Proverbiorum 4
1 audite filii disciplinam patris et adtendite ut sciatis prudentiam
Hear, you children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2 donum bonum tribuam vobis legem meam ne derelinquatis
For I give you a good gift; forsake you not my law.
3 nam et ego filius fui patris mei tenellus et unigenitus coram matre mea
For I also was a son obedient to [my] father, and loved in the sight of [my] mother:
4 et docebat me atque dicebat suscipiat verba mea cor tuum custodi praecepta mea et vives
who spoke and instructed me, [saying], Let our speech be fixed in your heart, keep [our] commandments, forget them not:
5 posside sapientiam posside prudentiam ne obliviscaris neque declines a verbis oris mei
and do not neglect the speech of my mouth.
6 ne dimittas eam et custodiet te dilige eam et servabit te
And forsake it not, and it shall cleave to you: love it, and it shall keep you.
7 principium sapientiae posside sapientiam et in omni possessione tua adquire prudentiam
8 arripe illam et exaltabit te glorificaberis ab ea cum eam fueris amplexatus
Secure it, and it shall exalt you: honour it, that it may embrace you;
9 dabit capiti tuo augmenta gratiarum et corona inclita proteget te
that it may give to your head a crown of graces, and may cover you with a crown of delight.
10 audi fili mi et suscipe verba mea ut multiplicentur tibi anni vitae
Hear, [my] son, and receive my words; and the years of your life shall be increased, that the resources of your life may be many.
11 viam sapientiae monstravi tibi duxi te per semitas aequitatis
For I teach you the ways of wisdom; and I cause you to go in right paths.
12 quas cum ingressus fueris non artabuntur gressus tui et currens non habebis offendiculum
For when you go, your steps shall not be straitened; and when you run, you shall not be distressed.
13 tene disciplinam ne dimittas eam custodi illam quia ipsa est vita tua
Take hold of my instruction; let it not go, —but keep it for yourself for your life.
14 ne delecteris semitis impiorum nec tibi placeat malorum via
Go not in the ways of the ungodly, neither covet the ways of transgressors.
15 fuge ab ea ne transeas per illam declina et desere eam
In whatever place they shall pitch their camp, go not there; but turn from them, and pass away.
16 non enim dormiunt nisi malefecerint et rapitur somnus ab eis nisi subplantaverint
For they can’t sleep, unless they have done evil: their sleep is taken away, and they rest not.
17 comedunt panem impietatis et vinum iniquitatis bibunt
For these live upon the bread of ungodliness, and are drunken with wine of transgression.
18 iustorum autem semita quasi lux splendens procedit et crescit usque ad perfectam diem
But the ways of the righteous shine like light; they go on and shine, until the day be fully come.
19 via impiorum tenebrosa nesciunt ubi corruant
But the ways of the ungodly are dark; they know not how they stumble.
20 fili mi ausculta sermones meos et ad eloquia mea inclina aurem tuam
[My] son, attend to my speech; and apply your ear to my words:
21 ne recedant ab oculis tuis custodi ea in medio cordis tui
that your fountains may not fail you; keep them in [your] heart.
22 vita enim sunt invenientibus ea et universae carni sanitas
For they are life to those that find them, and health to all [their] flesh.
23 omni custodia serva cor tuum quia ex ipso vita procedit
Keep your heart with the utmost care; for out of these are the issues of life.
24 remove a te os pravum et detrahentia labia sint procul a te
Remove from you a froward mouth, and put far away from you unjust lips.
25 oculi tui recta videant et palpebrae tuae praecedant gressus tuos
Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids assent [to] just [things].
26 dirige semitam pedibus tuis et omnes viae tuae stabilientur
Make straight paths for your feet, and order your ways aright.
27 ne declines ad dexteram et ad sinistram averte pedem tuum a malo
Turn not aside to the right hand nor to the left, but turn away your foot from an evil way.
