Proverbia 4

VULGATA	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Audite, filii, disciplinam patris, et attendite ut sciatis prudentiam.	1 Hear, O children, a father's instruction, be attentive, that you may gain understanding!
2 Donum bonum tribuam vobis : legem meam ne derelinquatis.	2 Yes, excellent advice I give you; my teaching do not forsake.
3 Nam et ego filius fui patris mei, tenellus et unigenitus coram matre mea.	3 When I was my father's child, frail, yet the darling of my mother,
4 Et docebat me, atque dicebat : Suscipiat verba mea cor tuum ; custodi præcepta mea, et vives.	4 He taught me, and said to me: "Let your heart hold fast my words: keep my commands, that you may live!
5 Posside sapientiam, posside prudentiam : ne obliviscaris, neque declines a verbis oris mei.	5 "Get wisdom, get understanding! Do not forget or turn aside from the words I utter.
6 Ne dimittas eam, et custodiet te : dilige eam, et conservabit te.	6 Forsake her not, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will safeguard you;
7 Principium sapientiæ : posside sapientiam, et in omni possessione tua acquire prudentiam.	7 The beginning of wisdom is: get wisdom; at the cost of all you have, get understanding.
8 Arripe illam, et exaltabit te ; glorificaberis ab ea cum eam fueris amplexatus.	8 Extol her, and she will exalt you; she will bring you honors if you embrace her;
9 Dabit capiti tuo augmenta gratiarum, et corona inclyta proteget te.	9 She will put on your head a graceful diadem; a glorious crown will she bestow on you."
10 Audi, fili mi, et suscipe verba mea, ut multiplicentur tibi anni vitæ.	10 Hear, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life shall be many.
11 Viam sapientiæ monstrabo tibi ; ducam te per semitas æquitatis :	11 On the way of wisdom I direct you, I lead you on straightforward paths.
12 quas cum ingressus fueris, non arctabuntur gressus tui, et currens non habebis offendiculum.	12 When you walk, your step will not be impeded, and should you run, you will not stumble.
13 Tene disciplinam, ne dimittas eam ; custodi illam, quia ipsa est vita tua.	13 Hold fast to instruction, never let her go; keep her, for she is your life.
14 Ne delecteris in semitis impiorum, nec tibi placeat malorum via.	14 The path of the wicked enter not, walk not on the way of evil men;
15 Fuge ab ea, nec transeas per illam ; declina, et desere eam.	15 Shun it, cross it not, turn aside from it, and pass on.
16 Non enim dormiunt nisi malefecerint, et rapitur somnus ab eis nisi supplantaverint.	16 For they cannot rest unless they have done evil; to have made no one stumble steals away their sleep.
17 Comedunt panem impietatis, et vinum iniquitatis bibunt.	17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 Justorum autem semita quasi lux splendens procedit, et crescit usque ad perfectam diem.	18 But the path of the just is like shining light, that grows in brilliance till perfect day.
19 Via impiorum tenebrosa ; nesciunt ubi corruant.	19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; they know not on what they stumble.
20 Fili mi, ausculta sermones meos, et ad eloquia mea inclina aurem tuam.	20 My son, to my words be attentive, to my sayings incline your ear;
21 Ne recedant ab oculis tuis : custodi ea in medio cordis tui :	21 Let them not slip out of your sight, keep them within your heart;
22 vita enim sunt invenientibus ea, et universæ carni sanitas.	22 For they are life to those who find them, to man's whole being they are health.
23 Omni custodia serva cor tuum, quia ex ipso vita procedit.	23 With closest custody, guard your heart, for in it are the sources of life.
24 Remove a te os pravum, et detrahentia labia sint procul a te.	24 Put away from you dishonest talk, deceitful speech put far from you.
25 Oculi tui recta videant, et palpebræ tuæ præcedant gressus tuos.	25 Let your eyes look straight ahead and your glance be directly forward.
26 Dirige semitam pedibus tuis, et omnes viæ tuæ stabilientur.	26 Survey the path for your feet, and let all your ways be sure.
27 Ne declines ad dexteram neque ad sinistram ; averte pedem tuum a malo : vias enim quæ a dextris sunt novit Dominus : perversæ vero sunt quæ a sinistris sunt. Ipse autem rectos faciet cursus tuos, itinera autem tua in pace producet.	27 Turn neither to right nor to left, keep your foot far from evil.