Proverbiorum 4
1 audite filii disciplinam patris et adtendite ut sciatis prudentiam
Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
2 donum bonum tribuam vobis legem meam ne derelinquatis
For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.
3 nam et ego filius fui patris mei tenellus et unigenitus coram matre mea
When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother,
4 et docebat me atque dicebat suscipiat verba mea cor tuum custodi praecepta mea et vives
he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.
5 posside sapientiam posside prudentiam ne obliviscaris neque declines a verbis oris mei
Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.
6 ne dimittas eam et custodiet te dilige eam et servabit te
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.
7 principium sapientiae posside sapientiam et in omni possessione tua adquire prudentiam
Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
8 arripe illam et exaltabit te glorificaberis ab ea cum eam fueris amplexatus
Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
9 dabit capiti tuo augmenta gratiarum et corona inclita proteget te
She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”
10 audi fili mi et suscipe verba mea ut multiplicentur tibi anni vitae
Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.
11 viam sapientiae monstravi tibi duxi te per semitas aequitatis
I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.
12 quas cum ingressus fueris non artabuntur gressus tui et currens non habebis offendiculum
When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.
13 tene disciplinam ne dimittas eam custodi illam quia ipsa est vita tua
Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
14 ne delecteris semitis impiorum nec tibi placeat malorum via
Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 fuge ab ea ne transeas per illam declina et desere eam
Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by.
16 non enim dormiunt nisi malefecerint et rapitur somnus ab eis nisi subplantaverint
For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
17 comedunt panem impietatis et vinum iniquitatis bibunt
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 iustorum autem semita quasi lux splendens procedit et crescit usque ad perfectam diem
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
19 via impiorum tenebrosa nesciunt ubi corruant
But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.
20 fili mi ausculta sermones meos et ad eloquia mea inclina aurem tuam
My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21 ne recedant ab oculis tuis custodi ea in medio cordis tui
Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
22 vita enim sunt invenientibus ea et universae carni sanitas
For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.
23 omni custodia serva cor tuum quia ex ipso vita procedit
Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
24 remove a te os pravum et detrahentia labia sint procul a te
Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.
25 oculi tui recta videant et palpebrae tuae praecedant gressus tuos
Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
26 dirige semitam pedibus tuis et omnes viae tuae stabilientur
Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
27 ne declines ad dexteram et ad sinistram averte pedem tuum a malo
Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
