The use and end of the proverbs. An exhortation to flee the company of the wicked: and to hearken to the voice of wisdom.

 1 The parables of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel.
Parabolae Salomonis, filii David, regis Israel,

 2 To know wisdom, and instruction:
ad sciendam sapientiam et disciplinam;

 3 To understand the words of prudence: and to receive the instruction of doctrine, justice, and judgment, and equity:
ad intelligenda verba prudentiae, et suscipiendam erudtionem doctrinae, justitiam, et judicium, et aequitatem :

 4 To give subtilty to little ones, to the young man knowledge and understanding.
ut detur parvulis astutia, adolescenti scientia et intellectus.

 5 A wise man shall hear and shall be wiser: and he that understandeth, shall possess governments.
Audiens sapiens, sapientior erit, et intelligens gubernacula possidebit.

 6 He shall understand a parable, and the interpretation, the words of the wise, and their mysterious sayings.
Animadvertet parabolam et interpretationem, verba sapientum et aenigmata eorum.

 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Timor Domini principium sapientiae; sapientiam atque doctrinam stulti despiciunt.

 8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
Audi, fili mi, disciplinam patris tui, et ne dimittas legem matris tuae :

 9 That grace may be added to thy head, and a chain of gold to thy neck.
ut addatur gratia capiti tuo, et torques collo tuo.

 10 My son, if sinners shall entice thee, consent not to them.
Fili mi, si te lactaverint peccatores, ne acquiescas eis.

 11 If they shall say: Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us hide snares for the innocent without cause:
Si dixerint : Veni nobiscum, insidiemur sanguini; abscondamus tendiculas contra insontem frustra;

 12 Let us swallow him up alive like hell, and whole as one that goeth down into the pit.
deglutiamus eum sicut infernus viventem, et integrum quasi descendentem in lacum :

 13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoils.
omnem pretiosam substantiam reperiemus; implebimus domos nostras spoliis;

 14 Cast in thy lot with us, let us all have one purse.
sortem mitte nobiscum, marsupium unum sit omnium nostrum :

 15 My son, walk not thou with them, restrain thy foot from their paths.
fili mi, ne ambules cum eis; prohibe pedem tuum a semitis eorum :

 16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
pedes enim illorum ad malum currunt, et festinant ut effundant sanguinem.

 17 But a net is spread in vain before the eyes of them that have wings.
Frustra autem jacitur rete ante oculos pennatorum.

 18 And they themselves lie in wait for their own blood, and practise deceits against their own souls.
Ipsi quoque contra sanguinem suum insidiantur, et moliuntur fraudes contra animas suas.

 19 So the wage of every covetous man destroy the souls of the possessors.
Sic semitae omnis avari : animas possidentium rapiunt.

 20 Wisdom preacheth abroad, she uttereth her voice in the streets:
Sapientia foris praedicat; in plateis dat vocem suam :

 21 At the head of multitudes she crieth out, in the entrance of the gates of the city she uttereth her words, saying:
in capite turbarum clamitat; in foribus portarum urbis profert verba sua, dicens :

 22 O children, how long will you love childishness, and fools covet those things which are hurtful to themselves, and the unwise hate knowledge?
Usquequo, parvuli, diligitis infantiam, et stulti ea quae sibi sunt noxia cupient, et imprudentes odibunt scientiam?

 23 Turn ye at my reproof: behold I will utter my spirit to you, and will shew you my words.
convertimini ad correptionem meam. En proferam vobis spiritum meum, et ostendam vobis verba mea.

 24 Because I called, and you refused: I stretched out my hand, and there was none that regarded.
Quia vocavi, et renuistis; extendi manum meam, et non fuit qui aspiceret :

 25 You have despised all my counsel, and have neglected my reprehensions.
despexistis omne consilium meum, et increpationes meas neglexistis.

 26 I also will laugh in your destruction, and will mock when that shall come to you which you feared.
Ego quoque in interitu vestro ridebo, et subsannabo cum vobis id quod timebatis advenerit.

 27 When sudden calamity shall fall on you, and destruction, as a tempest, shall be at hand: when tribulation and distress shall come upon you:
Cum irruerit repentina calamitas, et interitus quasi tempestas ingruerit; quando venerit super vos tribulatio et angustia;

 28 Then shall they call upon me, and I will not hear: they shall rise in the morning and shall not find me:
tunc invocabunt me, et non exaudiam; mane consurgent, et non invenient me :

 29 Because they have hated instruction and received not the fear of the Lord,
eo quod exosam habuerint disciplinam, et timorem Domini non susceperint,

 30 Nor consented to my counsel, but despised all my reproof.
nec acquieverint consilio meo, et detraxerint universae correptioni meae.

 31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and shall be filled with their own devices.
Comedent igitur fructus viae suae, suisque consiliis saturabuntur.

 32 The turning away of little ones shall kill them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
Aversio parvulorum interficiet eos, et prosperitas stultorum perdet illos.

 33 But he that shall hear me, shall rest without terror, and shall enjoy abundance, without fear of evils.
Qui autem me audierit absque terrore requiescet, et abundantia perfruetur, timore malorum sublato.