Proverbiorum 8
1 Numquid non sapientia clamitat, et prudentia dat vocem suam?
Behold, wisdom calleth, and understanding sendeth forth her voice,
2 In summis, excelsisque verticibus supra viam, in mediis semitis stans,
On the top of high places, by the wayside, at the house where there are [many] paths doth she place herself.
3 iuxta portas civitatis in ipsis foribus loquitur, dicens:
Alongside of gates, at the opening of the city, at the entrance of the town[-doors] doth she call loudly,
4 O viri, ad vos clamito, et vox mea ad filios hominum.
Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice [goeth forth] to the sons of men,
5 Intelligite parvuli astutiam, et insipientes animadvertite.
Learn, O ye simple, to understand prudence: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Audite, quoniam de rebus magnis locutura sum: et aperientur labia mea, ut recta praedicent.
Hear! for of noble things will I speak; and the opening of my lips shall be of what is equitable.
7 Veritatem meditabitur guttur meum, et labia mea detestabuntur impium.
For truth uttereth my palate ever, and the abomination of my lips is wickedness.
8 Iusti sunt omnes sermones mei, non est in eis pravum quid, neque perversum.
In righteousness are all the sayings of my mouth, there is in them nothing crooked or perverse.
9 recti sunt intelligentibus, et aequi invenientibus scientiam.
They are all evident to the man of understanding, and correct to those that have obtained knowledge.
10 Accipite disciplinam meam, et non pecuniam: doctrinam magis, quam aurum eligite.
Accept my correction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 Melior est enim sapientia cunctis opibus pretiosissimis: et omne desiderabile ei non potest comparari.
For wisdom is better than pearls; and all the things that men wish for are not equal to her.
12 Ego sapientia habito in consilio, et eruditis intersum cogitationibus.
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and the knowledge of discreet thoughts do I discover.
13 Timor Domini odit malum: arrogantiam, et superbiam, et viam pravam, et os bilingue detestor.
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride and arrogance, and the evil way: and the mouth of perverseness do I hate.
14 Meum est consilium, et aequitas, mea est prudentia, mea est fortitudo.
Mine are counsel and sound wisdom: I am understanding; mine is might.
15 Per me reges regnant, et legum conditores iusta decernunt:
Through me do kings reign, and chieftains give decrees [in] righteousness.
16 Per me principes imperant, et potentes decernunt iustitiam.
Through me do princes rule, and the nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 Ego diligentes me diligo: et qui mane vigilant ad me, invenient me.
I indeed love those that love me: and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
18 Mecum sunt divitiae, et gloria, opes superbae, et iustitia.
Riches and honor are with me, yea, enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 Melior est enim fructus meus auro, et lapide pretioso, et genimina me argento electo.
My fruit is better than gold, and than fine gold; and my products, than choice silver.
20 In viis iustitiae ambulo, in medio semitarum iudicii,
On the road of righteousness do I walk firmly, in the midst the paths of justice:
21 ut ditem diligentes me, et thesauros eorum repleam.
That I may cause those that love me to inherit a lasting possession; and their treasures will I fill
22 Dominus possedit me in initio viarum suarum, antequam quidquam faceret a principio.
The Lord created me as the beginning of his way, the first of his works from the commencement,
23 Ab aeterno ordinata sum, et ex antiquis antequam terra fieret.
From eternity was I appointed chief, from the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
24 Nondum erant abyssi, et ego iam concepta eram: necdum fontes aquarum eruperant:
When there were yet no depths, was I brought forth; when there were yet no springs laden heavily with water.
25 necdum montes gravi mole constiterant: ante colles ego parturiebar:
Before the mountains were yet sunk down, before the hills was I brought forth:
26 adhuc terram non fecerat, et flumina, et cardines orbis terrae.
While as yet he had not made the land and open fields, nor the chief of the dust of the world.
27 Quando praeparabat caelos, aderam: quando certa lege, et gyro vallabat abyssos:
When he prepared the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle over the face of the deep;
28 quando aethera firmabat sursum, et librabat fontes aquarum:
When he fastened the skies above; when the springs of the deep became strong;
29 quando circumdabat mari terminum suum, et legem ponebat aquis, ne transirent fines suos: quando appendebat fundamenta terrae:
When he assigned to the sea his decree, that the waters should not transgress his order: when he established firmly the foundations of the earth:
30 Cum eo eram cuncta componens: et delectabar per singulos dies, ludens coram eo omni tempore;
Then was I near him, as a nursling: and I was day by day [his] delights, playing before him at all times;
31 ludens in orbe terrarum: et deliciae meae esse, cum filiis hominum.
Playing in the world, his earth; and having my delights with the sons of men.
32 Nunc ergo filii audite me: Beati, qui custodiunt vias meas.
And now, O children [of men], hearken unto me! for happy those that observe my ways.
33 Audite disciplinam, et estote sapientes, et nolite abiicere eam.
Hear correction, and be wise, and reject it not.
34 Beatus homo qui audit me, et qui vigilat ad fores meas quotidie, et observat ad postes ostii mei.
Happy is the man that hearkeneth unto me, watching day by day at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 Qui me invenerit, inveniet vitam, et hauriet salutem a Domino:
For he who findeth me findeth life, and he obtaineth favor from the Lord.
36 qui autem in me peccaverit, laedet animam suam. Omnes, qui me oderunt, diligunt mortem.
But he that sinneth against me doth violence to his own soul: all those that hate me love death.
