Proverbiorum 4
1 audite filii disciplinam patris et adtendite ut sciatis prudentiam
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2 donum bonum tribuam vobis legem meam ne derelinquatis
For I give you good doctrine; forsake ye not my teaching.
3 nam et ego filius fui patris mei tenellus et unigenitus coram matre mea
For I was a son unto my father, tender and an only one in the sight of my mother.
4 et docebat me atque dicebat suscipiat verba mea cor tuum custodi praecepta mea et vives
And he taught me, and said unto me: 'Let thy heart hold fast my words, keep my commandments, and live;
5 posside sapientiam posside prudentiam ne obliviscaris neque declines a verbis oris mei
Get wisdom, get understanding; forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth;
6 ne dimittas eam et custodiet te dilige eam et servabit te
Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; love her, and she will keep thee.
7 principium sapientiae posside sapientiam et in omni possessione tua adquire prudentiam
The beginning of wisdom is: Get wisdom; yea, with all thy getting get understanding.
8 arripe illam et exaltabit te glorificaberis ab ea cum eam fueris amplexatus
Extol her, and she will exalt thee; she will bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
9 dabit capiti tuo augmenta gratiarum et corona inclita proteget te
She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; a crown of glory will she bestow on thee.'
10 audi fili mi et suscipe verba mea ut multiplicentur tibi anni vitae
Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
11 viam sapientiae monstravi tibi duxi te per semitas aequitatis
I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in paths of uprightness.
12 quas cum ingressus fueris non artabuntur gressus tui et currens non habebis offendiculum
When thou goest, thy step shall not be straitened; and if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13 tene disciplinam ne dimittas eam custodi illam quia ipsa est vita tua
Take fast hold of instruction, let her not go; keep her, for she is thy life.
14 ne delecteris semitis impiorum nec tibi placeat malorum via
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and walk not in the way of evil men.
15 fuge ab ea ne transeas per illam declina et desere eam
Avoid it, pass not by it; turn from it, and pass on.
16 non enim dormiunt nisi malefecerint et rapitur somnus ab eis nisi subplantaverint
For they sleep not, except they have done evil; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to 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
But the path of the righteous is as the light of dawn, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
19 via impiorum tenebrosa nesciunt ubi corruant
The way of the wicked is as darkness; they know not at what they stumble.
20 fili mi ausculta sermones meos et ad eloquia mea inclina aurem tuam
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 ne recedant ab oculis tuis custodi ea in medio cordis tui
Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thy heart.
22 vita enim sunt invenientibus ea et universae carni sanitas
For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 omni custodia serva cor tuum quia ex ipso vita procedit
Above all that thou guardest keep thy heart; for out of it are the issues of life.
24 remove a te os pravum et detrahentia labia sint procul a te
Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25 oculi tui recta videant et palpebrae tuae praecedant gressus tuos
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 dirige semitam pedibus tuis et omnes viae tuae stabilientur
Make plain the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27 ne declines ad dexteram et ad sinistram averte pedem tuum a malo
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left; remove thy foot from evil.
