• Progress is the stride of God himself.
• Progress is the stride of God, and God never takes a step backward.

For we ought not to refuse to learn letters because they say that Mercury discovered them; nor because they have dedicated temples to Justice and Virtue, and prefer to worship in the form of stones things that ought to have their place in the heart, ought we on that account to forsake justice and virtue. Nay, but let every good and true Christian understand that wherever truth may be found, it belongs to his Master.
[tr. Shaw (1858)]

We were not wrong to learn the alphabet just because they say Mercury was its patron, nor should we avoid justice and virtue just because they dedicated temples to justice and virtue and preferred to honour these values not in their minds, but in the form of stones. A person who is a good and a true Christian should realize that truth belongs to his Lord, wherever it is found.
[tr. Green (1995)]

Thy mind will some conceit impress,
And something God will prompt thy towardness;
For, I suppose, thy birth, and breeding too,
Were not in spite of what the Gods could do.
[tr. Chapman (1616)]

Telemachus, said Pallas, do not fear,
You’ll somewhat prompted be by your own breast
(You never by the Gods neglected were),
The God that loves you will supply the rest.
[tr. Hobbes (1675)]

To whom the martial goddess thus rejoin'd:
"Search, for some thoughts, thy own suggesting mind;
And others, dictated by heavenly power,
Shall rise spontaneous in the needful hour.
For nought unprosperous shall thy ways attend,
Born with good omens, and with heaven thy friend."
[tr. Pope (1725)]

Thou wilt, in part, thyself
Fit speech devise, and heav’n will give the rest;
For thou wast neither born, nor hast been train’d
To manhood, under unpropitious Pow’rs.
[tr. Cowper (1792), l. 33ff]

Thou shalt bethink thee of somewhat in thine own breast, and somewhat the god will give thee to say. For thou, methinks, of all men wert not born and bred without the will of the gods.
[tr. Butcher/Lang (1879)]

Some words surely the thought in thine heart shall make,
And some the Gods shall give thee: for this of thee I wot,
That against the will of the Godfolk thy birth and thy life were not.
[tr. Morris (1887)]

Some promptings you will find in your own breast, and Heaven will send still more; for, certainly, not unbefriended of the gods have you been born and bred.
[tr. Palmer (1891)]

Some things, will be suggested to you by your own instinct, and heaven will prompt you further; for I am assured that the gods have been with you from the time of your birth until now.
[tr. Butler (1898)]

"Some things, Telemachus," answered owl-vision Athena, “will be suggested to you by your own instinct, and some superhuman force will prompt you further; for I am assured that the gods have been with you from the time of your birth until now."
[tr. Butler (1898), rev. Kim/McCray/Nagy/Power (2018)]

Somewhat thou wilt of thyself devise in thy breast, and somewhat heaven too will prompt thee. For, methinks, not without the favour of the gods hast thou been born and reared.
[tr. Murray (1919)]

Your heart will prompt you in part: and other things the spirit will teach you to say. I think if ever anyone was conceived and grew to manhood with the fostering care of the gods, it was yourself.
[tr. Rieu (1946)]

Reason and heart will give you words, Telémakhos;
and a spirit will counsel others. I should say
the gods were never indifferent to your life.
[tr. Fitzgerald (1961)]

Telemachos, some of it you yourself will see in your own heart,
and some the divinity will put in your mind. I do not
think you could have been born and reared without the gods’ will.
[tr. Lattimore (1965)]

You'll come up with some things yourself, Telemachus,
And a god will suggest others. I do not think
You were born and bred without the gods' good will.
[tr. Lombardo (2000)]

Some things, Telémachos, you will discover yourself, in your own mind;
others again some god will suggest: I cannot imagine
it was against the gods' wills you received such birth and upbringing.
[tr. Merill (2002)]

Telemachus [...], where your own intelligence fails, a god will inspire you. For I think the gods ahve blessed both your birth and your progress to manhood.
[tr. DCH Rieu (2002)]

Telemachus, part your own mind will devise, and heaven will prompt the rest. You were not born or reared, I think, without divine favour.
[tr. Kline (2004)]

Telemachus, some words you will think of yourself in your mind,
and others some divinity will prompt you to -- for I do not think
it was without the gods' purpose that you were born and raised.
[tr. Verity (2016)]

You will work out what to do,
through your own wits and with divine assistance.
The gods have blessed you in your life so far.
[tr. Wilson (2017)]

Telemachos, there are some things you'll figure out for yourself, and for others you'll have divine guidance -- I don't think you were born and raised without the gods' good favor.
[tr. Green (2018)]

Telemachus, your heart will think of something,
and power from heaven will provide the rest.
For I don’t think that you were born and raised
without being favoured by the gods.
[tr. Johnston (2019)]

Now your word is a lamp to my feet, a light on my path.
[JB (1966)]

Your word is a lamp to guide me
and a light for my path.
[GNT (1976)]

Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
[NJB (1985)]

Your word is a lamp before my feet
and a light for my journey.
[CEB (2011)]

Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
[NRSV (2021 ed.)]

Your word is a lamp to my feet,
a light for my path.
[RJPS (2023 ed.)]