Proverbs 4
1 Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
audite filii disciplinam patris et adtendite ut sciatis prudentiam
2 for I give you sound learning. Do not forsake my law.
donum bonum tribuam vobis legem meam ne derelinquatis
3 For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
nam et ego filius fui patris mei tenellus et unigenitus coram matre mea
4 He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
et docebat me atque dicebat suscipiat verba mea cor tuum custodi praecepta mea et vives
5 Get wisdom. Get understanding. Do not forget, and do not deviate from the words of my mouth.
posside sapientiam posside prudentiam ne obliviscaris neque declines a verbis oris mei
6 Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
ne dimittas eam et custodiet te dilige eam et servabit te
7 Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
principium sapientiae posside sapientiam et in omni possessione tua adquire prudentiam
8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor when you embrace her.
arripe illam et exaltabit te glorificaberis ab ea cum eam fueris amplexatus
9 She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”
dabit capiti tuo augmenta gratiarum et corona inclita proteget te
10 Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
audi fili mi et suscipe verba mea ut multiplicentur tibi anni vitae
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
viam sapientiae monstravi tibi duxi te per semitas aequitatis
12 When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
quas cum ingressus fueris non artabuntur gressus tui et currens non habebis offendiculum
13 Take firm hold of instruction. Do not let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
tene disciplinam ne dimittas eam custodi illam quia ipsa est vita tua
14 Do not enter into the path of the wicked. Do not walk in the way of evil men.
ne delecteris semitis impiorum nec tibi placeat malorum via
15 Avoid it, and do not pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
fuge ab ea ne transeas per illam declina et desere eam
16 For they do not sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
non enim dormiunt nisi malefecerint et rapitur somnus ab eis nisi subplantaverint
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
comedunt panem impietatis et vinum iniquitatis bibunt
18 But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.
iustorum autem semita quasi lux splendens procedit et crescit usque ad perfectam diem
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness. They do not know what they stumble over.
via impiorum tenebrosa nesciunt ubi corruant
20 My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
fili mi ausculta sermones meos et ad eloquia mea inclina aurem tuam
21 Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart.
ne recedant ab oculis tuis custodi ea in medio cordis tui
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
vita enim sunt invenientibus ea et universae carni sanitas
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
omni custodia serva cor tuum quia ex ipso vita procedit
24 Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
remove a te os pravum et detrahentia labia sint procul a te
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
oculi tui recta videant et palpebrae tuae praecedant gressus tuos
26 Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
dirige semitam pedibus tuis et omnes viae tuae stabilientur
27 Do not turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
ne declines ad dexteram et ad sinistram averte pedem tuum a malo
