An exhortation to the practice of virtue.

 1 My son, forget not my law, and let thy heart keep my commandments.
Fili mi, ne obliviscaris legis meae, et praecepta mea cor tuum custodiat;

 2 For they shall add to thee length of days, and years of life and peace.
longitudinem enim dierum, et annos vitae, et pacem apponent tibi.

 3 Let not mercy and truth leave thee, put them about thy neck, and write them in the tables of thy heart:
Misericordia et veritas te non deserant; circumda eas gutturi tuo, et describe in tabulis cordis tui;

 4 And thou shalt find grace and good understanding before God and men.
et invenies gratiam, et disciplinam bonam, coram Deo et hominibus.

 5 Have confidence in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not upon thy own prudence.
Habe fiduciam in Domino ex toto corde tuo, et ne innitaris prudentiae tuae.

 6 In all thy ways think on him, and he will direct thy steps.
In omnibus viis tuis cogita illum, et ipse diriget gressus tuos.

 7 Be not wise in thy own conceit: fear God, and depart from evil:
Ne sis sapiens apud temetipsum; time Deum, et recede a malo :

 8 For it shall be health to thy navel, and moistening to thy bones.
sanitas quippe erit umbilico tuo, et irrigatio ossium tuorum.

 9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and give him of the first of all thy fruits:
Honora Dominum de tua substantia, et de primitiis omnium frugum tuarum da ei;

 10 And thy barns shall be filled with abundance, and thy presses shall run over with wine.
et implebuntur horrea tua saturitate, et vino torcularia tua redundabunt.

 11 My son, reject not the correction of the Lord: and do not faint when thou art chastised by him:
Disciplinam Domini, fili mi, ne abjicias, nec deficias cum ab eo corriperis :

 12 For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth: and as a father in the son he pleaseth himself.
quem enim diligit Dominus corripit, et quasi pater in filio complacet sibi.

 13 Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom and is rich in prudence:
Beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam, et qui affluit prudentia.

 14 The purchasing thereof is better than the merchandise of silver, and her fruit than the chiefest and purest gold:
Melior est acquisitio ejus negotiatione argenti, et auri primi et purissimi fructus ejus.

 15 She is more precious than all riches: and all the things that are desired, are not to be compared with her.
Pretiosior est cunctis opibus, et omnia quae desiderantur huic non valent comparari.

 16 Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and glory.
Longitudo dierum in dextera ejus, et in sinistra illius divitiae et gloria.

 17 Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceable.
Viae ejus viae pulchrae, et omnes semitae illius pacificae.

 18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her: and he that shall retain her is blessed.
Lignum vitae est his qui apprehenderint eam, et qui tenuerit eam beatus.

 19 The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth, hath established the heavens by prudence.
Dominus sapientia fundavit terram, stabilivit caelos prudentia.

 20 By his wisdom the depths have broken out, and the clouds grow thick with dew.
Sapientia illius eruperunt abyssi, et nubes rore concrescunt.

 21 My son, let not these things depart from thy eyes: keep the law and counsel:
Fili mi, ne effluant haec ab oculis tuis. Custodi legem atque consilium,

 22 And there shall be life to thy soul, and grace to thy mouth.
et erit vita animae tuae, et gratia faucibus tuis.

 23 Then shalt thou walk confidently in thy way, and thy foot shall not stumble:
Tunc ambulabis fiducialiter in via tua, et pes tuus non impinget.

 24 If thou sleep, thou shalt not fear: thou shalt rest, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
Si dormieris, non timebis; quiesces, et suavis erit somnus tuus.

 25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, nor of the power of the wicked falling upon thee.
Ne paveas repentino terrore, et irruentes tibi potentias impiorum.

 26 For the Lord will be at thy side, and will keep thy foot that thou be not taken.
Dominus enim erit in latere tuo, et custodiet pedem tuum, ne capiaris.

 27 Do not withhold him from doing good, who is able: if thou art able, do good thyself also.
Noli prohibere benefacere eum qui potest; si vales, et ipse benefac.

 28 Say not to thy friend: Go, and come again: and tomorrow I will give to thee: when thou canst give at present.
Ne dicas amico tuo : Vade, et revertere, cras dabo tibi, cum statim possis dare.

 29 Practise not evil against thy friend, when he hath confidence in thee.
Ne moliaris amico tuo malum, cum ille in te habeat fiduciam.

 30 Strive not against a man without cause, when he hath done thee no evil.
Ne contendas adversus hominem frustra, cum ipse tibi nihil mali fecerit.

 31 Envy not the unjust man, and do not follow his ways:
Ne aemuleris hominem injustum, nec imiteris vias ejus :

 32 For every mocker is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is with the simple.
quia abominatio Domini est omnis illusor, et cum simplicibus sermocinatio ejus.

 33 Want is from the Lord in the house of the wicked: but the habitations of the just shall be blessed.
Egestas a Domino in domo impii; habitacula autem justorum benedicentur.

 34 He shall scorn the scorners, and to the meek he will give grace.
Ipse deludet illusores, et mansuetis dabit gratiam.

 35 The wise shall possess glory: the promotion of fools is disgrace.
Gloriam sapientes possidebunt; stultorum exaltatio ignominia.