Proverbiorum 3

1 Fili mi, ne obliviscaris legis meæ, et præcepta mea cor tuum custodiat.

[My] son, forget not my laws; but let thine heart keep my words:

2 Longitudinem enim dierum, et annos vitæ, et pacem apponent tibi.

for length of existence, and years of life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

3 Misericordia, et veritas te non deserant, circumda eas gutturi tuo, et describe in tabulis cordis tui:

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; but bind them about thy neck:

4 et invenies gratiam, et disciplinam bonam coram Deo et hominibus.

so shalt thou find favour: and do thou provide things honest in the sight of the Lord, and of men.

5 Habe fiduciam in Domino ex toto corde tuo, et ne innitaris prudentiæ tuæ.

Trust in God with all thine heart; and be not exalted in thine own wisdom.

6 In omnibus viis tuis cogita illum, et ipse diriget gressus tuos.

In all thy ways acquaint thyself with her, that she may rightly direct thy paths.

7 Ne sis sapiens apud temetipsum: time Deum, et recede a malo:

Be not wise in thine own conceit; but fear God, and depart from all evil.

8 sanitas quippe erit umbilico tuo, et irrigatio ossium tuorum.

Then shall there be health to thy body, and good keeping to thy bones.

9 Honora Dominum de tua substantia, et de primitiis omnium frugum tuarum da ei:

Honour the Lord with thy just labours, and give him the first of thy fruits of righteousness:

10 et implebuntur horrea tua saturitate, et vino torcularia tua redundabunt.

that thy storehouses may be completely filled with corn, and that thy presses may burst forth with wine.

11 Disciplinam Domini, fili mi, ne abiicias: nec deficias cum ab eo corriperis:

[My] son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

12 quem enim diligit Dominus, corripit: et quasi pater in filio complacet sibi.

for whom the Lord loves, he rebukes, and scourges every son whom he receives.

13 Beatus homo, qui invenit sapientiam, et qui affluit prudentia:

Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the mortal who knows prudence.

14 melior est acquisitio eius negotiatione argenti, et auri primi et purissimi fructus eius:

For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver.

15 pretiosior est cunctis opibus: et omnia, quæ desiderantur, huic non valent comparari.

And she is more valuable than precious stones: no evil thing shall resist her: she is well known to all that approach her, and no precious thing is equal to her in value.

16 Longitudo dierum in dextera eius, et in sinistra illius divitiæ, et gloria.

For length of existence and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are wealth and glory: out of her mouth proceeds righteousness, and she carries law and mercy upon her tongue.

17 Viæ eius viæ pulchræ, et omnes semitæ illius pacificæ.

Her ways are good ways, and all her paths are peaceful.

18 Lignum vitæ est his, qui apprehenderint eam: et qui tenuerit eam, beatus.

She is a tree of life to all that lay hold upon her; and she is [a] secure [help] to all that stay themselves on her, as on the Lord.

19 Dominus sapientia fundavit terram, stabilivit cælos prudentia.

God by wisdom founded the earth, and by prudence he prepared the heavens.

20 Sapientia illius eruperunt abyssi, et nubes rore concrescunt.

By understanding were the depths broken up, and the clouds dropped water.

21 Fili mi, ne effluant hæc ab oculis tuis: Custodi legem atque consilium:

[My] son, let [them] not pass from [thee], but keep my counsel and understanding:

22 et erit vita animæ tuæ, et gratia faucibus tuis.

that thy soul may live, and that there may be grace round thy neck; and it shall be health to thy flesh, and safety to thy bones:

23 Tunc ambulabis fiducialiter in via tua, et pes tuus non impinget:

that thou mayest go confidently in peace in all thy ways, and that thy foot may not stumble.

24 si dormieris, non timebis: quiesces, et suavis erit somnus tuus.

For if thou rest, thou shalt be undismayed; and if thou sleep, thou shalt slumber sweetly.

25 Ne paveas repentino terrore, et irruentes tibi potentias impiorum.

And thou shalt not be afraid of alarm coming upon thee, neither of approaching attacks of ungodly men.

26 Dominus enim erit in latere tuo, et custodiet pedem tuum ne capiaris.

For the Lord shall be over all thy ways, and shall establish thy foot that thou be not moved.

27 Noli prohibere benefacere eum, qui potest: si vales, et ipse benefac:

Forbear not to do good to the poor, whensoever thy hand may have [power] to help [him].

28 Ne dicas amico tuo: Vade, et revertere: cras dabo tibi: cum statim possis dare.

Say not, Come back another time, to-morrow I will give; while thou art able to do [him] good: for thou knowest not what the next day will bring forth.

29 Ne moliaris amico tuo malum, cum ille in te habeat fiduciam.

Devise not evil against thy friend, living near thee and trusting in thee.

30 Ne contendas adversus hominem frustra, cum ipse tibi nihil mali fecerit.

Be not ready to quarrel with a man without a cause, lest he do thee some harm.

31 Ne æmuleris hominem iniustum, nec imiteris vias eius:

Procure not the reproaches of bad men, neither do thou covet their ways.

32 quia abominatio Domini est omnis illusor, et cum simplicibus sermocinatio eius.

For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord; neither does he sit among the righteous.

33 Egestas a Domino in domo impii: habitacula autem iustorum benedicentur.

The curse of God is in the houses of the ungodly; but the habitations of the just are blessed.

34 Ipse deludet illusores, et mansuetis dabit gratiam.

The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble.

35 Gloriam sapientes possidebunt: stultorum exaltatio, ignominia.

The wise shall inherit glory; but the ungodly have exalted [their own] dishonour.