Liber Proverbiorum, 1

1. Parabolae Salomonis filii David regis Israel

1. The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

2. ad sciendam sapientiam et disciplinam, ad intellegenda verba prudentiae;

2. That men may know wisdom and instruction, understand words of insight,

3. ad suscipiendam eruditionem doctrinae, iustitiam et iudicium et aequitatem,

3. receive instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity;

4. ut detur parvulis astutia, adulescenti scientia et recogitatio.

4. that prudence may be given to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth --

5. Audiat sapiens et addet doctrinam, et intellegens dispositiones possidebit:

5. the wise man also may hear and increase in learning, and the man of understanding acquire skill,

6. animadvertet parabolam et allegoriam, verba sapientium et aenigmata eorum.

6. to understand a proverb and a figure, the words of the wise and their riddles.

7. Timor Domini principium scientiae. Sapientiam atque doctrinam stulti despiciunt.

7. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

8. Audi, fili mi, disciplinam patris tui et ne reicias legem matris tuae,

8. Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and reject not your mother's teaching;

9. quia diadema gratiae sunt capiti tuo, et torques collo tuo.

9. for they are a fair garland for your head, and pendants for your neck.

10. Fili mi, si te lactaverint peccatores, ne acquiescas eis.

10. My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

11. Si dixerint: “Veni nobiscum, insidiemur sanguini, abscondamus tendiculas contra insontem frustra;

11. If they say, "Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us wantonly ambush the innocent;

12. deglutiamus eos sicut infernus viventes et integros quasi descendentes in lacum:

12. like Sheol let us swallow them alive and whole, like those who go down to the Pit;

13. omnem pretiosam substantiam reperiemus, implebimus domos nostras spoliis;

13. we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with spoil;

14. sortem mitte nobiscum, marsupium unum sit omnium nostrum”;

14. throw in your lot among us, we will all have one purse" --

15. fili mi, ne ambules cum eis, prohibe pedem tuum a semitis eorum.

15. my son, do not walk in the way with them, hold back your foot from their paths;

16. Pedes enim illorum ad malum currunt et festinant, ut effundant sanguinem.

16. for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.

17. Frustra autem iacitur rete ante oculos pinnatorum.

17. For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird;

18. Ipsique contra sanguinem suum insidiantur et moliuntur fraudes contra animas suas.

18. but these men lie in wait for their own blood, they set an ambush for their own lives.

19. Sic semitae omnis ad rapinam intenti: animam ipsius possidentis rapiunt.

19. Such are the ways of all who get gain by violence; it takes away the life of its possessors.

20. Sapientia foris praedicat, in plateis dat vocem suam,

20. Wisdom cries aloud in the street; in the markets she raises her voice;

21. in capite viarum frequentium clamitat, in foribus portarum urbis profert verba sua:

21. on the top of the walls she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

22. “Usquequo, parvuli, diligitis infantiam, et derisores sibi derisionem cupient, et imprudentes odibunt scientiam?

22. "How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

23. Convertimini ad correptionem meam; en proferam vobis spiritum meum et ostendam vobis verba mea.

23. Give heed to my reproof; behold, I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.

24. Quia vocavi, et renuistis, extendi manum meam, et non fuit qui aspiceret;

24. Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,

25. despexistis omne consilium meum et increpationes meas neglexistis.

25. and you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,

26. Ego quoque in interitu vestro ridebo et subsannabo, cum terror vobis advenerit,

26. I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when panic strikes you,

27. cum irruerit ut procella terror, et interitus quasi tempestas ingruerit, quando venerit super vos tribulatio et angustia”.

27. when panic strikes you like a storm, and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

28. Tunc invocabunt me, et non exaudiam, instanter quaerent me et non invenient me,

28. Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.

29. eo quod exosam habuerint disciplinam et timorem Domini non elegerint

29. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD,

30. nec acquieverint consilio meo et despexerint universam correptionem meam.

30. would have none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof,

31. Comedent igitur fructus viae suae suisque consiliis saturabuntur.

31. therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices.

32. Aversio parvulorum interficiet eos, et securitas stultorum perdet illos.

32. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacence of fools destroys them;

33. Qui autem me audierit, absque terrore requiescet et tranquillus erit timore malorum sublato.

33. but he who listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of evil."