Liber Proverbiorum, 8
1. Numquid non sapientia clamitat, et prudentia dat vocem suam?
1. Does not wisdom call, does not understanding raise her voice?
2. In summis verticibus supra viam in mediis semitis stans,
2. On the heights beside the way, in the paths she takes her stand;
3. iuxta portas ad introitum civitatis, in ipsis foribus conclamat:
3. beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
4. “O viri, ad vos clamito, et vox mea ad filios hominum.
4. "To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the sons of men.
5. Intellegite, parvuli, astutiam; et insipientes, animadvertite.
5. O simple ones, learn prudence; O foolish men, pay attention.
6. Audite, quoniam de rebus magnis locutura sum, et aperientur labia mea, ut recta praedicent.
6. Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right;
7. Veritatem meditabitur guttur meum, et labia mea detestabuntur impium.
7. for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8. Iusti sunt omnes sermones oris mei, non est in eis pravum quid neque perversum;
8. All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
9. omnes recti sunt intellegentibus et aequi invenientibus scientiam.
9. They are all straight to him who understands and right to those who find knowledge.
10. Accipitc disciplinam meam et non pecuniam, doctrinam magis quam aurum electum.
10. Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold;
11. Melior est enim sapientia gemmis, et omne desiderabile ei non potest comparari”.
11. for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
12. Ego sapientia habito cum prudentia et artem excogitandi invenio.
12. I, wisdom, dwell in prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
13. Timor Domini odisse malum; arrogantiam et superbiam et viam pravam et os bilingue detestor.
13. The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
14. Meum est consilium et prudentia, mea est intellegentia, mea est fortitudo.
14. I have counsel and sound wisdom, I have insight, I have strength.
15. Per me reges regnant, et principes iusta decernunt;
15. By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just;
16. per me duces imperant, et potentes decernunt iustitiam.
16. by me princes rule, and nobles govern the earth.
17. Ego diligentes me diligo; et, qui mane vigilant ad me, invenient me.
17. I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.
18. Mecum sunt divitiae et gloria, opes superbae et iustitia.
18. Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and prosperity.
19. Melior est enim fructus meus auro et obryzo, et genimina mea argento electo.
19. My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.
20. In viis iustitiae ambulo, in medio semitarum iudicii,
20. I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice,
21. ut ditem diligentes me et thesauros eorum repleam.
21. endowing with wealth those who love me, and filling their treasuries.
22. Dominus possedit me in initio viarum suarum, antequam quidquam faceret a principio;
22. The LORD created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.
23. ab aeterno ordinata sum et ex antiquis, antequam terra fieret.
23. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
24. Nondum erant abyssi, et ego iam concepta eram, necdum fontes graves aquis,
24. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.
25. priusquam montes demergerentur, ante colles ego parturiebar.
25. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth;
26. Adhuc terram non fecerat et campos et initium glebae orbis terrae.
26. before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world.
27. Quando praeparabat caelos, aderam, quando certa lege et gyro vallabat abyssos,
27. When he established the heavens, I was there, when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28. quando nubes firmabat sursum, et praevaluerunt fontes abyssi,
28. when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep,
29. quando circumdabat mari terminum suum et aquis, ne transirent fines suos, quando iecit fundamenta terrae,
29. when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
30. cum eo eram ut artifex: delectatio eius per singulos dies, ludens coram eo omni tempore,
30. then I was beside him, like a master workman; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,
31. ludens in orbe terrarum, et deliciae meae esse cum filiis hominum.
31. rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the sons of men.
32. Nunc ergo, filii, audite me: beati, qui custodiunt vias meas;
32. And now, my sons, listen to me: happy are those who keep my ways.
33. audite disciplinam et estote sapientes et nolite abicere eam.
33. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.
34. Beatus homo, qui audit me et qui vigilat ad fores meas cotidie et observat ad postes ostii mei.
34. Happy is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.
35. Qui me invenerit, inveniet vitam et hauriet delicias a Domino.
35. For he who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD;
36. Qui autem in me peccaverit, laedet animam suam: omnes, qui me oderunt, diligunt mortem.
36. but he who misses me injures himself; all who hate me love death."
