## Shekel HaKodesh, Prelude

###### Shekel HaKodesh, Prelude 1
[Shekel HaKodesh, Prelude 1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shekel%20HaKodesh/s/Prelude/r/1)

תנה אל לב משכיל / בכל עת ובכל יום,
ובחול המועד / ושבת וחדש,
וכל מדות טובות / חמודות מזהב
ומפז תמצאם / בשקל הקדש.

**Shekel Hakodesh, trans. Hermann Gollancz, London 1919:**
O wise one, lay it to heart at all times, yea, every day, whether week-day or feast-day, sabbath or new moon, and you will find in ' The Holy Shekel ' every good quality, more precious than gold, yea, than fine gold.


###### Shekel HaKodesh, Prelude 2
[Shekel HaKodesh, Prelude 2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shekel%20HaKodesh/s/Prelude/r/2)

זה ספר להבין משל ומליצה, דעת ומועצה, דברי חכמים וחידותם, מוסרי חכמים נבונים וסודותם,

**Shekel Hakodesh, trans. Hermann Gollancz, London 1919:**
The object of this work is to make clear the proverb and parable, knowledge and counsel, the words of the wise and their dark sayings, the maxims of the sages and men of understanding, and their conceits.


###### Shekel HaKodesh, Prelude 3
[Shekel HaKodesh, Prelude 3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shekel%20HaKodesh/s/Prelude/r/3)

אני יוסף בר׳ יצחק המכונה קמחי שקלתיהו בשקל לשון הקדש בחרוזים, מצאתים בתחלה מפורדים, מהם בלשון ערבי ומהם בעברי, ושקלתים כדי שיהא נקל בהבנתו ובגרסתו,

**Shekel Hakodesh, trans. Hermann Gollancz, London 1919:**
I, Joseph the son of Isaac, surnamed Kimchi, have weighed such in the balance of the Holy Tongue, measuring them in verses; I found them originally scattered here and there, some in Arabic, and some in Hebrew, and I have weighed them so that they may be easily understood, both as regards matter and language.


###### Shekel HaKodesh, Prelude 4
[Shekel HaKodesh, Prelude 4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shekel%20HaKodesh/s/Prelude/r/4)

על כן קראתי אותו **שקל הקדש**, וחברתי המשלים והמוסרים הדומים זה לזה בשער הראוי להם, והם שנים ועשרים שערים כחשבון האותיות של התורה, ומניתי חרוזי כל שער ושער באחרית בשני חרוזים במלים דומים, אחד תופש עניין ורעו חשבון, להודיע לכל חכם ונבון,

**Shekel Hakodesh, trans. Hermann Gollancz, London 1919:**
I have, therefore, called the book 'The Holy Shekel,' collecting the proverbs and maxims resembling one another, into their appropriate chapters; there are in all 22 chapters, according to the number of the letters of the Torah (*i.e*., Hebrew alphabet). I have summed up the verses of each and every chapter at the end thereof, the number being contained in the similarly-sounding final words of the concluding couplet—one line of which sets forth the subject matter, and the other the number of rhymes, for the benefit of those who would be wise and understand.


###### Shekel HaKodesh, Prelude 5
[Shekel HaKodesh, Prelude 5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shekel%20HaKodesh/s/Prelude/r/5)

ישמע חכם ויוסיף לקח ומענה, ונבון תחבולות יקנה.

**Shekel Hakodesh, trans. Hermann Gollancz, London 1919:**
The wise will hear, and gather doctrine and speech, and the man of understanding will gain prudence.


###### Shekel HaKodesh, Prelude 6
[Shekel HaKodesh, Prelude 6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shekel%20HaKodesh/s/Prelude/r/6)

ואומר נפש חיותה עד בלי שמים, מהררי שכל קחי רחיים.
בם (א)טחני קמח מזימה ועשי עוגות והכין בעדי כירים,
טבחי טבחייך, וייניך תמסכי, זכרו כמור ישא לכל אפיים

**Shekel Hakodesh, trans. Hermann Gollancz, London 1919:**
Now, I say, the vital soul (of Wisdom) is beyond the heavens in duration. Take millstones from the mountains of Intelligence and grind therewith the flour of Thought, and having made all due preparation for the sweet fare and rich repast, dress thy (spiritual) food and mix thy (ethereal) wine, so that their fragrance may be wafted as myrrh in every man's countenance.


###### Shekel HaKodesh, Prelude 7
[Shekel HaKodesh, Prelude 7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shekel%20HaKodesh/s/Prelude/r/7)

(ו)שירים ראו לא יערוך אותם חלי (ו)כתם יקרים מזהב פרוים,
(ו)טורים משובצים בשש בינה ובוץ (ו)הם תאוה ללב ולעינים,
(ו)לבת בנו קמחי שקלתים בשקל (ו)מחשב כי לא בכף מאזנים,

**Shekel Hakodesh, trans. Hermann Gollancz, London 1919:**
Regard these rhymes well. There cannot be compared to them ornaments of the choicest gold, even of the gold of Parvaim;—they are as rows of precious stones set in beauteous pattern of finest linen, a delight both to the eyes and the heart; I have arranged them in verse, weighing them not in the material balance, but balancing them in my mind, and this for the daughter of the son of Kimchi.


###### Shekel HaKodesh, Prelude 8
[Shekel HaKodesh, Prelude 8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Shekel%20HaKodesh/s/Prelude/r/8)

ורשפי יקוד מוסר כלפיד יבערו, ובלב לקחם לא במלקחים,
אם נכתבו שירים על לוח לב אנוש, (ו)אלה תנו אותם בלוחותים.

**Shekel Hakodesh, trans. Hermann Gollancz, London 1919:**
The sparks of burning instruction glow as a torch: wherefore grasp them not with tongs but with the heart. Such verses are written upon the tablet of the heart of man; wherefore place thou them upon these tablets.