Tēva padoms
1 Klausieties, dēli, kad tēvs jūs māca,
un vērīgi lūkojiet pēc saprašanas,
2 es taču dodu jums derīgu zināšanu,
manu mācību neatmetiet!
3 Es arī biju dēls savam tēvam,
mīļš un izredzēts savai mātei.
4 Viņš mani pamācīja, man sacīja:
tver manus vārdus sirdī,
turi manas pavēles, lai dzīvotu!
5 Ķer gudrību, ķer saprašanu –
un neaizmirsti, nenovērsies no maniem vārdiem!
6 Neatmet to, un tā tevi sargās,
mīli to, un tā tevi glābs.
7 Gudrība – galvenais! Ķer gudrību!
Visu atdod, ķer saprašanu!
8 Cel to augstu, tā tevi paaugstinās,
tā darīs tev godu, ja apskausi to,
9 tā liks tev galvā jauku vainagu,
godības kroni tā tev sniegs!
Brīdinājums turēties uz pareizā ceļa
10 Dēls, klausies un iegaumē manus vārdus,
tad dzīvosi jo daudzus gadus.
11 Gudrības ceļu es tev mācu,
vadu tevi pa taisnības taku –
12 ejot tev neķersies solis,
skrienot tu nepaklupsi!
13 Turies pie mācības, nelaidies vaļā,
glabā to, tā tava dzīvība!
14 Uz ļaundaru takas nestājies,
nesper kāju uz ļaundaru ceļa,
15 vairies no tā, nestaigā tur,
nokāp no tā un manies prom!
16 Tie neaizmieg, pirms nav darīts ļauns,
tiem miegs pagalam, ja nav kāds pagrūsts,
17 tie taču ēd negantības maizi,
varmācības vīnu tie dzer!
18 Bet taisno taka kā ausmas spožums –
jo gaišāks, kad tuvāk dienvidum.
19 Ļaundaru ceļš kā dziļa tumsa –
tie nezina, pār ko klūp.
20 Dēls, vērīgi klausies manās runās,
manām valodām pievērs ausi,
21 lai nezūd tās tavam skatienam,
glabā tās dziļi sirdī,
22 tās – dzīvība tam, kurš tās atrod,
tās dziedina visu viņa miesu!
23 Vairāk par visu sargi savu sirdi,
jo no tās dzīvība izverd!
24 Sargā savu muti no viltus,
no tenkām atturi lūpas!
25 Lai tavas acis raugās taisni
un tavs skatiens cieši uz priekšu,
26 vērīgi lūkojies, kur sper kāju,
tad būs droši visi tavi ceļi!
27 Nenovērsies ne pa labi, ne kreisi,
sargi savus soļus no ļauna!
The Benefits of Wisdom
1 My children, listen to what your father teaches you. Pay attention, and you will have understanding. 2 What I am teaching you is good, so remember it all. 3 When I was only a little boy, my parents' only son, 4 my father would teach me. He would say, “Remember what I say and never forget it. Do as I tell you, and you will live. 5 Get wisdom and insight! Do not forget or ignore what I say. 6 Do not abandon wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will keep you safe. 7 Getting wisdom is the most important thing you can do. Whatever else you get, get insight. 8 Love wisdom, and she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will bring you honor. 9 She will be your crowning glory.”
10 Listen to me, my child. Take seriously what I am telling you, and you will live a long life. 11 I have taught you wisdom and the right way to live. 12 Nothing will stand in your way if you walk wisely, and you will not stumble when you run. 13 Always remember what you have learned. Your education is your life—guard it well. 14 Do not go where evil people go. Do not follow the example of the wicked. 15 Don't do it! Keep away from evil! Refuse it and go on your way. 16 Wicked people cannot sleep unless they have done something wrong. They lie awake unless they have hurt someone. 17 Wickedness and violence are like food and drink to them.
18 The road the righteous travel is like the sunrise, getting brighter and brighter until daylight has come. 19 The road of the wicked, however, is dark as night. They fall, but cannot see what they have stumbled over.
20 My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen to my words. 21 Never let them get away from you. Remember them and keep them in your heart. 22 They will give life and health to anyone who understands them. 23 Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. 24 Never say anything that isn't true. Have nothing to do with lies and misleading words. 25 Look straight ahead with honest confidence; don't hang your head in shame. 26 Plan carefully what you do, and whatever you do will turn out right. 27 Avoid evil and walk straight ahead. Don't go one step off the right way.
