Proverbiorum 4
1 audite filii disciplinam patris et adtendite ut sciatis prudentiam
Hear, you sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
2 donum bonum tribuam vobis legem meam ne derelinquatis
For I have given to you good learning, do not forsake my law.
3 nam et ego filius fui patris mei tenellus et unigenitus coram matre mea
For I have been a son to my father—tender, And an only one before my mother.
4 et docebat me atque dicebat suscipiat verba mea cor tuum custodi praecepta mea et vives
And he directs me, and he says to me: “Let your heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
5 posside sapientiam posside prudentiam ne obliviscaris neque declines a verbis oris mei
Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
6 ne dimittas eam et custodiet te dilige eam et servabit te
Do not forsake her, and she preserves you, Love her, and she keeps you.
7 principium sapientiae posside sapientiam et in omni possessione tua adquire prudentiam
The first thing [is] wisdom—get wisdom, And with all your getting get understanding.
8 arripe illam et exaltabit te glorificaberis ab ea cum eam fueris amplexatus
Exalt her and she lifts you up, She honors you when you embrace her.
9 dabit capiti tuo augmenta gratiarum et corona inclita proteget te
She gives a wreath of grace to your head, She gives you a crown of beauty freely.”
10 audi fili mi et suscipe verba mea ut multiplicentur tibi anni vitae
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to you.
11 viam sapientiae monstravi tibi duxi te per semitas aequitatis
I have directed you in a way of wisdom, I have caused you to tread in paths of uprightness.
12 quas cum ingressus fueris non artabuntur gressus tui et currens non habebis offendiculum
In your walking your step is not restricted, And if you run, you do not stumble.
13 tene disciplinam ne dimittas eam custodi illam quia ipsa est vita tua
Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] your life.
14 ne delecteris semitis impiorum nec tibi placeat malorum via
Do not enter into the path of the wicked, And do not be blessed in a way of evildoers.
15 fuge ab ea ne transeas per illam declina et desere eam
Avoid it, do not pass over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
16 non enim dormiunt nisi malefecerint et rapitur somnus ab eis nisi subplantaverint
For they do not sleep if they do no evil, And their sleep has been taken away violently, If they do not cause [some] to stumble.
17 comedunt panem impietatis et vinum iniquitatis bibunt
For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And they drink wine of violence.
18 iustorum autem semita quasi lux splendens procedit et crescit usque ad perfectam diem
And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening until the day is established,
19 via impiorum tenebrosa nesciunt ubi corruant
The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
20 fili mi ausculta sermones meos et ad eloquia mea inclina aurem tuam
My son, give attention to my words, Incline your ear to my sayings,
21 ne recedant ab oculis tuis custodi ea in medio cordis tui
Do not let them turn aside from your eyes, Preserve them in the midst of your heart.
22 vita enim sunt invenientibus ea et universae carni sanitas
For they [are] life to those finding them, And healing to all their flesh.
23 omni custodia serva cor tuum quia ex ipso vita procedit
Above every charge keep your heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
24 remove a te os pravum et detrahentia labia sint procul a te
Turn aside a contrary mouth from you, And put perverse lips far from you,
25 oculi tui recta videant et palpebrae tuae praecedant gressus tuos
Your eyes look straightforward, And your eyelids look straight before you.
26 dirige semitam pedibus tuis et omnes viae tuae stabilientur
Ponder the path of your feet, And all your ways [are] established.
27 ne declines ad dexteram et ad sinistram averte pedem tuum a malo
Do not incline [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside your foot from evil!
