Proverbiorum 4
1 [Audite, filii, disciplinam patris, et attendite ut sciatis prudentiam.
Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
2 Donum bonum tribuam vobis: legem meam ne derelinquatis.
For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.
3 Nam et ego filius fui patris mei, tenellus et unigenitus coram matre mea.
When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother,
4 Et docebat me, atque dicebat: Suscipiat verba mea cor tuum; custodi præcepta mea, et vives.
he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.
5 Posside sapientiam, posside prudentiam: ne obliviscaris, neque declines a verbis oris mei.
Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.
6 Ne dimittas eam, et custodiet te: dilige eam, et conservabit te.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.
7 Principium sapientiæ: posside sapientiam, et in omni possessione tua acquire prudentiam.
Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
8 Arripe illam, et exaltabit te; glorificaberis ab ea cum eam fueris amplexatus.
Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
9 Dabit capiti tuo augmenta gratiarum, et corona inclyta proteget te.]
She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”
10 [Audi, fili mi, et suscipe verba mea, ut multiplicentur tibi anni vitæ.
Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.
11 Viam sapientiæ monstrabo tibi; ducam te per semitas æquitatis:
I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.
12 quas cum ingressus fueris, non arctabuntur gressus tui, et currens non habebis offendiculum.
When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Tene disciplinam, ne dimittas eam; custodi illam, quia ipsa est vita tua.
Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
14 Ne delecteris in semitis impiorum, nec tibi placeat malorum via.
Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Fuge ab ea, nec transeas per illam; declina, et desere eam.
Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by.
16 Non enim dormiunt nisi malefecerint, et rapitur somnus ab eis nisi supplantaverint.
For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
17 Comedunt panem impietatis, et vinum iniquitatis bibunt.
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 Justorum autem semita quasi lux splendens procedit, et crescit usque ad perfectam diem.
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
19 Via impiorum tenebrosa; nesciunt ubi corruant.
But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.
20 Fili mi, ausculta sermones meos, et ad eloquia mea inclina aurem tuam.
My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Ne recedant ab oculis tuis: custodi ea in medio cordis tui:
Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
22 vita enim sunt invenientibus ea, et universæ carni sanitas.
For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.
23 Omni custodia serva cor tuum, quia ex ipso vita procedit.
Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
24 Remove a te os pravum, et detrahentia labia sint procul a te.
Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.
25 Oculi tui recta videant, et palpebræ tuæ præcedant gressus tuos.
Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
26 Dirige semitam pedibus tuis, et omnes viæ tuæ stabilientur.
Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
27 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.]
Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
