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Chapter 9
Death Comes to Good and Bad
1
So I took all this to heart and concluded -… that the righteous and the wise, as well as their deeds, are in God’s hands. Man does not know what lies ahead, whether love or hate.
𐤊𐤉 𐤀𐤕 𐤍𐤕𐤕𐤉 𐤊𐤋 𐤆𐤄 𐤀𐤋 𐤋𐤁𐤉 𐤅𐤋𐤁𐤅𐤓 𐤀𐤕 𐤊𐤋 𐤆𐤄 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤄𐤑𐤃𐤉𐤒𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤄𐤇𐤊𐤌𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤏𐤁𐤃𐤉𐤄𐤌 𐤄𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉𐤌 𐤁𐤉𐤃 𐤄𐤀𐤃𐤌 𐤀𐤉𐤍 𐤉𐤅𐤃𐤏 𐤄𐤊𐤋 𐤋𐤐𐤍𐤉𐤄𐤌 𐤂𐤌 𐤀𐤄𐤁𐤄 𐤂𐤌 𐤔𐤍𐤀𐤄
כִּ֣י אֶת־ נָתַ֤תִּי כָּל־ זֶ֞ה אֶל־ לִבִּי֙ וְלָב֣וּר אֶת־ כָּל־ זֶ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הַצַּדִּיקִ֧ים וְהַחֲכָמִ֛ים וַעֲבָדֵיהֶ֖ם הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים בְּיַ֣ד הָֽאָדָ֔ם אֵ֤ין יוֹדֵ֙עַ֙ הַכֹּ֖ל לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃ גַּֽם־ אַהֲבָ֣ה גַם־ שִׂנְאָ֗ה kî ’eṯ- nā·ṯat·tî kāl- zeh ’el- lib·bî wə·lā·ḇūr ’eṯ- kāl- zeh ’ă·šer haṣ·ṣad·dî·qîm wə·ha·ḥă·ḵā·mîm wa·‘ă·ḇā·ḏê·hem hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm bə·yaḏ hā·’ā·ḏām ’ên yō·w·ḏê·a‘ hak·kōl lip̄·nê·hem gam- ’a·hă·ḇāh ḡam- śin·’āh — WLC · 1
2
vvv It is the same for all: There is a common fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good [and the bad], for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not -. As it is for the good, so it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who makes a vow, so [it is] for the one who refuses to take a vow.
𐤄𐤊𐤋 𐤊𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤋𐤊𐤋 𐤀𐤇𐤃 𐤌𐤒𐤓𐤄 𐤋𐤑𐤃𐤉𐤒 𐤅𐤋𐤓𐤔𐤏 𐤋𐤈𐤅𐤁 𐤅𐤋𐤈𐤄𐤅𐤓 𐤅𐤋𐤈𐤌𐤀 𐤅𐤋𐤆𐤁𐤇 𐤅𐤋𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤀𐤉𐤍𐤍𐤅 𐤆𐤁𐤇 𐤊𐤈𐤅𐤁 𐤊𐤇𐤈𐤀 𐤄𐤍𐤔𐤁𐤏 𐤊𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤉𐤓𐤀 𐤔𐤁𐤅𐤏𐤄
הַכֹּ֞ל כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר לַכֹּ֗ל אֶחָ֜ד מִקְרֶ֨ה לַצַּדִּ֤יק וְלָרָשָׁע֙ לַטּוֹב֙ וְלַטָּה֣וֹר וְלַטָּמֵ֔א וְלַזֹּבֵ֔חַ וְלַאֲשֶׁ֖ר אֵינֶ֣נּוּ זֹבֵ֑חַ כַּטּוֹב֙ כַּֽחֹטֶ֔א הַנִּשְׁבָּ֕ע כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר יָרֵֽא׃ שְׁבוּעָ֥ה hak·kōl ka·’ă·šer lak·kōl ’e·ḥāḏ miq·reh laṣ·ṣad·dîq wə·lā·rā·šā‘ laṭ·ṭō·wḇ wə·laṭ·ṭā·hō·wr wə·laṭ·ṭā·mê wə·laz·zō·ḇê·aḥ wə·la·’ă·šer ’ê·nen·nū zō·ḇê·aḥ kaṭ·ṭō·wḇ ka·ḥō·ṭe han·niš·bā‘ ka·’ă·šer yā·rê šə·ḇū·‘āh — WLC · 2
3
This is an evil in everything that is done under the sun:… There is one fate for everyone. Furthermore, the hearts of men… are full of evil and madness while they are alive, and afterward they [join] the dead.
𐤆𐤄 𐤓𐤏 𐤁𐤊𐤋 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤍𐤏𐤔𐤄 𐤕𐤇𐤕 𐤄𐤔𐤌𐤔 𐤊𐤉 𐤀𐤇𐤃 𐤌𐤒𐤓𐤄 𐤋𐤊𐤋 𐤅𐤂𐤌 𐤋𐤁 𐤁𐤍𐤉 𐤄𐤀𐤃𐤌 𐤌𐤋𐤀 𐤓𐤏 𐤅𐤄𐤅𐤋𐤋𐤅𐤕 𐤁𐤋𐤁𐤁𐤌 𐤁𐤇𐤉𐤉𐤄𐤌 𐤅𐤀𐤇𐤓𐤉𐤅 𐤀𐤋 𐤄𐤌𐤕𐤉𐤌
זֶ֣ה׀ רָ֗ע בְּכֹ֤ל אֲשֶֽׁר־ נַעֲשָׂה֙ תַּ֣חַת הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ כִּֽי־ אֶחָ֖ד מִקְרֶ֥ה לַכֹּ֑ל וְגַ֣ם לֵ֣ב בְּֽנֵי־ הָ֠אָדָם מָלֵא־ רָ֨ע וְהוֹלֵל֤וֹת בִּלְבָבָם֙ בְּחַיֵּיהֶ֔ם וְאַחֲרָ֖יו אֶל־ הַמֵּתִֽים׃ zeh rā‘ bə·ḵōl ’ă·šer- na·‘ă·śāh ta·ḥaṯ haš·še·meš kî- ’e·ḥāḏ miq·reh lak·kōl wə·ḡam lêḇ bə·nê- hā·’ā·ḏām mā·lê- rā‘ wə·hō·w·lê·lō·wṯ bil·ḇā·ḇām bə·ḥay·yê·hem wə·’a·ḥă·rāw ’el- ham·mê·ṯîm — WLC · 3
4
There is hope, however, for anyone who is among… vvv the living; for even a live… dog is better than a dead lion.
𐤉𐤔 𐤁𐤈𐤇𐤅𐤍 𐤊𐤉 𐤌𐤉 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤉𐤁𐤇𐤓 𐤀𐤋 𐤊𐤋 𐤄𐤇𐤉𐤉𐤌 𐤊𐤉 𐤇𐤉 𐤄𐤅𐤀 𐤋𐤊𐤋𐤁 𐤈𐤅𐤁 𐤌𐤍 𐤄𐤌𐤕 𐤄𐤀𐤓𐤉𐤄
יֵ֣שׁ בִּטָּח֑וֹן כִּי־ מִי֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִבָּחֵר אֶ֥ל כָּל־ הַחַיִּ֖ים כִּֽי־ חַי֙ ה֣וּא לְכֶ֤לֶב ט֔וֹב מִן־ הַמֵּֽת׃ הָאַרְיֵ֖ה yêš biṭ·ṭā·ḥō·wn kî- mî ’ă·šer yib·bå̄·ḥēr ’el kāl- ha·ḥay·yîm kî- ḥay hū lə·ḵe·leḇ ṭō·wḇ min- ham·mêṯ hā·’ar·yêh — WLC · 4
5
For the living know that they will die, but the dead know vvv nothing. They have no further reward, because the memory of them is forgotten.
𐤊𐤉 𐤄𐤇𐤉𐤉𐤌 𐤉𐤅𐤃𐤏𐤉𐤌 𐤔𐤉𐤌𐤕𐤅 𐤅𐤄𐤌𐤕𐤉𐤌 𐤉𐤅𐤃𐤏𐤉𐤌 𐤀𐤉𐤍𐤌 𐤌𐤀𐤅𐤌𐤄 𐤅𐤀𐤉𐤍 𐤏𐤅𐤃 𐤋𐤄𐤌 𐤔𐤊𐤓 𐤊𐤉 𐤆𐤊𐤓𐤌 𐤍𐤔𐤊𐤇
כִּ֧י הַֽחַיִּ֛ים יוֹדְעִ֖ים שֶׁיָּמֻ֑תוּ וְהַמֵּתִ֞ים יוֹדְעִ֣ים אֵינָ֧ם מְא֗וּמָה וְאֵֽין־ ע֤וֹד לָהֶם֙ שָׂכָ֔ר כִּ֥י זִכְרָֽם׃ נִשְׁכַּ֖ח kî ha·ḥay·yîm yō·wḏ·‘îm še·yā·mu·ṯū wə·ham·mê·ṯîm yō·wḏ·‘îm ’ê·nām mə·’ū·māh wə·’ên- ‘ō·wḏ lā·hem śā·ḵār kî ziḵ·rām niš·kaḥ — WLC · 5
6
Their love,… their hate,… and their envy have already vanished, and they will never again have… a share in all that is done under the sun.
𐤀𐤄𐤁𐤕𐤌 𐤂𐤌 𐤔𐤍𐤀𐤕𐤌 𐤂𐤌 𐤂𐤌 𐤒𐤍𐤀𐤕𐤌 𐤊𐤁𐤓 𐤀𐤁𐤃𐤄 𐤀𐤉𐤍 𐤋𐤄𐤌 𐤏𐤅𐤃 𐤋𐤏𐤅𐤋𐤌 𐤅𐤇𐤋𐤒 𐤁𐤊𐤋 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤍𐤏𐤔𐤄 𐤕𐤇𐤕 𐤄𐤔𐤌𐤔
אַהֲבָתָ֧ם גַּם־ שִׂנְאָתָ֛ם גַּם־ גַּ֣ם קִנְאָתָ֖ם כְּבָ֣ר אָבָ֑דָה אֵין־ לָהֶ֥ם עוֹד֙ לְעוֹלָ֔ם וְחֵ֨לֶק בְּכֹ֥ל אֲשֶֽׁר־ נַעֲשָׂ֖ה תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ ’a·hă·ḇā·ṯām gam- śin·’ā·ṯām gam- gam qin·’ā·ṯām kə·ḇār ’ā·ḇā·ḏāh ’ên- lā·hem ‘ō·wḏ lə·‘ō·w·lām wə·ḥê·leq bə·ḵōl ’ă·šer- na·‘ă·śāh ta·ḥaṯ haš·šā·meš — WLC · 6
Enjoy Your Portion in This Life
7
Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a cheerful heart, for God has already approved your works:
𐤋𐤊 𐤀𐤊𐤋 𐤋𐤇𐤌𐤊 𐤁𐤔𐤌𐤇𐤄 𐤅𐤔𐤕𐤄 𐤉𐤉𐤍𐤊 𐤈𐤅𐤁 𐤁𐤋𐤁 𐤊𐤉 𐤄𐤀𐤋𐤄𐤉𐤌 𐤀𐤕 𐤊𐤁𐤓 𐤓𐤑𐤄 𐤌𐤏𐤔𐤉𐤊
לֵ֣ךְ אֱכֹ֤ל לַחְמֶ֔ךָ בְּשִׂמְחָה֙ וּֽשֲׁתֵ֥ה יֵינֶ֑ךָ ט֖וֹב בְלֶב־ כִּ֣י הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶֽת־ כְבָ֔ר רָצָ֥ה מַעֲשֶֽׂיךָ׃ lêḵ ’ĕ·ḵōl laḥ·me·ḵā bə·śim·ḥāh ū·šă·ṯêh yê·ne·ḵā ṭō·wḇ ḇə·leḇ- kî hā·’ĕ·lō·hîm ’eṯ- ḵə·ḇār rā·ṣāh ma·‘ă·śe·ḵā — WLC · 7
8
Let your garments always… be white, and never spare the oil for your head.
𐤁𐤂𐤃𐤉𐤊 𐤁𐤊𐤋 𐤏𐤕 𐤉𐤄𐤉𐤅 𐤋𐤁𐤍𐤉𐤌 𐤀𐤋 𐤉𐤇𐤎𐤓 𐤅𐤔𐤌𐤍 𐤏𐤋 𐤓𐤀𐤔𐤊
בְגָדֶ֖יךָ בְּכָל־ עֵ֕ת יִהְי֥וּ לְבָנִ֑ים אַל־ יֶחְסָֽר׃ וְשֶׁ֖מֶן עַל־ רֹאשְׁךָ֥ ḇə·ḡā·ḏe·ḵā bə·ḵāl ‘êṯ yih·yū lə·ḇā·nîm ’al- yeḥ·sār wə·še·men ‘al- rō·šə·ḵā — WLC · 8
9
Enjoy life with your beloved wife all the days of the fleeting life that [God] has given you under the sun— all your fleeting days. For this is your portion in life and in your labor -… under the sun.
𐤓𐤀𐤄 𐤇𐤉𐤉𐤌 𐤏𐤌 𐤀𐤄𐤁𐤕 𐤀𐤔𐤄 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤊𐤋 𐤉𐤌𐤉 𐤄𐤁𐤋𐤊 𐤇𐤉𐤉 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤍𐤕𐤍 𐤋𐤊 𐤕𐤇𐤕 𐤄𐤔𐤌𐤔 𐤊𐤋 𐤄𐤁𐤋𐤊 𐤉𐤌𐤉 𐤊𐤉 𐤄𐤅𐤀 𐤇𐤋𐤒𐤊 𐤁𐤇𐤉𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤁𐤏𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤀𐤕𐤄 𐤏𐤌𐤋 𐤕𐤇𐤕 𐤄𐤔𐤌𐤔
רְאֵ֨ה חַיִּ֜ים עִם־ אָהַ֗בְתָּ אִשָּׁ֣ה אֲשֶׁר־ כָּל־ יְמֵי֙ הֶבְלֶ֔ךָ חַיֵּ֣י אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָֽתַן־ לְךָ֙ תַּ֣חַת הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ כֹּ֖ל הֶבְלֶ֑ךָ יְמֵ֣י כִּ֣י ה֤וּא חֶלְקְךָ֙ בַּֽחַיִּ֔ים וּבַעֲמָ֣לְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁר־ אַתָּ֥ה עָמֵ֖ל תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ rə·’êh ḥay·yîm ‘im- ’ā·haḇ·tā ’iš·šāh ’ă·šer- kāl- yə·mê heḇ·le·ḵā ḥay·yê ’ă·šer nā·ṯan- lə·ḵā ta·ḥaṯ haš·še·meš kōl heḇ·le·ḵā yə·mê kî hū ḥel·qə·ḵā ba·ḥay·yîm ū·ḇa·‘ă·mā·lə·ḵā ’ă·šer- ’at·tāh ‘ā·mêl ta·ḥaṯ haš·šā·meš — WLC · 9
10
Whatever you find to do with your hands, do [it] with all your might, for in Sheol, where you are going, there is no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.
𐤊𐤋 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤕𐤌𐤑𐤀 𐤋𐤏𐤔𐤅𐤕 𐤉𐤃𐤊 𐤏𐤔𐤄 𐤁𐤊𐤇𐤊 𐤊𐤉 𐤁𐤔𐤀𐤅𐤋 𐤀𐤔𐤓 𐤀𐤕𐤄 𐤄𐤋𐤊 𐤔𐤌𐤄𐤎 𐤀𐤉𐤍 𐤌𐤏𐤔𐤄 𐤅𐤇𐤔𐤁𐤅𐤍 𐤅𐤃𐤏𐤕 𐤅𐤇𐤊𐤌𐤄
כֹּ֠ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר תִּמְצָ֧א לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת יָֽדְךָ֛ עֲשֵׂ֑ה בְּכֹחֲךָ֖ כִּי֩ בִּשְׁא֕וֹל אֲשֶׁ֥ר אַתָּ֖ה הֹלֵ֥ךְ שָֽׁמָּה׃ס אֵ֨ין מַעֲשֶׂ֤ה וְחֶשְׁבּוֹן֙ וְדַ֣עַת וְחָכְמָ֔ה kōl ’ă·šer tim·ṣā la·‘ă·śō·wṯ yā·ḏə·ḵā ‘ă·śêh bə·ḵō·ḥă·ḵā kî biš·’ō·wl ’ă·šer ’at·tāh hō·lêḵ šām·māh ’ên ma·‘ă·śeh wə·ḥeš·bō·wn wə·ḏa·‘aṯ wə·ḥā·ḵə·māh — WLC · 10
11
I saw something else under the sun -: The race… is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; neither [is] the bread to the wise, nor… the wealth to the intelligent, nor… the favor to the skillful. For time and chance happen to all.
𐤅𐤓𐤀𐤄 𐤔𐤁𐤕𐤉 𐤕𐤇𐤕 𐤄𐤔𐤌𐤔 𐤊𐤉 𐤄𐤌𐤓𐤅𐤑 𐤅𐤋𐤀 𐤋𐤀 𐤋𐤒𐤋𐤉𐤌 𐤄𐤌𐤋𐤇𐤌𐤄 𐤋𐤂𐤁𐤅𐤓𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤂𐤌 𐤋𐤀 𐤋𐤇𐤌 𐤋𐤇𐤊𐤌𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤂𐤌 𐤋𐤀 𐤏𐤔𐤓 𐤋𐤍𐤁𐤍𐤉𐤌 𐤅𐤂𐤌 𐤋𐤀 𐤇𐤍 𐤋𐤉𐤃𐤏𐤉𐤌 𐤊𐤉 𐤏𐤕 𐤅𐤐𐤂𐤏 𐤉𐤒𐤓𐤄 𐤀𐤕 𐤊𐤋𐤌
וְרָאֹ֣ה שַׁ֜בְתִּי תַֽחַת־ הַשֶּׁ֗מֶשׁ כִּ֣י הַמֵּר֜וֹץ וְלֹ֧א לֹא֩ לַקַּלִּ֨ים הַמִּלְחָמָ֗ה לַגִּבּוֹרִ֣ים וְ֠גַם לֹ֣א לֶ֙חֶם֙ לַחֲכָמִ֥ים וְגַ֨ם לֹ֤א עֹ֔שֶׁר לַנְּבֹנִים֙ וְגַ֛ם לֹ֥א חֵ֑ן לַיֹּדְעִ֖ים כִּי־ עֵ֥ת וָפֶ֖גַע יִקְרֶ֥ה אֶת־ כֻּלָּֽם׃ wə·rā·’ōh šaḇ·tî ṯa·ḥaṯ- haš·še·meš kî ham·mê·rō·wṣ wə·lō lō laq·qal·lîm ham·mil·ḥā·māh lag·gib·bō·w·rîm wə·ḡam lō le·ḥem la·ḥă·ḵā·mîm wə·ḡam lō ‘ō·šer lan·nə·ḇō·nîm wə·ḡam lō ḥên lay·yō·ḏə·‘îm kî- ‘êṯ wā·p̄e·ḡa‘ yiq·reh ’eṯ- kul·lām — WLC · 11
12
For surely no man knows his time: Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare,… so men… are ensnared in an evil time that suddenly falls upon them.
𐤊𐤉 𐤂𐤌 𐤋𐤀 𐤄𐤀𐤃𐤌 𐤀𐤕 𐤉𐤃𐤏 𐤏𐤕𐤅 𐤊𐤃𐤂𐤉𐤌 𐤔𐤍𐤀𐤇𐤆𐤉𐤌 𐤓𐤏𐤄 𐤁𐤌𐤑𐤅𐤃𐤄 𐤅𐤊𐤑𐤐𐤓𐤉𐤌 𐤄𐤀𐤇𐤆𐤅𐤕 𐤁𐤐𐤇 𐤊𐤄𐤌 𐤁𐤍𐤉 𐤄𐤀𐤃𐤌 𐤉𐤅𐤒𐤔𐤉𐤌 𐤓𐤏𐤄 𐤋𐤏𐤕 𐤐𐤕𐤀𐤌 𐤊𐤔𐤕𐤐𐤅𐤋 𐤏𐤋𐤉𐤄𐤌
כִּ֡י גַּם֩ לֹֽא־ הָאָדָ֜ם אֶת־ יֵדַ֨ע עִתּ֗וֹ כַּדָּגִים֙ שֶׁנֶּֽאֱחָזִים֙ רָעָ֔ה בִּמְצוֹדָ֣ה וְכַ֨צִּפֳּרִ֔ים הָאֲחֻז֖וֹת בַּפָּ֑ח כָּהֵ֗ם בְּנֵ֣י הָֽאָדָ֔ם יֽוּקָשִׁים֙ רָעָ֔ה לְעֵ֣ת פִּתְאֹֽם׃ כְּשֶׁתִּפּ֥וֹל עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם kî gam lō- hā·’ā·ḏām ’eṯ- yê·ḏa‘ ‘it·tōw kad·dā·ḡîm šen·ne·’ĕ·ḥā·zîm rā·‘āh bim·ṣō·w·ḏāh wə·ḵaṣ·ṣip·po·rîm hā·’ă·ḥu·zō·wṯ bap·pāḥ kā·hêm bə·nê hā·’ā·ḏām yū·qā·šîm rā·‘āh lə·‘êṯ piṯ·’ōm kə·šet·tip·pō·wl ‘ă·lê·hem — WLC · 12
Wisdom Is Better than Strength
13
I have also seen… this wisdom under the sun, and it [was] great to me:
𐤓𐤀𐤉𐤕𐤉 𐤂𐤌 𐤆𐤄 𐤇𐤊𐤌𐤄 𐤕𐤇𐤕 𐤄𐤔𐤌𐤔 𐤄𐤉𐤀 𐤅𐤂𐤃𐤅𐤋𐤄 𐤀𐤋𐤉
רָאִ֥יתִי גַּם־ זֹ֛ה חָכְמָ֖ה תַּ֣חַת הַשָּׁ֑מֶשׁ הִ֖יא וּגְדוֹלָ֥ה אֵלָֽי׃ rā·’î·ṯî gam- zōh ḥāḵ·māh ta·ḥaṯ haš·šā·meš hî ū·ḡə·ḏō·w·lāh ’ê·lāy — WLC · 13
14
There was a small city with few men. A mighty king came against it, surrounded it, and built large siege ramps against it.
𐤒𐤈𐤍𐤄 𐤁𐤄 𐤏𐤉𐤓 𐤌𐤏𐤈 𐤅𐤀𐤍𐤔𐤉𐤌 𐤂𐤃𐤅𐤋 𐤌𐤋𐤊 𐤅𐤁𐤀 𐤀𐤋𐤉𐤄 𐤅𐤎𐤁𐤁 𐤀𐤕𐤄 𐤅𐤁𐤍𐤄 𐤂𐤃𐤋𐤉𐤌 𐤌𐤑𐤅𐤃𐤉𐤌 𐤏𐤋𐤉𐤄
קְטַנָּ֔ה בָּ֖הּ עִ֣יר מְעָ֑ט וַאֲנָשִׁ֥ים גָּדוֹל֙ מֶ֤לֶךְ וּבָֽא־ אֵלֶ֜יהָ וְסָבַ֣ב אֹתָ֔הּ וּבָנָ֥ה גְּדֹלִֽים׃ מְצוֹדִ֥ים עָלֶ֖יהָ qə·ṭan·nāh bāh ‘îr mə·‘āṭ wa·’ă·nā·šîm gā·ḏō·wl me·leḵ ū·ḇā- ’ê·le·hā wə·sā·ḇaḇ ’ō·ṯāh ū·ḇā·nāh gə·ḏō·lîm mə·ṣō·w·ḏîm ‘ā·le·hā — WLC · 14
15
Now a poor wise man was found in [the city], and he saved the city by his wisdom. Yet no one remembered that poor man.
𐤌𐤎𐤊𐤍 𐤇𐤊𐤌 𐤀𐤉𐤔 𐤅𐤌𐤑𐤀 𐤁𐤄 𐤄𐤅𐤀 𐤀𐤕 𐤅𐤌𐤋𐤈 𐤄𐤏𐤉𐤓 𐤁𐤇𐤊𐤌𐤕𐤅 𐤋𐤀 𐤅𐤀𐤃𐤌 𐤆𐤊𐤓 𐤀𐤕 𐤄𐤄𐤅𐤀 𐤄𐤌𐤎𐤊𐤍 𐤄𐤀𐤉𐤔
מִסְכֵּן֙ חָכָ֔ם אִ֤ישׁ וּמָ֣צָא בָ֗הּ ה֥וּא אֶת־ וּמִלַּט־ הָעִ֖יר בְּחָכְמָת֑וֹ לֹ֣א וְאָדָם֙ זָכַ֔ר אֶת־ הַהּֽוּא׃ הַמִּסְכֵּ֖ן הָאִ֥ישׁ mis·kên ḥā·ḵām ’îš ū·mā·ṣā ḇāh hū ’eṯ- ū·mil·laṭ- hā·‘îr bə·ḥā·ḵə·mā·ṯōw lō wə·’ā·ḏām zā·ḵar ’eṯ- ha·hū ham·mis·kên hā·’îš — WLC · 15
16
And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”
𐤀𐤍𐤉 𐤅𐤀𐤌𐤓𐤕𐤉 𐤇𐤊𐤌𐤄 𐤈𐤅𐤁𐤄 𐤌𐤂𐤁𐤅𐤓𐤄 𐤅𐤇𐤊𐤌𐤕 𐤄𐤌𐤎𐤊𐤍 𐤁𐤆𐤅𐤉𐤄 𐤅𐤃𐤁𐤓𐤉𐤅 𐤀𐤉𐤍𐤌 𐤍𐤔𐤌𐤏𐤉𐤌
אָ֔נִי וְאָמַ֣רְתִּי חָכְמָ֖ה טוֹבָ֥ה מִגְּבוּרָ֑ה וְחָכְמַ֤ת הַמִּסְכֵּן֙ בְּזוּיָ֔ה וּדְבָרָ֖יו אֵינָ֥ם נִשְׁמָעִֽים׃ ’ā·nî wə·’ā·mar·tî ḥāḵ·māh ṭō·w·ḇāh mig·gə·ḇū·rāh wə·ḥā·ḵə·maṯ ham·mis·kên bə·zū·yāh ū·ḏə·ḇā·rāw ’ê·nām niš·mā·‘îm — WLC · 16
17
The calm words of the wise are heeded over the shouts of a ruler among fools.
𐤁𐤍𐤇𐤕 𐤃𐤁𐤓𐤉 𐤇𐤊𐤌𐤉𐤌 𐤍𐤔𐤌𐤏𐤉𐤌 𐤌𐤆𐤏𐤒𐤕 𐤌𐤅𐤔𐤋 𐤁𐤊𐤎𐤉𐤋𐤉𐤌
בְּנַ֖חַת דִּבְרֵ֣י חֲכָמִ֔ים נִשְׁמָעִ֑ים מִזַּעֲקַ֥ת מוֹשֵׁ֖ל בַּכְּסִילִֽים׃ bə·na·ḥaṯ diḇ·rê ḥă·ḵā·mîm niš·mā·‘îm miz·za·‘ă·qaṯ mō·wō·šêl bak·kə·sî·lîm — WLC · 17
18
Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.
𐤇𐤊𐤌𐤄 𐤈𐤅𐤁𐤄 𐤌𐤊𐤋𐤉 𐤒𐤓𐤁 𐤀𐤇𐤃 𐤅𐤇𐤅𐤈𐤀 𐤉𐤀𐤁𐤃 𐤄𐤓𐤁𐤄 𐤈𐤅𐤁𐤄
חָכְמָ֖ה טוֹבָ֥ה מִכְּלֵ֣י קְרָ֑ב אֶחָ֔ד וְחוֹטֶ֣א יְאַבֵּ֥ד הַרְבֵּֽה׃ טוֹבָ֥ה ḥāḵ·māh ṭō·w·ḇāh mik·kə·lê qə·rāḇ ’e·ḥāḏ wə·ḥō·w·ṭe yə·’ab·bêḏ har·bêh ṭō·w·ḇāh — WLC · 18