Proverbs 4
1 Hear, you sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
Audite filii disciplinam patris, et attendite ut sciatis prudentiam.
2 For I have given to you good learning, do not forsake my law.
Donum bonum tribuam vobis, legem meam ne derelinquatis.
3 For I have been a son to my father—tender, And an only one before my mother.
Nam et ego filius fui patris mei, tenellus, et unigenitus coram matre mea:
4 And he directs me, and he says to me: “Let your heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
et docebat me, atque dicebat: Suscipiat verba mea cor tuum, custodi præcepta mea, et vives.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
Posside sapientiam, posside prudentiam: ne obliviscaris, neque declines a verbis oris mei.
6 Do not forsake her, and she preserves you, Love her, and she keeps you.
Ne dimittas eam, et custodiet te: dilige eam, et conservabit te.
7 The first thing [is] wisdom—get wisdom, And with all your getting get understanding.
Principium sapientiæ, posside sapientiam, et in omni possessione tua acquire prudentiam:
8 Exalt her and she lifts you up, She honors you when you embrace her.
arripe illam, et exaltabit te: glorificaberis ab ea, cum eam fueris amplexatus.
9 She gives a wreath of grace to your head, She gives you a crown of beauty freely.”
dabit capiti tuo augmenta gratiarum, et corona inclyta proteget te.
10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to you.
Audi fili mi, et suscipe verba mea, ut multiplicentur tibi anni vitæ.
11 I have directed you in a way of wisdom, I have caused you to tread in paths of uprightness.
Viam sapientiæ monstrabo tibi, ducam te per semitas æquitatis:
12 In your walking your step is not restricted, And if you run, you do not stumble.
quas cum ingressus fueris, non arctabuntur gressus tui, et currens non habebis offendiculum.
13 Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] your life.
Tene disciplinam, ne dimittas eam: custodi illam, quia ipsa est vita tua.
14 Do not enter into the path of the wicked, And do not be blessed in a way of evildoers.
Ne delecteris in semitis impiorum, nec tibi placeat malorum via.
15 Avoid it, do not pass over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
Fuge ab ea, nec transeas per illam: declina, et desere eam.
16 For they do not sleep if they do no evil, And their sleep has been taken away violently, If they do not cause [some] to stumble.
non enim dormiunt nisi malefecerint: et rapitur somnus ab eis nisi supplantaverint.
17 For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And they drink wine of violence.
comedunt panem impietatis, et vinum iniquitatis bibunt.
18 And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening until the day is established,
Iustorum autem semita quasi lux splendens, procedit et crescit usque ad perfectam diem.
19 The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
Via impiorum tenebrosa: nesciunt ubi corruant.
20 My son, give 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 let them turn aside from your eyes, Preserve them in the midst of your heart.
ne recedant ab oculis tuis, custodi ea in medio cordis tui:
22 For they [are] life to those finding them, And healing to all their flesh.
vita enim sunt invenientibus ea, et universæ carni sanitas.
23 Above every charge keep your heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
Omni custodia serva cor tuum, quia ex ipso vita procedit.
24 Turn aside a contrary mouth from you, And put perverse lips far from you,
Remove a te os pravum, et detrahentia labia sint procul a te.
25 Your eyes look straightforward, And your eyelids look straight before you.
Oculi tui recta videant, et palpebræ tuæ præcedant gressus tuos.
26 Ponder the path of your feet, And all your ways [are] established.
Dirige semitam pedibus tuis, et omnes viæ tuæ stabilientur.
27 Do not incline [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside your foot 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.
