Proverbiorum 5
1 Fili mi, attende ad sapientiam meam, et prudentiæ meæ inclina aurem tuam,
My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen carefully as I explain what makes sense,
2 ut custodias cogitationes, et disciplinam labia tua conservent. Ne attendas fallaciæ mulieris.
so you can make good decisions and protect knowledge with your lips.
3 Favus enim distillans labia meretricis, et nitidius oleo guttur eius.
For the lips of an immoral woman may taste as sweet as honey, the kisses of her mouth may be as smooth as oil,
4 Novissima autem illius amara quasi absinthium, et acuta quasi gladius biceps.
but in the end what you get from her is the bitterness of wormwood and the sharp pain of being cut with a two-edged sword.
She leads you down to death; she takes you down to the grave. (Sheol h7585)
6 Per semitam vitæ non ambulant, vagi sunt gressus eius, et investigabiles.
She doesn't follow the path that leads to life—she wanders away and doesn't even know she's lost.
7 Nunc ergo fili mi audi me, et ne recedas a verbis oris mei.
Now, my son, listen to me; don't reject what I have taught you.
8 Longe fac ab ea viam tuam, et ne appropinques foribus domus eius.
Stay far away from her! Don't go near the door of her house!
9 Ne des alienis honorem tuum, et annos tuos crudeli.
Otherwise you'll surrender your honor to others, and your character to cruel people.
10 Ne forte implentur extranei viribus tuis, et labores tui sint in domo aliena,
Strangers will spend your wealth; everything you've worked for will go to someone else.
11 et gemas in novissimis, quando consumseris carnes tuas et corpus tuum, et dicas:
When you come to the end of your life you'll moan in pain as disease destroys your body.
12 Cur detestatus sum disciplinam, et increpationibus non acquievit cor meum,
You'll say, “How I used to hate discipline, and my mind rebelled against being corrected!
13 nec audivi vocem docentium me, et magistris non inclinavi aurem meam?
I didn't listen to what my teacher said. I didn't pay attention to my instructors.
14 Pene fui in omni malo, in medio ecclesiæ et synagogæ.
Now I'm on the verge of being completely disgraced before everyone in the community.”
15 Bibe aquam de cisterna tua, et fluenta putei tui:
Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well.
16 Deriventur fontes tui foras, et in plateis aquas tuas divide.
Why should your springs be spilled outside, your streams of water poured out in the streets?
17 Habeto eas solus, nec sint alieni participes tui.
Keep them for yourselves alone. They're not for you to share with strangers.
18 Sit vena tua benedicta, et lætare cum muliere adolescentiæ tuæ:
May your spring of water be blessed, and may you enjoy the wife you married when you were young.
19 cerva charissima, et gratissimus hinnulus. Ubera eius inebrient te in omni tempore, in amore eius delectare iugiter.
May she be to you a loving deer, a graceful doe. May her breasts always be intoxicating to you; may you be drunk on her love forever.
20 Quare seduceris fili mi ab aliena, et foveris in sinu alterius?
Why, my son, become intoxicated with an immoral woman? Why embrace the breasts of a woman who acts like a prostitute?
21 Respicit Dominus vias hominis, et omnes gressus eius considerat.
For the Lord sees everything people do, the Lord investigates everywhere they go.
22 Iniquitates suas capiunt impium, et funibus peccatorum suorum constringitur.
The wicked are trapped by their evil actions; the cords of their sins tie them up.
23 Ipse morietur, quia non habuit disciplinam, et in multitudine stultitiæ suæ decipietur.
They will die because they lack self-control, lost because of their great stupidity.
