Proverbs 4
1 Hear, you children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
Audite filii disciplinam patris, et attendite ut sciatis prudentiam.
2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake you not my law.
Donum bonum tribuam vobis, legem meam ne derelinquatis.
3 For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
Nam et ego filius fui patris mei, tenellus, et unigenitus coram matre mea:
4 He taught me also, and said to me, Let your heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
et docebat me, atque dicebat: Suscipiat verba mea cor tuum, custodi praecepta mea, et vives.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
Posside sapientiam, posside prudentiam: ne obliviscaris, neque declines a verbis oris mei.
6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve you: love her, and she shall keep you.
Ne dimittas eam, et custodiet te: dilige eam, et conservabit te.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting get understanding.
Principium sapientiae, posside sapientiam, et in omni possessione tua acquire prudentiam:
8 Exalt her, and she shall promote you: she shall bring you to honor, when you do embrace her.
arripe illam, et exaltabit te: glorificaberis ab ea, cum eam fueris amplexatus.
9 She shall give to your head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to you.
dabit capiti tuo augmenta gratiarum, et corona inclyta proteget te.
10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of your life shall be many.
Audi fili mi, et suscipe verba mea, ut multiplicentur tibi anni vitae.
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths.
Viam sapientiae monstrabo tibi, ducam te per semitas aequitatis:
12 When you go, your steps shall not be straitened; and when you run, you shall not stumble.
quas cum ingressus fueris, non arctabuntur gressus tui, et currens non habebis offendiculum.
13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is your life.
Tene disciplinam, ne dimittas eam: custodi illam, quia ipsa est via tua.
14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
Ne delecteris in semitis impiorum, nec tibi placeat malorum via.
15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
Fuge ab ea, nec transeas per illam: declina, et desere eam.
16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
non enim dormiunt nisi malefecerint: et non capitur 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 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more to the perfect day.
Iustorum autem semita quasi lux splendens, procedit et crescit usque ad perfectam diem.
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
Via impiorum tenebrosa: nesciunt ubi corruant.
20 My son, attend to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
Fili mi, ausculta sermones meos, et ad eloquia mea inclina aurem tuam.
21 Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the middle of your heart.
ne recedant ab oculis tuis, custodi ea in medio cordis tui:
22 For they are life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
vita enim sunt invenientibus ea, et universae carni sanitas.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Omni custodia serva cor tuum, quia ex ipso vita procedit.
24 Put away from you a fraudulent mouth, and perverse lips put far from you.
Remove a te os pravum, et detrahentia labia sint procul a te.
25 Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids look straight before you.
Oculi tui recta videant, et palpebrae tuae praecedant gressus tuos.
26 Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.
Dirige semitam pedibus tuis, et omnes viae tuae stabilientur.
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove your foot from evil.
Ne declines ad dexteram, neque ad sinistram: averte pedem tuum a malo. vias enim, quae a dextris sunt, novit Dominus: perversae vero sunt quae a sinistris sunt. Ipse autem rectos faciet cursus tuos, itinera autem tua in pace producet.
