Fili mi, si susceperis sermones meos, et mandata mea absconderis penes te :
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and wilt hide my commandments with thee,
ut audiat sapientiam auris tua, inclina cor tuum ad cognoscendam prudentiam.
That thy ear may hearken to wisdom: incline thy heart to know prudence.
Si enim sapientiam invocaveris, et inclinaveris cor tuum prudentiæ ;
For if thou shalt call for wisdom, and incline thy heart to prudence:
si quæsieris eam quasi pecuniam, et sicut thesauros effoderis illam :
If thou shalt seek her as money, and shalt dig for her as for a treasure:
tunc intelliges timorem Domini, et scientiam Dei invenies,
Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and shalt find the knowledge of God:
quia Dominus dat sapientiam, et ex ore ejus prudentia et scientia.
Because the Lord giveth wisdom: and out of his mouth cometh prudence and knowledge.
Custodiet rectorum salutem, et proteget gradientes simpliciter,
He wilt keep the salvation of the righteous, and protect them that walk in simplicity,
servans semitas justitiæ, et vias sanctorum custodiens.
Keeping the paths of justice, and guarding the ways of saints.
Tunc intelliges justitiam, et judicium, et æquitatem, et omnem semitam bonam.
Then shalt thou understand justice, and judgment, and equity, and every good path.
Si intraverit sapientia cor tuum, et scientia animæ tuæ placuerit,
If wisdom shall enter into thy heart, and knowledge please thy soul:
consilium custodiet te, et prudentia servabit te :
Counsel shall keep thee, and prudence shall preserve thee,
ut eruaris a via mala, et ab homine qui perversa loquitur ;
That thou mayst be delivered from the evil way, and from the man that speaketh perverse things:
qui relinquunt iter rectum, et ambulant per vias tenebrosas ;
Who leave the right way, and walk by dark ways:
qui lætantur cum malefecerint, et exsultant in rebus pessimis ;
Who are glad when they have done evil, and rejoice in the most wicked things:
quorum viæ perversæ sunt, et infames gressus eorum.
Whose ways are perverse, and their steps infamous.
Ut eruaris a muliere aliena, et ab extranea quæ mollit sermones suos,
That thou mayst be delivered from the strange woman, and from the stranger, who softeneth her words;
et relinquit ducem pubertatis suæ,
And forsaketh the guide of her youth,
et pacti Dei sui oblita est. Inclinata est enim ad mortem domus ejus, et ad inferos semitæ ipsius.
And hath forgotten the covenant of her God: for her house inclineth unto death, and her paths to hell.
Omnes qui ingrediuntur ad eam non revertentur, nec apprehendent semitas vitæ.
None that go in unto her, shall return again, neither shall they take hold of the paths of life.
Ut ambules in via bona, et calles justorum custodias :
That thou mayst walk in a good way: and mayst keep the paths of the just.
qui enim recti sunt habitabunt in terra, et simplices permanebunt in ea ;
For they that are upright, shall dwell in the earth; and the simple shall continue in it.
impii vero de terra perdentur, et qui inique agunt auferentur ex ea.
But the wicked shall be destroyed from the earth: and they that do unjustly, shall be taken away from it.