Proverbiorum 3
1 Fili mi, ne obliviscaris legis meae, et praecepta mea cor tuum custodiat.
My son, don’t forget my teaching; but keep my mitzvot ·instructions· in your heart:
2 longitudinem enim dierum, et annos vitae, et pacem apponent tibi.
for length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to you.
3 Misericordia, et veritas te non deserant, circumda eas gutturi tuo, et describe in tabulis cordis tui:
Don’t let chesed ·loving-kindness· and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 et invenies gratiam, et disciplinam bonam coram Deo et hominibus.
So you will find chen ·grace·, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Habe fiduciam in Domino ex toto corde tuo, et ne innitaris prudentiae tuae.
Trust in Adonai with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.
6 In omnibus viis tuis cogita illum, et ipse diriget gressus tuos.
In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
7 Ne sis sapiens apud temetipsum: time Deum, et recede a malo:
Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear Adonai, and depart from evil.
8 sanitas quippe erit umbilico tuo, et irrigatio ossium tuorum.
It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honora Dominum de tua substantia, et de primitiis omnium frugum tuarum da pauperibus:
Honor Adonai with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase:
10 et implebuntur horrea tua saturitate, et vino torcularia tua redundabunt.
so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
11 Disciplinam Domini, fili mi, ne abiicias: nec deficias cum ab eo corriperis:
My son, don’t despise Adonai’s discipline, neither be despondent when he corrects you:
12 quem enim diligit Dominus, corripit: et quasi pater in filio complacet sibi.
for whom Adonai 'ahav ·affectionately loves·, he reproves; even as a father reproves his son in whom he delights.
13 Beatus homo, qui invenit sapientiam, et qui affluit prudentia:
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
14 melior est acquisitio eius negotiatione auri, et argenti primi et purissimi fructus eius:
For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her teshuvah ·complete return· is better than fine gold.
15 pretiosior est cunctis opibus: et omnia, quae desiderantur, huic non valent comparari.
She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
16 Longitudo dierum in dextera eius, et in sinistra illius divitiae, et gloria.
Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and kavod ·weighty glory·.
17 Viae eius viae pulchrae, et omnes semitae illius pacificae.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.
18 Lignum vitae est his, qui apprehenderint eam: et qui tenuerit eam, beatus.
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.
19 Dominus sapientia fundavit terram, stabilivit caelos prudentia.
By wisdom Adonai founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.
20 Sapientia illius eruperunt abyssi, et nubes rore concrescunt.
By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
21 Fili mi, ne effluant haec ab oculis tuis: Custodi legem atque consilium:
My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
22 et erit vita animae tuae, et gratia faucibus tuis.
so they will be life to your soul, and chen ·grace· for your neck.
23 tunc ambulabis fiducialiter in via tua, et pes tuus non impinget:
Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble.
24 si dormieris, non timebis: quiesces, et suavis erit somnus tuus.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
25 ne paveas repentino terrore, et irruentes tibi potentias impiorum.
Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes:
26 Dominus enim erit in latere tuo, et custodiet pedem tuum ne capiaris.
for Adonai will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.
27 Noli prohibere benefacere eum, qui potest: si vales, et ipse benefac:
Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, 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.
Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.
29 Ne moliaris amico tuo malum, cum ille in te habeat fiduciam.
Don’t devise evil against your neighbor, since he dwells securely by you.
30 Ne contendas adversus hominem frustra, cum ipse tibi nihil mali fecerit.
Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
31 Ne aemuleris hominem iniustum, nec imiteris vias eius:
Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
32 quia abominatio Domini est omnis illusor, et cum simplicibus sermocinatio eius.
For the perverse is an abomination to Adonai, but his friendship is with the upright.
33 Egestas a Domino in domo impii: habitacula autem iustorum benedicentur.
Adonai’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the upright.
34 Ipse deludet illusores, et mansuetis dabit gratiam.
Surely he opposes the mockers, but he gives chen ·grace· to the humble.
35 Gloriam sapientes possidebunt: stultorum exaltatio, ignominia.
The wise will inherit kavod ·weighty glory·, but shame will be the promotion of fools.
