Proverbiorum 8
1 Numquid non sapientia clamitat, et prudentia dat vocem suam?
Isn't wisdom calling? Isn't understanding raising her voice?
2 In summis, excelsisque verticibus supra viam, in mediis semitis stans,
On the top of the hill by the road, she stands up at the crossroads.
3 iuxta portas civitatis in ipsis foribus loquitur, dicens:
Beside the gates of the town, right there at the entrance, she cries out:
4 O viri, ad vos clamito, et vox mea ad filios hominum.
“I'm calling out to you, everyone! My call is to everyone in the whole world!
5 Intelligite parvuli astutiam, et insipientes animadvertite.
If you're immature, learn how to grow up. If you're stupid, learn what makes good sense.
6 Audite, quoniam de rebus magnis locutura sum: et aperientur labia mea, ut recta praedicent.
Listen to me because I have valuable things to explain to you.
7 Veritatem meditabitur guttur meum, et labia mea detestabuntur impium.
I say what's right, because I tell the truth and I hate wickedness in all its forms.
8 Iusti sunt omnes sermones mei, non est in eis pravum quid, neque perversum.
All the words I say are true; none are false or misleading.
9 recti sunt intelligentibus, et aequi invenientibus scientiam.
My words are straightforward to anyone with understanding; they are correct to those who have knowledge.
10 Accipite disciplinam meam, et non pecuniam: doctrinam magis, quam aurum eligite.
Choose my instruction over silver; choose knowledge over pure gold.
11 Melior est enim sapientia cunctis opibus pretiosissimis: et omne desiderabile ei non potest comparari.
For wisdom is more valuable than rubies; everything you could ever want just doesn't compare!
12 Ego sapientia habito in consilio, et eruditis intersum cogitationibus.
I, wisdom, am at home with good decisions. I know how to find knowledge and discernment.
13 Timor Domini odit malum: arrogantiam, et superbiam, et viam pravam, et os bilingue detestor.
Honoring the Lord means hating evil. So I hate pride and arrogance, wicked behavior and telling lies.
14 Meum est consilium, et aequitas, mea est prudentia, mea est fortitudo.
I have advice and good judgment; I know what makes sense, and I have power.
15 Per me reges regnant, et legum conditores iusta decernunt:
It's because of me that kings reign, and rulers issue fair decrees.
16 Per me principes imperant, et potentes decernunt iustitiam.
It's because of me that leaders and nobles govern—all who rule justly.
17 Ego diligentes me diligo: et qui mane vigilant ad me, invenient me.
I love those who love me, and those who really look for me will find me.
18 Mecum sunt divitiae, et gloria, opes superbae, et iustitia.
With me go riches and honor, lasting wealth and prosperity.
19 Melior est enim fructus meus auro, et lapide pretioso, et genimina me argento electo.
The fruit I produce is better than gold, even pure gold, and my harvest is better than even the best silver.
20 In viis iustitiae ambulo, in medio semitarum iudicii,
I live in a way that's right; I follow the paths of justice.
21 ut ditem diligentes me, et thesauros eorum repleam.
I grant wealth to those who love me; I fill their treasure storehouses.
22 Dominus possedit me in initio viarum suarum, antequam quidquam faceret a principio.
The Lord created me first of all; I was made before anything else.
23 Ab aeterno ordinata sum, et ex antiquis antequam terra fieret.
I was formed a long time ago, at the first, before the world began.
24 Nondum erant abyssi, et ego iam concepta eram: necdum fontes aquarum eruperant:
I was born when there were no ocean depths, when there were no springs pouring out water.
25 necdum montes gravi mole constiterant: ante colles ego parturiebar:
I was born before the mountains or the hills had been formed,
26 adhuc terram non fecerat, et flumina, et cardines orbis terrae.
when he hadn't made the earth and its fields or any of the earth's dust.
27 Quando praeparabat caelos, aderam: quando certa lege, et gyro vallabat abyssos:
I was there when he placed the heavens in position, when he drew the horizon over the ocean,
28 quando aethera firmabat sursum, et librabat fontes aquarum:
when he made the clouds in the sky above, when he created the springs of the oceans,
29 quando circumdabat mari terminum suum, et legem ponebat aquis, ne transirent fines suos: quando appendebat fundamenta terrae:
when he set limits on the sea so that the waters would not go farther than he ordered, and when he laid out the foundations of the earth.
30 Cum eo eram cuncta componens: et delectabar per singulos dies, ludens coram eo omni tempore;
Then I was beside him as a master craftsman. I made him happy every day, and I was always full of joy in his presence.
31 ludens in orbe terrarum: et deliciae meae esse, cum filiis hominum.
I was so happy in the world he created, celebrating together with human beings.
32 Nunc ergo filii audite me: Beati, qui custodiunt vias meas.
And now, my sons, listen to me, for happy are those who follow my ways.
33 Audite disciplinam, et estote sapientes, et nolite abiicere eam.
Listen to my instruction and be wise—do not reject it.
34 Beatus homo qui audit me, et qui vigilat ad fores meas quotidie, et observat ad postes ostii mei.
Happy are those who listen to me, watching for me every day at my doors, waiting at my entrance way.
35 Qui me invenerit, inveniet vitam, et hauriet salutem a Domino:
For those who find me, find life, and are accepted by the Lord.
36 qui autem in me peccaverit, laedet animam suam. Omnes, qui me oderunt, diligunt mortem.
But those who don't find me hurt themselves; everyone who hates me loves death.”
