Proverbiorum 8
1 Numquid non sapientia clamitat, et prudentia dat vocem suam?
Doth not wisdom cry aloud, and prudence put forth her voice?
2 In summis, excelsisque verticibus supra viam, in mediis semitis stans,
Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, in the midst of the paths.
3 iuxta portas civitatis in ipsis foribus loquitur, dicens:
Beside the gates of the city, in the very doors she speaketh, saying:
4 O viri, ad vos clamito, et vox mea ad filios hominum.
O ye men, to you I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
5 Intelligite parvuli astutiam, et insipientes animadvertite.
O little ones, understand subtilty, and ye unwise, take notice.
6 Audite, quoniam de rebus magnis locutura sum: et aperientur labia mea, ut recta prædicent.
Hear, for I will speak of great things: and my lips shall be opened to preach right things.
7 Veritatem meditabitur guttur meum, et labia mea detestabuntur impium.
My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate wickedness.
8 Iusti sunt omnes sermones mei, non est in eis pravum quid, neque perversum.
All my words are just, there is nothing wicked nor perverse in them.
9 Recti sunt intelligentibus, et æqui invenientibus scientiam.
They are right to them that understand, and just to them that find knowledge.
10 Accipite disciplinam meam, et non pecuniam: doctrinam magis, quam aurum eligite.
Receive my instruction, and not money: choose knowledge rather than gold.
11 Melior est enim sapientia cunctis pretiosissimis: et omne desiderabile ei non potest comparari.
For wisdom is better than all the most precious things: and whatsoever may be desired cannot be compared to it.
12 Ego sapientia habito in consilio, et eruditis intersum cogitationibus.
I wisdom dwell in counsel, and am present in learned thoughts.
13 Timor Domini odit malum: arrogantiam, et superbiam, et viam pravam, et os bilingue detestor.
The fear of the Lord hateth evil: I hate arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue.
14 Meum est consilium, et æquitas, mea est prudentia, mea est fortitudo.
Counsel and equity is mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine.
15 Per me reges regnant, et legum conditores iusta decernunt:
By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things,
16 Per me principes imperant, et potentes decernunt iustitiam.
By me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice.
17 Ego diligentes me diligo: et qui mane vigilant ad me, invenient me.
I love them that love me: and they that in the morning early watch for me, shall find me.
18 Mecum sunt divitiæ, et gloria, opes superbæ, et iustitia.
With me are riches and glory, glorious riches and justice.
19 Melior est enim fructus meus auro, et lapide pretioso, et genimina me argento electo.
For my fruit is better than gold and the precious stone, and my blossoms than choice silver.
20 In viis iustitiæ ambulo, in medio semitarum iudicii,
I walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment,
21 ut ditem diligentes me, et thesauros eorum repleam.
That I may enrich them that love me, and may fill their treasures.
22 Dominus possedit me in initio viarum suarum, antequam quidquam faceret a principio.
The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made any thing from the beginning.
23 Ab æterno ordinata sum, et ex antiquis antequam terra fieret.
I was set up from eternity, and of old before the earth was made.
24 Nondum erant abyssi, et ego iam concepta eram: necdum fontes aquarum eruperant:
The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived. neither had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out:
25 necdum montes gravi mole constiterant: ante colles ego parturiebar:
The mountains with their huge bulk had not as yet been established: before the hills I was brought forth:
26 adhuc terram non fecerat, et flumina, et cardines orbis terræ.
He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of the world.
27 Quando præparabat cælos, aderam: quando certa lege, et gyro vallabat abyssos:
When he prepared the heavens, I was present: when with a certain law and compass he enclosed the depths:
28 quando æthera firmabat sursum, et librabat fontes aquarum:
When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters:
29 quando circumdabat mari terminum suum, et legem ponebat aquis, ne transirent fines suos: quando appendebat fundamenta terræ:
When he compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits: when be balanced the foundations of the earth;
30 Cum eo eram cuncta componens: et delectabar per singulos dies, ludens coram eo omni tempore;
I was with him forming all things: and was delighted every day, playing before him at all times;
31 ludens in orbe terrarum: et deliciæ meæ esse, cum filiis hominum.
Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the children of men.
32 Nunc ergo filii audite me: Beati, qui custodiunt vias meas.
Now therefore, ye children, hear me: Blessed are they that keep my ways.
33 Audite disciplinam, et estote sapientes, et nolite abiicere eam.
Hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not.
34 Beatus homo qui audit me, et qui vigilat ad fores meas quotidie, et observat ad postes ostii mei.
Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors.
35 Qui me invenerit, inveniet vitam, et hauriet salutem a Domino:
He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord:
36 qui autem in me peccaverit, lædet animam suam. Omnes, qui me oderunt, diligunt mortem.
But he that shall sin against me, shall hurt his own soul. All that hate me love death.
