Proverbiorum 8
1 numquid non sapientia clamitat et prudentia dat vocem suam
It is as if wisdom, with great understanding [of many things], is calling [PRS] out [to people].
2 in summis excelsisque verticibus super viam in mediis semitis stans
Wisdom stands on hilltops and at crossroads.
3 iuxta portas civitatis in ipsis foribus loquitur dicens
[Wisdom also stands] at the city gates and shouts loudly,
4 o viri ad vos clamito et vox mea ad filios hominum
“I am calling to everyone! I am shouting loudly to all people!
5 intellegite parvuli astutiam et insipientes animadvertite
You people who do not know how to do things that are smart to do, get sound judgment; you foolish people, get good understanding!
6 audite quoniam de rebus magnis locutura sum et aperientur labia mea ut recta praedicent
Listen to me, because I have some excellent/important things to say. What I say is what is fair/right.
7 veritatem meditabitur guttur meum et labia mea detestabuntur impium
I speak what is true; I detest speaking [MTY] what is false/deceptive.
8 iusti sunt omnes sermones mei non est in eis pravum quid neque perversum
Everything that I say is honest; there is nothing that I say that deceives [people].
9 recti sunt intellegentibus et aequi invenientibus scientiam
My words are clear to those who have good sense; those who are wise know that what I say is right.
10 accipite disciplinam meam et non pecuniam doctrinam magis quam aurum eligite
[If someone offers you the kind of teaching I give] or offers you silver, choose my teaching. [If he offers to show you how to be wise] or offers you gold, choose to know how to be wise,
11 melior est enim sapientia cunctis pretiosissimis et omne desiderabile ei non potest conparari
because wisdom is more valuable than jewels. Nothing that you desire [is as valuable] as being wise.
12 ego sapientia habito in consilio et eruditis intersum cogitationibus
I, wisdom, and understanding of what is smart to do, cannot be separated. We are like two people who live in the same house. I know how to be wise and how to make smart decisions.
13 timor Domini odit malum arrogantiam et superbiam et viam pravam et os bilingue detestor
[All the people] who revere Yahweh hate evil. I, wisdom, hate [people who are] proud and [people] who think they are more important [than others]. I hate [people who] behave in an evil way and those who say things to deceive [others].
14 meum est consilium et aequitas mea prudentia mea est fortitudo
I give [people] good advice and I enable them to do things that are wise. I understand how things really are, and I am strong.
15 per me reges regnant et legum conditores iusta decernunt
When kings are wise, they rule [well]; and when rulers are wise, they make laws that are just/fair.
16 per me principes imperant et potentes decernunt iustitiam
Rulers govern their people with the help of me, wisdom, and those who have authority decide things fairly/just with my help.
17 ego diligentes me diligo et qui mane vigilant ad me invenient me
I, [wisdom], love [all] those who love me, and [all] those who truly seek me [will] find me.
18 mecum sunt divitiae et gloria opes superbae et iustitia
I enable [people] to become rich and to be honored; [I enable them to have] wealth that will last and to be successful.
19 melior est fructus meus auro et pretioso lapide et genimina mea argento electo
What I can give people is more valuable than fine/pure gold and the best silver.
20 in viis iustitiae ambulo in medio semitarum iudicii
I always do what is righteous and just/fair.
21 ut ditem diligentes me et thesauros eorum repleam
I give wealth to those who love me; I fill their houses with valuable things.
22 Dominus possedit me initium viarum suarum antequam quicquam faceret a principio
Yahweh created me, [wisdom], when he began [to create the world]; he created me [to do my work] before he created anything else.
23 ab aeterno ordita sum et ex antiquis antequam terra fieret
He appointed me long ago, before he created the earth.
24 necdum erant abyssi et ego iam concepta eram necdum fontes aquarum eruperant
I was born before the oceans were [created], when there were no springs from which water flowed.
25 necdum montes gravi mole constiterant ante colles ego parturiebar
I was born before the hills and mountains were formed;
26 adhuc terram non fecerat et flumina et cardines orbis terrae
[I, wisdom], was born before Yahweh made the earth, before he made the fields and the soil on the earth.
27 quando praeparabat caelos aderam quando certa lege et gyro vallabat abyssos
I was there when Yahweh put the sky in place, when he marked the place [in the distance] where the sky and the oceans [seem to] come together.
28 quando aethera firmabat sursum et librabat fontes aquarum
I was there when Yahweh put the clouds above [the earth] and when he caused the water that is inside the earth to be secure.
29 quando circumdabat mari terminum suum et legem ponebat aquis ne transirent fines suos quando adpendebat fundamenta terrae
I was there when he fixed a boundary for the seas, so that the water in the seas would not go past those boundaries, and when he put down the foundations which support the earth.
30 cum eo eram cuncta conponens et delectabar per singulos dies ludens coram eo omni tempore
I was at the side of Yahweh, the master worker (OR, as though I was his child). I caused him to be happy every day, and I was always rejoicing when I was with him.
31 ludens in orbe terrarum et deliciae meae esse cum filiis hominum
I was delighted with the world that he created; I was happy with the people whom he created, too.
32 nunc ergo filii audite me beati qui custodiunt vias meas
So, [you people who are like] my sons, listen to me. [I am] pleased with [all] those who obey my teachings.
33 audite disciplinam et estote sapientes et nolite abicere eam
Listen [carefully] to what I teach you and become wise. Do not reject my teaching!
34 beatus homo qui audit me qui vigilat ad fores meas cotidie et observat ad postes ostii mei
[I am] pleased with those who listen to me, those who are outside my house every day, waiting [for me to come out].
35 qui me invenerit inveniet vitam et hauriet salutem a Domino
Those who find me will have [a long] life, and Yahweh [will] be pleased with them.
36 qui autem in me peccaverit laedet animam suam omnes qui me oderunt diligunt mortem
But those who stray away from me [just] harm themselves. All those who hate me, [it is as though] [IRO] they are loving death.”
