Proverbiorum 5
1 fili mi adtende sapientiam meam et prudentiae meae 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
that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge.
3 favus enim stillans labia meretricis et nitidius oleo guttur eius
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 vitae non ambulat vagi sunt gressus eius 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 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 adpropinques foribus domus eius
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 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 adquievit 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 paene fui in omni malo in medio ecclesiae et synagogae
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 laetare cum muliere adulescentiae tuae
Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 cerva carissima et gratissimus hinulus ubera eius inebrient te omni tempore in amore illius delectare iugiter
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 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 illius considerat
For the ways of man are before the LORD’s eyes. He examines all his paths.
22 iniquitates suae 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 multitudine stultitiae suae decipietur
He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.
