Proverbiorum 2

1 fili mi si susceperis sermones meos et mandata mea absconderis penes te

[My] son, if you will receive the utterance of my commandment, and hide it with you;

2 ut audiat sapientiam auris tua inclina cor tuum ad noscendam prudentiam

your ear shall listen to wisdom; you shall also apply your heart to understanding, and shall apply it to the instruction of your son.

3 si enim sapientiam invocaveris et inclinaveris cor tuum prudentiae

For it you shall call to wisdom, and utter your voice for understanding;

4 si quaesieris eam quasi pecuniam et sicut thesauros effoderis illam

and if you shall seek it as silver, and search diligently for it as for treasures;

5 tunc intelleges timorem Domini et scientiam Dei invenies

then shall you understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

6 quia Dominus dat sapientiam et ex ore eius scientia et prudentia

For the Lord gives wisdom; and from his presence [come] knowledge and understanding,

7 custodiet rectorum salutem et proteget gradientes simpliciter

and he treasures up salvation for them that walk uprightly: he will protect their way;

8 servans semitas iustitiae et vias sanctorum custodiens

that he may guard the righteous ways: and he will preserve the way of them that fear him.

9 tunc intelleges iustitiam et iudicium et aequitatem et omnem semitam bonam

Then shall you understand righteousness, and judgment; and shall direct all your course aright.

10 si intraverit sapientia cor tuum et scientia animae tuae placuerit

For if wisdom shall come into your understanding, and discernment shall seem pleasing to your soul,

11 consilium custodiet te prudentia servabit te

good counsel shall guard you, and holy understanding shall keep you;

12 ut eruaris de via mala ab homine qui perversa loquitur

to deliver you from the evil way, and from the man that speaks nothing faithfully.

13 qui relinquunt iter rectum et ambulant per vias tenebrosas

Alas [for those] who forsake right paths, to walk in ways of darkness;

14 qui laetantur cum malefecerint et exultant in rebus pessimis

who rejoice in evils, and delight in wicked perverseness;

15 quorum viae perversae et infames gressus eorum

whose paths are crooked, and their courses winding;

16 ut eruaris a muliere aliena et ab extranea quae mollit sermones suos

to remove you far from the straight way, and to estrange you from a righteous purpose. [My] son, let not evil counsel overtake you,

17 et relinquit ducem pubertatis suae

[of her] who has forsaken the instruction of her youth, and forgotten the covenant of God.

18 et pacti Dei sui oblita est inclinata est enim ad mortem domus eius et ad impios semitae ipsius

For she has fixed her house near death, and [guided] her wheels near Hades with the giants.

19 omnes qui ingrediuntur ad eam non revertentur nec adprehendent semitas vitae

None that go by her shall return, neither shall they take hold of right paths, for they are not apprehended of the years of life.

20 ut ambules in via bona et calles iustorum custodias

For had they gone in good paths, they would have found the paths of righteousness easy.

21 qui enim recti sunt habitabunt in terra et simplices permanebunt in ea

For the upright shall dwell in the earth, and the holy shall be left behind in it.

22 impii vero de terra perdentur et qui inique agunt auferentur ex ea

The paths of the ungodly shall perish out of the earth, and transgressors shall be driven away from it.