Proverbs 4
1 Listen, sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and discover what makes sense,
audite filii disciplinam patris et adtendite ut sciatis prudentiam
2 for what I am passing on to you is reliable. Don't reject my teachings.
donum bonum tribuam vobis legem meam ne derelinquatis
3 When I was a son with my father—a tender young boy, my mother's only child—
nam et ego filius fui patris mei tenellus et unigenitus coram matre mea
4 he was the one who taught me. He told me, “Pay attention to the words I say and keep them in mind; do what I tell you and you will live.
et docebat me atque dicebat suscipiat verba mea cor tuum custodi praecepta mea et vives
5 Get wisdom, find out what makes sense. Don't forget my words or reject them.
posside sapientiam posside prudentiam ne obliviscaris neque declines a verbis oris mei
6 Don't give up on wisdom for she will keep you safe. Love wisdom and she will protect you.
ne dimittas eam et custodiet te dilige eam et servabit te
7 The first thing in becoming wise is to get wisdom! Whatever else you gain, gain insight.
principium sapientiae posside sapientiam et in omni possessione tua adquire prudentiam
8 Treasure wisdom, and she will praise you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
arripe illam et exaltabit te glorificaberis ab ea cum eam fueris amplexatus
9 She will place on your head a wreath of grace; she will present to you a crown of glory.”
dabit capiti tuo augmenta gratiarum et corona inclita proteget te
10 Listen, my son, if you accept what I tell you, then you will live a long life.
audi fili mi et suscipe verba mea ut multiplicentur tibi anni vitae
11 I have explained to you the way of wisdom; I have guided you along the right paths.
viam sapientiae monstravi tibi duxi te per semitas aequitatis
12 Nothing will block your way when you walk, you won't stumble when you run.
quas cum ingressus fueris non artabuntur gressus tui et currens non habebis offendiculum
13 Hold on to these instructions—don't let them go. Protect them, for they are life's foundation.
tene disciplinam ne dimittas eam custodi illam quia ipsa est vita tua
14 Don't go the way of the wicked or follow the example of those who do evil.
ne delecteris semitis impiorum nec tibi placeat malorum via
15 Avoid that way completely. Don't go there! Turn away, and walk on.
fuge ab ea ne transeas per illam declina et desere eam
16 Evil people won't rest until they've done something wrong; they can't sleep unless they've tripped someone up.
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 way of life of the good is like the light of the sunrise, glowing brighter and brighter until the full light of day shines out.
iustorum autem semita quasi lux splendens procedit et crescit usque ad perfectam diem
19 But the way of life of the wicked is like complete darkness; they don't even know what they're tripping over.
via impiorum tenebrosa nesciunt ubi corruant
20 My son, pay attention to what I tell you; listen to the words I'm saying.
fili mi ausculta sermones meos et ad eloquia mea inclina aurem tuam
21 Don't lose sight of them; think about them deeply,
ne recedant ab oculis tuis custodi ea in medio cordis tui
22 for they are life to anyone who finds them, and make the whole body healthy.
vita enim sunt invenientibus ea et universae carni sanitas
23 Most of all, protect your mind, for everything in life flows from it.
omni custodia serva cor tuum quia ex ipso vita procedit
24 Don't ever lie, and don't say anything dishonest.
remove a te os pravum et detrahentia labia sint procul a te
25 Focus on what's ahead of you; look at what's in front of you.
oculi tui recta videant et palpebrae tuae praecedant gressus tuos
26 Pay attention to the path you decide to follow, and you'll be safe wherever you go.
dirige semitam pedibus tuis et omnes viae tuae stabilientur
27 Don't deviate to the right or the left, and turn away from evil.
ne declines ad dexteram et ad sinistram averte pedem tuum a malo
