Proverbs 4
1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
audite filii disciplinam patris et adtendite 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 praecepta 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 servabit te
7 Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
principium sapientiae posside sapientiam et in omni possessione tua adquire 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 inclita 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 vitae
11 I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.
viam sapientiae monstravi tibi duxi te per semitas aequitatis
12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.
quas cum ingressus fueris non artabuntur 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 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 ne 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 subplantaverint
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 universae 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 palpebrae tuae praecedant gressus tuos
26 Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
dirige semitam pedibus tuis et omnes viae tuae stabilientur
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
ne declines ad dexteram et ad sinistram averte pedem tuum a malo
