Proverbiorum 4
1 Audite filii disciplinam patris, et attendite ut sciatis prudentiam.
Hear, you children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2 Donum bonum tribuam vobis, legem meam ne derelinquatis.
For I give you a good gift; forsake you not my law.
3 Nam et ego filius fui patris mei, tenellus, et unigenitus coram matre mea:
For I also was a son obedient to [my] father, and loved in the sight of [my] mother:
4 et docebat me, atque dicebat: Suscipiat verba mea cor tuum, custodi praecepta mea, et vives.
who spoke and instructed me, [saying], Let our speech be fixed in your heart, keep [our] commandments, forget them not:
5 Posside sapientiam, posside prudentiam: ne obliviscaris, neque declines a verbis oris mei.
and do not neglect the speech of my mouth.
6 Ne dimittas eam, et custodiet te: dilige eam, et conservabit te.
And forsake it not, and it shall cleave to you: love it, and it shall keep you.
7 Principium sapientiae, posside sapientiam, et in omni possessione tua acquire prudentiam:
8 arripe illam, et exaltabit te: glorificaberis ab ea, cum eam fueris amplexatus.
Secure it, and it shall exalt you: honor it, that it may embrace you;
9 dabit capiti tuo augmenta gratiarum, et corona inclyta proteget te.
that it may give to your head a crown of graces, and may cover you with a crown of delight.
10 Audi fili mi, et suscipe verba mea, ut multiplicentur tibi anni vitae.
Hear, [my] son, and receive my words; and the years of your life shall be increased, that the resources of your life may be many.
11 Viam sapientiae monstrabo tibi, ducam te per semitas aequitatis:
For I teach you the ways of wisdom; and I cause you to go in right paths.
12 quas cum ingressus fueris, non arctabuntur gressus tui, et currens non habebis offendiculum.
For when you go, your steps shall not be straitened; and when you run, you shall not be distressed.
13 Tene disciplinam, ne dimittas eam: custodi illam, quia ipsa est via tua.
Take hold of my instruction; let it not go, —but keep it for yourself for your life.
14 Ne delecteris in semitis impiorum, nec tibi placeat malorum via.
Go not in the ways of the ungodly, neither covet the ways of transgressors.
15 Fuge ab ea, nec transeas per illam: declina, et desere eam.
In whatever place they shall pitch their camp, go not there; but turn from them, and pass away.
16 non enim dormiunt nisi malefecerint: et non capitur somnus ab eis nisi supplantaverint.
For they can’t sleep, unless they have done evil: their sleep is taken away, and they rest not.
17 comedunt panem impietatis, et vinum iniquitatis bibunt.
For these live upon the bread of ungodliness, and are drunken with wine of transgression.
18 Iustorum autem semita quasi lux splendens, procedit et crescit usque ad perfectam diem.
But the ways of the righteous shine like light; they go on and shine, until the day be fully come.
19 Via impiorum tenebrosa: nesciunt ubi corruant.
But the ways of the ungodly are dark; they know not how they stumble.
20 Fili mi, ausculta sermones meos, et ad eloquia mea inclina aurem tuam.
[My] son, attend to my speech; and apply your ear to my words:
21 ne recedant ab oculis tuis, custodi ea in medio cordis tui:
that your fountains may not fail you; keep them in [your] heart.
22 vita enim sunt invenientibus ea, et universae carni sanitas.
For they are life to those that find them, and health to all [their] flesh.
23 Omni custodia serva cor tuum, quia ex ipso vita procedit.
Keep your heart with the utmost care; for out of these are the issues of life.
24 Remove a te os pravum, et detrahentia labia sint procul a te.
Remove from you a froward mouth, and put far away from you unjust lips.
25 Oculi tui recta videant, et palpebrae tuae praecedant gressus tuos.
Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids assent [to] just [things].
26 Dirige semitam pedibus tuis, et omnes viae tuae stabilientur.
Make straight paths for your feet, and order your ways aright.
27 Ne declines ad dexteram, neque ad sinistram: averte pedem tuum a malo. vias enim, quae a dextris sunt, novit Dominus: perversae vero sunt quae a sinistris sunt. Ipse autem rectos faciet cursus tuos, itinera autem tua in pace producet.
Turn not aside to the right hand nor to the left, but turn away your foot from an evil way.
