Proverbiorum 4
1 Audite filii disciplinam patris, et attendite ut sciatis prudentiam.
Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
2 Donum bonum tribuam vobis, legem meam ne derelinquatis.
For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.
3 Nam et ego filius fui patris mei, tenellus, et unigenitus coram matre mea:
For, a son I have been 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 directeth me, and he saith to me: 'Let thy 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.
Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.
7 Principium sapientiae, posside sapientiam, et in omni possessione tua acquire prudentiam:
The first thing [is] wisdom — get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.
8 arripe illam, et exaltabit te: glorificaberis ab ea, cum eam fueris amplexatus.
Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.
9 dabit capiti tuo augmenta gratiarum, et corona inclyta proteget te.
She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee 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 thee.
11 Viam sapientiae monstrabo tibi, ducam te per semitas aequitatis:
In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.
12 quas cum ingressus fueris, non arctabuntur gressus tui, et currens non habebis offendiculum.
In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
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] thy life.
14 Ne delecteris in semitis impiorum, nec tibi placeat malorum via.
Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.
15 Fuge ab ea, nec transeas per illam: declina, et desere eam.
Avoid it, pass not 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 sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not [some] to stumble.
17 comedunt panem impietatis, et vinum iniquitatis bibunt.
For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.
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 till 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, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,
21 ne recedant ab oculis tuis, custodi ea in medio cordis tui:
Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart.
22 vita enim sunt invenientibus ea, et universae carni sanitas.
For life they [are] to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.
23 Omni custodia serva cor tuum, quia ex ipso vita procedit.
Above every charge keep thy 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 from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,
25 Oculi tui recta videant, et palpebrae tuae praecedant gressus tuos.
Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 Dirige semitam pedibus tuis, et omnes viae tuae stabilientur.
Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy 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.
Incline not [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!
