Liber Proverbiorum, 5
1. fili mi adtende sapientiam meam et prudentiæ meæ inclina aurem tuam
1. My son, attend to my wisdom, and incline thy ear to my prudence.
2. ut custodias cogitationes et disciplinam labia tua conservent
2. That thou mayst keep thoughts, and thy lips may preserve instruction. Mind not the deceit of a woman.
3. favus enim stillans labia meretricis et nitidius oleo guttur ejus
3. For the lips of a harlot are like a honeycomb dropping, and her throat is smoother than oil.
4. novissima autem illius amara quasi absinthium et acuta quasi gladius biceps
4. But her end is bitter as wormwood, and sharp as a two-edged sword.
5. pedes ejus descendunt in mortem et ad inferos gressus illius penetrant
5. Her feet go down into death, and her steps go in as far as hell.
6. per semitam vitæ non ambulat vagi sunt gressus ejus et investigabiles
6. They walk not by the path of life, her steps are wandering, and unaccountable.
7. nunc ergo fili audi me et ne recedas a verbis oris mei
7. Now therefore, my son, hear me, and depart not from the words of my mouth.
8. longe fac ab ea viam tuam et ne adpropinques foribus domus ejus
8. Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the doors of her house.
9. ne des alienis honorem tuum et annos tuos crudeli
9. Give not thy honour to strangers, and thy years to the cruel.
10. ne forte impleantur extranei viribus tuis et labores tui sint in domo aliena
10. Lest strangers be filled with thy strength, and thy labours be in another man's house,
11. et gemas in novissimis quando consumpseris carnes et corpus tuum et dicas
11. And thou mourn it the last, when thou shalt have spent thy flesh and thy body, and say:
12. cur detestatus sum disciplinam et increpationibus non adquievit cor meum
12. Why have I hated instruction, and my heart consented not to reproof,
13. nec audivi vocem docentium me et magistris non inclinavi aurem meam
13. And have not heard the voice of them that taught me, and have not in- dined my ear to masters?
14. pæne fui in omni malo in medio ecclesiæ et synagogæ
14. I have almost been in all evil, in the midst of the church and of the congregation.
15. bibe aquam de cisterna tua et fluenta putei tui
15. Drink water out of thy own cistern, and the streams of thy own well:
16. deriventur fontes tui foras et in plateis aquas tuas divide
16. Let thy fountains be conveyed abroad, and in the streets divide thy waters.
17. habeto eas solus nec sint alieni participes tui
17. Keep them to thyself alone, neither let strangers be partakers with thee.
18. sit vena tua benedicta et lætare cum muliere adulescentiæ tuæ
18. Let thy vein be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of thy youth:
19. cerva carissima et gratissimus hinulus ubera ejus inebrient te omni tempore in amore illius delectare jugiter
19. Let her be thy dearest hind, and most agreeable fawn: let her breasts inebriate thee at all times; he thou delighted continually with her love.
20. quare seduceris fili mi ab aliena et foveris sinu alterius
20. Why art thou seduced, my son, by a strange woman, and art cherished in the bosom of another ?
21. respicit Dominus vias hominis et omnes gressus illius considerat
21. The Lord beholdeth the ways of man, and considereth all his steps.
22. iniquitates suæ capiunt impium et funibus peccatorum suorum constringitur
22. His own iniquities catch the wicked, and he is fast bound with the ropes of his own sins.
23. ipse morietur quia non habuit disciplinam et multitudine stultitiæ suæ decipietur
23. He shall die, because he hath not received instruction, and in the multitude of his folly he shall be deceived.
