Proverbs 4
1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
Audite filii disciplinam patris, et attendite ut sciatis prudentiam.
2 For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.
Donum bonum tribuam vobis, legem meam ne derelinquatis.
3 When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother,
Nam et ego filius fui patris mei, tenellus, et unigenitus coram matre mea:
4 he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.
et docebat me, atque dicebat: Suscipiat verba mea cor tuum, custodi præcepta mea, et vives.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.
Posside sapientiam, posside prudentiam: ne obliviscaris, neque declines a verbis oris mei.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.
Ne dimittas eam, et custodiet te: dilige eam, et conservabit te.
7 Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
Principium sapientiæ, posside sapientiam, et in omni possessione tua acquire prudentiam:
8 Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
arripe illam, et exaltabit te: glorificaberis ab ea, cum eam fueris amplexatus.
9 She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”
dabit capiti tuo augmenta gratiarum, et corona inclyta proteget te.
10 Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.
Audi fili mi, et suscipe verba mea, ut multiplicentur tibi anni vitæ.
11 I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.
Viam sapientiæ monstrabo tibi, ducam te per semitas æquitatis:
12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.
quas cum ingressus fueris, non arctabuntur gressus tui, et currens non habebis offendiculum.
13 Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
Tene disciplinam, ne dimittas eam: custodi illam, quia ipsa est vita tua.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
Ne delecteris in semitis impiorum, nec tibi placeat malorum via.
15 Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by.
Fuge ab ea, nec transeas per illam: declina, et desere eam.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
non enim dormiunt nisi malefecerint: et rapitur somnus ab eis nisi supplantaverint.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
comedunt panem impietatis, et vinum iniquitatis bibunt.
18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
Iustorum autem semita quasi lux splendens, procedit et crescit usque ad perfectam diem.
19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.
Via impiorum tenebrosa: nesciunt ubi corruant.
20 My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
Fili mi, ausculta sermones meos, et ad eloquia mea inclina aurem tuam.
21 Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
ne recedant ab oculis tuis, custodi ea in medio cordis tui:
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.
vita enim sunt invenientibus ea, et universæ carni sanitas.
23 Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
Omni custodia serva cor tuum, quia ex ipso vita procedit.
24 Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.
Remove a te os pravum, et detrahentia labia sint procul a te.
25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
Oculi tui recta videant, et palpebræ tuæ præcedant gressus tuos.
26 Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
Dirige semitam pedibus tuis, et omnes viæ tuæ stabilientur.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
Ne declines ad dexteram, neque ad sinistram: averte pedem tuum a malo. vias enim, quæ a dextris sunt, novit Dominus: perversæ vero sunt quæ a sinistris sunt. Ipse autem rectos faciet cursus tuos, itinera autem tua in pace producet.
