Proverbs 8
1 Doesn’t wisdom cry out? Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?
Numquid non sapientia clamitat, et prudentia dat vocem suam?
2 On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.
In summis, excelsisque verticibus supra viam, in mediis semitis stans,
3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
iuxta portas civitatis in ipsis foribus loquitur, dicens:
4 “I call to you men! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
O viri, ad vos clamito, et vox mea ad filios hominum.
5 You simple, understand prudence! You fools, be of an understanding heart!
Intelligite parvuli astutiam, et insipientes animadvertite.
6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.
Audite, quoniam de rebus magnis locutura sum: et aperientur labia mea, ut recta prædicent.
7 For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Veritatem meditabitur guttur meum, et labia mea detestabuntur impium.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
Iusti sunt omnes sermones mei, non est in eis pravum quid, neque perversum.
9 They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge.
Recti sunt intelligentibus, et æqui invenientibus scientiam.
10 Receive my instruction rather than silver, knowledge rather than choice gold.
Accipite disciplinam meam, et non pecuniam: doctrinam magis, quam aurum eligite.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.
Melior est enim sapientia cunctis pretiosissimis: et omne desiderabile ei non potest comparari.
12 “I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion.
Ego sapientia habito in consilio, et eruditis intersum cogitationibus.
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
Timor Domini odit malum: arrogantiam, et superbiam, et viam pravam, et os bilingue detestor.
14 Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.
Meum est consilium, et æquitas, mea est prudentia, mea est fortitudo.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
Per me reges regnant, et legum conditores iusta decernunt:
16 By me princes rule, nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
Per me principes imperant, et potentes decernunt iustitiam.
17 I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.
Ego diligentes me diligo: et qui mane vigilant ad me, invenient me.
18 With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.
Mecum sunt divitiæ, et gloria, opes superbæ, et iustitia.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, my yield than choice silver.
Melior est enim fructus meus auro, et lapide pretioso, et genimina me argento electo.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness, in the middle of the paths of justice,
In viis iustitiæ ambulo, in medio semitarum iudicii,
21 that I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.
ut ditem diligentes me, et thesauros eorum repleam.
22 “The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old.
Dominus possedit me in initio viarum suarum, antequam quidquam faceret a principio.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed.
Ab æterno ordinata sum, et ex antiquis antequam terra fieret.
24 When there were no depths, I was born, when there were no springs abounding with water.
Nondum erant abyssi, et ego iam concepta eram: necdum fontes aquarum eruperant:
25 Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was born;
necdum montes gravi mole constiterant: ante colles ego parturiebar:
26 while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
adhuc terram non fecerat, et flumina, et cardines orbis terræ.
27 When he established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
Quando præparabat cælos, aderam: quando certa lege, et gyro vallabat abyssos:
28 when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong,
quando æthera firmabat sursum, et librabat fontes aquarum:
29 when he gave to the sea its boundary, that the waters should not violate his commandment, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
quando circumdabat mari terminum suum, et legem ponebat aquis, ne transirent fines suos: quando appendebat fundamenta terræ:
30 then I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,
Cum eo eram cuncta componens: et delectabar per singulos dies, ludens coram eo omni tempore;
31 rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.
ludens in orbe terrarum: et deliciæ meæ esse, cum filiis hominum.
32 “Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
Nunc ergo filii audite me: Beati, qui custodiunt vias meas.
33 Hear instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it.
Audite disciplinam, et estote sapientes, et nolite abiicere eam.
34 Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.
Beatus homo qui audit me, et qui vigilat ad fores meas quotidie, et observat ad postes ostii mei.
35 For whoever finds me finds life, and will obtain favor from the LORD.
Qui me invenerit, inveniet vitam, et hauriet salutem a Domino:
36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.”
qui autem in me peccaverit, lædet animam suam. Omnes, qui me oderunt, diligunt mortem.
