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