Wisdom My Girl
2014 / 5775
Pen and ink, watercolor pencil, on paper
Texts in the Artwork
משנה פרקי אבות ב:טז
Mishna Pirkei Avot / Chapters of the Fathers, 2:16
לא עליך המלאכה לגמור. ולא אתה בן חורין ליבטל ממנה.
It is not upon you to finish the work, and you are not free to idly not do it.
תְּהִלִּים ג
Tehillim / Psalms 3
ז.
7.
לֹא-אִירָא, מֵרִבְבוֹת עָם– אֲשֶׁר סָבִיב, שָׁתוּ עָלָי.
I am not afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.
מִשְׁלֵי ח
Mishlei / Proverbs 8
א.
1.
הֲלֹא-חָכְמָה תִקְרָא; וּתְבוּנָה, תִּתֵּן קוֹלָהּ.
Does not wisdom call, and understanding put forth her voice?
ב.
2.
בְּרֹאשׁ-מְרֹמִים עֲלֵי-דָרֶךְ; בֵּית נְתִיבוֹת נִצָּבָה.
In the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands;
ג.
3.
לְיַד-שְׁעָרִים לְפִי-קָרֶת; מְבוֹא פְתָחִים תָּרֹנָּה.
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she cries aloud:
ד.
4.
אֲלֵיכֶם אִישִׁים אֶקְרָא; וְקוֹלִי, אֶל-בְּנֵי אָדָם.
Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men. …
ו.
6.
שִׁמְעוּ, כִּי-נְגִידִים אֲדַבֵּר; וּמִפְתַּח שְׂפָתַי, מֵישָׁרִים.
Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things. …
יב.
12.
אֲנִי-חָכְמָה, שָׁכַנְתִּי עָרְמָה; וְדַעַת מְזִמּוֹת אֶמְצָא.
I, Wisdom, dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of schemes. …
יד.
14.
לִי-עֵצָה, וְתוּשִׁיָּה; אֲנִי בִינָה, לִי גְבוּרָה.
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine. …
יז.
17.
אֲנִי, אהביה (אֹהֲבַי) אֵהָב; וּמְשַׁחֲרַי, יִמְצָאֻנְנִי.
I love those that love me, and those that seek me earnestly shall find me. …
כ.
20.
בְּאֹרַח-צְדָקָה אֲהַלֵּךְ; בְּתוֹךְ, נְתִיבוֹת מִשְׁפָּט.
I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice. …
כג.
23.
מֵעוֹלָם, נִסַּכְתִּי מֵרֹאשׁ– מִקַּדְמֵי-אָרֶץ.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
כד.
24.
בְּאֵין-תְּהֹמוֹת חוֹלָלְתִּי; בְּאֵין מַעְיָנוֹת, נִכְבַּדֵּי-מָיִם.
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
כה.
25.
בְּטֶרֶם הָרִים הָטְבָּעוּ; לִפְנֵי גְבָעוֹת חוֹלָלְתִּי.
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills I was brought forth;
כו.
26.
עַד-לֹא עָשָׂה, אֶרֶץ וְחוּצוֹת; וְרֹאשׁ, עַפְרוֹת תֵּבֵל.
While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
כז.
27.
בַּהֲכִינוֹ שָׁמַיִם, שָׁם אָנִי; בְּחֻקוֹ חוּג, עַל-פְּנֵי תְהוֹם.
When He established the heavens, I was there; when He set a circle upon the face of the deep,
כח.
28.
בְּאַמְּצוֹ שְׁחָקִים מִמָּעַל; בַּעֲזוֹז, עִינוֹת תְּהוֹם.
When He made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep showed their might,
כט.
29.
בְּשׂוּמוֹ לַיָּם, חֻקּוֹ, וּמַיִם, לֹא יַעַבְרוּ-פִיו; בְּחוּקוֹ, מוֹסְדֵי אָרֶץ.
When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not transgress His commandment, when He appointed the foundations of the earth. …
לב.
32.
וְעַתָּה בָנִים, שִׁמְעוּ-לִי; וְאַשְׁרֵי, דְּרָכַי יִשְׁמֹרוּ.
Now therefore, ye children, hearken unto me; for happy are they that keep my ways.
לג.
33.
שִׁמְעוּ מוּסָר וַחֲכָמוּ; וְאַל-תִּפְרָעוּ.
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
לד.
34.
אַשְׁרֵי אָדָם, שֹׁמֵעַ-לִי: לִשְׁקֹד עַל-דַּלְתֹתַי, יוֹם יוֹם–לִשְׁמֹר, מְזוּזֹת פְּתָחָי.
Happy is the man that hearkens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
לה.
35.
כִּי מֹצְאִי, מצאי (מָצָא) חַיִּים; וַיָּפֶק רָצוֹן, מֵה’.
For whoso finds me finds life, and obtains favour of the Lord.
Sourcing
Mishna Pirkei Avot / Chapters of the Fathers, 2:16
Translation and Hebrew Adaptation:
Talia Werber
Hebrew from:
Tehillim / Psalms 3
Translation and Hebrew from:
Mishlei / Proverbs 8
Translation and Hebrew from:
Mechon Mamre
Adapted by Talia Werber
