Proverbiorum 4
1 audite filii disciplinam patris et adtendite ut sciatis prudentiam
Hear, you children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2 donum bonum tribuam vobis legem meam ne derelinquatis
For I give you good doctrine, forsake you not my law.
3 nam et ego filius fui patris mei tenellus et unigenitus coram matre mea
For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
4 et docebat me atque dicebat suscipiat verba mea cor tuum custodi praecepta mea et vives
He taught me also, and said to me, Let your heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
5 posside sapientiam posside prudentiam ne obliviscaris neque declines a verbis oris mei
Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6 ne dimittas eam et custodiet te dilige eam et servabit te
Forsake her not, and she shall preserve you: love her, and she shall keep you.
7 principium sapientiae posside sapientiam et in omni possessione tua adquire prudentiam
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting get understanding.
8 arripe illam et exaltabit te glorificaberis ab ea cum eam fueris amplexatus
Exalt her, and she shall promote you: she shall bring you to honor, when you do embrace her.
9 dabit capiti tuo augmenta gratiarum et corona inclita proteget te
She shall give to your head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to you.
10 audi fili mi et suscipe verba mea ut multiplicentur tibi anni vitae
Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of your life shall be many.
11 viam sapientiae monstravi tibi duxi te per semitas aequitatis
I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths.
12 quas cum ingressus fueris non artabuntur gressus tui et currens non habebis offendiculum
When you go, your steps shall not be straitened; and when you run, you shall not stumble.
13 tene disciplinam ne dimittas eam custodi illam quia ipsa est vita tua
Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is your life.
14 ne delecteris semitis impiorum nec tibi placeat malorum via
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
15 fuge ab ea ne transeas per illam declina et desere eam
Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
16 non enim dormiunt nisi malefecerint et rapitur somnus ab eis nisi subplantaverint
For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
17 comedunt panem impietatis et vinum iniquitatis bibunt
For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18 iustorum autem semita quasi lux splendens procedit et crescit usque ad perfectam diem
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more to the perfect day.
19 via impiorum tenebrosa nesciunt ubi corruant
The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
20 fili mi ausculta sermones meos et ad eloquia mea inclina aurem tuam
My son, attend to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21 ne recedant ab oculis tuis custodi ea in medio cordis tui
Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the middle of your heart.
22 vita enim sunt invenientibus ea et universae carni sanitas
For they are life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 omni custodia serva cor tuum quia ex ipso vita procedit
Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
24 remove a te os pravum et detrahentia labia sint procul a te
Put away from you a fraudulent mouth, and perverse lips put far from you.
25 oculi tui recta videant et palpebrae tuae praecedant gressus tuos
Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids look straight before you.
26 dirige semitam pedibus tuis et omnes viae tuae stabilientur
Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.
27 ne declines ad dexteram et ad sinistram averte pedem tuum a malo
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove your foot from evil.
