Proverbiorum 8
1 Numquid non sapientia clamitat, et prudentia dat vocem suam?
Does not Wisdom call out? Does not Understanding raise her voice?
2 In summis excelsisque verticibus supra viam, in mediis semitis stans,
On the hilltops beside the road, at the crossroads, Wisdom has taken her stand.
3 juxta portas civitatis, in ipsis foribus loquitur, dicens:
Before the gates at the entrance into the city, at the entrances into the city, she calls out.
4 O viri, ad vos clamito, et vox mea ad filios hominum.
“It is to you, people, that I call; my voice is for the sons of mankind.
5 Intelligite, parvuli, astutiam, et insipientes, animadvertite.
You who are naive, learn wisdom; and you who are foolish, you must get an understanding mind.
6 Audite, quoniam de rebus magnis locutura sum, et aperientur labia mea ut recta prædicent.
Listen, because I will speak of noble things, and when my lips open I will say upright things.
7 Veritatem meditabitur guttur meum, et labia mea detestabuntur impium.
For my mouth speaks what is trustworthy, and wickedness is disgusting to my lips.
8 Justi sunt omnes sermones mei: non est in eis pravum quid, neque perversum;
All the words of my mouth are just; in them is nothing twisted or misleading.
9 recti sunt intelligentibus, et æqui invenientibus scientiam.
All of them are straight for the person who understands; my words are upright for those who find knowledge.
10 Accipite disciplinam meam, et non pecuniam; doctrinam magis quam aurum eligite:
Acquire my instruction rather than silver; acquire knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 melior est enim sapientia cunctis pretiosissimis, et omne desiderabile ei non potest comparari.
For Wisdom is better than jewels; no treasure is equal to her.
12 Ego sapientia, habito in consilio, et eruditis intersum cogitationibus.
I, Wisdom, live with Prudence, and I possess knowledge and discretion.
13 Timor Domini odit malum: arrogantiam, et superbiam, et viam pravam, et os bilingue, detestor.
The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance, the evil way, and perverted speech. I hate them.
14 Meum est consilium et æquitas; mea est prudentia, mea est fortitudo.
I have good advice and sound wisdom; I am insight; strength belongs to me.
15 Per me reges regnant, et legum conditores justa decernunt;
By me kings reign, and rulers make laws that are just.
16 per me principes imperant, et potentes decernunt justitiam.
By me princes rule, nobles, and all who govern with justice.
17 Ego diligentes me diligo, et qui mane vigilant ad me, invenient me.
I love those who love me, and those who diligently seek me, find me.
18 Mecum sunt divitiæ et gloria, opes superbæ et justitia.
With me are riches and honor, lasting wealth and righteousness.
19 Melior est enim fructus meus auro et lapide pretioso, et genimina mea argento electo.
My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold; my produce is better than pure silver.
20 In viis justitiæ ambulo, in medio semitarum judicii:
I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice.
21 ut ditem diligentes me, et thesauros eorum repleam.
As a result, I make those who love me inherit wealth; I fill up their treasuries.
22 Dominus possedit me in initio viarum suarum antequam quidquam faceret a principio.
Yahweh created me at the beginning, the first of his deeds then.
23 Ab æterno ordinata sum, et ex antiquis antequam terra fieret.
In ages long ago I was made—from the first, from the beginnings of the earth.
24 Nondum erant abyssi, et ego jam concepta eram: necdum fontes aquarum eruperant,
Before there were oceans, I was given birth— before there were springs abounding with water.
25 necdum montes gravi mole constiterant: ante colles ego parturiebar.
Before the mountains were settled and before the hills, I was born.
26 Adhuc terram non fecerat, et flumina, et cardines orbis terræ.
I was born before Yahweh had made the earth or the fields, or even the first dust in the world.
27 Quando præparabat cælos, aderam; quando certa lege et gyro vallabat abyssos;
I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew a circle on the surface of the deep.
28 quando æthera firmabat sursum, et librabat fontes aquarum;
I was there when he established the clouds above and when the springs in the deep became fixed.
29 quando circumdabat mari terminum suum, et legem ponebat aquis, ne transirent fines suos; quando appendebat fundamenta terræ:
I was there when he made his limit for the sea, so the waters should not spread beyond his command, and when there was set the limit for the foundations of the dry land.
30 cum eo eram, cuncta componens. Et delectabar per singulos dies, ludens coram eo omni tempore,
I was beside him, as a skilled craftsman; I was his delight day after day, always rejoicing before him.
31 ludens in orbe terrarum; et deliciæ meæ esse cum filiis hominum.
I was rejoicing in his whole world, and my delight was in the sons of mankind.
32 Nunc ergo, filii, audite me: beati qui custodiunt vias meas.
Now, my sons, listen to me, for those who keep my ways will be blessed.
33 Audite disciplinam, et estote sapientes, et nolite abjicere eam.
Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not neglect it.
34 Beatus homo qui audit me, et qui vigilat ad fores meas quotidie, et observat ad postes ostii mei.
The one who listens to me will be blessed. He will be watching every day at my doors, waiting beside the posts of my doors.
35 Qui me invenerit, inveniet vitam, et hauriet salutem a Domino.
For whoever finds me, finds life, and he will find the favor of Yahweh.
36 Qui autem in me peccaverit, lædet animam suam; omnes qui me oderunt diligunt mortem.
But he who fails, harms his own life; all who hate me love death.”
