Proverbiorum 6
1 [Fili mi, si spoponderis pro amico tuo, defixisti apud extraneum manum tuam:
My son, if you have become collateral for your neighbour, if you have struck your hands in pledge for a stranger,
2 illaqueatus es verbis oris tui, et captus propriis sermonibus.
you are trapped by the words of your mouth; you are ensnared with 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.
Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself, since you have come into the hand of your neighbour. Go, humble yourself. Press your plea with your neighbour.
4 Ne dederis somnum oculis tuis, nec dormitent palpebræ tuæ.
Give no sleep to your eyes, nor 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.
Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways, and be wise;
7 Quæ cum non habeat ducem, nec præceptorem, nec principem,
which having no chief, overseer, or ruler,
8 parat in æstate cibum sibi, et congregat in messe quod comedat.
provides her bread in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.
9 Usquequo, piger, dormies? quando consurges e somno tuo?
How long will you sleep, sluggard? When will you arise out of 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 sleep—
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.]
so your poverty will come as a robber, and your scarcity as an armed man.
12 [Homo apostata, vir inutilis, graditur ore perverso;
A worthless person, a man of iniquity, is he who walks with a perverse mouth,
13 annuit oculis, terit pede, digito loquitur,
who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, who motions with his fingers,
14 pravo corde machinatur malum, et omni tempore jurgia seminat.
in whose heart is perverseness, who devises evil continually, who always sows discord.
15 Huic extemplo veniet perditio sua, et subito conteretur, nec habebit ultra medicinam.]
Therefore his calamity will come suddenly. He will be broken suddenly, and that without remedy.
16 [Sex sunt quæ odit Dominus, et septimum detestatur anima ejus:
There are six things which the LORD hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him:
17 oculos sublimes, linguam mendacem, manus effundentes innoxium sanguinem,
arrogant 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 are swift in running to mischief,
19 proferentem mendacia testem fallacem, et eum qui seminat inter fratres discordias.]
a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord amongst brothers.
20 [Conserva, fili mi, præcepta patris tui, et ne dimittas legem matris tuæ.
My son, keep your father’s commandment, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching.
21 Liga ea in corde tuo jugiter, et circumda gutturi tuo.
Bind them continually on your heart. Tie them around your neck.
22 Cum ambulaveris, gradiantur tecum; cum dormieris, custodiant te: et evigilans loquere cum eis.
When you walk, it will lead you. When you sleep, it will watch over you. When you awake, it will talk with you.
23 Quia mandatum lucerna est, et lex lux, et via vitæ increpatio disciplinæ:
For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,
24 ut custodiant te a muliere mala, et a blanda lingua extraneæ.
to keep you from the immoral woman, from the flattery of the wayward wife’s tongue.
25 Non concupiscat pulchritudinem ejus cor tuum, nec capiaris nutibus illius:
Don’t lust after her beauty in your heart, neither let her captivate you with her eyelids.
26 pretium enim scorti vix est unius panis, mulier autem viri pretiosam animam capit.
For a prostitute reduces you to a piece of bread. The adulteress hunts for your precious life.
27 Numquid potest homo abscondere ignem in sinu suo, ut vestimenta illius non ardeant?
Can a man scoop fire into his lap, and his clothes not be burnt?
28 aut ambulare super prunas, ut non comburantur plantæ ejus?
Or can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be scorched?
29 sic qui ingreditur ad mulierem proximi sui, non erit mundus cum tetigerit eam.
So is he who goes in to his neighbour’s wife. Whoever touches her will not be unpunished.
30 Non grandis est culpa cum quis furatus fuerit: furatur enim ut esurientem impleat animam;
Men don’t despise a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry,
31 deprehensus quoque reddet septuplum, et omnem substantiam domus suæ tradet.
but if he is found, he shall restore seven times. He shall give all the wealth of his house.
32 Qui autem adulter est, propter cordis inopiam perdet animam suam;
He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding. He who does it destroys his own soul.
33 turpitudinem et ignominiam congregat sibi, et opprobrium illius non delebitur:
He will get wounds and dishonour. His reproach will not be wiped away.
34 quia zelus et furor viri non parcet in die vindictæ,
For jealousy arouses the fury of the husband. He won’t spare in the day of vengeance.
35 nec acquiescet cujusquam precibus, nec suscipiet pro redemptione dona plurima.]
He won’t regard any ransom, neither will he rest content, though you give many gifts.
