Proverbiorum 7
1 fili mi custodi sermones meos et praecepta mea reconde tibi
My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you.
2 serva mandata mea et vives et legem meam quasi pupillam oculi tui
Keep my commandments and live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3 liga eam in digitis tuis scribe illam in tabulis cordis tui
Tie them to your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 dic sapientiae soror mea es et prudentiam voca amicam tuam
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your kinsman,
5 ut custodiat te a muliere extranea et ab aliena quae verba sua dulcia facit
that they may keep you from the adulteress, from the stranger with seductive words.
6 de fenestra enim domus meae per cancellos prospexi
For at the window of my house I looked through the lattice.
7 et video parvulos considero vecordem iuvenem
I saw among the simple, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking judgment,
8 qui transit in platea iuxta angulum et propter viam domus illius graditur
crossing the street near her corner, strolling down the road to her house,
9 in obscuro advesperascente die in noctis tenebris et caligine
at twilight, as the day was fading into the dark of the night.
10 et ecce mulier occurrit illi ornatu meretricio praeparata ad capiendas animas garrula et vaga
Then a woman came out to meet him, with the attire of a harlot and cunning of heart.
11 quietis inpatiens nec valens in domo consistere pedibus suis
She is loud and defiant; her feet do not remain at home.
12 nunc foris nunc in plateis nunc iuxta angulos insidians
Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner.
13 adprehensumque deosculatur iuvenem et procaci vultu blanditur dicens
She seizes him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him:
14 victimas pro salute debui hodie reddidi vota mea
“I have made my peace offerings; today I have paid my vows.
15 idcirco egressa sum in occursum tuum desiderans te videre et repperi
So I came out to meet you; I sought you, and I have found you.
16 intexui funibus lectum meum stravi tapetibus pictis ex Aegypto
I have decked my bed with coverings, with colored linen from Egypt.
17 aspersi cubile meum murra et aloe et cinnamomo
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, with aloes, and with cinnamon.
18 veni inebriemur uberibus donec inlucescat dies et fruamur cupitis amplexibus
Come, let us take our fill of love till morning. Let us delight in loving caresses!
19 non est enim vir in domo sua abiit via longissima
For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.
20 sacculum pecuniae secum tulit in die plenae lunae reversurus est domum suam
He took with him a bag of money and will not return till the moon is full.”
21 inretivit eum multis sermonibus et blanditiis labiorum protraxit illum
With her great persuasion she entices him; with her flattering lips she lures him.
22 statim eam sequitur quasi bos ductus ad victimam et quasi agnus lasciviens et ignorans quod ad vincula stultus trahatur
He follows her on impulse, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding into a trap,
23 donec transfigat sagitta iecur eius velut si avis festinet ad laqueum et nescit quia de periculo animae illius agitur
until an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare— not knowing it will cost him his life.
24 nunc ergo fili audi me et adtende verba oris mei
Now, my sons, listen to me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 ne abstrahatur in viis illius mens tua neque decipiaris semitis eius
Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths.
26 multos enim vulneratos deiecit et fortissimi quique interfecti sunt ab ea
For she has brought many down to death; her slain are many in number.
