Liber Proverbiorum, 3

1. fili mi ne obliviscaris legis meæ et præcepta mea custodiat cor tuum

1. My son, forget not my law, and let thy heart keep my commandments.

2. longitudinem enim dierum et annos vitæ et pacem adponent tibi

2. For they shall add to thee length of days, and years of life and peace.

3. misericordia et veritas non te deserant circumda eas gutturi tuo et describe in tabulis cordis tui

3. Let not mercy and truth leave thee, put them about thy neck, and write them in the tables of thy heart:

4. et invenies gratiam et disciplinam bonam coram Deo et hominibus

4. And thou shalt And grace and good understanding before God and men.

5. habe fiduciam in Domino ex toto corde tuo et ne innitaris prudentiæ tuæ

5. Have confidence in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not upon thy own prudence.

6. in omnibus viis tuis cogita illum et ipse diriget gressus tuos

6. In all thy ways think on him, and he will direct thy steps.

7. ne sis sapiens apud temet ipsum time Dominum et recede a malo

7. I Be not wise in thy own conceit: fear God, and depart from evil:

8. sanitas quippe erit umbilico tuo et inrigatio ossuum tuorum

8. For it shall be health to thy navel, and moistening to thy bones.

9. honora Dominum de tua substantia et de primitiis omnium frugum tuarum

9. Honour the Lord with thy substance, and give him of the first of all thy fruits :

10. et implebuntur horrea tua saturitate et vino torcularia redundabunt

10. And thy barns shall be filled with abundance, and thy presses shall run over with wine.

11. disciplinam Domini fili mi ne abicias nec deficias cum ab eo corriperis

11. My son, reject not the correction of the Lord: and do not faint when thou art chastised by him:

12. quem enim diligit Dominus corripit et quasi pater in filio conplacet sibi

12. For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth: and as a father in the son he pleaseth himself.

13. beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam et qui affluit prudentia

13. Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom and is rich in prudence:

14. melior est adquisitio ejus negotiatione argenti et auro primo fructus ejus

14. The purchasing thereof is better than the merchandise of silver, and her fruit than the chiefest and purest gold:

15. pretiosior est cunctis opibus et omnia quæ desiderantur huic non valent conparari

15. She is more precious than all riches : and all the things that are desired, are not to be compared with her.

16. longitudo dierum in dextera ejus in sinistra illius divitiæ et gloria

16. Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and glory.

17. viæ ejus viæ pulchræ et omnes semitæ illius pacificæ

17. Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceable.

18. lignum vitæ est his qui adprehenderint eam et qui tenuerit eam beatus

18. She is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her: and he that shall retain her is blessed.

19. Dominus sapientia fundavit terram stabilivit cælos prudentia

19. The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth, hath established the heavens by prudence.

20. sapientia illius eruperunt abyssi et nubes rore concrescunt

20. By his wisdom the depths have broken out, and the clouds grow thick with dew

21. fili mi ne effluant hæc ab oculis tuis custodi legem atque consilium

21. My son, let not these things depart from thy eyes: keep the law and counsel:

22. et erit vita animæ tuæ et gratia faucibus tuis

22. And there shall be life to thy soul, and grace to thy mouth.

23. tunc ambulabis fiducialiter in via tua et pes tuus non inpinget

23. Then shalt thou walk confidently in thy way, and thy foot shall not stumble:

24. si dormieris non timebis quiesces et suavis erit somnus tuus

24. If thou sleep, thou shalt not fear: thou shalt rest, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

25. ne paveas repentino terrore et inruentes tibi potentias impiorum

25. Be not afraid of sudden fear, nor of the power of the wicked falling upon thee.

26. Dominus enim erit in latere tuo et custodiet pedem tuum ne capiaris

26. For the Lord will be at thy side, and will keep thy foot that thou be not taken.

27. noli prohibere benefacere eum qui potest si vales et ipse benefac

27. Do not withhold him from doing good, who is able: if thou art able, do good thyself also.

28. ne dicas amico tuo vade et revertere et cras dabo tibi cum statim possis dare

28. Say not to thy friend: Go, and come again: and to morrow I will give to thee: when thou canst give at present.

29. ne moliaris amico tuo malum cum ille in te habeat fiduciam

29. Practise not evil against thy friend, when he hath confidence in thee.

30. ne contendas adversus hominem frustra cum ipse tibi nihil mali fecerit

30. Strive not against a man without cause, when he hath done thee no evil.

31. ne æmuleris hominem iniustum nec imiteris vias ejus

31. Envy not the unjust man, and do not follow his ways:

32. quia abominatio Domini est omnis inlusor et cum simplicibus sermocinatio ejus

32. For every mocker is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is with the simple.

33. egestas a Domino in domo impii habitacula autem justorum benedicentur

33. Want is from the Lord in the house of the wicked: but the habitations of the just shall be blessed.

34. inlusores ipse deludet et mansuetis dabit gratiam

34. He shall scorn the scorners, and to the meek he will give grace.

35. gloriam sapientes possidebunt stultorum exaltatio ignominia

35. The wise shall possess glory: the promotion of fools is disgrace.