Proverbiorum 5
1 Fili mi, attende ad sapientiam meam, et prudentiæ meæ inclina aurem tuam:
My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding,
2 ut custodias cogitationes, et disciplinam labia tua conservent. Ne attendas fallaciæ mulieris;
that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge.
3 favus enim distillans labia meretricis, et nitidius oleo guttur ejus:
For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,
4 novissima autem illius amara quasi absinthium, et acuta quasi gladius biceps.
but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
6 Per semitam vitæ non ambulant; vagi sunt gressus ejus et investigabiles.
She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn’t know it.
7 Nunc ergo fili mi, audi me, et ne recedas a verbis oris mei.
Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don’t depart from the words of my mouth.
8 Longe fac ab ea viam tuam, et ne appropinques foribus domus ejus.
Remove your way far from her. Don’t come near the door of her house,
9 Ne des alienis honorem tuum, et annos tuos crudeli:
lest you give your honour to others, and your years to the cruel one;
10 ne forte impleantur extranei viribus tuis, et labores tui sint in domo aliena,
lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labours enrich another man’s house.
11 et gemas in novissimis, quando consumpseris carnes tuas et corpus tuum, et dicas:
You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed,
12 Cur detestatus sum disciplinam, et increpationibus non acquievit cor meum,
and say, “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof.
13 nec audivi vocem docentium me, et magistris non inclinavi aurem meam?
I haven’t obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me!
14 pene fui in omni malo, in medio ecclesiæ et synagogæ.
I have come to the brink of utter ruin, amongst the gathered assembly.”
15 Bibe aquam de cisterna tua, et fluenta putei tui;
Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well.
16 deriventur fontes tui foras, et in plateis aquas tuas divide.
Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares?
17 Habeto eas solus, nec sint alieni participes tui.
Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you.
18 Sit vena tua benedicta, et lætare cum muliere adolescentiæ tuæ.
Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 Cerva carissima, et gratissimus hinnulus: ubera ejus inebrient te in omni tempore; in amore ejus delectare jugiter.
A loving doe and a graceful deer— let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.
20 Quare seduceris, fili mi, ab aliena, et foveris in sinu alterius?
For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?
21 Respicit Dominus vias hominis, et omnes gressus ejus considerat.
For the ways of man are before the LORD’s eyes. He examines all his paths.
22 Iniquitates suas capiunt impium, et funibus peccatorum suorum constringitur.
The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly.
23 Ipse morietur, quia non habuit disciplinam, et in multitudine stultitiæ suæ decipietur.
He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.
