< Proverbiorum 6 >

1 fili mi si spoponderis pro amico tuo defixisti apud extraneum manum tuam
My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, thou hast engaged fast thy hand to a stranger.
2 inlaqueatus es verbis oris tui et captus propriis sermonibus
Thou art ensnared with the words of thy mouth, and caught with thy own words.
3 fac ergo quod dico fili mi et temet ipsum libera quia incidisti in manu proximi tui discurre festina suscita amicum tuum
Do therefore, my son, what I say, and deliver thyself: because thou art fallen into the hand of thy neighbour. Run about, make haste, stir up thy friend:
4 ne dederis somnum oculis tuis nec dormitent palpebrae tuae
Give not sleep to thy eyes, neither let thy eyelids slumber.
5 eruere quasi dammula de manu et quasi avis de insidiis aucupis
Deliver thyself as a doe from the hand, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 vade ad formicam o piger et considera vias eius et disce sapientiam
Go to the ant, O sluggard, and consider her ways, and learn wisdom:
7 quae cum non habeat ducem nec praeceptorem nec principem
Which, although she hath no guide, nor master, nor captain,
8 parat aestate cibum sibi et congregat in messe quod comedat
Provideth her meat for herself in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
9 usquequo piger dormis quando consurges ex somno tuo
How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou rise out of thy sleep?
10 paululum dormies paululum dormitabis paululum conseres manus ut dormias
Thou wilt sleep a little, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to sleep:
11 et veniet tibi quasi viator egestas et pauperies quasi vir armatus
And want shall come upon thee, as a traveller, and poverty as a man armed. But if thou be diligent, thy harvest shall come as a fountain, and want shall flee far from thee.
12 homo apostata vir inutilis graditur ore perverso
A man that is an apostate, an unprofitable man, walketh with a perverse mouth,
13 annuit oculis terit pede digito loquitur
He winketh with the eyes, presseth with the foot, speaketh with the finger.
14 pravo corde machinatur malum et in omni tempore iurgia seminat
With a wicked heart he deviseth evil, and at all times he soweth discord.
15 huic extemplo veniet perditio sua et subito conteretur nec habebit ultra medicinam
To such a one his destruction shall presently come, and he shall suddenly be destroyed, and shall no longer have any remedy.
16 sex sunt quae odit Dominus et septimum detestatur anima eius
Six things there are, which the Lord hateth, and the seventh his soul detesteth:
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 deviseth wicked plots, feet that are swift to run into mischief,
19 proferentem mendacia testem fallacem et eum qui seminat inter fratres discordias
A deceitful witness that uttereth lies, and him that soweth discord among brethren.
20 conserva fili mi praecepta patris tui et ne dimittas legem matris tuae
My son, beep the commandments of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.
21 liga ea in corde tuo iugiter et circumda gutturi tuo
Bind them in thy heart continually, and put them about thy neck.
22 cum ambulaveris gradiantur tecum cum dormieris custodiant te et evigilans loquere cum eis
When thou walkest, let them go with thee: when thou sleepest, let them keep thee; and when thou awakest, talk with them.
23 quia mandatum lucerna est et lex lux et via vitae increpatio disciplinae
Because the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light, and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
24 ut custodiant te a muliere mala et a blanda lingua extraneae
That they may keep thee from the evil woman, and from the flattering tongue of the stranger.
25 non concupiscat pulchritudinem eius cor tuum nec capiaris nutibus illius
Let not thy heart covet her beauty, be not caught with her winks:
26 pretium enim scorti vix unius est panis mulier autem viri pretiosam animam capit
For the price of a harlot is scarce one loaf: but the woman catcheth the precious soul of a man.
27 numquid abscondere potest homo ignem in sinu suo ut vestimenta illius non ardeant
Can a man hide fire in his bosom, and his garments not burn?
28 aut ambulare super prunas et non conburentur plantae eius
Or can he walk upon hot coals, and his feet not be burnt?
29 sic qui ingreditur ad mulierem proximi sui non erit mundus cum tetigerit eam
So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife, shall not be clean when he shall touch her.
30 non grandis est culpae cum quis furatus fuerit furatur enim ut esurientem impleat animam
The fault is not so great when a man hath stolen: for he stealeth to fill his hungry soul:
31 deprehensus quoque reddet septuplum et omnem substantiam domus suae tradet
And if he be taken he shall restore sevenfold, and shall give up all the substance of his house.
32 qui autem adulter est propter cordis inopiam perdet animam suam
But he that is an adulterer, for the folly of his heart shall destroy his own soul:
33 turpitudinem et ignominiam congregat sibi et obprobrium illius non delebitur
He gathereth to himself shame and dishonour, and his reproach shall not be blotted out:
34 quia zelus et furor viri non parcet in die vindictae
Because the jealousy and rage of the husband will not spare in the day of revenge,
35 nec adquiescet cuiusquam precibus nec suscipiet pro redemptione dona plurima
Nor will he yield to any man’s prayers, nor will he accept for satisfaction ever so many gifts.

< Proverbiorum 6 >