Proverbs 4

Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

audite filii disciplinam patris et adtendite ut sciatis prudentiam

For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

donum bonum tribuam vobis legem meam ne derelinquatis

For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

nam et ego filius fui patris mei tenellus et unigenitus coram matre mea

He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

et docebat me atque dicebat suscipiat verba mea cor tuum custodi praecepta mea et vives

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

posside sapientiam posside prudentiam ne obliviscaris neque declines a verbis oris mei

Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

ne dimittas eam et custodiet te dilige eam et servabit te

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

principium sapientiae posside sapientiam et in omni possessione tua adquire prudentiam

Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

arripe illam et exaltabit te glorificaberis ab ea cum eam fueris amplexatus

She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

dabit capiti tuo augmenta gratiarum et corona inclita proteget te

Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

audi fili mi et suscipe verba mea ut multiplicentur tibi anni vitae

I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

viam sapientiae monstravi tibi duxi te per semitas aequitatis

When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

quas cum ingressus fueris non artabuntur gressus tui et currens non habebis offendiculum

Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

tene disciplinam ne dimittas eam custodi illam quia ipsa est vita tua

Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

ne delecteris semitis impiorum nec tibi placeat malorum via

Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

fuge ab ea ne transeas per illam declina et desere eam

For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

non enim dormiunt nisi malefecerint et rapitur somnus ab eis nisi subplantaverint

For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

comedunt panem impietatis et vinum iniquitatis bibunt

But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

iustorum autem semita quasi lux splendens procedit et crescit usque ad perfectam diem

The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

via impiorum tenebrosa nesciunt ubi corruant

My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

fili mi ausculta sermones meos et ad eloquia mea inclina aurem tuam

Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

ne recedant ab oculis tuis custodi ea in medio cordis tui

For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

vita enim sunt invenientibus ea et universae carni sanitas

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

omni custodia serva cor tuum quia ex ipso vita procedit

Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

remove a te os pravum et detrahentia labia sint procul a te

Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

oculi tui recta videant et palpebrae tuae praecedant gressus tuos

Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

dirige semitam pedibus tuis et omnes viae tuae stabilientur

Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

ne declines ad dexteram et ad sinistram averte pedem tuum a malo