly passes by, similarly the wicked perishes and is not found. But the foundations of a righteous person are established forever. As sour grapes hurt the teeth, and smoke, the eyes, so wickedness harms those who do it.

The fear of the Lord multiplies days, but the years of the wicked are shortened.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬

‫̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪݁ :‬ܒ ܰܫ ݂ܒ ܳܛܐ ܳܫ ܶܩ ݂ܦ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܚ ܺܣܝܪ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܡܢ ݁ܕ ܶܡܢ ܶܣ ݂ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬܗ ܰܡ ݁ܦܩ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܰ݁ܺ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܺ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܣܪ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ‪ܰ :‬ܩ ܺܪ ݂ܝܒ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܰܠ ݂ܬ ݂ ܳܒ ܳܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܟܝܡܐ ܢܛܫܘܢ ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܳܳ ܰ݁ܺ‬ ‫ܬܝ ܶ� ܐ ݂ ܰܟ� ݂ ܶܟܐ ܰܥ ܺܫ ̈�ܢܶܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܬ ݂ ܳܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ̈ܣ ݁ ܺܟܢܶܐ ܶܡ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܟ ܽܢ ݂ܘܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܢ�ܢܐ ݂ܕܥ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ܶ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫݂ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܶܕܗ ݁ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ �ܚܝܐ‪ .‬ܘܥ ̱ܠ ݂ܬܗ ܕ�ܘ � ܠܚܛ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰ ̈ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܐ ݂ܕܚܝܐ ܢܛܪ ܐ ܡ‬ ‫ܪܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ ܳܣܢܶܐ ܰܡ ݁ܟ ܳܣ ܽܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܣ ݂ܟ� ̱ܗܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ̈ ܳ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܶ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܛܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܚ ܺܣܝܪ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܥ� ܰܢܐ ̱ܗܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡ ݂ܟܡܢܢ ܒܥܠܕ ݂ܒ ݂ܒ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܣ ݂ܦܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ܕ�ܘ �‪݂ .‬ܘܕܡܦܩ ܠ ݂‬ ‫̈ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܠܬܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܓܐܐ ݂ܕ ̈ܡ� � ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܦ ܶ� ܐ ܰ� ܳܘ �‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ ܳܚ ܶܣ ݂ܟ ܶܣ ݂ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬܗ‪ܰ :‬ܣ ݁ ܽܟ ݂‬ ‫݁ܒܣ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܐ ݂ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܝܐ ܶ� ܳܫܢܶܗ ݁ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ̈ܘ � ܶܡ ݂ܪܬ ܐ ̱ܗܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ܽ‬ ‫ܚܡ ܳܢܝܢ‪ .‬ܘ ܳܫ ܰܛ ܳܝ̈ܐ ݂ܒ ܰܚ ܺܣ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܝ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬܶܗ ݁ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ ܰܣ ݁ ܺܓܝ ܡ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪ ݂ܘܬ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܡ ݂ܘܬܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܗܘܢ‬ ‫݁ܽ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܬ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܺ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܐܒܐ ܳ� ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܗ ݁ܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܥ ܳܡ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܘܪܟ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ܳ ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܽܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣ ݂ܟ� ݂ܟ ݂ܕ ܓܚ ݂ܟ‪ :‬ܥ ݂ܒ ݂ܕ ܒ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݂ܒ ܰ‬ ‫�ܙ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܩܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ� ܳܘ � � ݂ܒ ݁ ܳܕ ܳܢܐ ܶܡ ݂ܬܢܥܶ ݂ܓ‪ .‬ܘܣ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ܡ ݂‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܳܥ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܒ ݂ܕ ܰ� ܳܘ ܳ�‪ܳ :‬ܘ� ܢܶ ݁‬ ‫�ܥ ܳ�‪ܳ .‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ ܺܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܕ ܶܡܢ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݂ ܰܟܚ‪ܰ .‬ܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩـܐ ݂ ܶܕܝــܢ‬ ‫ܶ݁ ݁ ܺ ̈ ܳ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܣܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ܰ‬ ‫�ܥ ܰܠܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܬܬܣܝܡܢ ܫ ݂‬ ‫�� ̈�ܢܶܐ‪ܳ .‬ܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ ܳܢ ݂ ܶܟܐ ܰܥ ܳܘ� ܳ‬ ‫�ܫܢ̈ܶܐ ܳܢ ݂ ܶܟܝܢ‪݂ :‬ܘܬܶ ܳ� ܳܢܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܟ ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܶܒܣ ܶ� ܐ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ ܽܒ ̈ܘ ݂ ܰܕܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܰ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܫ�ܝ̈ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰ� ̈ܘ � ܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܒ� ܳ�ܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܶܕܚܠ ݂ܬܗ ܕܡܪ�ܐ ݂ܬܘܣ ݂ܦ ܝܘܡ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

           

A wise son makes his father rejoice, but a son who lacks judgment shames his mother. 1 There is no profit in the treasures of the wicked, but righteousness delivers from death.

For the Lord himself does not allow the righteous to be hungry, but he overthrows the possessions of the wicked. Poverty humbles a person, but the hands of the industrious prosper.

He who toils in the summer is a prudent son, but the one who sleeps during the harvest is a shameful son.

Blessings are on the head of the righteous person, but iniquity covers the mouth of the wicked.

The memory of a righteous person is a blessing, 2 but the name of the wicked is extinguished.

The person whose heart is wise accepts a precept, but the one whose lips are foolish will be captured. The one who walks in integrity will travel in hope, but the person of perverted ways will be found out.

Those who deceitfully signal with their eyes cause hurt, 3 while the person who reproves openly creates peace. A fountain of life is the mouth of the righteous person, but iniquity will cover the mouth of the wicked. 4 Hatred provokes strife, and disgrace covers all evildoers. 5

1 P, like LXX, omits the initial two words of the MT which serve as a section title for 10:1–22:16: ‫‘ משׁלי שׁלמה‬The Proverbs of Solomon’. 2

‘is a blessing’: lit. ‘is for a blessing’.

4

Cf. v. 6.

3

‘cause hurt’: lit. ‘give pain’.

5 1 Peter 4:8 and James 5:20 formally quote Prov 10:12. P 1 Pet 4:8 and P James 5:20 seem to translate this quotation directly; they do not follow the P text of 10:12.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬

‫ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܚ ݁ ܶܕ ܐ ܰ� ݂ ܽܒܘ ̱ܗܝ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܰܚ ܺܣܝܪ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥ� ܳܢܐ ܰܡ ݂ܒ ܶܗ ݂ܬ � ܶܡܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܽ ܳ ݁ ܺ ̈ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ݁ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܦ ܳܨ�ܐ ܶܡܢ ܰܡ ݁ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܝܬ � ݂ܘܬ ܪܢ ܒܣܝܡ ݂ܬܗ ܕ�ܘ �‪ .‬ܙ ܕܝܩ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ ݁ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ � ܰ‬ ‫ܳ� ݂ܶܓܝܪ ܰܡ ݂ܟ ݁ ܶܦܢ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܣ ܶܚ ݂ܦ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܺ .‬ܐ ̈ܝ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ�ܐ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ݁ܕ ݂ ܰܟ ܺܫܝ ܶ� ܐ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܡ ݁ܟ ݂ ܳܟܐ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܥܬ ܳ�ܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܣܟܢ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܬ ܳܢܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ݁ܕ݂ ܳܕ ܶܡ ݂ܟ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܬ ܳ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܕ ݂ܦ ܰܠܚ ݁ܒ ܰܩܝܛܐ‪݁ :‬ܒ ܰܪ ܐ ̱ܗܘ ܰܣ ݁ ܽܟ ݂‬ ‫ܚ�݂ ܳܕ ܐ‪݁ :‬ܒ ܰܪ ܐ ̱ܗܘ ܡ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܗ ݁ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܦܘܡ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܥܠ ܺܪ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܟ ܶܣܐ ܰܥܘ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܘܪܟ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܽܥ ̱ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡܐ ݂ܕ ܰ� ̈ܘ � ܢܶ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܗܕ ܶܢܗ ݁ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ ݂‬ ‫�ܒܘܪܟ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝܡ ܶ� ݁ ܶܒܗ‪ܰ :‬ܢܩ ݁ ܶܒܠ ݁ ܽܦ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܕ ܳܢܐ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ ̈ܫܛ ܳܝܢ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬܗ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܶܚ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܺ :‬ܢ ܰܐܙܠ ݁ܒ ܰܣ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܥ ̈ܩ ܳܡܢ ܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬܗ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݂ܬ ݂ ܰܝܕܥ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕܡܗܠ ݂ܟ ܒ ݂ܬܡܝܡ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳܺ‬ ‫ܝܬ‪ܳ :‬ܥ ݂ ܶܒ ݂ܕ ܳ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳܪ ܶܡܙ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܒܢܶ ݂ܟ ܳ�‪ܶ �ܳ :‬ܗ ݂ܒ ݁ ܺܟ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܒܐ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ ܰܡ ݁ ܶܟܣ ݁ܓ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ ݁ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܡ ݁ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ ݂ ܽܦ ܶ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܟ ܶܣܐ ܰܥܘ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܽ ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܶ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܬ ݂ܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܟ�ܗܘܢ �ܘ � ݂ܬ ݂ܟܣܐ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܣܢ ݂ܐܬ ܐ ݂ܬ ݂ܓܪ ݂ܓ ܕܝܢܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 



     

My son, if you are wise, you are wise for yourself and for those who love you. If you are wicked, you will draw up your wicked deeds by yourself. Whoever boasts 1 falsely is shepherding the winds and chasing the birds of the sky. For such persons have forsaken the way of their vineyard and have turned aside from the path of their cultivation to travel in a wasteland without water, away from the place that is well traveled into a parched place. And they gather nothing. 2 The woman who lacks judgment is alluring, and she does not know shame. She sits in the doorway of her house on a high chair.

She calls out to the ones passing along the path, whose ways are right, 3 saying:

‘Whoever is immature, come in to me; and whoever is lacking judgment, and I say: “Stolen waters are sweet, and hidden food is pleasant”’.

He does not know that strong men perish with her and that all who are summoned by her are in the depth of Sheol. Instead, leap away! Do not tarry in that place, and do not let your eye look at her, for thus you pass through alien waters and you cross an alien river. Retreat from alien waters and do not drink from alien rivers, so that a multitude of days and years of life will be added to you. 4

1

‘boasts’ or ‘babbles’.

3

‘right’ or ‘straight’.

‘Whoever boasts falsely … they gather nothing’: the second half of this verse is entirely missing from MT. See Introduction, Noteworthy Readings, Dependence upon the Septuagint (LXX). 2

‘Instead, leap away! … added to you’: the second half of this verse is entirely missing from MT. See Introduction, Noteworthy Readings, Dependence upon the Septuagint (LXX).

4



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬

‫�ܢ ݂ܦ ܳܫ ݂ܟ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝܡ ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ‪ܰ :‬ܘ� ܳ�ܚ ܰܡܝـ ݁ـܟ‪ܶ .‬ܘܐܢ ݁ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܶܒܪ ̱ܝ‪ܶ :‬ܐܢ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝܡ ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ ܺܒܝــܫ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳܺ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ‪ܳ :‬ܪ ܶܥـܐ ܽ� ܺ‬ ‫݁ ܰܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܚܝــܢ‪ܳ :‬ܘܪ ݂ ܶܕ ݂ܦ‬ ‫ܘܕ ݁ܝܟ ݁ܬ ݂ ܰܕ� ܐܢ ܶܝܢ ݁ ܺܒܝ̈ ܳܫ ݂ܬ ݂ܟ‪ ܽ .‬ܐ ܳܝܢܐ ݂ܕ ܳܣـ ܶܪ ݂ܒ ݁ ܰܕ ݁ ܳܓ�ܝـ ݂‬ ‫ܰܥ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܚـܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܡـܗ‪ܰ :‬ܘܛ ܳܥـܐ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܦܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܫܒܝــܠ ݁ ܽܦـ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒـܩ ݁ ܶܓܝــܪ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܚܢܶܗ‪:‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܗ�ـܐ‪ܳ .‬ܐ ݂ܦ ܽܗܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܪܒܐ ݂ܕ ܳ� ܺܡܝ̈ܢ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܪܕܐ ݂ܒ ܽܚ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫� ܶܡ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܺܐܝـ ݂ ܳـܕ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܕ ܺܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫـܐ ܳܪ ݂ ܶܕܐ ݂ܒ ܰܨ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܟ ܶܢـܫ �‬ ‫ܶܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ݁ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܬ ݂ܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܢ̱ܬ ݂ܬ ܐ ܚܣܝܪ ݂ܬ ܪܥ�ܢܐ ܡܫܕܠܢܝܐ‪ .‬ܘ� � ݂ܕܥܐ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܳ ݁ܳ ܰ ݁ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ̇ܗ‪ܰ :‬ܥܠ ݁ ܽܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܣܝܐ ܳܪ ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫� ݂ܬܒܐ ܥܠ�ܬܪܥܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ܺ� ܳܝ�ܢ ܽܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܥ ݂ܒ ܰ�ܝ ܽܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܒܪ‪ܺ :‬ܢ ݂ܐܬܶ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܥ�ܢܶܗ‪ܺ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܡ ܽܢܘ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ ܰܚ ܺܣܝܪ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰܡ ܳܝ̈ܐ ܓ ܺ�ܝ̈ ݂ ܶܒܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܚܠܝܢ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܛ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܝܐ ݂ ܰܒ ܺܣܝܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܡܐ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ̇ܗ ܐ ݂ܒ ݁ ܺܕܝܢ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܽܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܘ� ܳܝ ݂ ܰܕܥ ݁ܕ ܰܓܢ̱ ݁ ܳܒ ܶ� ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܙ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܡܩܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܝܘܠ ݁ ܽܟܠ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܢܝܢ ܳܠـ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܳ ܰ ݂ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫݁‬ ‫݁‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫̇‬ ‫ܐ � ܫܘܪ‪ :‬ܘ� ݂ܬܫܬܘܚܪ ܒ ݂ܐܬ ܪܐ ܗܘ‪ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬ�݂ܕ ܒܗ ܥܝܢ ݂ܟ‪ .‬ܗ ݂ܟܢـܐ ݂ܓܝــܪ ܬܥܒـܪ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܡ ܳܝ̈ܐ ܽܢܘܟ ܳ��ܶܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒܪ‪݂ .‬ܘܬܶܤ ܶܛܐ ܶܡـܢ ܰܡ ܳ ̈ܝـܐ ܽܢ ݂ܘܟ ܳ� ܶ�ـܐ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܗܪ ܐ ܽܢ ݂ܘܟ ܳܪ ܳ�ܐ ݂ܬܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡـܢ ܰܡ ̈ܝـܐ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ̈ ܰ ̈ܶ ܶ ݁ ݁ ̈ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܣܦـܢ‬ ‫ܘܓܐܐ ݂ܕܝـܘܡ ݂ܬܐ‪ :‬ܘܫ�ܝـܐ ݂ܕܚܝـܐ ܢܬܬ ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܢ ݂ܘܟ��ܶܐ � ݂ܬܫܬܐ‪ .‬ܡܛܠ ݁ܕܣـ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܳܠ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

        

 

Wisdom has built a house, and she has erected in it seven pillars.

She has killed her sacrifice, and she has mixed her wine, and she has prepared her tables. She has sent out her servants to proclaim on the heights and to say:

‘Whoever is immature, let them come in to me. And whoever is lacking judgment, say to them:

‘Come, eat from my food and drink from my wine which I have mixed.

Put away from you deficiency of judgment, and live. Consider the upright way’.

Chastisement of wicked persons gives them a reproach, and their faults rebuke those who are evil. Do not rebuke a wicked person, lest that one hate you. Rather, rebuke a wise person, who will love you.

Give opportunity to a wise person, and that one will become still more wise; instruct a righteous person, and that one will increase in learning.

The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and knowledge of the righteous one 1 is understanding. For by it your days will be multiplied and your years of life will be increased.

1

̈ ‫‘ ܕܙܕܝܩܐ‬of the righteous one’ (Mosul) or ‫ܕܙܕܝܩܐ‬ ‘of the righteous ones’ or ‘of

righteousness’ (Leiden). MT ‫‘ קדשׁים‬holy ones’ or ‘holiness’. Cf. 30:3.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬

‫ܛ‪.‬‬

‫ܳ ܳ ݀ ݁ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܺܐܩ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܬ ݁ ܶܒܗ ܰܫ ݂ܒ ܳܥܐ ܰܥ ܽܡ ̈ܘ ݂ ܺܕܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ݂ܒܢ ݂ܬ ܒ‬ ‫ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ̇ ܶ ݁ܰ ݀ ܰ ܳ ̇ ܰ ܰ ݀ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܢܶ ݂ܟ ܰܣ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܬ ݁ ܳܦ ݂ܬܘ� ̇ܝܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܬܗ‪ .‬ܘܡܙ ܓ ݂ܬ ܚܡܪܗ‪ .‬ܘܛ ݂ܝܒ ݂‬ ‫ܬ ܢܶ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܰ ݀ ܰ ̈ ݁ܶ ̇ ݁ ܶ ܽ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܺ :‬ܘܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܡܪܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܫܕܪ ݂ܬ ܥ ݂ܒܕܝܗ ܕܢܩܪܘܢ ܥܠ �ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܫܒܪ‪ܺ :‬ܢ ݂ܐܬܶ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܥ�ܢܶܗ‪ܺ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܰܡ ܽܢܘ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ‪݂ ܰ .‬ܘܕ ܰܚ ܺܣܝܪ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܬܘ ܶܡܢ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡܙ ݁ ܶܓ ݂ܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܡܝ‪ .‬ܘܐܫ‬ ‫݁ܬܘ ܐ ݂ ܽܟܘܠ ̱ܘ ܶܡܢ ܰܠ ̱‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܺ ݁ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܨܬ ܐ ܐ ݂ܬ ܰܪ ܰܥܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ܺܐܢܝܚ ̱ܘ ܡ ݂ܢܟܘܢ ܚܣܝܪ ݂ܘܬ ܪܥ�ܢܐ‪ :‬ܘܚܝܘ‪ .‬ܘܐܘܪܚܐ ݂ܬ ܪ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ ܳ�ܗ ݁ ܳܒܐ ܶܠܗ ܰܨ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݁ ܶܟܣ ܰ‬ ‫�� ܳܘ ܳ� ܽܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܪ ܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫�ܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܪܕ ݂‬ ‫�ܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ� ݂ ܰܬ ݁ ܶܟܣ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫�ܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܐ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܳ� ܢܶܣܢܶ ݂ܝܟ‪ܶ .‬ܐ ܳ� ܰܐ ݁ ܶܟܣ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ‪݁ :‬ܕܢܶܪܚ ܳܡ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫�ܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫�ܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܳܝܩـܐ‪ :‬ܘ ܰܢـ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܡـܐ‪݁ :‬ܕ ݂ ܽܬ ݂ܘܒ ܢܶ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ݁ ܰܟـܡ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܘܕܥ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܦ ܰܥـܠ‬ ‫ܗ ݂ܒ ܐ ݂ܦ ݂‬ ‫ܽ� ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܦܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܰ݁ܺ ̈ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ݂ܕܙ ܕ�ܩܐ‪ :‬ܣ‬ ‫ܚܠܬܗ ܕܡܪ�ܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܝܕ ݂‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ݂ ܶܕ ݂‬ ‫ܪܝܫ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ ܳ ̇ ܶ ݁ܽ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܳ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܟ‪ .‬ܘܢܶ ݁ܬ ݁ ܰܬ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܫ�ܝ̈ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܦܢ ܳܠ ݂ܟ‬ ‫ܡܛܠ ܕ ݂ܒܗ ܢܣܓܘܢ ܝܘܡ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

     

I was rejoicing in his inhabited earth, and I was praised by humanity.

Therefore, my sons, hear me: ‘Blessed is the one who keeps my ways’. Hear instruction, and become wise and do not go astray.

Blessed is the one who hears me and stands watch vigilantly at my gates every day, and who guards the thresholds of my gates. For my exits are the exits of life, and the pleasure of the Lord goes forth.

Those who sin against me harm themselves, and those who hate me are those who love death.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܰ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܒ ݂ܬ ݂ ܶܒܝܠ ܐܪܥܶܗ‪ .‬ܘܡ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ ܰܒ ݂ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫� ܳܚ ݂ܕ ܳ�ܐ ̱ܗ ܺܘ ݂‬ ‫ܫܬ ݁ܒ ܳܚܐ ̱ܗ ܺܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܒ ܶܡ ݁ ܺܟܝܠ ݁ܒ ܰ� ܳܝ̈ܐ ܽܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܒܘ ̱ܗܝ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܢܝ‪ܽ .‬ܛ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡܢ ݁ܕ ܳܢܛܪ ܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡܥ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ܰܚ ݁ ܰܟܡ ̱ܘ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܓ ܰ‬ ‫ܛܥܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ̱ܘ ܡܪܕ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܒܘ ̱ܗܝ � ݂ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ݂ܕܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ـܝ‪ .‬ܘܢܶܫـ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܕ ܽܛ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ـܗܪ ܰܥـܠ� ݁ܬ � ܰܥـܝ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܟـܠ ܽ�ـܘܡ‪ .‬ܘܢܶܛـܪ‬ ‫ܫܡܥܢـ ̱‬ ‫ܶ ݁̈ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܣܟ ݂ ܳܦ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܬ � ܰܥܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܠܗ ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ ̈ܦ ܳܩ ܰܢܝ ܰܡ ݁ ̈ܦ ܳܩܢܶܐ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘܢ ݂ ܶܦܩ ܶ� ݂ܒ ܳ� ܳܢܐ ܶܡܢ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܽ ܳ ܰ̈ ܳ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܛܝܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܘ ܘܐܝܠܝܢ ܕܚ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ݁ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܠܝ‪ܰ :‬ܢ ݂ܦܫ ܽܗܘܢ ܳܢ ݂ ܶܟܝܢ‪݂ .‬ܘܟ�ܗܘܢ ܣܢܐܝ‪� :‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

       IV

       



Because of me kings reign, and rulers establish righteousness.

Because of me rulers hold power, and nobles and all righteous judges. I love those who love me, and those who seek me, find me.

Wealth and honor belong to me, enduring possessions and righteousness. My fruit is better than pure gold, and my produce, than choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness and in the pathways of justice,

That I may bequeath hope to those who love me, and I will fill their treasuries. The Lord created me at the start of his creation, before all his acts.

He established me before the worlds, from the beginning and before he would make the earth.

When the depths did not yet exist, I was born, when waters were not yet in the springs;

When the mountains were not yet arranged, and before the heights I was conceived; When he had not made the land or rivers or the first dust of the world;

When he established the heavens I was with him, and when he made the circle on the face of the depths;

And when he strengthened the clouds on high, and when he strengthened the springs of the depths;

And when he established a law for the sea, so that the waters would not pass beyond his decree; and when he made the foundations of the earth, then I was with him creating. 1 He was rejoicing in me every day, and all the time I was rejoicing before him.

1 ‘then I was with him creating’. This clause is the beginning of v. 30 in Leiden and MT.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫ܨܚ ܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܠ‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛ ܳܠ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ ܰܡ ̈� ݁ ܶܟܐ ܰܡ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܡ�ܟܝܢ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܫ ܺ�ܝ̈ܛܢܶܐ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ܕ ܺܩܝܢ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܽܝܩ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ̈ ܳܶ ܶ ݁ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܠܛܝܢ‪ .‬ܘ ܰܪܘ� ݂ ܳܒܢܶܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܡܛ ܳܠ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ ܫ�ܝܛܢܐ ܡܫܬ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ�ܢ̈ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܽܝܩ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܡܝ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܐ ܳܢܐ ܳܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܟ ܽܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡܐ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ݂ ܳܒܥܶܝܢ ܺܠܝ‪ :‬ܢܶ ݁‬ ‫ܢܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܢ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠܝ ܽ ̱ܗܘ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܘܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢܐ ܰܥ ݁ܬ ܳܝܩܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܽܝܩ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽܥ ݂ܘܬ ܪܐ ܺܘܐ ܳܝܩ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ ܺܕ ̱‬ ‫݂ܺ‬ ‫ܣܢ ܳܝܢܐ‪ :‬ܘ ܰܥ ̱ ̈ܠ ܳ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ ܶܡܢ ܺܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܦܐ ܰ�ܝ ܳܛ ݂ ܺܒܝܢ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܐ ݂ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܽ ܳ ܰ݁ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܗ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܒܝ̈� ݂ܕ݂ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܟܐ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܒ ݂ܰܓܘ ݂‬ ‫ܒܐܘܪܚܐ ݂ܕܙ ܕܝܩ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܺ ̈ܳ ܽ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܐܘܪ ݂ܬ ��ܚܡܝ ܣ ݂ܒܪ ܐ‪ .‬ܘܣܝܡ ݂ܬܗܘܢ ܐܡ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܳ ݁ ܺ ݁ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ ܰܕ ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ‪ܶ :‬ܡܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܪ�ܐ ݂ܒܪ ̱ܢܝ ܒܪܝܫ ܒܪ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܺ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ݁ܕܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܳܥ ̈� ܶܡܐ ܶܐ ݂ܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܝ‪ :‬ܘܡܢ ܪܝܫ ݂‬ ‫ܩܢ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܥ ݂ܕ ܳ� ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫�ܕ ݂ܬ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܰܥ ݂ܕ ܳ� ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ ݁ܬ ܽܗ ̈ܘ ܶܡܐ ܶܐ ݂ܬ ܰ� ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ ܰܡܝ̈ܐ ݂ܒ ܰܡ ݁ ܽܒ ̈ܘܥܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܥ ݂ܕ ܳ� ܢܶ ݂ܬ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܢܘܢ ܽܛܘ ܶ� ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܳ� ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ ܐ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܒܛܢܶ ݂ܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܢ ̈ܚ ܶ�‪ܺ :‬‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܥ ݂ܕ ܳ� ܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪܝܫ ܰܥ ݂ܦ ܳܪ ̇ܗ ݁ܕ ݂ܬ ݂ ܶܒܝܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫݁ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݂ܬ ܶܩܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܓ ݂ܬܐ ܰܥܠ ܐ ݁ ̈ܦܝ ݁ܬ ܽܗ ̈ܘ ܶܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ‪ܰ :‬ܥ ܶܡܗ ̱ܗ ܺܘ ݂‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܽܚ ݂‬ ‫ܥ�ܢ̈ܶܐ ܶܡܢ �ܥܶܠ‪ܰ ݂ :‬‬ ‫݁ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܰܐܥ ܶܫܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ܕ ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܫܢ ܰܡ ݁ ܽܒ ̈ܘܥܶܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ܽܗ ̈ܘ ܶܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܗ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܝ̈ܐ ܳ� ܳܥ ݂ܒ ܺܪܝܢ ݁ ܽܦـ ܶ‬ ‫�ܝ ܳܡܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܘ ݂ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ܳܣܡ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟـ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒـ ݂ܕ ܶܫ ݂ܬܐ ܶܣ ̈ܝـ ̇ܗ‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‪ܰ .‬ܥ ܶܡܗ ܰܡ ݂ܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܢܐ ̱ܗ ܺܘ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܺܒܝ ܳܚ ݂ ܶܕ ܐ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ ܽܟܠ ܽ�ܘܡ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܙܒܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܘ ̱ܗܝ ܳܚ ݂ܕ ܳ�ܐ ̱ܗ ܺܘ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

             

For this reason proclaim wisdom, and understanding will obey you.

At the top of the high places, there is wisdom; and between the paths and beside the roads she stands.

And at the gates with her mouth she calls out; at the entrances to the gates of the town she is praised, saying:

‘To you, O people, I call out, and my voice (goes) toward all humanity’. 1 That foolish ones may comprehend prudence, and those lacking judgment may gain understanding in their heart.

Hear me, for I utter the truth, and the opening of my mouth is what is right. 2 For my mouth propounds what is true, and lips that lie are an abomination before me.

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness, and there is no perversity or crookedness in them. They are all accessible 3 to the one who recognizes them, and they are upright to those who want to understand. Receive discipline, and not silver, and choose knowledge for yourselves more than pure gold.

For wisdom is good, better than pure gold, and better than precious jewels. Nothing equals it.

I, Wisdom, created prudence, and I acquired knowledge and discretion. The fear of the Lord hates wickedness. And I hate pride and haughtiness and the way of wickedness and perverse speech.

Reason and learning are mine, and understanding belongs to me, and power belongs to me.

1

‘all humanity’: lit. ‘the sons of men’.

3

‘accessible’ or ‘revealed’: lit. ‘open’.

2

Cf. 23:16.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬

‫ܚ‪.‬‬

‫ܳ ܰ ܶ ܽ ݁ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܟ� ܢܶܥܢܶ ݂ܝܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ܐ ݂ܟܪܙ‪ .‬ܘܣ‬ ‫ܶܡܛܠ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳܳ ܳ ܶ ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܒ ̈ܝـ�‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܰ�ـ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ܐܘ�ܚ ݂‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܒ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ̇ܝܗ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܥܠ ܪܝܫ �ܡ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܓܝܪ ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܳܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܰ ܶ ܽ ܳ ̇ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݁ܒ ܳܚܐ‪ܳ :‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܥܠ�ܬ �ܥܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܦܘܡܗ ܩܪ�ܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܒܡܥ�ܢܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܬ �ܥܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܟ ݂ܪܟܐ ܡ‬ ‫݂ܽ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫�ܟܘܢ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܶ� ܐ ܳܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܝ ܰܥܠ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܩ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܰ ܶ ܳܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܣܬ ݁ܟ ܽ�ܘܢ ݁ܒ ܶܠ ݁ܒ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܬ ݁ܟ ܽ�ܘܢ ܫ ݂ܒ� ܐ ܥܪܝܡ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ .‬ܘܚܣܝ�ܝ ܪܥ�ܢܐ ܢ‬ ‫ܕܢ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ ܰ ܺ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܽܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܝ ݁ܬ ܺܪ ܽܝܨ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܪܬ ܐ ̱ܗܘ‬ ‫ܘܢܝ‪ :‬ܡܛܠ ܕܫܪ‬ ‫ܡܡ ̱�� ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ‪ .‬ܘ ܰܡ ݂ܦ ݁ܬܚ ݁ܦ ̱‬ ‫ܘܡܥ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܛ ܳ ̈ܡܐܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܝ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݁ ܳ ̈ܓ ܳܠ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩ‬ ‫ܘܫܬܐ ̱ܗܘ ݁ ܶܓܝܪ ܪ ܶܢܐ ݂ܦ ̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܽ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܒ ܶܗܝܢ ݁ ܽܦ ݂ܘܬ � ܽ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܝ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܠ ݁‬ ‫ܘܩ ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܽܝܩ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܐܢܝܢ ܟ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ ̈ܡ ܰܠܝ ݁ܦ ̱‬ ‫ܽ ܶ ݁ܰ ̈ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܬ ܺ� ܳܝ�ܢ ܶܐܢ ܶܝܢ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܘܕܥ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫݂ܘܟ�ܗܝܢ ܓ�ܝܢ ܐܢܝܢ �ܝܢܐ ݂ܕܡ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܳ� ݂ ܶܒܝــܢ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫� ܶܡ ݁ ܰܕܥ ܐܢ ܶܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ܺܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܪܕܘ ܳܬ ܐ‪ܳ :‬ܘ� ݂ ܶܟ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ܳܛ ݂ܒ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܢ ܳܝܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܦܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܓ ݂ ܰܒܘ ݂‬ ‫�ܟܘܢ ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܰܩ ݁ ܶܒ� ̱ܘ ܰܡ ݁ ܽ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܺ ̈ܶ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܦܐ ܛ ݂ ̈ܒـ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܗܒܐ ܣܢܝܢܐ‪ :‬ܘܛ ݂ܒ ܡܢ ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪ :‬ܛ ݂ܒ ܡܢ ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܶܡܛܠ ܳ ݁ܕܛ ݂ ܳܒܐ ̱ܗܝ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ � ݂ ܳܦ ܶܚܡ ܳܠ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܽ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܐ ܳܢܐ ܰܩ ܳܢܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ݂ܘܬܪܥ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ܥܪܝܡ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܝܕ ݂‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ݂ܒ ܺܪ ݂‬ ‫ܐ ܳܢܐ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܓܐ� ـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ :‬ܘܪܡ ـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ :‬ܘܐܘܪܚ ـܐ ݂ܒܝܫـ‬ ‫݁ ܶܕܚܠـ ݂‬ ‫ـܬܗ ܕܡܪ� ـܐ ܣܢܝ ـܐ ݂ܒܝܫ ـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪݂ :‬‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫݂ܽ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܟܐ ܳܣ ܳܢܝܐ ܐ̱ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ܽ ݁ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪ :‬ܘ ܽ� ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠܝ ̱ܗܘ ܣ‬ ‫ܝܠܝ ܺ ̱ܗܝ ݂ܰܓܢ̱ ݁ ܳܒ ܽܪ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܠܝ ̱ܗܝ ݂ܬܪܥ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܺܕ ̱‬ ‫ܘ�ܦ ܳܢܐ‪ܺ ݁ .‬ܕ ̱‬ ‫ܘܟ�‪ܺ ݂ :‬ܘܕ ̱‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

        

   

Therefore, I have come out to meet you; I have been hoping to see you, and I have found you.

On my bed I have spread out a cover, and I have covered it with Egyptian blankets. I have sprinkled myrrh on my bed, and saffron and cinnamon.

Come let us delight ourselves with love until dawn and let us embrace each other in pleasure. For my husband is not at home; he has left on a long trip.

He has carried a bag of silver with him, 1 and after many days will he return home’. So she leads him astray by her many words, and with the enticements of her lips she draws him away to her.

He follows her like a child, or like an ox who goes to the butcher, or like a dog to a pen, 2

Or like a deer into whose liver the arrow flies. And he is speeding like a bird into a trap, but he does not know that he is headed for his death. 3 Therefore, my sons, listen to me, and heed the words of my mouth.

Do not let your heart be inclined toward her ways, and do not turn aside into her pathways. For she has thrown down many mighty ones, all of whom she has slain. 4

The paths to her house are the paths to Sheol, which descends to the chambers of death.

1

‘with him’: lit. ‘in his hand’.

3

‘for his death’: lit. ‘the death of his soul’.

2

‘pen’: lit. ‘captivity’.

4 ‘many mighty ones, all of whom she has slain’: lit. ‘many slain—mighty ones who are all her slain’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬

‫ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܢܶ ݂ܦ ܶܩ ݂ܬ ܽ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܥ ݂ܟ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܬ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ �ܡܚܙ� ݂ܟ‪ :‬ܘܐܫܟ‬ ‫ܡܣ ݁ܟ ܳܝܐ ̱ܗ ܺܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܬ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪܣܝ‪݂ .‬ܘܒܩ�ܡܐ ܡ���ܐ ܩܪ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܰܫ ܺܘ ݂‬ ‫ܒ ݂ܬܫܘ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܥ ̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܶܣܬ ܰܥܠ ܰ�ܥܪܣܝ‪ܽ :‬ܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ‪ܽ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܘܪܟ ܳܡܐ‪ܺ :‬‬ ‫ܘܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ ݁‬ ‫ܘܢ ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ܰ ݁ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܰ‬ ‫�� ݂ܦ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘܢ ܰܥ ݁ ܶܦܩ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܕ ݁ܒ ܶܪ ݁ܓ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܬ ܐ ܢ ݂ܬܒܣܡ ܒܪܚ ݂‬ ‫ܶܰ ܶ ݁ܽ ܳ ܰ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܩܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ܰܓ ݂ܒܪ ̱ܝ‪ .‬ܐ ܙܠ�ܠܗ ܒܐܘܪܚܐ ܪܚ‬ ‫� ̱ܗܘܐ ݂ܓܝܪ ܒ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ ܺ ̈ܶ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ ݁ܺ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫�� ̈ܘ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ ̱ܗܘ ܣܓܝܐܐ ܐ ݂ܬ ܐ � ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܐܝܕܗ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫ܘ�ܪ ܪܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܟܣܦܐ ܫܩܠ ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫̈ܶ ܶ ̇ ܰ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܶ ̈ ܳ ̇ ܳ ̇ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܢܬ ݁ܦ ݂ܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ‬ ‫ܘܓܐܐ ݂ܕܡܠܝܗ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܒܫܘܕ � ݂ܕܣ ݂ܦܘ ݂ܬܗ �ܘ ݂ܬܗ ݂‬ ‫ܐܛܥܝ ݂ܬܗ ݁ܒܣ ݂ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܗܘ ܐ ܶܙܠ ̱ܗ ܳܘܐ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ܬ ܳܪ ̇ܗ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܰܫ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ݁ܬ ܳܘܪ ܐ ݂ ܳܕ ܶܐܙܠ �ـ ܳـܘ ݂ܬ ܛ ݁ ܳܒ ܳܚـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܐܝـ ݂ـܟ‬ ‫݁ ܰܟ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܒܐ ܰ� ܽܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܝܘܬ ݁ ܶܟ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܢܦܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܦ ܳܚـܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܐܝ� ݂ܕ ܰܡ ݂ܦ ܰܪܚ ݁ ܶܓܐ ܳܪܐ ݂ܒ ݂ ܰܟ ݂ܒ ݁ ܶܕܗ‪ .‬ܘܡ‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂‬ ‫ܣܬ ܰܪܗ ݂ܒ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܰܚ ܰ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܰ ܶ ܶܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܰ ܰ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ� ܝ ݂ܕܥ ܕ�ܡܘܬ ܐ ̱ܗܘ ܕܢ ݂ܦܫܗ ܐ ܙܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶܡ ݁ ܺܟܝܠ ݁ܒ ܰ� ܳܝ̈ܐ ܽܫ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܢܝ‪ܽ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܨ ݂ܘܬ ̱ܘ ܶܡ ܰ�ܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ݂ܦ ̱‬ ‫ܘܡܥ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ ܶ ݁ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ̇ܗ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬܶܛܥܶܐ ݂ ܰܒ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܒܝ̈ ܶܠ ̇‬ ‫ܝܗ‪.‬‬ ‫� ܢ�ܛ� �ܒ ݂ܟ �ܘ�ܚ ݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܺܫܝ ܺܢܝܢ ݁ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܬ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܡܝ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܩܛܝ̈ ܶ� ܰܐܪ ܰ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ܩܛܝ̈ ܶܠ ̇‬ ‫ܝܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܓܐܐ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܡܛܠ ܕܣ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̈ ܶ ܰ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܐܢ ܶܝܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܘ�ܚ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܠܬܘ ܢܐ ݂ܕܡܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ̇ܗ‪ :‬ܐܘ�ܚ ݂‬ ‫ܫܝܘܠ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܰܢ ̈ܚ ݂ܬܢ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

             

My son, keep my words, and hide my commands within you.

Keep my commands and live, and my instruction like the pupil of (your) eye. 1 Tie them around your neck, and write them on the tablets of your heart. 2

Say to Wisdom, ‘You are my sister’, and call understanding knowledge, That it may protect you from the promiscuous woman whose words are seductive. For from the window of her house and from the porch she peered,

And she saw the immature ones, and she observed the youths and those lacking judgment. 3 They were passing through the square beside the edges of the paths to her house. In the evening at the setting of the sun, at nightfall 4 in the darkness,

The woman has gone out to her encounter in the garb of a prostitute in order to capture the heart of some youths.

Rebellious and uncontrolled, her feet do not remain in her own house.

Instead, at one time she wanders about outside, at another time, in the squares; and at the corners she lies in wait. She seizes him and kisses him and brazenly 5 says to him,

‘Sacrifices have been completed; 6 today I have paid my vows.

1

Cf. 4:4.

3

‘youths … judgment’: lit. ‘among the youths … among those’.

2 4 5 6

Cf. 3:3b.

‘at nightfall’: lit. ‘in the dark of night’. ‘brazenly’: lit. ‘puts on a brazen face’.

‘Sacrifices have been completed’ or ‘there are peace offerings’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬

‫ܙ‪.‬‬

‫݁ ܶܒܪܝ ܰܛܪ ̈ܶܡ ܰܠܝ‪ܽ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܢܝ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦ ̈ܘ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܫܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܰܓ ܳܘ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܢܝ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܰܛܪ ݁ ܽܦ ̈ܘ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣܝ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ܳܝܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܝܝ‪ܳ :‬ܘܢ ܽܡ ̱‬ ‫ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܩܛܘܪ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ܒ ܰܨ ܳܘܪ ݂ܟ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܟ ݂ܬ ݂ܘܒ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܰܥܠ ܽ� ̈ܘ ܶܚܐ ݂ܕ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܳ� ܺ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ܳܚ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ̱ܝ‪ܰ .‬ܘ� ܽܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܺܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪܝ ܰܡ ݁ܕ ܳܥܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܡܪ � ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫݁ܰ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܽ ܳ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܫ ݁ܕ ܳ� ̈� ܳܝܢ ̈ܡ ܶܠ ̇‬ ‫ܝܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕܢܢܛܪ ݂ܟ ܡܢ ܐܢ̱ܬ ݂ܬ ܐ ܢ ݂ܘܟܪ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ ܶ ݁ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ̇ܗ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ݁ܟ ܽܣܘܤ ܳܛ ܽܪܘܢ ܰܐ݂ ܺܕ ܰܝܩ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܬ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܛܠ ܕܡܢ ܟ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܰܪ ݂ܬ ݀ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܙ ݂ܬ ݀ ܰܫ ݂ܒ ܶ� ܐ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܛ�ܝ̈ܶܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܰܚ ܺܣܝ ܰ�ܝ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܥ� ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ ̈ ܰ ݁ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳܥ ݂ܒ ܺܪܝܢ ݁ܒ ܽܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܒܝܠܝ ܒ‬ ‫ܘܩܐ ܰܥܠ� ݁ ܶܓܢ̱ ݂ܒ ܙ ܘ� ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ‪݁ :‬ܒ ܶܚ ܽܫ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܫܐ ݂ܒ ܰܡܥ ܳ� ݂ ܰܒܝ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܰܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟܐ ݂ܕ ܺ� ܳܝܐ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܰܥܡܛ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ݀ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܽ ܶ ݁ܶ ݁ܺ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪݁ :‬ܕ ܰܡ ݂ܦ ݂ ܳܪܕ ܐ ܶܠ ݁ܒ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܥ�ܝ̈ ܶܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܦܩ ݂ܬ ܐܢ̱ܬ ݂ܬ ܐ �ܘܪܥܗ ܒܐܣܟܡܐ ݂ܕܙ ܢ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ̇ܗ ܶ� ݂ܓ ܶܠ ̇‬ ‫ܝܗ � ܳܫ�ܝ̈ܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡܪ ݂ܘܕ�ܐ‪ :‬ܘܐܣܘܛܝܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܶܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܽ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܳ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ ܳܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ � ݂ ܰܒ ݂ ܰܙܒܢ ݂‬ ‫�ܒܪ ܦܗ�ܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܒ ݂ܙܒܢ ܒܫܘܩܐ ܘ ݂ܒܙܘ� ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܩܬܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ܰܐ ݁ ܶܦܝ̈ ̇ܗ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܚ�ܦ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ݂ܬ ݀ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܐܚ ݂ܕ ݂ܬܗ ܘܢܫ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܶܕ ݂ܒ ̈ܶܚܐ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܰܫ� ̈ܶܡܐ‪ܳ �ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܶܦܪܥܶ ݂ܬ ܢܶ ݂ܕ ܰ�ܝ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

       

Or can people walk on coals of fire and their feet not be scorched?

Similarly, whoever goes in to the wife of his neighbor and touches her will not be innocent.

It is not surprising when a person is caught stealing, for he steals so that his hunger can be satisfied. But if the thief is caught, he must pay seven-fold restitution and he must surrender all the possessions of his household.

Now one who commits adultery with a woman lacks sense and destroys himself. And he who does so 1 is one whom dishonor touches, and it will overtake him, and his reproach will not be taken away.

For the fury of the husband 2 — because he is full of jealousy, he will not have pity on the day of retribution. And he will not have regard for a sacrifice, and he will not be persuaded if he offers a large bribe.

1 ‘And he who does so’ (‫ )ܘܗܘܝܘ ܥܒܕ‬are actually the final two words of the preceding v. in the MT (‫)הוא יעשׂנּה‬: ‘He destroys himself who does so’. P relocates these final words of v. 32 to the start of v. 33. 2

‘husband’: lit. ‘man’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݁ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ܽ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܟܚ ܰܐܘ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ‪ :‬ܘ� ݂ܓ ܰ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ � ܶܡ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܟ ̈ܘ ܳ�ܢ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܡܗܠ ݂ܟ ܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ ܥܠ�ܓܘܡ� ܐ ݂ܕܢ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܶܪ ݂ܒ ܳܠ ̇ܗ‪ �ܳ :‬ܢܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ݂ܒ ܶܪܗ‪ܳ :‬‬ ‫ܙܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܟܛ ܗ ݂ܟܢܐ ܡܢ ܕܥܐܠ�ܥܠ ܐܢ ̱‬ ‫ܠ ܳ� � ܶܡ ݁ܬ ݁ ܰܕ ܳܡ ܽܪܘ ݂ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܢܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܶܚـ ݂ܕ ݁ܕ ݂ܳܓ ܶܢـ ݂ܒ‪݁ .‬ܕ ݂ܳܓ ܶܢـ ݂ܒ ݁ ܶܓܝــܪ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕܢ ܰܣ ݁ ܰܒـܥ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫـܗ‬ ‫݁ܕ ݂ ܰܟ ݂ܦ ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ݁ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܶ ݁ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܽ ܶ ܶ ܳܳ ܰ ݁ܶ‬ ‫ܝܬܗ ܳ� ܶܗ ݂ܒ‪.‬‬ ‫� ܘܐܢ ܡܬܬܚ ݂ܕ ܕ ݂ܓܢ ݂ܒ‪ :‬ܦܪܥ ܚ ݂ܕ ܒܫ ݂ܒܥܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܟܠܗ ܩܢ�ܢܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܠܒ ݁ܕ ݂ܳܓܐܰܪ ݁ ܶܕܝܢ ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ݂ ܳܬ ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܚ ܺܣܝܪ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܥ� ܰܢܐ ̱ܗܘ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚ ݁ ܶܒܠ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܘ ܳܥ ݂ ܶܒ ݂ܕ ݁ܕܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ܘܒ ܶܠܗ ܰܨ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܓ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܽ‬ ‫ܣܕܗ � ܢܶ ݁ܬܛܥܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܪ ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܢ ݂ܕܪ ݂ ܺܟܝܘ ̱ܗܝ‪ :‬ܘܚ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܛ� ܳܢܐ‪ܳ �ܳ .‬ܚܐܶܣ ݁ܒ ܰܝ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܬܗ ݁ ܶܓܝܪ ݁ܕ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܰܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ� ܳܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܕ ܚ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܠܗ ܳܘ� ܳܢ ܶܣ ݁ܒ ݁ ܰܒ ̈‬ ‫ܘܪܒ ܳܢܐ‪ .‬ܘ� ܶܡ ݁ܬ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܦܐ ݂ܕ ܽܩ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܓܐ ܽܫ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܦܝܣ ݁ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ݁ܬ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܚܕ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

        

    

They are perverse in their mind, and plot wickedness all the time and stir up animosity between people. 1 Because of this, their ruin will come suddenly; suddenly they will be shattered, and there will be no remedy for them. There are six things the Lord hates, seven that his soul despises:

An arrogant look; a lying tongue; hands that shed innocent blood;

A mind that plots deceitful schemes; a foot that runs quickly to wickedness;

A lying witness who utters falsehood; 2 and one who sets (discord) between brothers. My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother. Fix them continuously in your heart, and tie them around your neck.

When you travel, attach them to you and let them stay with you. Keep them so that they will keep you, and when you are awake, let them be on your mind. 3

Now, the commandment is a light, and the law is a lamp. For corrective discipline 4 is the way of life.

It will keep you from the wicked woman, and from the slander of the tongue of the promiscuous woman. Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not be captured by her eyes, and do not let her capture you by her eyelids.

For a prostitute is like 5 a loaf of bread, but an adulterous woman6 will snare a precious life. Can a person put fire in his pocket and his clothes not be burned?

1

‘between people’: lit. ‘between two’.

3

‘on your mind’: lit. ‘your thought/meditation’.

2 4 5 6

This same clause occurs in 14:5.

‘corrective discipline’: lit. ‘reproof and discipline’. ‘is like’: lit. ‘the likeness of a prostitute is like’. ‘adulterous woman’: lit. ‘woman of a man’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬

‫ܳ ܶ ݁ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂ܬ ܰܗ ݁ ܰܦ ݂ܟ ݁ܒ ܶ� ݁ ܶܒܗ‪ .‬ܘܚܫܠ ܒ‬ ‫ܳܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܺܢ ݂ܐܬ ܐ ݂ܬ ݂ ܳܒ ܶܪܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܡܛܠ ܗܢܐ ܡܢ ܫ‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܝ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܶ ݁ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܣ�ܝ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܬ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܶܫܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܒܥ ܐ‬ ‫ܫ ݂ܬ ܐܢܝܢ ܕܣܢܐ ܡܪ�ܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܘ� ܳܫ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݁ ܳܓ�‪ܺ :‬ܘܐ ̈ܝ ݂ ܰܕ ܳ�ܐ ݂ ܳܕ ܐ ̈ܫ ݁ ܳܕܢ ݁ܕ ܳܡܐ ܰܙ ݁ ܳܟ ܳܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܝܢܐ ܪ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܳ ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܗܒــܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܣܬܪ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡــ ܰ‬ ‫ܘ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒــܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܫــ ݂ܒ ܡܚܫ ݂ܒــ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕܥــܬܐ‪ :‬ܘܪ ݂ܓــ� ݂ܕܡ‬ ‫ܪܗܛ‬ ‫ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫� ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܳ ݁ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܰ ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ܳ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܐ ̈ܶܚܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܣܗܕ ܐ ݂ܕ ݁ܓ� ݂ܕܡܡܠܠ ܟܕ ݂ܒ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ :‬ܘܠ ݂ܕܪܡܐ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܘܩܕ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܽܐܒ ݂ܘܟ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬܶܛܥܶܐ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܛܪ ݁ ܶܒܪ ̱ܝ ݁ ܽܦ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣܐ ݂ ܶܕ ܳܐܡ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫݂ܽ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܰܘ ݂ܟ ܽܪ ݂ܘܟ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ܒ ܰܨ ܳܘܪ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܩܒܘܥ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ܒ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܟ ܐ ܺܡ ܳܝܢܐ ݂‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܛـܪ ܶܐ ܽܢـܘܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܰܢܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܥ ܳܡ ݂ܟ ܢܶـ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܗ ܶܠ ݂ܟ ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ‪ܰ :‬ܐ ܶܩ ݂ܦ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܳܠ ݂ܟ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܛܪ ܳܘܢـ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ ܶܕ ݁ܐܬ ݁ܬ ܺܥ ݁‬ ‫ܝܪܬ‪ܶ :‬ܗ ܽܢܘܢ ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ ܳܠ ݂ܟ ܶܪ ܳܢܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣܐ ܽܢـ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܩܕ ܳܢܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܪ ܐ‪ܽ .‬ܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܪ ݂ܰܓܐ ̱ܗܘ ݁ ܶܓܝܪ ݁ ܽܦ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܚـܐ ݂ ܶܕܝــܢ ݁ܕ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝـܐ ܰܡ ݁ܟ ܳܣ ܽܢـ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡ‬ ‫ܪܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܶܡ ݂ ܰܐܟ� ܰܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ� ܐ ݂ܕ ܶ� ܳܫ ܳܢ ̇ܗ ݁ܕ ܽܢ ݂ܘܟ ܳܪ ݁ܝܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܛܪ ݂ܟ ܶܡܢ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܗ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬܶ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫� ݂ܬ ܰܪ ݂ܓ ܽܫ ݂ܘܦ ܳܪ ̇ܗ ݁ܒ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܟ‪ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬ ݁ܬ ܺܨ ݂ܝܕ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈�ܢܶ ̇‬ ‫ܫܒ ݂ܝܟ ݁ܒ ݂ܬܡ ܶ� ̇ܝܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ݁ܰ‬ ‫݁ܽ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ـܨܬ ܐ ̱ܗܘ ݁ܕ ܰܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡـܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘܐܢ ̱ـ ݁ܬ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒـ ܳܪ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪ :‬ܐܝـ ݂ـܟ ݁ܓܪܝـ‬ ‫ܕܘܡܝ ̇ܗ ݁ܓܝܪ ܕ ܐܢ̱ܬ ݂ܬ ܐ ܙ ܢ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪܬ ܐ ܳܨ ݁ ܳܝܕ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢ ݂ܦܫܐ �ܩ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ ݁ܰ‬ ‫�ܡܐ ܳܣܐܶܡ ݁ ܰܒܪ ܐ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܘ ̱ܗܝ ܳ� ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪ ܐ ݂ܒ ܽܥ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܩ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܒܗ‪ .‬ܘܢܚ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫݂ܒ ݂ ܽܟ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫�ܙܒܢ‪ܳ .‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ݁ܬ ܶܪܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܫ ݂ ܶܓܫ ݁ ܶܒ ݂‬ ‫�ܝܐ ܢܶ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ݂ ܰܒـܪ‪ܳ :‬ܘ� ݂ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܶܠـܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

  

        III

 

My son, if you stood surety for your neighbor, you have delivered your power to a stranger. You have been trapped by the utterance of your mouth, and seized by the pronouncement of your lips.

Do this, my son, to be rescued, for on account of your neighbor you have fallen into the hands of your enemy: Now appeal to your neighbor for whom you made the guarantee — Do not grant sleep to your eyes nor slumber to your eyelids 1 —

So that you will be set free like a deer from a snare and like a bird from a trap. Imitate the ant, and observe its ways, and learn that it has no harvest. And there is no ruler over it who is in charge of it.

But it prepares its food in the summer, and it gathers its food at the harvest.

How long will you sleep, O lazy one? When will you arise from your slumber? You sleep a little, and you slumber a little, and you rest your hand(s) on your chest a little, And then poverty will come upon you and destitution will overtake you like a vigorous man. A foolish individual, 2 a sinful person, walks in oppression.

They signal with their eyes, and they point 3 with their foot, and signal with their fingers.

1

‘eyelids’: lit. ‘eyebrows’.

3

‘point’: lit. ‘hold’ or ‘position’.

Unlike MT and most P MSS, Mosul prints this phrase at the end of v. 11, but separated from the previous words by vertical double dots. Our translation assumes that this is an error and that the phrase actually begins with the sentence that continues in v. 12. Prov. 6:10–11 is very similar to 24:33–34.

2



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫ܨܚ ܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬

‫ܘ‪.‬‬

‫�ܚ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ݂ܟ‪ܰ :‬ܐ ܶ‬ ‫݁ ܶܒܪ ̱ܝ‪ܶ :‬ܐܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܠ ݁‬ ‫ܡܬ ܺܐ ݂ ܳܝܕ ݂ܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܪ ݂ܒ ݁ܬ ܰ‬ ‫�ܢ ݂ܘܟ ܳܪ ܳ�ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܐ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܺܨ ݁ܝܕ ݁ܬ ݁ܒ ܺܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܡ�� ݂ܕ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܘ ݂ܬ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ݂ܟ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݁ܐܬ ݁ܬ ܶܚ ݁ܕ ݁ܬ ݁ܒ ܰܡ ̱‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ܳܗ ݂ ܰܟ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܶܒـܪ ̱ܝ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܬ ݁ ܰܦـ ܳ� ܐ‪ܶ .‬ܡ ܽܛـܠ ݁ܕ ܰܥـܠ ܰܐ ݁ ܰ ̈ܦـܝ ܰܚ ݂ܒـ ܳܪ ݂ܟ ܢ ݂ ܰܦܠـ ݁‬ ‫݂ܶ‬ ‫ـܬ ݁ ܺܒܐ ̈ܝـ ݂ ܰܕܝ‬ ‫ܥܪ ݂ܒ ݁ܬ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܕ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ܟ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܓ ܶܪܓ ܳܗ ݂ ܺܟܝܠ ܰܚ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ݂ܟ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫݁ܒܥܶ ݁‬ ‫ܥ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ ܶܶ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ܰ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܬܐ ܰܠ ݂ܓ ݂ ܺܒ ̈� ܰܢ ݁ܝܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܢܬܐ ���ܢܝܟ‪ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ� ܢ ݂‬ ‫ܘ� ݂ܬ ݁ܬܠ ܫ ݂‬ ‫݁ܕ ݂ܬܶ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܦ ܶ� ܐ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܰܛ ݂ܒ ܳܝܐ ܶܡܢ ܢܶ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܶ� ݂ܦ ܳܪ ܐ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܰܦ ܳܚܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܒܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ܳܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܗ‪ܺ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܠ ݂ܦ ݁ܕ ܰܠ ݁‬ ‫ܚ� ܳܕ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ ݁ܬ ݁ ܰܕ ܳܡܐ �ܫܘܫܡܢܐ‪ :‬ܘܚܙܝ ܐܘ�ܚ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ܶܠܗ ܳ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܠ ݁‬ ‫ܝܬ �ܥܶܠ ܶܡܢܶܗ ܰܫ ܺܠܝܛܐ‪ܳ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ� ܰܡܢ ݁ ܳܕ ݂ ܶܐܟ ݂ܦ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܰܶ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ܳܳ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܛܐ ܰܠ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܛܝ ݂ܒ ܠܗ ܡܢ ܩ‬ ‫ܘܠܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܡܗ‪ .‬ܘܩ ݂ܦܣ ܒܚ�݂ܕ ܐ ܡ ݂ܐܟ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܶ� ܰܡ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ ݁ ܳܕ ܶܡ ݂ܟ ܰܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܢܬ ݂ܟ ݁ܬ ܽܩܘܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܒ ܳ� ܳܢܐ‪ .‬ܐ ܰܡ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ ܡܢ ܫ ݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܩ ܺܠܝܠ� ݁ ݂ܬܶܕ ܰܡ ݂ܟ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܰܩ ܺܠܝܠ� ݁ܬ ܽ�ܘܡ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܘܩ ܺܠܝܠ� ݁ܬ ܺܣܝܡ ܐܝ ݂ ܳܕ ݂ܟ ܰܥܠ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܳ� ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܶ ܰ ݁ ܶ ݁ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܰܓ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ ܰܟ ܺܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܪ ܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܬ ݂ܐܬ ܐ ܥܠܝܟ ܡܣܟܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܬ݂ܕܪ ݂ܟ ݂ܟ �ܪ ݂ܝܟ ݂‬ ‫݁ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ݁ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܩ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܒܪ ܐ̱ܢܫܐ ܣ ݂ܟ�‪݁ .‬ܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ �ܘ � ܡܗܠ ݂ܟ ܒܥܫ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳܪ ܶܡܙ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܘ ̱ܗܝ‪݂ :‬ܘܬ ݂ ܶܟܣ ݁ܒ ܶܪ ݂ܓ ܶܠܗ‪ܳ :‬ܘܪ ܶܡܙ ݁ܒ ܶ� ݂ ̈ܒ ܳܥ ݂ܬܗ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

        

Drink water from your cistern and running water from your own spring. Your waters could gush out in your streets and flow in your markets.

Let them be for you alone; foreigners should not share with you.

Let your spring be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth,

A loving doe and a loving ewe. Learn her ways constantly, 1 and be content with 2 her love.

My son, do not go astray to an promiscuous woman, and do not embrace the bosom of a promiscuous woman. For the ways of people are before the eyes of the Lord, and all their pathways are revealed before him. The wicked will be captured in their iniquities, 3 and they will be bound with the ropes of their sins. They will die without discipline, and by the abundance of their errors they will be led astray.

1

‘constantly’: lit. ‘at all time’.

3

‘iniquities’ or ‘debts’.

2

‘be content with’ or ‘feed upon’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬

‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬܝ ܰܡ ܳܝ̈ܐ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܺܒ ܳܪ ݂ܟ‪ :‬ܘ ܳ� ݂ ܰܕ ܳ�ܐ ܶܡܢ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܥ ܳܝܢ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݁ܦ ܽܥܘܢ ܰܡܝ̈ ݁ܟ ݁ܒ ܽܫ ̈ܘ ܰܩ ݁ܝܟ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܽܫ ̈ܘ ܰܩ ݁ܝܟ ܢܶ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܢ‬ ‫ܪܕܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ܳ ݁ܰ ܽ ܰ ݁ ܽ ܳ ܶ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݁ܘܬ ݂ ܽܦܘܢ ܰܥ ܳܡ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܢܗܘܘܢ ܠ ݂ܟ ܒ�ܚ ݂ܘܕܝܟ‪ .‬ܘܢ ݂ܘܟ��ܐ � ܢ‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܺ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝ ݂ܘܬ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܕܝ ܥܡ ܐܢ̱ܬ ݂ܬ ܛ‬ ‫ܘܢܗܘܐ ݂ܒܪ ݂ܝܟ ܡܒܘܥ ݂ܟ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ̇ܗ ܺ� ܰܠ ݂ܦ ݁ܒ ݂ ܽܟ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ـܬ ̇ܗ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪ .‬ܐܘ�ܚ ݂‬ ‫ܝ�ܬ ܐ ݂ܕܪܚ ݂‬ ‫ܝܠܬܐ ݂ܕܪܚ ݂‬ ‫ܐ ݂‬ ‫�ܙܒـܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܶܪܚܡـ ݂‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪݂ :‬ܘܕ ݂‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܪܥܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ ܶ ݁ ܽ ܳ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ݂ܐܦ ܳ� ݂ܬ ܰܥ ݁ ܶܦܩ ܽܥ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒ ̇ܗ ݁ܕ ܽܢ ݂ܘܟ ܳܪ ݁ܝܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ� ݂ܬܛܥܐ ݂ܒܪ ̱ܝ ܒܢ ݂ܘܟܪ‬ ‫ܶܶ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܬܗ ݁ܕ ܰܓ ݂ܒــ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛــܠ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ــܗܘܢ‬ ‫ܩــܕܡ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢــܘ ̱ܗܝ ܐܢܝــܢ ܕܡܪ�ــܐ ܐܘ�ܚــ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂ܺ‬ ‫ܫܒܝ̈ ܰ�ܘ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܓ ܶܠܝܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܡܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܒ ܰܚ ̈ܘ ݁ ܰܒܘ ̱ܗܝ ܢܶ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ܶܚ ݂ܕ ܰ� ܳܘ �‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܰܚ ݂ ̈ܒ� ݂ ܰܕܚܛ ܰܗܘ ̈ ̱ܗܝ ܢܶ ݂ܬ ݁ܦ ݂ ܰܟܪ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܰ ݁ܽ ܰ ܽ ܳ ݁ ܳ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܥܝ ݂ܘܬܗ ܢܶ ݁ܬܛܥܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܓܐܐ ܕܛ‬ ‫ܗܘ ܢܡ ݂ܘܬ ܕ� ܡܪܕܘ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܒܣ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

             

My son, listen to my wisdom, and incline your ear to my instruction,

So that you pay attention to discretion and your lips guard knowledge. For the lips of the promiscuous woman drip honey, and her words are as soft 1 as oil. But their end is more bitter than wormwood; her mouth is sharper than a double-edged sword. Her feet go down to death, her movements lead to Sheol.

She does not travel in the land of the living; 2 her paths meander in unknown places. 3

Now, my sons, hear me and do not turn away from the utterance of my mouth.

Set your way far away from her, and do not approach the doorway of her house, Lest you give away your substance to others, and your years to those who have no mercy; And strangers enjoy your substance, and what you have worked for goes into the house of strangers. And in your old age you will be remorseful when the flesh of your body is used up. Indeed then you will say, ‘Why did I hate discipline, and my heart reject reproof?’

And I did not listen to the voice of my teachers, and I did not incline my ear to those who addressed me.

I was almost falling into complete disaster in the assembly and in the congregation.

1

‘soft’ or ‘smooth’.

3

‘in unknown places’: lit. ‘they are unknown’.

2

‘the living’ or ‘life’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬

‫ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܶ ܶ‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܟ ܰܡ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ‪ܰ :‬ܘ� ܽܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܶܒܪ ̱ܝ‪ܽ :‬ܨ ݂ܘܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܟܢ ݂ܐܕ ܳܢ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܟܠ ̱ܝ ܐ‬ ‫݁ ܶ݁ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܺ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ܶܣ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܘ ܳܬ ݂ܟ ܰܢܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܛ�ܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܝܕ ݂‬ ‫ܕ ݂ܬܙܕܗܪ ܒ ݂ܬܪܥ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܰ ̈ ܶ ̈ ܳ ݁ ܽ ܳ ݁ ܳ ܰ݁ ܺ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܚܐ ̈ܡ ܶܠ ̇‬ ‫ܝܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܛܦܢ ܣ ݂ܦܘ ݂ܬ ̇ܗ ܕܢ ݂ܘܟܪܝܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ� ܟ ݂ܝܟܢ ܡܢ ܡ‬ ‫ܶܡܛܠ ݁ܕ݂ ܶܕ ݂ܒ ܰܫܐ ̱ܗܘ ܡ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܝܦܐ ܗܝ ݁ ܶܓܝܪ ܶܡܢ ܰܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܦܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ܶܪܝܢ ݁ ܽܦ ̈ܘ ܰܡܘ ̱ܗܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܚ ݂ܪܬ ܶܗܝܢ ܶܡܢ ݁ ̈ܓ ݁ܕ ܶܕ ܐ ܰܡܪ ܳܝܪ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܚܪ ݂ ̱‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܣ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ̇ܗ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܽ .‬‬ ‫ܘ ܶ� ݂ܓ ܶܠ ̇‬ ‫ܝܗ ܰܡ ̈ܚ ݂ܬܢ �ܡ‬ ‫ܡܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܝܘܠ ܗ ݂‬ ‫�ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܝܗ ܳܘ� ܺܝ ݂ ܺܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܳܘ� ݂ ܳܕ ݁ ܳܪܟܐ ݂ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܐ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ ܶܓܝܪ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ‪ܰ ݁ .‬ܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܒܝ̈ ܶܠ ̇‬ ‫ܝܥܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܥܘܢܝ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ܬܶܤ ܽܛܘܢ ܶܡܢ ܺܡ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܡܪܗ ݁ܕ ݂ܦ ̱‬ ‫ܶܡ ݁ ܺܟܝܠ ݁ܒ ܰ�ܝ̈ܐ ܽܫ ܽ ̱‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܚܩ ܶܡ ܳܢ ̇ܗ ܽܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܬܪܥܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܘܪܚ ݂ܟ‪ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬ ݂ܬ ܰܩ ܰܪ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܝܠ ݂ܟ‪ܰ :‬ܘܫ ܰ�ܝ̈ ݁ܟ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫݁ܕ ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ݁ܬܶܠ ܰ�ܚ ܳ� ܶܢܐ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܠܝܢ ݁ܕ ܳ� ܰ‬ ‫ܡܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܡ ܺܢܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܣܒ ܽܥܘܢ ܽܢ ݂ܘܟ ܳ��ܶܐ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܢܶ ݁‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ݂ܕ ܽܢ ݂ܘܟ ܳ��ܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܠ ݂ܟ‪ .‬ܘ� ݂ܘܬ ݂ܟ ݁ܬܥܶܠ � ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ݂ܟ ݁ܬܶ ݁ܬ ܶܘ ݂ܝܟ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܳܫ ݂ܟ‪ܳ :‬ܡܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܓ ܰܡܪ ݁ ܶܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܽܓ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܡ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܒܣܝܒ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܰܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘ ݂ ܺܬ ܰܐܡܪ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳܢܐ ܶܓܝܪ ܺ‬ ‫ܣܠܝ ܶܠ ݁ܒ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܢ ݂‬ ‫ܝܬ ܡܪܕܘ ݂ܬ ܐ‪ .‬ܘܡܟܣܢ ݂‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܡܫ ̈ܡ ܳ� ܰܢܝ ܳ� ܺ‬ ‫ܳܘ� ܶܫܡܥܶ ݂ܬ ܳ‬ ‫�ܩ ܳ� ݂ܕ ܰܡ ̈� ݂ ܳܦ ܰܢܝ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬ ݂ܐܕ ̱ܢܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܨܠ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܽ ݁ܺ ̈ ܳ ݁ܰ ܽ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܘܫܬܐ ܰܘ ݂ܒ ܺܥ ݁ ̱ܕ ݁ܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ ܺܠܝ ݂ܒ ݂ܟܠ ܒܝܫܢ‪ :‬ܒ ݂ܟܢ‬ ‫ܰܥ ݂ܕ ܰܩ ܺܠܝܠ ܳܗ ܶܘܐ ̱ܗ ܺܘ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

              

Hold fast to my instruction and do not forsake it. Guard it, for it is your life.

Do not travel in the way of sinners, and do not envy the path of the wicked. Do not go over into the place where they camp, but instead turn away and go away from it.

For they will not sleep until they have done wickedness, and their sleep is disturbed until they do what they want. For their food is the food of wickedness, and they drink the wine of dishonesty.

Now the way of the righteous is like the shining light, and its light continues until the (full) day arrives.

Now the way of the wicked is darkness, and they do not know over what they stumble. My son, heed my words, and incline your ear to my sayings.

Do not let them seem worthless 1 in your sight, but rather keep them within your heart.

For they are life to whomever finds them, and healing 2 for their whole body. Protect your heart with every safeguard, because life flows from it. 3

Put away from you perverse speech, and put deceitful ideas far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids be directed in front of you. Remove your foot from wicked paths, and all your ways will be secured. Do not turn aside to the right or to the left, but direct your foot away from wickedness.

1

‘seem worthless’. See note on 3:21 in Introduction, Noteworthy Readings.

3

‘flows from it’: lit. ‘is the issuance of life’.

2

‘healing for their’: lit. ‘it heals his whole’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬

‫ܡܣܢ ݁ܒ ܰܡ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܰܚ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܕ ݂ܘܬ ̱ܝ‪ܳ :‬ܘ� ݂ܬܶ ݁‬ ‫ܝܗ‪ܰ .‬ܛ ܶܪ ̇ܝܗ ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܺܗܝ ܺ ̱ܗܝ ܰܚ ܰ ̈ܝ ݁‬ ‫ܫܒ ܺܩ ̇‬ ‫ܝܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ܳܛܝ̈ܶܐ ܳ� ݂ ܺܬ ܰܐܙܠ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬܶ ܰ�ܢ ݁ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܺܒܝ̈ ܶܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܒ ݂ܐܬ ܳܪܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܶ‬ ‫ܤܛܝ ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܪܝܢ‪݂ �ܳ :‬ܬܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒܪ ܶܡܢܶܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܒܪ ݁ ܶܒܗ‪ .‬ܐ �‬ ‫ܳ ݁ܺ ݁ ܺ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ـܬܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܳ� ܶܓܝــܪ ݁ ܳܕ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܦ ܺܪܝـ ݂ ܳـܕ ܐ ̱ܗܝ ܶܫ ܰܢ ـ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܟܝــܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡ ـܐ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡ ـܐ ݂ܕܥ ݂ܒܕܝــܢ ܒܝܫـ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫݁‬ ‫݂ܕ ܳܥ ݂ܒܕܝܢ � ݂ܒܝܢܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ ݁ ܶ ܽ ݁ ܽ ܶ ܽ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܠܬܐ ̱ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܥ ܳܘ�‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܡܪ ܐ ݂ܕܥܶ ݁ܬܐ ܳܫ ݂ܬܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܛܠ ܕܡ ݂ܐܟܘܠܬܗܘܢ ܡܐ ݂ܟ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܙܗܪ ܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘ ܶܐܙܠ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܪ ܐ ܰܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܐ ܶܕܝܢ ݁ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܩܐ‪ܰ :‬ܐܝܟ ܽܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܳܬ ܶܩܢ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗܪ ̇ܗ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܐ ܳ ݂‬ ‫ܘܟܐ ܗܝ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ܳ� ݂ܕ ܺܥܝܢ ݁ܒ ܳܡ ܳܢܐ ܶܡ ݁ܬ ݁ ܰܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܽܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܠܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܪܚܐ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ݁ܕ� ܺܫܝܥܐ ܶܚ ܽܫ ݂ ܳ ̱‬ ‫ܽ ̈ܶ ܰ ܰ ܺ ܰ ܰ ݁ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܪܟܢ ܐ݂ܕ ܳܢ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܶܒܪ ̱ܝ‪ :‬ܨ ݂ܘܬ ܡܠܝ‪ .‬ܘ�ܡܐܡܪ ̱ܝ ܐ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܳ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫� ܶ�ܙ̈ ܳܠܢ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢ ݁ܝܟ‪ .‬ܐ � ܛܪ ܐܢ ܶܝܢ ݁ܒ ݂ܰܓ ܶܘܗ ݁ܕ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܒ ܶ‬ ‫�ܡܢ ݁ܕ ܶܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܟܚ ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ‪ܶ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܣܪܗ ݁ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܰܡ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ ܶܐܢ ܶܝܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܣܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܽ ܽ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܒ ݂ܟܠ ܙ‬ ‫ܘܗܪ ܛܪ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܟ‪ܶ :‬ܡܛܠ ݁ܕ ܶܡܢܶܗ ܽ ̱ܗܘ ܰܡ ݁ܦ ܳܩ ܳܢܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܶ݁ܳ ܰ ܶ ܶ ܶ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܒܪ ܶܡ ܳܢ ݂ܟ ݁ ܽܦ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ‪ .‬ܘܪܢܝܐ ݂ܕܥܬܐ ܐܪܚܩ ܡܢ ܣ ݂ܦܘ ݂ܬ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ̈ܰ ݁ ݁ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܽܢܚܘ ܳ�ܢ‪݂ .‬ܘܬܶܡ ܰ� ݁ܝܟ ܢܶ ݂ܬܪ ܽܨܘܢ ܽ‬ ‫�ܩ ݂ܘܒ ܳܠ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫��ܢܝܟ ܒ ݂ܬܪܝܨ ݂‬ ‫ܺ̈ܶ ܺ̈ܶ ܽ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰܐ ݁ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ ܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬ ݂ܟ ܢܶ ݂ܬ ̈ܩ ܳܢܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܒܝ� ݂ܒܝܫܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܟ‬ ‫ܥܒܪ ܪ ݂ܓ ܳܠ ݂ܟ ܶܡܢ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܶܳ ܰ ݁ܰ ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ� ݂ܬܤܛܐ �ܝܡܝܢܐ ܘ�ܣܡ�‪ .‬ܐ � ܐܥܒܪ ܪ ݂ܓܠ ݂ܟ ܡܢ ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

           

Hear, my sons, a father’s instruction, and listen to knowledge and understanding, For I give you good teaching; do not abandon my instruction.

For I was a favorite son 1 of my father, and the only-child before my mother.

He instructed me: 2 ‘Let my word be strong in your heart, and guard my precepts and live, my instruction like the pupil of (your) eye’.

Aquire wisdom, and acquire understanding, and do not deviate from the utterance of my mouth. Do not forsake it, and 3 it will protect you; love it and it will save you.

The beginning of wisdom is: Get wisdom! Along with all your property, get understanding.

Love her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will bring you honor. She will put on your head a beautiful ornament 4 of mercy, and she will assist 5 you with a crown of splendor.

Listen, my son, and receive my words, then the years of your life will be many.

I have taught you the ways of wisdom, and I have led you in right 6 paths.

When you walk, your steps 7 will not be disrupted, and if you run, you will not stumble.

‘favorite son’ or ‘son who delighted’. The punctuation of Mosul connects this first adj. with ‘father’, whereas the MT connects it to ‘mother’ in the second half-line.

1 2

‘instructed me’: lit. ‘instructed and said to me’.

4

‘beautiful ornament’: lit. ‘the beauty’.

3 5 6 7

‘and … and’; lit. ‘so that … so that’. ‘assist you’ or ‘satisfy you’. ‘right’ or ‘straight’.

‘steps’: lit. ‘travels, walks’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬

‫ܕ‪.‬‬

‫ܺ ܰ ܳ ܽ ݁ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ̱ܘ ݁ܒ ܰ� ܳܝ̈ܐ ܰܡ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܪܕ ݂ܘܬܶܗ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܳܐܒܐ‪ܽ .‬‬ ‫ܘܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ܘܣ‬ ‫ܘܨ ݂ܘܬ ̱ܘ ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܽ� ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘ�ܦ ܳܢܐ ܳܛ ݂ ܳܒܐ �ܶܗ ݁ ܶܒ ݂ܬ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܣܝ ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ݁‬ ‫ܫܒ ܽܩܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܟܘܢ‪ܳ .‬ܢ ܽܡ ̱‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܺ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬ � ݂ܒ ̱ܝ ݂‬ ‫ܝܕ ܐ ݂‬ ‫ܡܦܢܩܐ‪ :‬ܘܝܚ ݂‬ ‫݁ܒ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܶܓܝܪ ܗܘ ݂‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܐ ̱‬ ‫ܰܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܝ ܶܘ ܰ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܢܝ ܰܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܡܪ ܺܠܝ‪݁ :‬ܬܶ ݂ܬ ܰܚ ܰܝܠ ܶܡ ܰܠـ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ ݁ܒ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒـ ݂ܟ‪ .‬ܘ ܰܛـܪ ݁ ܽܦـ ̈ܘ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܝـܝ‪:‬‬ ‫ܐܠܦ ̱‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣܝ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܒ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܥ ܳܝܢܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳܘܢ ܽܡ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ݁ܳ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܛܐ ܶܡܢ ܺܡ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܘܡܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪ :‬ܘܩܢܝ ܣܘܟ�‪ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬܤ‬ ‫ܩܢܝ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܐܡܪܗ ݁ܕ ݂ܦ ̱‬ ‫ܝܗ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ܰܫ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܪ ݂ܟ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ݁‬ ‫ܫܒ ܺܩ ̇‬ ‫ܪܚ ܶܡ ̇‬ ‫ܘܙܒ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܽ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܺ ܽ ݁ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ݂ܟܠܗ ܩܢ�ܢ ݂ܟ ܩܢܝ ܣ‬ ‫ܩܢܝ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܪܝܫ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܝܗ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ܰܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܪܡ ݂ܟ‪ .‬ܘ ܰܥ ݁ ܶܦ ܶܩ ̇‬ ‫ܰܚ ݁ ܶܒ ݂ ܶܒ ̇‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ݁ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚ ݂ ܳܦܐ‪ܰ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܽܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒ ݂ܟ ܺܠܝ� ݂ܕ ܽܫ ݂ܘܒ ܳܚܐ ݂ܬ ܰܣܝ ܳܥ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܬܣܝܡ ܒܪܝܫ ݂ܟ �ܐ� ݂‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ݁ ܶܒܪ ̱ܝ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܘܩ ݁ ܶܒܠ ̈ܶܡ ܰܠܝ‪ .‬ܘܢܶ ̈ܣ ݁ܓ ܳܝܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܝ̈ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ܰ ̈ܝ ݁‬ ‫ܝܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݁ܳ ݁ܰ ܺ ܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܒܝ̈� ݂ܬ � ܶܝ� ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ܐ ܶܠ ݂ܦ ݁ܬ ݂ܟ‪ :‬ܘܗܠ ݂ܟܬ ݂ܟ ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܰ ܶ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܽ ̈ ܳ ܰ ܳ̈ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟ ݂ܬ ݂ܟ‪ܶ .‬ܘܐܢ ܳܪ ܶܗܛ ܐܢ ̱ ݁ܬ‪݂ � :‬ܬ ݁ܬ ܶܩܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܡܐ ݂ܕܡܗܠ ݂ܟ ܐܢ̱ܬ‪ � :‬ܢܙܘܥܢ ܗ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

     

Do not bring a legal action against a person without cause.

Do not be jealous of a wicked person, and do not desire any of his ways. For the wicked person is an abomination before the Lord, but the conversations of the Lord are with the upright.

The curse of the Lord is on the houses of the wicked, but he blesses the dwellings of the righteous. He destroys those who mock but he guards the wise. 1

The wise will inherit honor, but fools will receive reproach.

1 Peter 5:5 and James 4:6 formally quote LXX Prov 3:34. P 1 Pet 5:5 and James 4:6 seem to translate this quotation directly from the Greek; they do not follow P Prov 3:34.

1



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܠ � ݂ܬ ݂ ܽܕܘܢ ܰܥܡ ݁ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ݂ܒܥܶ ݁ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶܰ ݁ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳܳ ܳ ܶ݁ܶ ܽ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ ܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫� ܘ� ݂ܬ�ܢ ܒ ݂ܓ ݂ܒܪ ܐ �ܘ �‪ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬܨܒܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܟ‬ ‫ܽ̈ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܠܒ ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܛܡܐ ̱ܗܘ ܰ� ܳܘ ܳ� ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܗ ݁ܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܰܥܡ ݁ܬ � ܶܝ� ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ‪ .‬ܘܫܘܥܝ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܳ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܬ�̈ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ�‪ܰ ݂ .‬ܘܕܝܪ ܽܗܘܢ ݁ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܩܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܛܬܗ ܕܡܪ�ܐ ݂ܒ ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܢܒ ܶܪ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܓ ܠ ݂‬ ‫ܡܡܝ̈ ܳܩܢܶܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܣܚ ݂ܘܦ ܰܠ ܰ‬ ‫ܠܕ ܘܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝ̈ ܶܡܐ ܰܢܪ ܶܚ ݂ܦ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܳ ܳ ܺ ݁ܽ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ ̈ܟ ܶ� ܰܢܩ ݁ܒ ܽ�ܘܢ ܰܨ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܬܘܢ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝ̈ ܶܡܐ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫ܥܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܗ ܐܝܩܪ ܐ ܢ‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

      II

        

For she is more precious than fine jewels, and nothing compares to her.

Length of days is in her right hand, and wealth and honor are in her left hand. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.

She is a tree of life for those who grasp her, and blessed are those who wait for her. The Lord by his wisdom laid the foundations of the earth, and he established the heavens by his understanding.

By his knowledge the depths were split open, and the clouds dripped dew. My son, do not let it seem worthless in your eyes to keep my teaching and my principles. 1 They will be life for your soul and mercy for your neck.

Then you will walk in your paths with hope, and your foot will not stumble. 2

You will sleep and not be afraid, and you will lie down and your sleep will be pleasant for you. You will not be afraid of sudden upheaval or of the violence of the wicked when it comes. For the Lord will be with you and he will guard your foot so that it is not caught.

Do not refrain from doing what is good, insofar as the means is in your hands to do it.

When you possess it, do not say to your neighbor, ‘Go away and come again tomorrow; then I will give (something) to you’. Do not plot wickedness against your neighbor who is dwelling with you peaceably. 3 1

‘principles’ or ‘insights’.

3

‘peaceably’: lit. ‘in quiet’.

2

‘your foot will not’: lit. ‘you will not stumble with your foot’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫ܨܚ ܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܛ‬

‫ܶ ݁ ܺ ̈ܶ ܳ ܳ ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ� ܺܩ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܘܡ ݁ ܶܕܡ‬ ‫ܝܪ ܐ ̱ܗܝ ݁ ܶܓܝܪ ܡܢ ܟ ݂ܐܦܐ ܛ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܽ ܳ ܰ̈ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܒ ܰܝ ܺܡ ܳܝܢ ̇ܗ‪ܽ :‬‬ ‫ܘܥ ݂ܘܬ ܳܪܐ ܺܘܐ ܳܝܩ ܳܪ ܐ‬ ‫ܘܓܪ ܐ ݂ܕܝܘܡ ݂‬ ‫ܢ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ܺ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܝܗ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܽ‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܒܝ̈ ܶܠ ̇‬ ‫ܫ� ܳܡܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬ ̇ܗ ܐܘ�ܚ ݂ܬܐ ܐܢܝܢ ܒܣܝܡ ݂‬ ‫ܝ� ܳܢ ـܐ ܗܝ ݁ܕ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝ ـܐ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܡܣܢܝــܢ ݁ ܳܒ ـ ̇ܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܺܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܚ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝــܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܠܝــܢ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܣ ݁ ܶܟܝــܢ ܳܠ ـ ̇ܗ‪:‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܘܒ ܽ‬ ‫ܽܛ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܫܡ ܳܝܐ ݂ܒ ܽܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗ ݁ ܰܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘܐ ݂ܬ ܶܩܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ̈ܶܣ ̇‬ ‫ܘܟ ܶܠܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܬܗ ܣܡ ܫ ݂‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ݂ܒ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܰܳ‬ ‫ܺ ܰ ݁ܶ ܶ ݁ܰ ܰ ݁ ܽ ̈ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܥ�ܢ̈ܐ ܰ�ܣ ̱ܝ ܛ�‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܘܒ ݂ܝܕܥܬܗ ܐ ݂ܬܒܙܥ ̱ܘ ܬܗܘܡܐ‪ .‬ܘ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫� ݂ ܳܦ ܶܚܡ ܳܠ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܒ ܶܣ ܳܡ ܳܠ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬

‫ܰ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰܛܪ ܽ� ݁ ܳ‬ ‫݁ ܶܒܪ ̱ܝ‪ܰ �ܶ �ܳ :‬ܙܠ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢ ݁ܝܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬ � ܳ‬ ‫ܥܝ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ�ܦ ̱‬ ‫ܢܝ ݂‬ ‫ܘܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܗܘܘܢ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚ ݂ ܳܦܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܢ ݂ܦ ܳܫ ݂ܟ‪ܽ :‬ܘܪ ܳ‬ ‫�ܨ ܳܘܪ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܕܝܢ ݁ܬ ܰܗ ܶܠ ݂ܟ ݁ ܽܒܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬ ݂ܟ ݁ܒ ܰܣ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܶܪ ݂ܓ ܳܠ ݂ܟ � ݂ܬ ݁ܬ ܶܩܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬܶܕ ܰܡ ݂ܟ ܳܘ� ݂ ݂ܬܶܕ ܰܚܠ‪݂ .‬ܘܬܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܢܬ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܫܟ ݂ܒ‪݂ :‬ܘܬ ݂ܒܣܡ ܠ ݂ܟ ܫ ݂‬ ‫݂݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܺܚ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܘܚܝܐ ݂ܕ ܶܡܢ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܘ� ݂ ݂ܬܶܕ ܰܚܠ ܶܡܢ ݁ܕ ܽܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܦܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚܛܝ̈ܐ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܳܕ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܥ ܳܡ ݂ܟ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰܢܢܛܪ ܶܪ ݂ܓ ܳܠ ݂ܟ‪݁ :‬ܕ� ݂ܬ ݁ܬ ܺܨ ݂ܝܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ݁ܕ ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦܝܪ‪݁ :‬ܟ ܳܡܐ ݂ܕ ܳܣ ݂ܦ ܳܩܐ ݂ ܺܒܐ ̈ܝ ݂ ܰܕ ݁ܝܟ � ܶܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ݂ܬ ݁ܟ ܶ� � ܶܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܽܬ ݂ܘܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬ ܳܠ ݂ܟ‪ܺ ݂ �ܳ :‬ܬ ܰܐܡܪ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܚܪ‪ܶ :‬ܘ ݁ܐܬܠ ܳ�ܠ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܘܟ ݂ܕ ܐ ݂‬ ‫�ܚ ݂ܒ ܳܪ ݂ܟ ݁ܕܙܶܠ‪݂ :‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ݁ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ܰ ݁ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܒ ܰܥ ܳܡ ݂ܟ ݁ܒ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫� ݂ܬ ݂ܬܚܫ ݂ܒ ܒ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ ܰܥܠ ܚ ݂ܒܪ ݂ܟ ܕ� ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

             

My son, do not forget my instruction, and let your heart keep my commands, For length of days and years of life will be multiplied for you,

And peace and kindness and truth will not forsake you. Instead, tie them on your neck, and write them on the tablets of your heart. 1 So that you will find mercy and goodness and understanding before God and before people.

Hope in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own wisdom. Be mindful of him in all your ways, and he will direct your paths.

Do not be wise in your own eyes, but rather fear the Lord and turn away from wickedness. It will be healing for your flesh and recovery 2 for your bones.

Honor the Lord with your possessions and with the first of all your produce,

then your barns will be entirely filled, and your wine-presses will gush wine. My son, do not despise the discipline of the Lord, and do not refuse his reproof of you. For whom the Lord loves, he chastises, as a father who chastises his son. 3

Blessed is the person one who finds wisdom, and the mortal one who finds understanding. For her profit is better than the profit from silver, and her yields are more valuable than fine gold.

1 2

The second sentence here is identical to 7:3. ‘recovery’: lit. ‘fat’.

Heb 12:5–6 formally quotes LXX Prov 3:11–12. P Heb 12:5–6 seems to translate this quotation directly from the Greek NT; it does not follow P Prov 3:11–12.

3



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬

‫ܓ‪.‬‬

‫ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܶܒܪܝ‪ �ܳ :‬ܬܶܛܥܶܐ ܳܢ ܽܡܘܣܝ‪ܽ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܘܦ ̈ܘ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܢܝ ܢܶܛܪ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫̱ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫ�ܝ̈ܐ ܕ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ ܢܶ ݁ܬ ݁ܬ ̈ܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܣܦܢ ܳܠ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܓ ܳܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܝ ̈ܘ ܳܡ ݂ܬܐ ܰܘ ܰ ݂‬ ‫ܡܛܠ ݁ܕܢ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ ܽ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܶ ݁ ܽ ܳ ܶܳ ܽ ܶ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܘܫ�ܡܐ ܘܛܝܒ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܘܩܘܫܬܐ � ܢܫܒܩ‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܟ‪ .‬ܐ � ܩܛܘܪ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ܒ ܰܨ ܳܘܪ ݂ܟ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܟـ ݂ܬ ݂ܘܒ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܐ ܽܢܘܢ ܰܥܠ ܽ� ̈ܘ ܶܚܐ ݂ܕ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܶ ݁ܰ ܰ ܶ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܘ ܽܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ܰܐ ܳ� ܳܗܐ ܰܘ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܳ� ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܕܡ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܳܢ ܳܫܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕ ݂ܬܫܟܚ �ܚܡܐ ܘܛܝܒ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܟ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܰܣ ݁ ܰܒܪ ݁ܒ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܳܫ ݂ܟ � ݂ܬ ݁ܬ ݂ ܶܟܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܥܠ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܽ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬ ݂ܟ‪ܽ .‬‬ ‫ܘܗܘ ݂ ܳܬ ܶܪܨ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܒܝ̈ ܰܠ ݁ܝܟ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܰܕ ܳܥܝ ̱ܗܝ ܒ ݂ܟ�ܗܝܢ ܐܘ�ܚ ݂‬ ‫ܶܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܶ ݁ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܳ� ݂ܬܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝܡ ݁ܒ ܰ� ̈� ܰܢܝ ܰܢ ݂ܦ ܳܫ ݂ܟ‪ .‬ܐ � ݂ܕ ܰܚܠ ܡܢ ܡܪ�ܐ‪ .‬ܘܤܛܝ ܡܢ ܒ‬ ‫݁ ܶ ܶ ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫�ܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܣܪ ݂ܟ‪ܽ ݂ :‬ܘܕ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܳܢܐ ݂ܰ‬ ‫ܠܓ� ܰܡ ݁ܝܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕ ݂ܬܗܘܐ ܐܣܝ ݂‬ ‫̈ ܳܳ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ܺܪܝܫ ݁ ܽܟ ܶ‬ ‫ܢ� ܳܢ ݂ܟ‪ܶ :‬‬ ‫ܰ� ܰܩܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ܶܡܢ ܶܩ ܳ‬ ‫�ܡ ܳ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ ܰܥ ̱ܠ ݂ܬ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܕܢܶ ݂ܬ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܡܥ� ܳ� ݂ ܳܬ ݂ܟ ܰܢ ݁ ̈ܒ ܳܥܢ ܰܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܡ�ܘܢ ܰܐܘ� ܰ� ݁ܝܟ ܰܣ ݂ܒ ܳܥܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܡܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܽ ܶ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܳ ܰ ܶ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ � ݂ܬܣ�‪ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬ ܰܡܐܢ ܳܠ ݂ܟ ݁ܒ ܰܡ ݁ܟ ܳܣ ܽܢ ݂ܘܬܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܶܒܪ ̱ܝ‪ :‬ܡܪܕ ݂ܘܬܗ ܕܡ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ ܰܕ ܰ‬ ‫�ܡܢ ݁ܕ ܳܪ ܶܚܡ ܶܠܗ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ‪ܳ :‬ܪ ݂ ܶܕܐ ܶܠܗ‪ :‬ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܐ ݂ ܳܒܐ ݂ܕ ܳܪ ݂ ܶܕܐ ܰܠ ݂ܒ ܶܪܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܰ ݁ܶ ܳ ܶ ݁ܰ ܽ ݁ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܒܘ ̱ܗܝ � ݂ ܰܒܪ ܐ̱ ܳܢ ܳܫܐ ݂ ܶܕ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܽܛ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫�ܒܪ ܒܣܪ ܐ ݂ܕ ܐܫܟܚ ܣ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ ݂‬ ‫ܐܫܟܚ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܶ ܽ ݁ܳ ܶ ݁ܶ ܽ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܐܡـܐ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܘܪܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܺܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܡـܢ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܒـܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܶܡܛܠ ݁ܕܛ ݂ ܳܒܐ ̱ܗܝ ܬ ܐ ݂ܓܘܪܬ ̇ܗ ܡـܢ ܬ ܐ ݂ܓـ‬ ‫ܣܢ ܳܝܢـܐ‬ ‫̈ ܳܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܡܝ ݁ܬ ܳ�ܢ ܰܥ ̱ܠ ݂ܬ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

      

Wisdom will rescue you from the promiscuous 1 woman, who changes 2 her words. Who has abandoned the one who reared her in her youth, and who has forgotten the covenant of her God.

She forgets the thresholds of her house and the course of her pathways. None return who go in to her, and they do not remember the path of life.

Therefore, walk in the path of the virtuous, and keep the way of the righteous. For the upright will dwell in the land, and those who are blameless will be gathered in it.

And sinners will be eradicated from the land, and the wicked will be uprooted from it.

‘promiscuous’: lit. ‘foreign’, probably in the sense of being sexually forbidden (see also 5:3, 20; 7:5; 22:14).

1 2

‘changes’: lit. ‘turns’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬

‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܽ ܳ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪ܰ ݁ :‬ܕ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܗ ݁ܦ ݂ ܳܟܐ ̈ܡ ܶܠ ̇‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ܡܢ ܐܢ̱ܬ ݂ܬ ܐ ܢܘ ݂ܟܪ‬ ‫ܝܗ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܬ ݂ ܰܦܨܶ ݂ܝܟ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܶ ܰ ݀ ܰ݁ ܳ ܳ ݁ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ̇ܗ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܥ ݂ ݀‬ ‫ܬ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܝ ܳܡܐ ݂ ܰܕ ܳܐ� ܳܗ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕܫ ݂ܒܩ ݂ܬ ܡܪ ܒ�ܢܐ ܕܛ�ܝ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ݀ ܶ ̈݁ ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܳ ̇ ܰ ̈ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܒܝ̈ ܶܠ ̇‬ ‫ܝܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܛܥ ݂ܬ ܐܣܟ ݂ܦ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܒܝܬܗ‪ :‬ܘܗ ݂‬ ‫�ܟ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܽܟܠ ݁ܕ ܳܥ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܠܝܢ ܳ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ ܳܬ ̇ܗ ܳ� ܳܗ ݂ܦ ݁ ܺܟܝܢ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ܶܡ ݁ܬ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܟ ܺܪܝܢ ܽܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܪܚܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ̈ܶܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ ܽ ܳ ݁ ܳ ̈ܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܛܪ ܽܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܰܗ ܶܠ ݂ܟ ܳܗ ݂ ܺܟܝܠ ܒܐܘܪܚܐ ܕܛ ݂ܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܪܚܐ ݂ܕ ܰܙ ݁ ܺܕ�̈ ܶܩܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ ܰܕ ݂ܬ ܺ� ܶܝ� ܐ ܳܥ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܬ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܪܥܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܡܪܝܢ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܠܝܢ ݁ ܰ ݂ܕܕ� ܽܡܘܡ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪ :‬ܡ‬ ‫ܚܪܝܢ ݁ ܳܒ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܚ ܳܛܝ̈ܶܐ ܳܣ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫ܘ� ܳ ̈ܘ ܶ� ܶܡ ݂ܬ ܰܥ ܺ‬ ‫ܪܥܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܝܦܝܢ ܶܡܢ ܰܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܩܪܝܢ ܶܡ ܳܢ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

Chapter 

              

My son, if you receive my words and hide my commandments in your heart, And incline your ear to wisdom and turn your heart to understanding, And call out for understanding and raise your voice to understanding, And you seek it like silver and search for it like treasure,

Then you will understand the fear of the Lord and you will find the knowledge of God.

For the Lord is the one who gives wisdom, and knowledge and understanding are from his mouth. He preserves hope for those who are upright, and he helps those who walk blamelessly. 1 He guards the paths of justice and he guards the paths of his pious ones.

Then you will understand righteousness and justice, and the rectitude of all good paths.

When wisdom enters your heart, then knowledge brings delight to your soul.

Good judgment will protect you, and the thoughtfulness of the just will save you, So that you will be saved from wicked paths and from men who speak perverse things, Who abandon the righteous path and walk on a path of darkness. Who rejoice to do evil and exult in the way of the wicked. Their paths are twisted, and their roads are perverted.

1

‘blamelessly’: lit. ‘without blemish’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬

‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪:‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬

‫ܒ‪.‬‬

‫݁ ܶܒܪܝ‪ܶ :‬ܐܢ ݁ܬ ܰܩ ݁ ܶܒܠ ̈ܶܡ ܰܠܝ‪ܽ ݂ :‬‬ ‫ܩܕ ܰܢܝ ݁ ܰܬ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦ ̈ܘ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܫܐ ݂ܒ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ݁ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪݂ :‬ܘܬ ݂ܦܢܶܐ ܶ� ݁ ܳܒ ݂ܟ �ܣܘܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܘܬܨ� ݂ܐܕ ܳܢ ݂ܟ � ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ܶ ܽ ݁ܳ ܳ ܰ ܽ ݁ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ� ݂ܬ ܺܪܝܡ ܳܩ ܳܠ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܘܬܩܪ ܐ �ܣܘܟ�‪ :‬ܘ�ܣ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݂ܘܬܶ ݂ܒܥܶܝܘ ̱ܗܝ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܺܣ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܐܡܐ‪݂ :‬ܘܬ ݂ܒܨܶܝܘ ̱ܗܝ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܺܣ ݂‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ ܺ ܰ ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ݁ܶ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܚܠܬܗ ݁ܕ ܳܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܗܝܕܝܢ ܬ‬ ‫ܥܬܗ ݁ ܰܕ ܳܐ� ܳܗܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ‪݂ .‬ܘܬܫܟܚ ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܣܬ ݁ ܰܟܠ ݁ ܶܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܶ ݁ܽ ܶ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܽ ݁ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܳܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ܘܣ‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪ .‬ܘܡܢ ܦܘܡܗ ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ ̱ܗܘ ܳ� ܶܗ ݂ܒ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܶ ݁ܰ ܺ ܺ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܰ ܶ ݁ܰ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟܝܢ ݁ܕ� ܽܡܘܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܢܛܪ ܣ ݂ܒܪ ܐ �ܝܠܝܢ ܕ ݂ܬ ܪܝܨܝܢ‪ .‬ܘܡܣܝܥ �ܝܠܝܢ ܕܡܗ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳܘܢܛܪ ܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ݂ ܺܕ ܳܝܢܐ‪ܽ .‬ܘܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܰܚ ̈ܣ ܰܝܘ ̱ܗܝ ܰܢܢܛܪ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ ܶ‬ ‫ܳ ݁ܶ ݁ ܶ ݁ ܰ݁ ܰ ܰ݁ܺ ܽ ܳ ܺ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܽܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܫܒܝ̈� ܰܫ ݁ ܺܦܝ ܶ� ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܗܘܢ ݂‬ ‫ܗܝܕܝܢ ܬܣܬܟܠ ܙ ܕܝܩ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܘܕܝܢܐ‪ :‬ܘ ݂ܬ ܪܝܨ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܳ ܶ݁ ܳ ܺ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܢ ݂ܦ ܳܫ ݂ܟ ݁ܬ ݂ ܰܒ ܶܣܡ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܬܐ �ܒ ݂ܟ‪ .‬ܘ ݂ܝܕ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܰܟ ݂ܕ ݁ܬܥܶܠ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫݁ܰ ܺ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܬ ܰ� ܳ‬ ‫ܘܣ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܪ ݂ܟ‪ܽ .‬‬ ‫ܘܟ ܳ� ݂ܕ ݂ ܺܟܐ ̈ܢܶܐ ܰܢܫ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܙܒ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܬܐ ܛ ݂ܒ ݂‬ ‫ܬܪܥ ݂‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ ܰ ܶ ܰ ܰ ܺ‬ ‫ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܗܦܝ̈ ݂ ܳܟ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݁ܕ ݂ܬ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܦ ܶ� ܐ ܶܡܢ ܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬܐ ݂ ܺܒܝ̈ ܳܫ ݂ܬܐ‪ :‬ܘܡܢ ݁ܓ ݂ܒ� ܐ ݂ܕ‬ ‫ܡܡܠܝܢ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܳ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܺ ݁ܳ‬ ‫ܡܗ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܐ ݂ܕ ܶܚ ܽܫ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܨܬ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫�ܟܝܢ ݁ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܕܫ ݂ܒܩܝܢ ܐܘܪܚܐ ݂ܬ ܪ‬ ‫ܘܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ‪ܳ .‬ܘܕ ܺܝܨܝܢ ݁ܒ ܽܗ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ � ܶܡ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܘܦ ݂ ܳܟܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܺܒܝ̈ ܳܫ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܒ ݂ܕ ݁ ܺܒ ݁ ݂‬ ‫ܡܥ ̈ܩ ܳܡܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܽܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܒܝ̈ ܰܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܡܦ ݁ܬ ܺܠܝܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

   

They did not desire my counsels, and they despised all my reproof.

So they ate from the fruit of their paths, and they were filled up with their (own) counsels. Because of this, the rejection by the immature will kill them, and the error of those lacking judgment will destroy them.

But whoever listens to me will dwell in hope and will rest away from the multitude of wicked things. 1

1

‘wicked things’ or ‘wickedness’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܳ ܰ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܝ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܺ‬ ‫ܬ� ܳ‬ ‫ܐܣܠܝܘ ݁ ܽܟ ܳܠ ̇ܗ ܰܡ ݁ܟ ܳܣ ܽܢ ݂ܘܬ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠ ܘ� ݂�ܒܘ ܒ ݂‬ ‫� ܶܘ ݂ ܰܐܟ� ̱ܘ ܶܡܢ ݁ ܺܦܐ ܶ� ܐ ݂ ܽܕ ܐܘ� ܳܚ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪ܶ .‬‬ ‫ܥܝ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܡܢ ݁ ܰܬ � ܳ‬ ‫ܣܒܥ ̱ܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܠܒ ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ܳܗ ܳܢܐ ܰܡ ݁‬ ‫ܘܥܝܝ ݁ܕ ܰܚ ܺܣܝـ ܰ�ܝ ܶܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܛ ܰ‬ ‫ܥ� ܳܢـܐ‬ ‫ܗܦ ݂ ܳܟ ܽܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܕ ܰܫ ݂ܒ ܶ� ܐ ݂ܬܩܛܘܠ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܒ ݂ܕ ܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݂ܬ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ܶ ܶ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܓܐܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܺܒܝ̈ ܳܫ ݂ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܠܓ ܘܡܢ ݁ܕ ܳܫܡܥ ܠܝ‪ :‬ܢܫܪ ܐ ݂ܒܣ ݂ܒܪ ܐ‪ .‬ܘܢܫ� ܡܢ ܣ ݂ܳ‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs Ch. 

        

      

Throw in your lot with us, and we will all have a common purse’. 1

My son, do not go out on the road with them. Instead, restrain your foot from their paths. Because their feet run toward wickedness, and they hasten to shed innocent blood. With trickery nets are spread for the bird[s].

They lie in ambush for blood, and they hide themselves.

Such are the paths of all who do wrong and who capture the souls of those who possess them. Wisdom is praised in the markets, and in the markets she lifts up her voice. At the head of the streets she proclaims, and at the approaches to the gates of the cities she announces [her] words.

How long, O immature ones, will you love being immature? and O mockers, will you desire mockery? and O foolish ones, will you hate wisdom? If you turn to my reproof, I will pour out my spirit to you, and will cause you to know my word.

For I called out, but you did not believe; I raised my hand, but you did not listen. You scorned all my counsels, and you showed no inclination toward my reproof.

Moreover I will laugh at your ruin, and I will rejoice when confusion comes upon you — and destruction suddenly,

And your destruction will arrive like a storm. And when hardship and anguish come upon them, Then they will cry out to me, but I will not answer them; they will appear before me, 2 but they will not find me.

For they hated knowledge, and they did not choose the fear of the Lord. 1 2

‘a common purse’: lit. ‘one bag’.

‘appear before me’ or ‘be early before me’.



‫̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܛ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܓ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܕ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܗ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܘ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܙ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܚ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܟܛ‬

‫݁ܶ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫ܬܢ ‪ܺ ݂ .‬‬ ‫ܗܘܐ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܝܣܐ ܰܚ ݂ܕ ܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܳ‬ ‫�ܟ ܰܠܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܦ ݂�ܬ ݂ܟ ܐܪܡܐ ݂ܒܝܢ ݂‬ ‫ܫܒܝ̈ ܰܠ ܽ‬ ‫݁ ܶܒܪ ̱ܝ‪ܺ ݂ �ܳ :‬ܬ ܰܐܙܠ ܰ�ܥ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܘܪܚܐ‪ܶ .‬ܐ ܳ� ݂ܟ ܺܠܝ ܶܪ ܓ ܳܠ ݂ܟ ܶܡܢ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܗܘܢ ݁ ܽܒ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܺ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܗܒܝــܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܶܡ ܽܛܠ ݁ܕ ܶ�ܓ ܰܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܣܬܪ ݂ ܺ‬ ‫�ܡ ܰ‬ ‫ܐܫـ ݂ܕ ݁ܕ ܳܡـܐ‬ ‫ܝܫܬܐ ̱ܗܘ ܳ�ܗ�ـܢ‪ .‬ܘܡ‬ ‫ܝܗܘܢ‪݂ � :‬ܒ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܰܙ ݁ ܳܟ ܳܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܺ̈ܳ ܳ ܰ ݁ܳ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܶ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܬܐ ̱ܗܘ ݁ ܳܦ ܺ‬ ‫ܚܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܒܥ‬ ‫ܪܣܝܢ ܡܨܝ ݂ܕ ݂ܬ ܐ ܥܠ ܦܪ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫݂ܳ‬ ‫ܘܟ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܢܝܢ ܰܠ ݂ܕ ܳܡܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘܡܛ ܶܫܝܢ ܰܢ ݂ ̈ܦ ܳܫ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܳ ܶ ܶ ܽ ܳ ܳ ܽ ݁ ܳ ݁ܺ ܰ ܳ ܳ ݁ ܺ ܰ ̈ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ݂ܕ ܳܡ ܰ� ܶ‬ ‫ܝܗܝܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܗ ݂ܟܢܐ ܐܢܝܢ ܐܘ�ܚ ݂ܬܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܟܠ ܕܥ ݂ܒܕܝܢ ܥܘ� ܘܢܣܒܝܢ ܢ ݂ܦܫ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ̈ ܶ ܶ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܫܬ ݁ܒ ܳܚܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܽܫ ̈ܘ ܶܩܐ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ ܳܩ ܳܠ ̇ܗ‪.‬‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ݂ܒܫܘܩܐ ܡ‬ ‫ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܰ ܺ ݁ܶ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܗ ܳܐ ܳ‬ ‫ܬܐ ܰܡ ݂ܟܪ ܳܙ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܰܡܥ̈ ܳ�ܢܶܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܬ �ܥܶܐ ݂ܕ ݂ ܰܟ� ݂ ܶܟܐ ̈ܡ ܶܠ ̇‬ ‫ܡܪ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܒܪܝܫ ܒ�� ݂‬ ‫݁ܽ ܰ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܽ‬ ‫ܥܕ ܳܡܐ ܶ� ܰܡ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ ܰܫ ݂ܒ ܶ� ܐ ܳܪ ܺ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰ‬ ‫݂ܰ‬ ‫ܡܡܝ̈ ܳܩ ܶܢـܐ ܳܪ ݁ ܺܓܝــܢ ܐܢ ̱ـ ݁ܬܘܢ‬ ‫ܚܡܝــܢ ܐܢ ̱ـܬܘܢ ܫ ݂ܒـܪ ݂‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫݁ܽ ܺ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܡܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܩ ܽܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ ̈ܟ� ܳܣܢܶܝܢ ܐܢ ̱ܬܘܢ ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫�ܡ ݁ܟ ܳܣ ܽܢܘܬܝ‪ܰ :‬ܐ ݁ ܰܒܥ ܽ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܘܕ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܶܐܢ ݁ܬܶ ݂ܬ ݁ܦ ܽܢܘܢ ܰ‬ ‫ܘܚܝ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܥܟܘܢ ܶܡ ܰܠ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫�ܟܘܢ ܪ ̱‬ ‫݂ ̱‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ܶ ݁ܽ ܰ ܺ ܶ ܺ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ݁ܽ‬ ‫ܰܥܠ ݁ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܥܬܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܡ ݂ܬ ܐ ݂ܝܕ ̱ܝ‪ :‬ܘ� ܫܡ‬ ‫ܝܬ‪ :‬ܘ� ܗܝܡܢܬܘܢ‪ .‬ܘܐܪ‬ ‫ܩܪ ݂‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ݁ܽ‬ ‫ܳ ݁ܽ‬ ‫ܛܬܘܢ ݁ ܽܟ ܶ‬ ‫�ܗܝܢ ݁ ܰܬ � ܳ‬ ‫ܝܬܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܝ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ݂ܒ ܰܡ ݁ܟ ܳܣ ܽܢ ݂ܘܬ ̱ܝ � � ݂ܒ‬ ‫ܘܫ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳܐ ݂ܦ ܐ ܳܢܐ ܐܓ ܰܚ ݂ܟ ܰܥܠ� ݁ܬ ݂ ܳܒ ݂ ܽ‬ ‫ܥܠ ݁ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܚܕ ܐ ܳܡـܐ ݂ ܳܕ ݂ܐܬ ܐ ܰ‬ ‫ܪܟܘܢ‪ܶ .‬ܘ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫ܝܟـܘܢ ݁ܕ ܽܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܚܝـܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܐܒ ݁ ܳܕ ܳܢـܐ‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܶܡܢ ܶܫ ܳ‬ ‫�ܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ܽ ܰ ܰ ܳܳ ܺ ܶ ܳ ܳ ܶ ܰ ܽ ܽ ܳܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܩܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘ ݂ܬ ݂ܒ ݂ܪܟܘܢ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܥ�ܥ� ܢ ݂ܐܬ ܐ‪ .‬ܘܡܐ ݂ܕ ݂ܐܬ ܐ ܥܠܝܗܘܢ ܐܘ�ܨ ܢܐ ܘܥ ݂‬ ‫ܝܕܝܢ ܢܶ ܽ‬ ‫ܢܝ‪ܳ :‬ܘ� ܶܐܥܢܶܐ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ‪ܰ .‬ܘ ܰܢܩ ݁ܕ ܽܡܘܢ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܟ ܽܚ ܳ‬ ‫ܳܗ ݁ ܶ‬ ‫�ܘ ݂ܬ ̱ܝ‪ܳ :‬ܘ� ܢܶ ݁‬ ‫ܢܝ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܢ ̱‬ ‫ܩܪ ܳܘܢ ̱‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܰ ܰ ܺ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܪ�ܐ � ݂ܓ ݂ ܰܒܘ‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܠܬܗ ܕܡ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ‪ .‬ܘ݂ ܶܕ ݂‬ ‫ܥܠ ܕܣܢܘ ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬

‫‪‬‬

Proverbs

I

            

Chapter 

The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel.

To know wisdom and instruction, and to understand words of understanding, And to receive instruction and reverence and righteousness and justice and rectitude; To teach prudence to the immature, and knowledge and thoughtfulness to the young,

That the wise may hear and increase their wisdom and the intelligent acquire leadership skill; 1 That they may understand proverbs and parables and words of the wise and their riddles.

The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, but the wicked scorn knowledge and instruction.

My son, heed the teaching of your father, and do not forget the teaching of your mother. For they are a beautiful adornment for your head and a necklace for your throat. My son, if sinners entice you, do not let yourself be persuaded.

And if they say to you, ‘Come with us! Let us lie in ambush for blood, and let us lie in wait with treachery for the innocent.

We will swallow them up as Sheol does the living, the ones without blemish like those who go down to the Pit. We will find all their wealth and their valuables and will fill (our) houses with booty.

1 Many proverbs are written with a single male individual in mind, but these have been given a plural form in the English translation in line with this edition’s policy on inclusive language. See Introduction xxi.

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‫ܣܦܪܐ ܕ ̈ܡܬ�‬ ‫ܶ ܰܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܩ ݂ܦ�ܘܢ‪ :‬ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܨܚ ܐ‬ ‫‪‬‬

‫ܐ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܒ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܓ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܕ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܗ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܘ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܙ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܚ‬

‫‪‬‬

‫ܛ‬

‫‪ ‬ܝ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܐ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܒ‬ ‫‪ ‬ܝܓ‬

‫ܰ ݁ܳ ܺ ܳ ܶ‬ ‫ܰܡ ݂ܬ ܰ�ܘ ̈ܗܝ ݁ ܰܕ ܺ‬ ‫ܫܠ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܝܣܪ ܐܝܠ‪.‬‬ ‫ܝܡܘܢ ݁ ܰܒܪ ݁ ܰܕ ܺܘ ݂ܝܕ‪ :‬ܡ�ܟܐ ݂ܕ‬ ‫̱‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܽ ݁ܳ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ܶ‬ ‫ܘܟ�‪.‬‬ ‫�ܡ ݂ܬ ݁ ܰܒ ܳ� ܽܢܘ ݂ܒ ̈ܡ� ݂ܕܣ‬ ‫� ܶܡ ݁ ܰܕܥ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܡܬܐ ܘܡܪܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܰ ݁ ܳ ܽ ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ ܶ ܳ‬ ‫ܠܬܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܙ ݁ ܺܕ ܽܝܩ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ܺ ݂ :‬ܘܕ ܳܝܢܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘ ݂ܬ ܺܪ ܽܝܨ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܠܡܩܒ�ܘ ܡܪܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ݂ܘܕܚ ݂‬ ‫ܰ ܶ ܺ ܽ ܳ ܰ ܳ ̈ܶ ܺ ܰ ܳ ܰ ܺ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܝܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ݂ܘܬܪܥ ݂‬ ‫� ܶܡ ݁ܬܠ �ܫ ݂ܒ� ܐ ܥܪܝܡ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ :‬ܘܠܛ�ܝܐ ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܡܐ‪ܰ :‬ܘܢ ܶ‬ ‫ܢܶ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܬܗ‪ܰ .‬‬ ‫ܘܠܬ ܳܢܐ ݂ ܰ‬ ‫ܡܕ ݁ܒ ܳܪ ܽܢ ݂ܘܬ ܐ ܢܶܩܢܶܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܣ ݁ ܽܟ ݂‬ ‫ܘܣ ݂ܦ ܰܥܠ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫݁ ܶ ݁ ܰ ݁ ܰ ܰ ̈ ܶ ̈ܶ‬ ‫ܘܦ ܳ� ݂ ܳܬ ܐ‪ :‬ܘ ̈ܶܡ ܶ� ݂ܕ ܰܚ ݁ ܺܟܝ̈ ܶܡܐ ܽܘܐ ̈ܘ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫ܚܕ ݂ܬ ܽܗܘܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܕܢܫܬܘܕܥ ܡ ݂ܬ� ݂‬ ‫ܳܶ‬ ‫ܰ ݁ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܶ ݁ ܳ ܳ ܺܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܺ‬ ‫ܥܬܐ ݂ ܶܕܝܢ ܘܡ‬ ‫ܪܕ ݂ܘܬ ܐ‪ܳ :‬ܫܝܛܝܢ ܰ� ̈ܘ �‪.‬‬ ‫ܚܠܬܗ ܕܡܪ�ܐ‪ .‬ܝ ݂ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܡܬܐ‪ܶ ݁ :‬ܕ ݂‬ ‫ܪܝܫ ܶܚ ݂ܟ ݂‬ ‫ܘܣܐ ݂ ܰܕ ݂ ܽܐܒ ݂ܘܟ‪ܳ .‬ܘ� ݂ܬܶܛܥܶܐ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܫܡܥ ݁ ܶܒܪ ̱ܝ ܳܢ ܽܡ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ‬ ‫ܘܣܐ ݂ ܶܕ ܳܐܡ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ ܽ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܬ ܐ ܶܐ ܽܢܘܢ ݁ ܶܓܝܪ ܺ‬ ‫ܡܢ ݂ ܳ‬ ‫ܘܗ ܺ‬ ‫ܝܫ ݂ܟ‪ܰ :‬‬ ‫�ܪ ܳ‬ ‫ܝܟܐ ܰ‬ ‫�ܨ ܳܘܪ ݂ܟ‪.‬‬ ‫�ܐ� ݂‬ ‫ܘܢ ݂ܟ ܰܚ ܳܛܝ̈ܶܐ‪ �ܳ :‬ܬܶ ݁ܬ ݁ ܺ‬ ‫݁ ܶܒܪ ̱ܝ‪ܶ :‬ܐܢ ܰܢܫ ݁ܕ ܽܠ ܳ‬ ‫ܛܦܝܣ‪.‬‬ ‫݂‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶܘܐܢ ܺܢ ܽ‬ ‫ܐܡܪܘܢ ܳܠ ݂ܟ‪ܳ ݁ :‬ܬ ܐ ܰܥ ܰܡܢ ܢܶ ݂ܟ ܰܡܢ ܰܠ ݂ܕ ܳܡܐ‪ :‬ܘܢܶ ܶ‬ ‫ܛܫܐ � ܰܙ ݁ ܳܟ ܳܝܐ ݂ܒܥܶ ݁ܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܰ ̈ܶ ܰ ܳ‬ ‫ܰ ܳ ̈ ݁ܰ‬ ‫ܘܢܶ ݂ܒ ܺ‬ ‫ܬܝ ݁ ܽܓ ݁ ܳ‬ ‫�ܥܝܘ ̱ܗܝ ܰܐ ݂ܝܟ ܽ‬ ‫ܘܠ ݂ܕ� ܽܡܘܡ ܐ ݂ܝܟ ܢܚ‬ ‫ܫܝܘܠ �ܚܝܐ‪:‬‬ ‫ܘܒܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܳ‬ ‫ܶ ܳ ܰ‬ ‫݁ ܽܟ ܶܠܗ ܽܥ ݂ܘܬ ܶܪܗ ܺܘ ܳ‬ ‫ܐܝܩ ܶܪܗ ܢܶ ݁ ܰ‬ ‫ܫܟܚ‪ .‬ܘܢܶܡ� ݂ ̈ܒ ݁ܬܝܢ ݁ ܶܒ ݂ܙܬ ܐ‪.‬‬

‫‪‬‬

‫̈‬ ‫ܬܫܒܚܬܐ‬ ‫ܣܦ�ܝ ̈ܡܬ� ܘܩܘܗܠܬ ܘܬܫܒܚܬ‬

‫ܥܘܬܕܐ‬

‫ܚܡܠ ܟܬܒܐ ܗܢܐ ܠܨܘܪܬ ܟܬܒ ܣܦ�ܝ ̈ܡܬ� ܘܩܘܗܠܬ ܘܬܫܒܚܬ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܬܫܒܚܬܐ ܠܦܘܬ ܡܦܩܬܐ ܕܡܬܩܪܝܐ ܦܫܝܛܬܐ܆ ܥܡ ܡܥܒܪܢܘܬܐ‬ ‫݀‬ ‫ܐܬܦܚܡܬ ܨܘܪܬ ܟܬܒ ܗܕܐ ܥܠ ܡܦܩܬܐ ܡܘܨܠܝܬܐ܇ ܕܒܝܕ‬ ‫ܐܢܓܠܝܫܝܬܐ‪.‬‬ ‫݀‬ ‫ܡܪܝ ܩܠܝܡܝܣ ܝܘܣܦ ܕܘܝܕ ܐܬܦܪܣܬ ܡܕܢܚܐܝܬ ܫܢܬ ܐܦܦܙ ـ ܐܦ�ܐ܇‬ ‫ܒܬܪ ܡܐ ܕܫܚ�ܦܢܢ ܠܣܪܛ ̇ܗ ܡܢ ܡܕܢܚܝܐ ܠܡܥܪܒܝܐ܆ ܘܐܘܣܦܢܢ ܢܘܩܙ̈ܝ‬ ‫ܪܘܟܟܐ ܘܩܘܫܝܐ ܓܡܝܪܐܝܬ܆ ܘܢܝܫܐ ܕܡܒܛ�ܢܐ ܠܦܘܬ ܡܫܠܡܢܘܬܐ ܕܝܘܡܢ‪.‬‬ ‫ܦܚܡܢܢ ܕܝܢ ܠܨܘܪܬ ܟܬܒ ܡܘܨܠܝܬܐ ܥܡ ܣ�ܝܛܐ ܥܬ�̈ܩܐ‪ .‬ܘܐܫܟܚܢܢ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܫܘܚ�ܦܐ ܒܨܝ�ܐ ܒܩ�ܝܢܐ܇ ܗܪܟܐ ܘܬܡܢ܇ ܒܝܬ ܡܦܩܬܐ ܡܘܨܠܝܬܐ‬ ‫ܕܐܝܬ‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܘܣ�ܝܛܐ ܥܬ�ܩܐ‪ .‬ܘܙܕܩ ܠܡܕܥ ܕܣܘܓܐܐ ܕܗܠܝܢ ܩ�ܝܢܐ ܕܒܡܦܩܬܐ‬ ‫ܡܘܨܠܝܬܐ ܫܟܝܚܝܢ ܘܠܘ ܒܣ�ܝܛܐ ܕܥܠ ܫܟܝܚܘܬ ܐܘ ܚܣܝܪܘܬ ̈‬ ‫ܐܬܘܬܐ‬ ‫ܒܕܘ�ܝ̈ܬܐ ܐܢܘܢ܆ ܘܕܥܠ ܫܟܝܚܘܬ ܐܘ ܚܣܝܪܘܬ ܣܝ̈ܡܐ ܐܢܘܢ ܘܫܪܟܐ‪ .‬ܣܕܪܐ‬ ‫ܕܗܠܝܢ ܩ�ܝܢܐ ܫܟܝܚ ܒܓܒܐ ܐܢܓܠܝܫܝܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܘܬܪ�ܢ ܠܨܘܪܬ ܟܬܒ ܠܦܘܬ ܡܫܠܡܢܘܬܐ ܣܘܪܝܝܬܐ ܡܥܪܒܝܬܐ ܕܝܘܡܢ‬ ‫ܪܕܝܐ‪ .‬ܐܝܬܐ ܠܡܐܡܪ‪ :‬ܟܬܒܢܢ ܺܪܝܫ ܚܠܦ ܺܪܫ ܘܫܪܟܐ‪.‬‬ ‫ܣܟܐ ܕܝܢ ܩܘܒܠܛܝܒܘܬܐ ܡܩܪܒܝܢܢ ܠܡ�ܦܢܐ ܐܢܕܪܐܘܣ ܝܘܟܝܠ ܕܥܕܪ‬ ‫ܬܘܕܝܢ ܕ� ̈‬ ‫ܒܦܘܚܡܐ ܥܠ ܣ�ܝܛܐ ܥܬ�̈ܩܐ‪ .‬ܘܠܡܪܝܐ �ܗܐ ̈‬ ‫̈‬ ‫ܡܘܦܝܢ܀ ܐܝܢ‬ ‫ܘܐܡܝܢ܀‬ ‫ܫܘܪܝ ܨܘܡܐ ܕܝܠܕܐ ܦܪܘܩܝܐ ܘܢܦܠ ܒܝܪܚܐ ܬܫܝܥܝܐ ܕܟܘܪܗܢܐ ܕܟܘܪܢܐ‬ ‫ܓܘܪܓܝ ܒܪ ܐܢܛܘܢ ܕܒܝܬ ܟܝܪܐܙ‬ ‫ܕܝܪܝܐ ܝܘܣܦ ܒܐܠܝ‬

‫ܗ‬

‫̈‬ ‫ܙܕܩܐ ܢܛܝܪܝܢ܀‬

‫ܨܘܪܬ ܟܬܒ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܡܦܩܬܐ ܦܫܝܛܬܐ ܥܡ ܡܥܒܪܢܘܬܐ ܐܢܓܠܝܫܝܬܐ‬

‫̈‬ ‫ܬܫܒܚܬܐ‬ ‫ܣܦ�ܝ ̈ܡܬ� ܘܩܘܗܠܬ ܘܬܫܒܚܬ‬ ‫ܨܘܪܬ ܟܬܒ ܣܘܪܝܐܝܬ‬

‫ܓܘܪܓܝ ܒܪ ܐܢܛܘܢ ܕܒܝܬ ܟܝܪܐܙ‬ ‫ܕܝܪܝܐ ܝܘܣܦ ܒܐܠܝ‬

‫ܒܟ ̄ܡ‬ ‫ܓܘܪܓܝܐܣ ܦܪܣ‬

‫ܡܥܒܪܢܘܬܐ ܐܢܓܠܝܫܝܬܐ‬

‫ܪܘܒܝܪܬ ܔ‪ .‬ܐܘܝܢܙ‬ ‫ܕܘܢܐܠܕ ܡ‪ .‬ܘܐܠܬܪ‬

‫ܨܘܪܬ ܟܬܒ‬

‫̈‬ ‫ܡܦܚܡܢܝ ܫܫܠܬܐ‬

‫ܓܘܪܓܝ ܒܪ ܐܢܛܘܢ ܕܒܝܬ ܟܝܪܐܙ‬

‫ܐܢܕܪܐܘܣ ܒܪ ܘܐܠܬܪ ܕܒܝܬ ݁‬ ‫ܝܘܟܝܠ‬

‫ܨܘܪܬ ܟܬܒ‬ ‫ܐܝܟ ܡܦܩܬܐ ܦܫܝܛܬܐ ܥܡ ܡܥܒܪܢܘܬܐ ܐܢܓܠܝܫܝܬܐ‬

‫̈‬ ‫ܬܫܒܚܬܐ‬ ‫ܣܦ�ܝ ̈ܡܬ� ܘܩܘܗܠܬ ܘܬܫܒܚܬ‬