Get Wisdom at Any Cost

Listen, my sons,(A) to a father’s instruction;(B)
    pay attention and gain understanding.(C)
I give you sound learning,
    so do not forsake my teaching.
For I too was a son to my father,
    still tender, and cherished by my mother.
Then he taught me, and he said to me,
    “Take hold(D) of my words with all your heart;
    keep my commands, and you will live.(E)
Get wisdom,(F) get understanding;
    do not forget my words or turn away from them.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;(G)
    love her, and she will watch over you.(H)
The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[a] wisdom.
    Though it cost all(I) you have,[b] get understanding.(J)
Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
    embrace her, and she will honor you.(K)
She will give you a garland to grace your head
    and present you with a glorious crown.(L)

10 Listen, my son,(M) accept what I say,
    and the years of your life will be many.(N)
11 I instruct(O) you in the way of wisdom
    and lead you along straight paths.(P)
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
    when you run, you will not stumble.(Q)
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
    guard it well, for it is your life.(R)
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
    or walk in the way of evildoers.(S)
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
    turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;(T)
    they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness
    and drink the wine of violence.(U)

18 The path of the righteous(V) is like the morning sun,(W)
    shining ever brighter till the full light of day.(X)
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;(Y)
    they do not know what makes them stumble.(Z)

20 My son,(AA) pay attention to what I say;
    turn your ear to my words.(AB)
21 Do not let them out of your sight,(AC)
    keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them
    and health to one’s whole body.(AD)
23 Above all else, guard(AE) your heart,
    for everything you do flows from it.(AF)
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
    keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes(AG) look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the[c] paths for your feet(AH)
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left;(AI)
    keep your foot from evil.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 4:7 Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore get
  2. Proverbs 4:7 Or wisdom. / Whatever else you get
  3. Proverbs 4:26 Or Make level

Audite, filii, disciplinam patris, et attendite ut sciatis prudentiam.

Donum bonum tribuam vobis: legem meam ne derelinquatis.

Nam et ego filius fui patris mei, tenellus et unigenitus coram matre mea.

Et docebat me, atque dicebat: Suscipiat verba mea cor tuum; custodi praecepta mea, et vives.

Posside sapientiam, posside prudentiam: ne obliviscaris, neque declines a verbis oris mei.

Ne dimittas eam, et custodiet te: dilige eam, et conservabit te.

Principium sapientiae: posside sapientiam, et in omni possessione tua acquire prudentiam.

Arripe illam, et exaltabit te; glorificaberis ab ea cum eam fueris amplexatus.

Dabit capiti tuo augmenta gratiarum, et corona inclyta proteget te.

10 Audi, fili mi, et suscipe verba mea, ut multiplicentur tibi anni vitae.

11 Viam sapientiae monstrabo tibi; ducam te per semitas aequitatis:

12 quas cum ingressus fueris, non arctabuntur gressus tui, et currens non habebis offendiculum.

13 Tene disciplinam, ne dimittas eam; custodi illam, quia ipsa est vita tua.

14 Ne delecteris in semitis impiorum, nec tibi placeat malorum via.

15 Fuge ab ea, nec transeas per illam; declina, et desere eam.

16 Non enim dormiunt nisi malefecerint, et rapitur somnus ab eis nisi supplantaverint.

17 Comedunt panem impietatis, et vinum iniquitatis bibunt.

18 Justorum autem semita quasi lux splendens procedit, et crescit usque ad perfectam diem.

19 Via impiorum tenebrosa; nesciunt ubi corruant.

20 Fili mi, ausculta sermones meos, et ad eloquia mea inclina aurem tuam.

21 Ne recedant ab oculis tuis: custodi ea in medio cordis tui:

22 vita enim sunt invenientibus ea, et universae carni sanitas.

23 Omni custodia serva cor tuum, quia ex ipso vita procedit.

24 Remove a te os pravum, et detrahentia labia sint procul a te.

25 Oculi tui recta videant, et palpebrae tuae praecedant gressus tuos.

26 Dirige semitam pedibus tuis, et omnes viae tuae stabilientur.

27 Ne declines ad dexteram neque ad sinistram; averte pedem tuum a malo: vias enim quae a dextris sunt novit Dominus: perversae vero sunt quae a sinistris sunt. Ipse autem rectos faciet cursus tuos, itinera autem tua in pace producet.