Proverbiorum 4
1 Audite filii disciplinam patris, et attendite ut sciatis prudentiam.
Hear, you sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
2 Donum bonum tribuam vobis, legem meam ne derelinquatis.
For I have given to you good learning, do not forsake my law.
3 Nam et ego filius fui patris mei, tenellus, et unigenitus coram matre mea:
For I have been a son to my father—tender, And an only one before my mother.
4 et docebat me, atque dicebat: Suscipiat verba mea cor tuum, custodi praecepta mea, et vives.
And he directs me, and he says to me: “Let your heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
5 Posside sapientiam, posside prudentiam: ne obliviscaris, neque declines a verbis oris mei.
Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
6 Ne dimittas eam, et custodiet te: dilige eam, et conservabit te.
Do not forsake her, and she preserves you, Love her, and she keeps you.
7 Principium sapientiae, posside sapientiam, et in omni possessione tua acquire prudentiam:
The first thing [is] wisdom—get wisdom, And with all your getting get understanding.
8 arripe illam, et exaltabit te: glorificaberis ab ea, cum eam fueris amplexatus.
Exalt her and she lifts you up, She honors you when you embrace her.
9 dabit capiti tuo augmenta gratiarum, et corona inclyta proteget te.
She gives a wreath of grace to your head, She gives you a crown of beauty freely.”
10 Audi fili mi, et suscipe verba mea, ut multiplicentur tibi anni vitae.
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to you.
11 Viam sapientiae monstrabo tibi, ducam te per semitas aequitatis:
I have directed you in a way of wisdom, I have caused you to tread in paths of uprightness.
12 quas cum ingressus fueris, non arctabuntur gressus tui, et currens non habebis offendiculum.
In your walking your step is not restricted, And if you run, you do not stumble.
13 Tene disciplinam, ne dimittas eam: custodi illam, quia ipsa est via tua.
Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] your life.
14 Ne delecteris in semitis impiorum, nec tibi placeat malorum via.
Do not enter into the path of the wicked, And do not be blessed in a way of evildoers.
15 Fuge ab ea, nec transeas per illam: declina, et desere eam.
Avoid it, do not pass over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
16 non enim dormiunt nisi malefecerint: et non capitur somnus ab eis nisi supplantaverint.
For they do not sleep if they do no evil, And their sleep has been taken away violently, If they do not cause [some] to stumble.
17 comedunt panem impietatis, et vinum iniquitatis bibunt.
For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And they drink wine of violence.
18 Iustorum autem semita quasi lux splendens, procedit et crescit usque ad perfectam diem.
And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening until the day is established,
19 Via impiorum tenebrosa: nesciunt ubi corruant.
The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
20 Fili mi, ausculta sermones meos, et ad eloquia mea inclina aurem tuam.
My son, give attention to my words, Incline your ear to my sayings,
21 ne recedant ab oculis tuis, custodi ea in medio cordis tui:
Do not let them turn aside from your eyes, Preserve them in the midst of your heart.
22 vita enim sunt invenientibus ea, et universae carni sanitas.
For they [are] life to those finding them, And healing to all their flesh.
23 Omni custodia serva cor tuum, quia ex ipso vita procedit.
Above every charge keep your heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
24 Remove a te os pravum, et detrahentia labia sint procul a te.
Turn aside a contrary mouth from you, And put perverse lips far from you,
25 Oculi tui recta videant, et palpebrae tuae praecedant gressus tuos.
Your eyes look straightforward, And your eyelids look straight before you.
26 Dirige semitam pedibus tuis, et omnes viae tuae stabilientur.
Ponder the path of your feet, And all your ways [are] established.
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.
Do not incline [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside your foot from evil!
