Learn Hebrew
Jewish Proverbs and Sayings
|
1. וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ. |
|
Ve'ahav'ta lere'acha ka'mocha. |
|
Love thy neighbor as you love thy self. Source: Vayikra 19:18 |
|
2. צְדָקָה תַּצִּיל מִמָּוֶת. |
|
Tsdakâ tatsil mi'mâvet. |
|
Charity is a life saver. Source: Proverbs 10:2 |
|
3. מַה שֶׁשָׂנוּא עָלֶיךָ אַל תַּעֲשֶׂה לַחֲבֵרְךָ. |
|
Ma she'sanu a'lecha al ta'ase la'chaver'cha. |
|
Don't do unto others what you wouldn't want done to you. Source: Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 31a |
|
4. אַל תִּסְתַּכֵּל בַּקַנְקַן, אֶלָּא בְּמַה שֶׁיֵשׁ בּוֹ. |
|
Al tis'takel ba'kankan, êla be'ma she'yesh bo. |
|
Do not judge a book by its cover. Source: Mishnah, Pirkei Avot 4:26 |
|
5. עַל שְׁלוֹשָׁה דְבָרִים הָעוֹלָם עוֹמֵד: עַל הַתּוֹרָה, וְעַל הָעֲבוֹדָה, וְעַל גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים. |
|
Al shlosha de'varim ha'olâm omed: al ha'tora, ve'al ha'avodâ, ve'al ge'milût chasadim. |
|
The world stands on three things: on Torah study, on the service (of G-d), and on kind deeds. Source: Mishnah, Pirkei Avot 1:2 |
|
6. כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל עֲרֵבִים זֶה בָּזֶה. |
|
Kol Yisra'êl arevim ze ba'ze. |
|
All Jews are responsible each for the other. Source: Babylonian Talmud, Shavuot 39a |
|
7. יְהִי מָמוֹן חֲבֵרְךָ חָבִיב עָלֶיךָ כְּשֶׁלְּךָ. |
|
Yehi'i mamôn cha'vercha chaviv ale'cha ke'shelcha. |
|
Your fellowman's items must be as dear to you as your own. Source: Mishnah, Pirkei Avot 2:12 |
|
8. אַל תְּאַחֵר לְבַקֵּר אִישׁ חוֹלֶה. |
|
Al te'acher levaker ish cholê. |
|
Be not slow to visit the sick. Source: Ben Sira 7:35 |
|
9. אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם? הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם. |
|
Eizehu chachâm? ha'lomed mi'kol adâm. |
|
Who is wise? He who learns from all people. Source: Mishnah, Pirkei Avot 4:1 |
|
10. אֵיזֶהוּ עָשִׁיר? הַשָּׂמֵחַ בְּחֶלְקוֹ. |
|
Eizehu ashir? ha'samê'ach be'chelko. |
|
Who is rich? The one who is appreciates what he has. Source: Who is rich? The one who is appreciates what he has. |
|
11. אִם אֵין אֲנִי לִי, מִי לִי? |
|
Im ein ani li, mi li? |
|
If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? Source: Mishnah, Pirkei Avot 1:14 |
|
12. וּכְשֶׁאֲנִי לְעַצְמִי, מָה אֲנִי? |
|
U'kshe'ani le'atzmi, ma ani? |
|
And when I am for myself, what am 'I'? Source: Mishnah, Pirkei Avot 1:14 |
|
13. וְאִם לֹא עַכְשָׁיו, אֵימָתַי? |
|
Ve'im lo achshâv, ei'matây? |
|
And if not now, when? Source: Mishnah, Pirkei Avot 1:14 |
|
14. אֱמוֹר מְעַט וַעֲשֵׂה הַרְבֵּה. |
|
Emor me'ât ve'aseh harbe. |
|
Say little and do much. Source: Mishnah, Pirkei Avot 1:14 |
|
15. דִּבְרֵי חֲכָמִים בְּנַחַת נִשְׁמָעִים. |
|
Divrei cha'chamim be'nachat nishma'im. |
|
The words of the wise are heard [when spoken] softly. Source: Kohelet 9:17 |
|
16.הַמַּלְבִּין פְּנֵי חֲבֵרוֹ בָּרַבִּים, אֵין לוֹ חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. |
|
Ha'malbin pnei chavero barabim, ein lo chêlek la'olâm habâ. |
|
He who insults a person in public, loses his share in the world-to-come. Source: Mishnah, Pirkei Avot 3:15 |
|
17. טוֹב שֵׁם מִשֶּׁמֶן טוֹב. |
|
Tov shem mi'shemen tov |
|
A good name is better than good oil. Source: Kohelet 7:1 |
|
18. יָפָה שְׁתִיקָה לַחֲכָמִים, קַל וָחֹמֶר לַטִּפְּשִׁים. |
|
Yafa shti'ka la'chachamim, kal va'chomer latipshim. |
|
Silence is better for the wise, and how much more so for fools. Source: Proverbs 17:28 |
|
19. מָוֶת וְחַיִּים בְּיַד לָשׁוֹן. |
|
Mavet ve'chaim be'yad lashon |
|
Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Source: Proverbs 18:21 |
|
20. עַל טַעַם וְעַל רֵיחַ אֵין לְהִתְוַכֵּחַ. |
|
Al ta'am ve'al re'ach ein le'hitvake'ach. |
|
You can't argue over taste or smell. Source: Abraham Shlonsky |
|
21. שׁוֹמֵר פִּיו וּלְשׁוֹנוֹ, שׁוֹמֵר מִצָּרוֹת נַפְשׁוֹ. |
|
Shomer piv u'le'shono, shomer mitsarot nafsho |
|
He who watches his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from troubles. Source: Proverbs 21:23 |
|
22. אֵיזֶהוּ גִּבּוֹר? הַכּוֹבֵשׁ אֶת יִצְרוֹ. |
|
Eize'hu gibôr? ha'kovesh et yitsro. |
|
Who is mighty? He who subdues his passions. Source: Proverbs 16:32 |
|
23. בְּזֵעַת אַפֶּיךָ תֹּאכַל לֶחֶם. |
|
Be'ze'at apecha tochal lêchem.
|
|
By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food. Source: Bereishit 3:19 |
|
24. לֹא עָלֶיךָ הַמְּלָאכָה לִגְמוֹר, וְלֹא אַתָּה בֶּן חוֹרִין לְהִבָּטֵל מִמֶּנָּה. |
|
Lo alecha ha'me'lacha ligmor, ve'lo atâ ben chorin le'hibatel mimena. |
|
It is not your responsibility to finish the work [of perfecting the world], but you are not free to desist from it either. Source: Mishnah, Pirkei Avot 2:16 |
|
25. דַּי לְחַכִּימָא בִּרְמִיזָא. |
|
Day le'chakima bir'miza. |
|
A word to the wise is sufficient. Source: Midrash Mishlei |
|
26. דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ קָדְמָה לְתוֹרָה. |
|
Dêrech erets kad'ma le'torâ |
|
Right behavior precedes learning Source: Mishnah, Pirkei Avot 2:2 |
|
27. כָּל הַמַּצִּיל נֶפֶשׁ אַחַת מִיִשְׂרָאֵל, כְּאִילוּ הִצִּיל עוֹלָם מָלֵא. |
|
Kol hamatzil nefesh achât mi'Yisra'êl, ke'ilu hitsil olâm malê. |
|
Whoever saves a single life is as if he had saved an entire universe. Source: Mishnah, Sanhedrin 4:5 |
|
28. סוֹף מַעֲשֶׁה בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה תְּחִילָה. |
|
Sof ma'ase be'mach'shava te'chila. |
|
The end product is found in the first thoughts. Source: 2nd paragraph Lecha Dodi |
|
29. סְיָג לַחוֹכְמָה -שְׁתִיקָה. |
|
se'yag la'chochma - shti'ka. |
|
The first step to wisdom is silence. Source: Mishnah, Pirkei Avot 4:2 |
|
30. מִצְוָה גוֹרֶרֶת מִצְוָה, וַעֲבֵרָה גוֹרֶרֶת עֲבֵרָה. |
|
Mitzvâ goreret mitzvâ, ve'averâ goreret averâ. |
|
A mitzvah causes another mitzvah and a sin causes another sin. Source: Mishnah, Pirkei Avot 4:2 |
|
31. הֱוֵי מְקַבֵּל אֶת כָּל הָאָדָם בְּסֵבֶר פָּנִים יָפוֹת. |
|
He'vei me'kabel et kol ha'adâm
be'sever panim yafot. |
|
Greet every person with a pleasant face. Source: Mishnah, Pirkei Avot 1:15 |
|
32. פִּיקוּחַ נֶפֶשׁ דּוֹחֶה שַׁבָּת. |
|
Piku'ach nêfesh dochê Shabbat. |
|
One may supersede the Sabbath laws in order to save a life. Source: Babylonian Talmud, Yoma 85b |
|
33. תְּשׁוּבָה וּתְפִילָה וּצְדָקָה מַעֲבִירִים אֶת רוֹעַ הַגְזֵרָה. |
|
Tshuvâ u'te'filâ u'tsdakâ
ma'avirim et ro'a ha'gzerâ. |
|
Repentance, prayer, and charity, change the evil of the decree. Source: Unetanneh Tokef Piyyut |
|
34. אַל תָּדִין אֶת חֲבֵרְךָ עַד שֶׁתַּגִיעַ לִמְקוֹמוֹ. |
|
Al tadin et cha'vercha ad she'tagia lim'komo. |
|
Do not judge your friend until you stand in his place. Source: Mishnah, Pirkei Avot 2:4 |
|
35. מַרְבֶּה נְכָסִים - מַרְבֶּה דְאָגָה. |
|
Marbe ne'chasim - marbe de'agâ. |
|
With much wealth comes many worries. Source: Mishnah, Pirkei Avot 2:7 |
|
36. לְעוֹלָם אֵין אָדָם מַעֲנִי מִן הַצְּדָקָה. |
|
Le'olâm ein adâm ma'ani min ha'tsdakâ. |
|
Nobody is ever impoverished through the giving of charity. Source: Yeshayahu 32:17 |
|
37. תֵּן צְדָקָה בְּסֵבֶר פָּנִים יָפוֹת וּבְשִׂמְחָה. |
|
Ten tsdakâ be'sever panim yafot u'be'simchâ. |
|
Give charity graciously and cheerfully. Source: Rambam (Maimonides) |
|
38.
הַמַעֲלָה הַגְדוֹלָה בְּיוֹתֵר בִּנְתִינַת צְדָקָה הִיא לַעֲזוֹר לֶעָנִי בִּמְצִיאַת עֲבוֹדָה. |
|
Ha'ma'ala ha'ge'dola be'yotêr bi'netinat tsdakâ hi la'azor le'ani bi'me'tsiat avodâ. |
|
The greatest charity is to enable the poor to earn a living. Source: Mishneh Torah, Laws of Charity 10:7 |
|
39. כָּל הָרוֹדֵף אַחַר צְדָקָה - הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַמְצִיא לוֹ מָעוֹת וְעוֹשֶׂה בָּהֶן צְדָקָה. |
|
Kol ha'rodef achar tsdakâ - ha'kadôsh barûch hu mamtsi lo ma'ot ve'ose ba'hen tsdakâ. |
|
To him that is eager to give, the blessed Lord provides the means. Source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 9 |
|
40. שְׂכַר מִצְוָה - מִצְוָה. |
|
S'char mitzvâ - mitzvâ. |
|
The reward of a mitzva - another mitzva. Source: Mishnah, Pirkei Avot 4:2 |
|
41. שְׁקוּלָה צְדָקָה כְּנֶגֶד כָּל הַמִּצְווֹת. |
|
Sh'kula tsdakâ ke'nâged kol ha'mitzvot. |
|
Charity outweighs all other commandments. Source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 9 |
|
42. גְּדוֹלָה צְדָקָה, שֶׁמְקָרֶבֶת אֶת הַגְּאוּלָה. |
|
Ge'dola tsdakâ, she'mekarevet et ha'geula. |
|
Great is charity, for it brings near the redemption. Source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 10a |
|
43. פְּרִיעַת בַּעַל חוֹב - מִצְוָה. |
|
Pri'at bâ'al chov - mitzvâ. |
|
Payment of debt is a religious commandment. Source: Ketovot 86:1 |
|
44. אֵין דָנִים אֵת הָאָדָם אֶלָּא לְפִי מַעֲשָׂיו שֶׁל אוֹתָה שָׁעָה. |
|
Ein danim et ha'adâm ela lefi ma'asav shel ota sha'â. |
|
A person is judged only by his acts at the time. Source: Babylonian Talmud, Rosh Hashana 16:2 |
|
45. צֶדֶק צֶדֶק תִּרְדֹף. |
|
Tsêdek tsêdek tirdof. |
|
Justice and only justice shall you follow. Source: Devarim 16:20 |
|
46. פְּרַקְלִיטִין שֶׁל אָדָם - תְּשׁוּבָה וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים. |
|
P'rak'litin shel adâm - t'shuvâ u'ma'asim tovim. |
|
Repentance and good deeds are a man's best lawyer. Source: Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 32:1 |
|
47. לֹא תִהְיֶה אַחֲרֵי רַבִּים לְרָעוֹת. |
|
Lo ti'hi'ye acharei rabim ler'ot.
|
|
Do not side with the majority to do wrong. Source: Shmot 23:2 |
|
48. גוֹמֵל נַפְשׁוֹ אִישׁ חָסֶד. |
|
Gomel nafsho ish chased. |
|
The merciful man does his own soul good. Source: Proverb 11:17 |
|
49. לֹא תִרְצַח! |
|
Lo tirtsach! |
|
You shall not murder! Source: Shmot 20:13 |
|
50: פִּדְיוֹן שְׁבוּיִים מִצְוָה רַבָּה הִיא. |
|
Pidyôn she'vuyim mitzvâ raba hi. |
|
Redemption of captives is a splendid act of piety. Source: Various |
|
51. הַבָּא לְהוֹרְגְךָ - הַשְׁכֵּם לְהוֹרְגוֹ. |
|
Ha'ba le'hor'gecha - hash'kem le'hor'go. |
|
If someone comes to kill you, get in first and kill him. Source: Various |
|
52. הַמְבַקֵּר חוֹלֶה נוֹטֵל אֶחָד מִשִּׁשִּׁים בְּצַעֲרוֹ. |
|
Ha'mevaker cholê notel echad mi'shishim be'tza'aro.
|
|
Who visits a sick friend lessens his pain a little. Source: Babylonian Talmud, Nedarim 39:2 |
|
53: נֵר מִצְוָה וְתוֹרָה אוֹר. |
|
Ner mitzvâ ve'torâ or. |
|
The commandment is a lamp, and Tora is light. Source: Mishlei - Proverbs 6: 23 |
|
54:
אֶחָד הַמַּרְבֶּה וְאֶחָד הַמַּמְעִיט, וּבִלְבַד שֶׁיְכַוֵן לִבּוֹ לַשָׁמַיִם. |
|
Echad ha'marbe ve'echad ha'mam'it,
u'bilvad she'yecha'ven libo la'shamâyim |
|
One does more and one does less, but both should devote themselves to G-d. Source: Mishnah Minchot 13:11 |
|
55. כָּל אַלְמָנָה וְיָתוֹם לֹא תְעַנּוּן. |
|
Kol almanâ ve'yatôm lo te'a'nun. |
|
You shall not mistreat any widow or orphan. Source: Exodus 22:22 |
|
56: אֵיזֶהוּ מְכוּבָּד? הַמְכַבֵּד אֶת הַבְּרִיוֹת. |
|
Eize'hu me’chubad? ha'mechabed et ha'briyot. |
|
Who is respected? One who respects people. Source: Mishnah Avot 4:1 |
|
57: הַיוֹצֵא מִפִּיכֶם תַּעֲשׂוּ. |
|
Ha'yotze mi'pi'chem ta'a'su. |
|
Do what you have promised. Source: Bamidbar 32, 24 |
|
58: הֱוֵי דָן אֶת כָּל הָאָדָם לְכַף זְכוּת. |
|
He'vei dan et kol ha'adâm le'chaf zchut. |
|
Judge every man charitably. Source: Pirkei Avot 1:6 |
|
59: מִדְּבַר שֶׁקֶר תִּרְחָק! |
|
Mi'dvar shêker tirchak! |
|
Keep far from a lie. Source: Shmot 23:7 |
|
60: לֹא הַמִּדְרָש הוּא הָעִיקָּר, אֶלָּא הַמַּעֲשֶׁה. |
|
Lo ha'midrâsh hu ha'ikâr, ela ha'ma'asê. |
|
It is not what one says, but rather what one does. Source: Avot 1:17 |
|
61: דִבְּרָה תוֹרָה בִּלְשׁוֹן בְּנֵי אָדָם. |
|
Dibra torâ bil'shon bnei adâm. |
|
The Torah speaks in a language all people speak. Source: Various |
|
62: לִפְנֵי עִוֵּר לֹא תִתֵּן מִכְשׁוֹל. |
|
Lif'nei ivêr lo titen michshêl. |
|
You shall not put a stumbling-block before the blind. Source: Vayikra |
|
63. מַרְבֶּה יְשִׁיבָה מַרְבֶּה חָכְמָה. |
|
Marbe ye'shiva marbe choch'ma. |
|
The more schooling, the more wisdom. Source: Avot 2:7 |
|
64: תַּלְמִידֵי חֲכָמִים מַרְבִּים שָׁלוֹם בָּעוֹלָם. |
|
Tal'midei cha'cha'mim marbim shalom ba'olâm |
|
Scholars enhance peace in the world. Source: Brachot 64:1 |
|
65: עֲשֵׂה לְךָ רַב וּקְנֵה לְךָ חָבֵר. |
|
Ase lecha rav u'kne lecha chavêr. |
|
Find yourself a teacher and get you a fellow-student. Source: Avot 1:6 |
|
66: מוֹרָא רַבְּךָ כְּמוֹרָא שָׁמַיִם. |
|
Mora Rab'cha ke'mora shamâyim. |
|
Revere your teacher as you would heaven. Source: Avot 4:12 |
|
67: מִכָּל מְלַמְּדַי הִשְׂכַּלְתִּי. |
|
Mi'kol Me'lamdai his'kalti. |
|
I became wiser from every teacher. Source: Various |
|
68:
גְּדוֹלָה הַכְנָסַת אוֹרְחִים מֵהַקְבָּלַת פְּנֵי שְׁכִינָה. |
|
Ge'dola hachnasat orchim me'hakbalat pnei she'china. |
|
The welcoming of guests takes precedence over welcoming the divine presence. Source: Shabbat 127:1 |
|
69: יְהִי בֵּיתְךָ בֵּית-וַעַד לַחֲכָמִים. |
|
Ye'hi beitcha beit-vâ'ad la'cha'cha'mim. |
|
Let your home be a meet-place for the Sages. Source: Avot 1:4 |
|
70: חֲכָמִים, הִזָּהֲרוּ בְּדִבְרֵיכֶם! |
|
Chachamim, hiza'haru be'divreichem! |
|
Sages, be careful with your words! Source: Avot 1:11 |
|
71: אִם אֵין קֶמַח, אֵין תּוֹרָה. |
|
Im ein kêmach, ein torâ. |
|
Where there is no flour, there is no Torah. Source: Avot 3:17 |
|
72: אֵין סוֹמְכִין עַל הַנֵּס. |
|
Ein som'chin al ha'nes |
|
One must not rely on miracles happening. Source: Kidushin 39: 72 |
|
73: מִפְּנֵי שֵׂיבָה תָּקוּם וְהָדַרְתָּ פְּנֵי זָקֵן. |
|
Mi'pnei seivâ takum ve'hadarta pnei zakên. |
|
You should rise up before the elderly, and honor the face of the old man. Source: Vayikra 19:32 |
|
74: אֵין לְךָ אָדָם שֶׁאֵין לוֹ שָׁעָה, וְאֵין לְךָ דָּבָר שֶׁאֵין לוֹ מָקוֹם. |
|
Ein lecha ada âm she'ein lo sha'a â, ve'ein lecha dava âr she'ein lo maka âm. |
|
There is no man who has not his hour, and no thing that has not its place. Source: Avot 4:3 |
|
75: אַל תֹּאמַר: לִכְשֶׁאֶפָּנֶה אֶשְׁנֶה, שֶׁמָּא לֹא תִפָּנֶה. |
|
Al tomar: lich'she'efne eshne, shema lo tifne. |
|
Do not say I will study when I have time, lest you never find the time Source: Avot 2:4 |
|
76: כָּל שֶׁרוּחַ הַבְּרִיוֹת נוֹחָה הֵימֶנּוּ, רוּחַ הַמָּקוֹם נוֹחָה הֵימֶנּוּ. |
|
Kol sheruâch ha'briyot nocha hei'menu, ruâch ha'makôm nocha hei'menu. |
|
He who in whom fellow people find delight, in him the G-d finds pleasure. Source: Avot 3:10 |
|
77: חָבִיב אָדָם שֶׁנִּבְרָא בְּצֶלֶם. |
|
Chaviv adâm she'nivrâ be'tsâlem. |
|
Beloved is man, for he was created in the image (of G-d). Source: Avot 3:14 |
Please Click on an Icon and Share this Page Thank You!! |
|
|
|
 |
 |
Click to share by email:
Learn Hebrew - Jewish Proverbs and Sayings
Go to Middle of this Page
Go to Top of this Page
Learn Hebrew Words Index
JR Links
Hebrew Song Pages
JR LinksHebrew Resources
Hebrew Hotsites
JR Home
© 2024 Jacob Richman