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