Proverbs 4
1 Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
Audite filii disciplinam patris, et attendite ut sciatis prudentiam.
2 for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.
Donum bonum tribuam vobis, legem meam ne derelinquatis.
3 For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
Nam et ego filius fui patris mei, tenellus, et unigenitus coram matre mea:
4 He taught me, 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 præcepta mea, et vives.
5 Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.
Posside sapientiam, posside prudentiam: ne obliviscaris, neque declines a verbis oris mei.
6 Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
Ne dimittas eam, et custodiet te: dilige eam, et conservabit te.
7 Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
Principium sapientiæ, posside sapientiam, et in omni possessione tua acquire prudentiam.
8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honour when you embrace her.
Arripe illam, et exaltabit te: glorificaberis ab ea, cum eam fueris amplexatus.
9 She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendour to you.”
Dabit capiti tuo augmenta gratiarum, et corona inclyta proteget te.
10 Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
Audi fili mi, et suscipe verba mea, ut multiplicentur tibi anni vitæ.
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
Viam sapientiæ monstrabo tibi, ducam te per semitas æquitatis:
12 When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
quas cum ingressus fueris, non arctabuntur gressus tui, et currens non habebis offendiculum.
13 Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
Tene disciplinam, ne dimittas eam: custodi illam, quia ipsa est vita tua.
14 Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
Ne delecteris in semitis impiorum, nec tibi placeat malorum via.
15 Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
Fuge ab ea, nec transeas per illam: declina, et desere eam.
16 For they don’t sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless 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 But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.
Iustorum autem semita quasi lux splendens, procedit et crescit usque ad perfectam diem.
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.
Via impiorum tenebrosa: nesciunt ubi corruant.
20 My son, attend to my words. Turn 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 centre of 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 their whole body.
vita enim sunt invenientibus ea, et universæ carni sanitas.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
Omni custodia serva cor tuum, quia ex ipso vita procedit.
24 Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
Remove a te os pravum, et detrahentia labia sint procul a te.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
Oculi tui recta videant, et palpebræ tuæ præcedant gressus tuos.
26 Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
Dirige semitam pedibus tuis, et omnes viæ tuæ stabilientur.
27 Don’t turn 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, 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.
