Proverbiorum 4
1 audite filii disciplinam patris et adtendite ut sciatis prudentiam
Listen, sons, to a father's instruction, and pay attention so you will know what understanding is.
2 donum bonum tribuam vobis legem meam ne derelinquatis
I am giving you good instructions; do not forsake my teaching.
3 nam et ego filius fui patris mei tenellus et unigenitus coram matre mea
When I was a son of my father, the tender and 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 to me, “Let your heart hold fast to my words; keep my commands and live.
5 posside sapientiam posside prudentiam ne obliviscaris neque declines a verbis oris mei
Acquire wisdom and understanding; do not forget and do not reject the words of my mouth;
6 ne dimittas eam et custodiet te dilige eam et servabit te
do not abandon wisdom and she will watch over you; love her and she will keep you safe.
7 principium sapientiae posside sapientiam et in omni possessione tua adquire prudentiam
Wisdom is the most important thing, so acquire wisdom and spend all you own so you can get understanding.
8 arripe illam et exaltabit te glorificaberis ab ea cum eam fueris amplexatus
Cherish wisdom and she will exalt you; she will honor you when you embrace her.
9 dabit capiti tuo augmenta gratiarum et corona inclita proteget te
She will put a wreath of honor on your head; she will give you a beautiful crown.”
10 audi fili mi et suscipe verba mea ut multiplicentur tibi anni vitae
Listen, my son, and pay attention to my words, and you will have many years in your life.
11 viam sapientiae monstravi tibi duxi te per semitas aequitatis
I direct you in the way of wisdom; I lead you down straight paths.
12 quas cum ingressus fueris non artabuntur gressus tui et currens non habebis offendiculum
When you walk, no one will stand in your way and if 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 it go; guard it, for it is your life.
14 ne delecteris semitis impiorum nec tibi placeat malorum via
Do not follow the path of the wicked and do not go along the way of those who do evil.
15 fuge ab ea ne transeas per illam declina et desere eam
Avoid it, do not go on it; turn away from it and go another way.
16 non enim dormiunt nisi malefecerint et rapitur somnus ab eis nisi subplantaverint
For they cannot sleep until they do evil and they are robbed of sleep until they cause someone to stumble.
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 righteous people is like the first light that grows brighter; it shines more and more until the fullness of the day comes.
19 via impiorum tenebrosa nesciunt ubi corruant
The way of the wicked is like darkness— they do not know what it is they stumble over.
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 let them turn away from your eyes; keep them in your heart.
22 vita enim sunt invenientibus ea et universae carni sanitas
For my words are life to those who find them and health to their whole body.
23 omni custodia serva cor tuum quia ex ipso vita procedit
Keep your heart safe and guard it with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.
24 remove a te os pravum et detrahentia labia sint procul a te
Put crooked speech away from you and put corrupt talk far from you.
25 oculi tui recta videant et palpebrae tuae praecedant gressus tuos
Let your eyes look straight ahead and fix your gaze straight before you.
26 dirige semitam pedibus tuis et omnes viae tuae stabilientur
Make a level path for your foot; then all your ways will be secure.
27 ne declines ad dexteram et ad sinistram averte pedem tuum a malo
Do not turn aside to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
