Proverbiorum 6
1 [Fili mi, si spoponderis pro amico tuo, defixisti apud extraneum manum tuam:
My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger,
2 illaqueatus es verbis oris tui, et captus propriis sermonibus.
if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth,
3 Fac ergo quod dico, fili mi, et temetipsum libera, quia incidisti in manum proximi tui. Discurre, festina, suscita amicum tuum.
then do this, my son, to free yourself, for you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go, humble yourself, and press your plea with your neighbor.
4 Ne dederis somnum oculis tuis, nec dormitent palpebræ tuæ.
Allow no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids.
5 Eruere quasi damula de manu, et quasi avis de manu aucupis.]
Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
6 [Vade ad formicam, o piger, et considera vias ejus, et disce sapientiam.
Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise.
7 Quæ cum non habeat ducem, nec præceptorem, nec principem,
Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler,
8 parat in æstate cibum sibi, et congregat in messe quod comedat.
it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest.
9 Usquequo, piger, dormies? quando consurges e somno tuo?
How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep?
10 Paululum dormies, paululum dormitabis, paululum conseres manus ut dormias;
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
11 et veniet tibi quasi viator egestas, et pauperies quasi vir armatus. Si vero impiger fueris, veniet ut fons messis tua, et egestas longe fugiet a te.]
and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.
12 [Homo apostata, vir inutilis, graditur ore perverso;
A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth,
13 annuit oculis, terit pede, digito loquitur,
winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers.
14 pravo corde machinatur malum, et omni tempore jurgia seminat.
With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord.
15 Huic extemplo veniet perditio sua, et subito conteretur, nec habebit ultra medicinam.]
Therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in an instant he will be shattered beyond recovery.
16 [Sex sunt quæ odit Dominus, et septimum detestatur anima ejus:
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him:
17 oculos sublimes, linguam mendacem, manus effundentes innoxium sanguinem,
haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 cor machinans cogitationes pessimas, pedes veloces ad currendum in malum,
a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil,
19 proferentem mendacia testem fallacem, et eum qui seminat inter fratres discordias.]
a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.
20 [Conserva, fili mi, præcepta patris tui, et ne dimittas legem matris tuæ.
My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
21 Liga ea in corde tuo jugiter, et circumda gutturi tuo.
Bind them always upon your heart; tie them around your neck.
22 Cum ambulaveris, gradiantur tecum; cum dormieris, custodiant te: et evigilans loquere cum eis.
When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 Quia mandatum lucerna est, et lex lux, et via vitæ increpatio disciplinæ:
For this commandment is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way to life,
24 ut custodiant te a muliere mala, et a blanda lingua extraneæ.
to keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.
25 Non concupiscat pulchritudinem ejus cor tuum, nec capiaris nutibus illius:
Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.
26 pretium enim scorti vix est unius panis, mulier autem viri pretiosam animam capit.
For the levy of the prostitute is poverty, and the adulteress preys upon your very life.
27 Numquid potest homo abscondere ignem in sinu suo, ut vestimenta illius non ardeant?
Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned?
28 aut ambulare super prunas, ut non comburantur plantæ ejus?
Can a man walk on hot coals without scorching his feet?
29 sic qui ingreditur ad mulierem proximi sui, non erit mundus cum tetigerit eam.
So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.
30 Non grandis est culpa cum quis furatus fuerit: furatur enim ut esurientem impleat animam;
Men do not despise the thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger.
31 deprehensus quoque reddet septuplum, et omnem substantiam domus suæ tradet.
Yet if caught, he must pay sevenfold; he must give up all the wealth of his house.
32 Qui autem adulter est, propter cordis inopiam perdet animam suam;
He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.
33 turpitudinem et ignominiam congregat sibi, et opprobrium illius non delebitur:
Wounds and dishonor will befall him, and his reproach will never be wiped away.
34 quia zelus et furor viri non parcet in die vindictæ,
For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy in the day of vengeance.
35 nec acquiescet cujusquam precibus, nec suscipiet pro redemptione dona plurima.]
He will not be appeased by any ransom, or persuaded by lavish gifts.
