| אכול ושתו כי מחר נמות |
Achol ve-shato ki machar namut |
Eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die. |
Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. |
A biblical expression encouraging enjoyment in the face of uncertainty, sometimes with a critical or fatalistic implication. |
| אם אין אני לי, מי לי? וכשאני לעצמי, מה אני? ואם לא עכשיו, אימתי? |
Im ein ani li, mi li? U-chshe-ani le-atzmi, ma ani? Ve-im lo achshav, eimatai? |
If I am not for myself, who is for me? And when I am for myself alone, what am I? And if not now, when? |
God helps those who help themselves; no man is an island; there’s no time like the present. |
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| מצא מין את מינו |
Matza min et mino |
A kind found its own kind. |
Birds of a feather flock together. |
Said when two people with similar personalities, interests, or faults find each other. |
| כל אהבה שהיא תלויה בדבר, בטל דבר — בטלה אהבה; ושאינה תלויה בדבר, אינה בטלה לעולם |
Kol ahava she-hi tluya be-davar, batel davar — batla ahava; ve-she-eina tluya be-davar, eina betela le-olam |
Any love that depends on something—when that thing ceases, the love ceases; but love that does not depend on something never ceases. |
True love endures. |
It distinguishes self-interested or conditional love from lasting, unconditional love. |
| כל הפוסל במומו פוסל |
Kol ha-posel be-mumo posel |
Whoever disqualifies another does so through his own defect. |
The pot calling the kettle black. |
People often condemn in others the very faults they themselves possess. |
| עבר יומו, בטל קרבנו |
Avar yomo, batel korbano |
Its day has passed; its sacrifice is void. |
Too little, too late. |
The proper time for doing something has already passed. |
| לכל זמן, ועת לכל חפץ תחת השמים |
La-kol zman, ve-et le-chol chefetz tachat ha-shamayim |
For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. |
To everything there is a season. |
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| חזית איש מהיר במלאכתו? לפני מלכים יתייצב |
Chazita ish mahir bi-melachto? Lifnei melachim yityatzev |
Have you seen a person skilled in his work? Before kings he shall stand. |
A good workman is known by his work. |
Exceptional ability eventually earns recognition and advancement. |
| לעולם יאכל אדם פחות מן הראוי לו לפי ממונו, וילבש כראוי לו, ויכבד אשתו ובניו יותר מן הראוי לו |
Le-olam yochal adam pachot min ha-ra’ui lo lefi mamono, ve-yilbash ka-ra’ui lo, vi-chabed ishto u-vanav yoter min ha-ra’ui lo |
A person should always eat less than what is appropriate to his means, dress according to his means, and honor his wife and children beyond his means. |
Cut your coat according to your cloth. |
Live modestly yourself, maintain a respectable appearance, and be especially generous toward your family. |
| על ראש הגנב בוער הכובע |
Al rosh ha-ganav bo’er ha-kova |
On the thief’s head, the hat is burning. |
A guilty conscience needs no accuser. |
A guilty person’s nervous behavior often exposes them. |
| אין דבר העומד בפני הרצון |
Ein davar ha-omed bifnei ha-ratzon |
Nothing stands in the way of the will. |
Where there’s a will, there’s a way. |
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| קנה חכמה מה טוב מחרוץ, וקנות בינה נבחר מכסף |
Kno chochma, ma tov me-charutz; u-knot bina nivchar mi-kesef |
Acquiring wisdom—how much better than gold; acquiring understanding is preferable to silver. |
Wisdom is better than riches. |
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| כי ברוב חכמה רוב כעס, ויוסיף דעת יוסיף מכאוב |
Ki ve-rov chochma rov ka’as, ve-yosif da’at yosif mach’ov |
For with much wisdom comes much vexation, and whoever increases knowledge increases pain. |
Ignorance is bliss. |
Greater understanding can also bring greater awareness of suffering and problems. |
| צרת רבים חצי נחמה |
Tzarat rabim, chatzi nechama |
The trouble of many is half a consolation. |
A trouble shared is a trouble halved. |
Knowing that others share the same difficulty can make it easier to bear. |
| אילני סרק קולם הולך |
Ilanei srak, kolam holech |
Barren trees—their sound travels far. |
Empty vessels make the most noise. |
People with little knowledge or substance are often the loudest. |
| אין חכם כבעל ניסיון |
Ein chacham ke-va’al nisayon |
There is no one as wise as a person of experience. |
Experience is the best teacher. |
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| לא הביישן למד ולא הקפדן מלמד |
Lo ha-baishan lamed, ve-lo ha-kapdan melamed |
The shy person does not learn, and the overly strict person does not teach. |
He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask remains a fool forever. |
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| דברי חכמים בנחת נשמעים |
Divrei chachamim be-nachat nishma’im |
The words of the wise are heard in quiet. |
A soft answer turns away wrath. |
Calmly expressed wisdom is more effective than shouting. |
| סייג לחכמה שתיקה |
Siyag la-chochma shtika |
A fence around wisdom is silence. |
Silence is golden. |
Knowing when not to speak is part of wisdom. |
| בור ששתית ממנו אל תזרוק בו אבן |
Bor she-shatita mimenu, al tizrok bo even |
Do not throw a stone into a well from which you have drunk. |
Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. |
Do not harm or insult a person or institution from which you have benefited. |
| אל יתהלל חוגר כמפתח |
Al yithalel choger ki-mefate’ach |
Let not one who puts on his armor boast like one who takes it off. |
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. |
Do not boast of victory before the struggle has even begun. |
| חושך שבטו שונא בנו |
Chosech shivto, sone beno |
He who spares his rod hates his son. |
Spare the rod and spoil the child. |
An ancient statement advocating firm discipline; it should not automatically be read as modern approval of corporal punishment. |
| שלח לחמך על פני המים, כי ברוב הימים תמצאנו |
Shalach lachmecha al pnei ha-mayim, ki ve-rov ha-yamim timtza’enu |
Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it. |
Cast your bread upon the waters. |
Generosity or a worthwhile investment may eventually bring an unexpected return. |
| טובים השניים מן האחד |
Tovim ha-shnayim min ha-echad |
Two are better than one. |
Two heads are better than one. |
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