Proverbiorum 3
1 Fili mi, ne obliviscaris legis meae, et praecepta mea cor tuum custodiat.
My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart:
2 longitudinem enim dierum, et annos vitae, et pacem apponent tibi.
For they will give you increase of days, years of life, and peace.
3 Misericordia, et veritas te non deserant, circumda eas gutturi tuo, et describe in tabulis cordis tui:
Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart;
4 et invenies gratiam, et disciplinam bonam coram Deo et hominibus.
So you will have grace and a good name in the eyes of God and men.
5 Habe fiduciam in Domino ex toto corde tuo, et ne innitaris prudentiae tuae.
Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support.
6 In omnibus viis tuis cogita illum, et ipse diriget gressus tuos.
In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps.
7 Ne sis sapiens apud temetipsum: time Deum, et recede a malo:
Put no high value on your wisdom: let the fear of the Lord be before you, and keep yourself from evil:
8 sanitas quippe erit umbilico tuo, et irrigatio ossium tuorum.
This will give strength to your flesh, and new life to your bones.
9 Honora Dominum de tua substantia, et de primitiis omnium frugum tuarum da pauperibus:
Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, and with the first-fruits of all your increase:
10 et implebuntur horrea tua saturitate, et vino torcularia tua redundabunt.
So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine.
11 Disciplinam Domini, fili mi, ne abiicias: nec deficias cum ab eo corriperis:
My son, do not make your heart hard against the Lord's teaching; do not be made angry by his training:
12 quem enim diligit Dominus, corripit: et quasi pater in filio complacet sibi.
For to those who are dear to him the Lord says sharp words, and makes the son in whom he has delight undergo pain.
13 Beatus homo, qui invenit sapientiam, et qui affluit prudentia:
Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge.
14 melior est acquisitio eius negotiatione auri, et argenti primi et purissimi fructus eius:
For trading in it is better than trading in silver, and its profit greater than bright gold.
15 pretiosior est cunctis opibus: et omnia, quae desiderantur, huic non valent comparari.
She is of more value than jewels, and nothing for which you may have a desire is fair in comparison with her.
16 Longitudo dierum in dextera eius, et in sinistra illius divitiae, et gloria.
Long life is in her right hand, and in her left are wealth and honour.
17 Viae eius viae pulchrae, et omnes semitae illius pacificae.
Her ways are ways of delight, and all her goings are peace.
18 Lignum vitae est his, qui apprehenderint eam: et qui tenuerit eam, beatus.
She is a tree of life to all who take her in their hands, and happy is everyone who keeps her.
19 Dominus sapientia fundavit terram, stabilivit caelos prudentia.
The Lord by wisdom put in position the bases of the earth; by reason he put the heavens in their place.
20 Sapientia illius eruperunt abyssi, et nubes rore concrescunt.
By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies.
21 Fili mi, ne effluant haec ab oculis tuis: Custodi legem atque consilium:
My son, keep good sense, and do not let wise purpose go from your eyes.
22 et erit vita animae tuae, et gratia faucibus tuis.
So they will be life for your soul, and grace for your neck.
23 tunc ambulabis fiducialiter in via tua, et pes tuus non impinget:
Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping.
24 si dormieris, non timebis: quiesces, et suavis erit somnus tuus.
When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you.
25 ne paveas repentino terrore, et irruentes tibi potentias impiorum.
Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers:
26 Dominus enim erit in latere tuo, et custodiet pedem tuum ne capiaris.
For the Lord will be your hope, and will keep your foot from being taken in the net.
27 Noli prohibere benefacere eum, qui potest: si vales, et ipse benefac:
Do not keep back good from those who have a right to it, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 Ne dicas amico tuo: Vade, et revertere: cras dabo tibi: cum statim possis dare.
Say not to your neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you at the time.
29 Ne moliaris amico tuo malum, cum ille in te habeat fiduciam.
Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when he is living with you without fear.
30 Ne contendas adversus hominem frustra, cum ipse tibi nihil mali fecerit.
Do not take up a cause at law against a man for nothing, if he has done you no wrong.
31 Ne aemuleris hominem iniustum, nec imiteris vias eius:
Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example.
32 quia abominatio Domini est omnis illusor, et cum simplicibus sermocinatio eius.
For the wrong-hearted man is hated by the Lord, but he is a friend to the upright.
33 Egestas a Domino in domo impii: habitacula autem iustorum benedicentur.
The curse of the Lord is on the house of the evil-doer, but his blessing is on the tent of the upright.
34 Ipse deludet illusores, et mansuetis dabit gratiam.
He makes sport of the men of pride, but he gives grace to the gentle-hearted.
35 Gloriam sapientes possidebunt: stultorum exaltatio, ignominia.
The wise will have glory for their heritage, but shame will be the reward of the foolish.
