Proverbiorum 4
1 audite filii disciplinam patris et adtendite ut sciatis prudentiam
Give ear, my sons, to the teaching of a father; give attention so that you may have knowledge:
2 donum bonum tribuam vobis legem meam ne derelinquatis
For I give you good teaching; do not give up the knowledge you are getting from me.
3 nam et ego filius fui patris mei tenellus et unigenitus coram matre mea
For I was a son to my father, a gentle and an only one to my mother.
4 et docebat me atque dicebat suscipiat verba mea cor tuum custodi praecepta mea et vives
And he gave me teaching, saying to me, Keep my words in your heart; keep my rules so that you may have life:
5 posside sapientiam posside prudentiam ne obliviscaris neque declines a verbis oris mei
Get wisdom, get true knowledge; keep it in memory, do not be turned away from the words of my mouth.
6 ne dimittas eam et custodiet te dilige eam et servabit te
Do not give her up, and she will keep you; give her your love, and she will make you safe.
7 principium sapientiae posside sapientiam et in omni possessione tua adquire prudentiam
The first sign of wisdom is to get wisdom; go, give all you have to get true knowledge.
8 arripe illam et exaltabit te glorificaberis ab ea cum eam fueris amplexatus
Put her in a high place, and you will be lifted up by her; she will give you honour, when you give her your love.
9 dabit capiti tuo augmenta gratiarum et corona inclita proteget te
She will put a crown of grace on your head, giving you a head-dress of glory.
10 audi fili mi et suscipe verba mea ut multiplicentur tibi anni vitae
Give ear, O my son, and let your heart be open to my sayings; and long life will be yours.
11 viam sapientiae monstravi tibi duxi te per semitas aequitatis
I have given you teaching in the way of wisdom, guiding your steps in the straight way.
12 quas cum ingressus fueris non artabuntur gressus tui et currens non habebis offendiculum
When you go, your way will not be narrow, and in running you will not have a fall.
13 tene disciplinam ne dimittas eam custodi illam quia ipsa est vita tua
Take learning in your hands, do not let her go: keep her, for she is your life.
14 ne delecteris semitis impiorum nec tibi placeat malorum via
Do not go in the road of sinners, or be walking in the way of evil men.
15 fuge ab ea ne transeas per illam declina et desere eam
Keep far from it, do not go near; be turned from it, and go on your way.
16 non enim dormiunt nisi malefecerint et rapitur somnus ab eis nisi subplantaverint
For they take no rest till they have done evil; their sleep is taken away if they have not been the cause of someone's fall.
17 comedunt panem impietatis et vinum iniquitatis bibunt
The bread of evil-doing is their food, the wine of violent acts their drink.
18 iustorum autem semita quasi lux splendens procedit et crescit usque ad perfectam diem
But the way of the upright is like the light of early morning, getting brighter and brighter till the full day.
19 via impiorum tenebrosa nesciunt ubi corruant
The way of sinners is dark; they see not the cause of their fall.
20 fili mi ausculta sermones meos et ad eloquia mea inclina aurem tuam
My son, give attention to my words; let your ear be turned to my sayings.
21 ne recedant ab oculis tuis custodi ea in medio cordis tui
Let them not go from your eyes; keep them deep in your heart.
22 vita enim sunt invenientibus ea et universae carni sanitas
For they are life to him who gets them, and strength to all his flesh.
23 omni custodia serva cor tuum quia ex ipso vita procedit
And keep watch over your heart with all care; so you will have life.
24 remove a te os pravum et detrahentia labia sint procul a te
Put away from you an evil tongue, and let false lips be far from you.
25 oculi tui recta videant et palpebrae tuae praecedant gressus tuos
Keep your eyes on what is in front of you, looking straight before you.
26 dirige semitam pedibus tuis et omnes viae tuae stabilientur
Keep a watch on your behaviour; let all your ways be rightly ordered.
27 ne declines ad dexteram et ad sinistram averte pedem tuum a malo
Let there be no turning to the right or to the left, keep your feet from evil.
