< Proverbiorum 3 >
1 Fili mi, ne obliviscaris legis meae, et praecepta mea cor tuum custodiat.
My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2 longitudinem enim dierum, et annos vitae, et pacem apponent tibi.
For length of days, and years of life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3 Misericordia, et veritas te non deserant, circumda eas gutturi tuo, et describe in tabulis cordis tui:
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4 et invenies gratiam, et disciplinam bonam coram Deo et hominibus.
So shalt thou find favour 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 the LORD with all thine heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding:
6 In omnibus viis tuis cogita illum, et ipse diriget gressus tuos.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Ne sis sapiens apud temetipsum: time Deum, et recede a malo:
Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear the LORD, and depart from evil:
8 sanitas quippe erit umbilico tuo, et irrigatio ossium tuorum.
It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9 Honora Dominum de tua substantia, et de primitiis omnium frugum tuarum da pauperibus:
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10 et implebuntur horrea tua saturitate, et vino torcularia tua redundabunt.
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new wine.
11 Disciplinam Domini, fili mi, ne abiicias: nec deficias cum ab eo corriperis:
My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his reproof:
12 quem enim diligit Dominus, corripit: et quasi pater in filio complacet sibi.
For whom the LORD loveth he reproveth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13 Beatus homo, qui invenit sapientiam, et qui affluit prudentia:
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14 melior est acquisitio eius negotiatione auri, et argenti primi et purissimi fructus eius:
For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15 pretiosior est cunctis opibus: et omnia, quae desiderantur, huic non valent comparari.
She is more precious than rubies: and none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her.
16 Longitudo dierum in dextera eius, et in sinistra illius divitiae, et gloria.
Length of days is in her right had; in her left hand are riches and honour.
17 Viae eius viae pulchrae, et omnes semitae illius pacificae.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and 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 them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
19 Dominus sapientia fundavit terram, stabilivit caelos prudentia.
The LORD by wisdom 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 not them depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion;
22 et erit vita animae tuae, et gratia faucibus tuis.
So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23 tunc ambulabis fiducialiter in via tua, et pes tuus non impinget:
Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
24 si dormieris, non timebis: quiesces, et suavis erit somnus tuus.
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 ne paveas repentino terrore, et irruentes tibi potentias impiorum.
Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh:
26 Dominus enim erit in latere tuo, et custodiet pedem tuum ne capiaris.
For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
27 Noli prohibere benefacere eum, qui potest: si vales, et ipse benefac:
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
28 Ne dicas amico tuo: Vade, et revertere: cras dabo tibi: cum statim possis dare.
Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
29 Ne moliaris amico tuo malum, cum ille in te habeat fiduciam.
Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30 Ne contendas adversus hominem frustra, cum ipse tibi nihil mali fecerit.
Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
31 Ne aemuleris hominem iniustum, nec imiteris vias eius:
Envy thou not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
32 quia abominatio Domini est omnis illusor, et cum simplicibus sermocinatio eius.
For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the upright.
33 Egestas a Domino in domo impii: habitacula autem iustorum benedicentur.
The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked; but he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
34 Ipse deludet illusores, et mansuetis dabit gratiam.
Surely he scorneth the scorners, but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
35 Gloriam sapientes possidebunt: stultorum exaltatio, ignominia.
The wise shall inherit glory; but shame shall be the promotion of fools.