Proverbiorum 4
1 Audite filii disciplinam patris, et attendite ut sciatis prudentiam.
Listen, sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and discover what makes sense,
2 Donum bonum tribuam vobis, legem meam ne derelinquatis.
for what I am passing on to you is reliable. Don't reject my teachings.
3 Nam et ego filius fui patris mei, tenellus, et unigenitus coram matre mea:
When I was a son with my father—a tender young boy, my mother's only child—
4 et docebat me, atque dicebat: Suscipiat verba mea cor tuum, custodi præcepta mea, et vives.
he was the one who taught me. He told me, “Pay attention to the words I say and keep them in mind; do what I tell you and you will live.
5 Posside sapientiam, posside prudentiam: ne obliviscaris, neque declines a verbis oris mei.
Get wisdom, find out what makes sense. Don't forget my words or reject them.
6 Ne dimittas eam, et custodiet te: dilige eam, et conservabit te.
Don't give up on wisdom for she will keep you safe. Love wisdom and she will protect you.
7 Principium sapientiæ, posside sapientiam, et in omni possessione tua acquire prudentiam.
The first thing in becoming wise is to get wisdom! Whatever else you gain, gain insight.
8 Arripe illam, et exaltabit te: glorificaberis ab ea, cum eam fueris amplexatus.
Treasure wisdom, and she will praise you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 Dabit capiti tuo augmenta gratiarum, et corona inclyta proteget te.
She will place on your head a wreath of grace; she will present to you a crown of glory.”
10 Audi fili mi, et suscipe verba mea, ut multiplicentur tibi anni vitæ.
Listen, my son, if you accept what I tell you, then you will live a long life.
11 Viam sapientiæ monstrabo tibi, ducam te per semitas æquitatis:
I have explained to you the way of wisdom; I have guided you along the right paths.
12 quas cum ingressus fueris, non arctabuntur gressus tui, et currens non habebis offendiculum.
Nothing will block your way when you walk, you won't stumble when you run.
13 Tene disciplinam, ne dimittas eam: custodi illam, quia ipsa est vita tua.
Hold on to these instructions—don't let them go. Protect them, for they are life's foundation.
14 Ne delecteris in semitis impiorum, nec tibi placeat malorum via.
Don't go the way of the wicked or follow the example of those who do evil.
15 Fuge ab ea, nec transeas per illam: declina, et desere eam.
Avoid that way completely. Don't go there! Turn away, and walk on.
16 Non enim dormiunt nisi malefecerint: et rapitur somnus ab eis nisi supplantaverint.
Evil people won't rest until they've done something wrong; they can't sleep unless they've tripped someone up.
17 Comedunt panem impietatis, et vinum iniquitatis bibunt.
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 Iustorum autem semita quasi lux splendens, procedit et crescit usque ad perfectam diem.
The way of life of the good is like the light of the sunrise, glowing brighter and brighter until the full light of day shines out.
19 Via impiorum tenebrosa: nesciunt ubi corruant.
But the way of life of the wicked is like complete darkness; they don't even know what they're tripping over.
20 Fili mi, ausculta sermones meos, et ad eloquia mea inclina aurem tuam.
My son, pay attention to what I tell you; listen to the words I'm saying.
21 Ne recedant ab oculis tuis, custodi ea in medio cordis tui:
Don't lose sight of them; think about them deeply,
22 vita enim sunt invenientibus ea, et universæ carni sanitas.
for they are life to anyone who finds them, and make the whole body healthy.
23 Omni custodia serva cor tuum, quia ex ipso vita procedit.
Most of all, protect your mind, for everything in life flows from it.
24 Remove a te os pravum, et detrahentia labia sint procul a te.
Don't ever lie, and don't say anything dishonest.
25 Oculi tui recta videant, et palpebræ tuæ præcedant gressus tuos.
Focus on what's ahead of you; look at what's in front of you.
26 Dirige semitam pedibus tuis, et omnes viæ tuæ stabilientur.
Pay attention to the path you decide to follow, and you'll be safe wherever you go.
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.
Don't deviate to the right or the left, and turn away from evil.
