Proverbiorum 8
1 Numquid non sapientia clamitat, et prudentia dat vocem suam?
Does wisdom not call? And understanding give forth her voice?
2 In summis excelsisque verticibus supra viam, in mediis semitis stans,
At the head of high places by the way, She has stood between the paths,
3 juxta portas civitatis, in ipsis foribus loquitur, dicens:
At the side of the gates, at the mouth of the city, The entrance of the openings, 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.
Understand, you simple ones, prudence, And you fools, understand the heart,
6 Audite, quoniam de rebus magnis locutura sum, et aperientur labia mea ut recta prædicent.
Listen, for I speak noble things, And the opening of my lips [is] uprightness.
7 Veritatem meditabitur guttur meum, et labia mea detestabuntur impium.
For my mouth utters truth, And wickedness [is] an abomination to my lips.
8 Justi sunt omnes sermones mei: non est in eis pravum quid, neque perversum;
All the sayings of my mouth [are] in righteousness, Nothing in them is contrary and perverse.
9 recti sunt intelligentibus, et æqui invenientibus scientiam.
All of them [are] plain to the intelligent, And upright to those finding 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, Indeed, all delights are not comparable with it.
12 Ego sapientia, habito in consilio, et eruditis intersum cogitationibus.
I, wisdom, have dwelt with prudence, And I find out a knowledge of purposes.
13 Timor Domini odit malum: arrogantiam, et superbiam, et viam pravam, et os bilingue, detestor.
The fear of YHWH [is] to hate evil; Pride, and arrogance, and an evil way, And a contrary mouth, I have hated.
14 Meum est consilium et æquitas; mea est prudentia, mea est fortitudo.
Counsel and substance [are] mine, I [am] understanding, I have might.
15 Per me reges regnant, et legum conditores justa decernunt;
By me kings reign, and princes decree righteousness,
16 per me principes imperant, et potentes decernunt justitiam.
By me chiefs rule, and nobles, All judges of earth.
17 Ego diligentes me diligo, et qui mane vigilant ad me, invenient me.
I love those loving me, And those seeking me earnestly find me.
18 Mecum sunt divitiæ et gloria, opes superbæ et justitia.
Wealth and honor [are] with me, Lasting substance and righteousness.
19 Melior est enim fructus meus auro et lapide pretioso, et genimina mea argento electo.
My fruit [is] better than gold, even fine gold, And my increase than choice silver.
20 In viis justitiæ ambulo, in medio semitarum judicii:
I cause to walk in a path of righteousness, In midst of paths of judgment,
21 ut ditem diligentes me, et thesauros eorum repleam.
To cause my lovers to inherit substance, Indeed, I fill their treasures.
22 Dominus possedit me in initio viarum suarum antequam quidquam faceret a principio.
YHWH possessed me—the beginning of His way, Before His works since then.
23 Ab æterno ordinata sum, et ex antiquis antequam terra fieret.
I was anointed from the age, from the first, From former states of the earth.
24 Nondum erant abyssi, et ego jam concepta eram: necdum fontes aquarum eruperant,
In there being no depths, I was brought forth, In there being no fountains heavy [with] waters,
25 necdum montes gravi mole constiterant: ante colles ego parturiebar.
Before mountains were sunk, Before heights, I was brought forth.
26 Adhuc terram non fecerat, et flumina, et cardines orbis terræ.
While He had not made the earth, and out-places, And the top of the dusts of the world.
27 Quando præparabat cælos, aderam; quando certa lege et gyro vallabat abyssos;
In His preparing the heavens I [am] there, In His decreeing a circle on the face of the deep,
28 quando æthera firmabat sursum, et librabat fontes aquarum;
In His strengthening clouds above, In His making strong fountains of the deep,
29 quando circumdabat mari terminum suum, et legem ponebat aquis, ne transirent fines suos; quando appendebat fundamenta terræ:
In His setting for the sea its limit, And the waters do not transgress His command, In His decreeing the foundations of earth,
30 cum eo eram, cuncta componens. Et delectabar per singulos dies, ludens coram eo omni tempore,
Then I am near Him, a workman, And I am a delight—day by day. Rejoicing before Him at all times,
31 ludens in orbe terrarum; et deliciæ meæ esse cum filiis hominum.
Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth, And my delights [are] with the sons of men.
32 Nunc ergo, filii, audite me: beati qui custodiunt vias meas.
And now, you sons, listen to me, Indeed, blessed are they who keep my ways.
33 Audite disciplinam, et estote sapientes, et nolite abjicere eam.
Hear instruction, and be wise, and do not slight.
34 Beatus homo qui audit me, et qui vigilat ad fores meas quotidie, et observat ad postes ostii mei.
O the blessedness of the man listening to me, To watch at my doors day by day, To watch at the doorposts of my entrance.
35 Qui me invenerit, inveniet vitam, et hauriet salutem a Domino.
For whoever is finding me, has found life, And brings out goodwill from YHWH.
36 Qui autem in me peccaverit, lædet animam suam; omnes qui me oderunt diligunt mortem.
And whoever is missing me, is wronging his soul, All hating me have loved death!”
