Proverbiorum 8
1 Numquid non sapientia clamitat, et prudentia dat vocem suam?
It is as if wisdom, with great understanding [of many things], is calling [PRS] out [to people].
2 In summis, excelsisque verticibus supra viam, in mediis semitis stans,
Wisdom stands on hilltops and at crossroads.
3 iuxta portas civitatis in ipsis foribus loquitur, dicens:
[Wisdom also stands] at the city gates and shouts loudly,
4 O viri, ad vos clamito, et vox mea ad filios hominum.
“I am calling to everyone! I am shouting loudly to all people!
5 Intelligite parvuli astutiam, et insipientes animadvertite.
You people who do not know how to do things that are smart to do, get sound judgment; you foolish people, get good understanding!
6 Audite, quoniam de rebus magnis locutura sum: et aperientur labia mea, ut recta prædicent.
Listen to me, because I have some excellent/important things to say. What I say is what is fair/right.
7 Veritatem meditabitur guttur meum, et labia mea detestabuntur impium.
I speak what is true; I detest speaking [MTY] what is false/deceptive.
8 Iusti sunt omnes sermones mei, non est in eis pravum quid, neque perversum.
Everything that I say is honest; there is nothing that I say that deceives [people].
9 Recti sunt intelligentibus, et æqui invenientibus scientiam.
My words are clear to those who have good sense; those who are wise know that what I say is right.
10 Accipite disciplinam meam, et non pecuniam: doctrinam magis, quam aurum eligite.
[If someone offers you the kind of teaching I give] or offers you silver, choose my teaching. [If he offers to show you how to be wise] or offers you gold, choose to know how to be wise,
11 Melior est enim sapientia cunctis pretiosissimis: et omne desiderabile ei non potest comparari.
because wisdom is more valuable than jewels. Nothing that you desire [is as valuable] as being wise.
12 Ego sapientia habito in consilio, et eruditis intersum cogitationibus.
I, wisdom, and understanding of what is smart to do, cannot be separated. We are like two people who live in the same house. I know how to be wise and how to make smart decisions.
13 Timor Domini odit malum: arrogantiam, et superbiam, et viam pravam, et os bilingue detestor.
[All the people] who revere Yahweh hate evil. I, wisdom, hate [people who are] proud and [people] who think they are more important [than others]. I hate [people who] behave in an evil way and those who say things to deceive [others].
14 Meum est consilium, et æquitas, mea est prudentia, mea est fortitudo.
I give [people] good advice and I enable them to do things that are wise. I understand how things really are, and I am strong.
15 Per me reges regnant, et legum conditores iusta decernunt:
When kings are wise, they rule [well]; and when rulers are wise, they make laws that are just/fair.
16 Per me principes imperant, et potentes decernunt iustitiam.
Rulers govern their people with the help of me, wisdom, and those who have authority decide things fairly/just with my help.
17 Ego diligentes me diligo: et qui mane vigilant ad me, invenient me.
I, [wisdom], love [all] those who love me, and [all] those who truly seek me [will] find me.
18 Mecum sunt divitiæ, et gloria, opes superbæ, et iustitia.
I enable [people] to become rich and to be honored; [I enable them to have] wealth that will last and to be successful.
19 Melior est enim fructus meus auro, et lapide pretioso, et genimina me argento electo.
What I can give people is more valuable than fine/pure gold and the best silver.
20 In viis iustitiæ ambulo, in medio semitarum iudicii,
I always do what is righteous and just/fair.
21 ut ditem diligentes me, et thesauros eorum repleam.
I give wealth to those who love me; I fill their houses with valuable things.
22 Dominus possedit me in initio viarum suarum, antequam quidquam faceret a principio.
Yahweh created me, [wisdom], when he began [to create the world]; he created me [to do my work] before he created anything else.
23 Ab æterno ordinata sum, et ex antiquis antequam terra fieret.
He appointed me long ago, before he created the earth.
24 Nondum erant abyssi, et ego iam concepta eram: necdum fontes aquarum eruperant:
I was born before the oceans were [created], when there were no springs from which water flowed.
25 necdum montes gravi mole constiterant: ante colles ego parturiebar:
I was born before the hills and mountains were formed;
26 adhuc terram non fecerat, et flumina, et cardines orbis terræ.
[I, wisdom], was born before Yahweh made the earth, before he made the fields and the soil on the earth.
27 Quando præparabat cælos, aderam: quando certa lege, et gyro vallabat abyssos:
I was there when Yahweh put the sky in place, when he marked the place [in the distance] where the sky and the oceans [seem to] come together.
28 quando æthera firmabat sursum, et librabat fontes aquarum:
I was there when Yahweh put the clouds above [the earth] and when he caused the water that is inside the earth to be secure.
29 quando circumdabat mari terminum suum, et legem ponebat aquis, ne transirent fines suos: quando appendebat fundamenta terræ:
I was there when he fixed a boundary for the seas, so that the water in the seas would not go past those boundaries, and when he put down the foundations which support the earth.
30 Cum eo eram cuncta componens: et delectabar per singulos dies, ludens coram eo omni tempore;
I was at the side of Yahweh, the master worker (OR, as though I was his child). I caused him to be happy every day, and I was always rejoicing when I was with him.
31 ludens in orbe terrarum: et deliciæ meæ esse, cum filiis hominum.
I was delighted with the world that he created; I was happy with the people whom he created, too.
32 Nunc ergo filii audite me: Beati, qui custodiunt vias meas.
So, [you people who are like] my sons, listen to me. [I am] pleased with [all] those who obey my teachings.
33 Audite disciplinam, et estote sapientes, et nolite abiicere eam.
Listen [carefully] to what I teach you and become wise. Do not reject my teaching!
34 Beatus homo qui audit me, et qui vigilat ad fores meas quotidie, et observat ad postes ostii mei.
[I am] pleased with those who listen to me, those who are outside my house every day, waiting [for me to come out].
35 Qui me invenerit, inveniet vitam, et hauriet salutem a Domino:
Those who find me will have [a long] life, and Yahweh [will] be pleased with them.
36 qui autem in me peccaverit, lædet animam suam. Omnes, qui me oderunt, diligunt mortem.
But those who stray away from me [just] harm themselves. All those who hate me, [it is as though] [IRO] they are loving death.”
