Proverbs 4
1 Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
Audite filii disciplinam patris, et attendite ut sciatis prudentiam.
2 For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.
Donum bonum tribuam vobis, legem meam ne derelinquatis.
3 For, a son I have been 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 directeth me, and he saith to me: 'Let thy 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 Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.
Ne dimittas eam, et custodiet te: dilige eam, et conservabit te.
7 The first thing [is] wisdom — get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.
Principium sapientiæ, posside sapientiam, et in omni possessione tua acquire prudentiam:
8 Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.
arripe illam, et exaltabit te: glorificaberis ab ea, cum eam fueris amplexatus.
9 She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee 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 thee.
Audi fili mi, et suscipe verba mea, ut multiplicentur tibi anni vitæ.
11 In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.
Viam sapientiæ monstrabo tibi, ducam te per semitas æquitatis:
12 In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
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] thy life.
Tene disciplinam, ne dimittas eam: custodi illam, quia ipsa est vita tua.
14 Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.
Ne delecteris in semitis impiorum, nec tibi placeat malorum via.
15 Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
Fuge ab ea, nec transeas per illam: declina, et desere eam.
16 For they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not [some] to stumble.
non enim dormiunt nisi malefecerint: et rapitur somnus ab eis nisi supplantaverint.
17 For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.
comedunt panem impietatis, et vinum iniquitatis bibunt.
18 And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening till 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, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,
Fili mi, ausculta sermones meos, et ad eloquia mea inclina aurem tuam.
21 Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart.
ne recedant ab oculis tuis, custodi ea in medio cordis tui:
22 For life they [are] to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.
vita enim sunt invenientibus ea, et universæ carni sanitas.
23 Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
Omni custodia serva cor tuum, quia ex ipso vita procedit.
24 Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,
Remove a te os pravum, et detrahentia labia sint procul a te.
25 Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Oculi tui recta videant, et palpebræ tuæ præcedant gressus tuos.
26 Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways [are] established.
Dirige semitam pedibus tuis, et omnes viæ tuæ stabilientur.
27 Incline not [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside thy 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.
