Liber Proverbiorum, 7
1. Fili mi, custodi sermones meos et praecepta mea reconde tibi.
1. My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you;
2. Serva mandata mea et vives, et legem meam quasi pupillam oculi tui.
2. keep my commandments and live, keep my teachings as the apple of your eye;
3. Liga ea in digitis tuis, scribe illa in tabulis cordis tui.
3. bind them on your fingers, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4. Dic sapientiae: “Soror mea es” et prudentiam voca Amicam,
4. Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call insight your intimate friend;
5. ut custodiat te a muliere extranea et ab aliena, quae verba sua dulcia facit.
5. to preserve you from the loose woman, from the adventuress with her smooth words.
6. De fenestra enim domus meae per cancellos prospexi
6. For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice,
7. et video inter parvulos; considero inter filios vecordem iuvenem,
7. and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man without sense,
8. qui transit per plateam iuxta angulum et prope viam domus illius graditur
8. passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house
9. in obscuro advesperascente die, in mediis tenebris et caligine.
9. in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness.
10. Et ecce, occurrit illi mulier ornatu meretricio, cauta corde, garrula et rebellans,
10. And lo, a woman meets him, dressed as a harlot, wily of heart.
11. quietis impatiens nec valens in domo consistere pedibus suis:
11. She is loud and wayward, her feet do not stay at home;
12. nunc foris, nunc in plateis et iuxta angulos insidians.
12. now in the street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait.
13. Apprehensumque deosculatur iuvenem et procaci vultu blanditur dicens:
13. She seizes him and kisses him, and with impudent face she says to him:
14. “Victimas pro salute vovi, hodie reddidi vota mea;
14. "I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows;
15. idcirco egressa sum in occursum tuum desiderans te videre et repperi.
15. so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.
16. Stragulatis vestibus lectulum meum stravi, linteis pictis ex Aegypto;
16. I have decked my couch with coverings, colored spreads of Egyptian linen;
17. aspersi cubile meum myrrha et aloe et cinnamomo.
17. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18. Veni, inebriemur voluptatibus, usque mane fruamur amoribus.
18. Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love.
19. Non est enim vir in domo sua; abiit via longissima,
19. 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 in domum suam”.
20. he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home."
21. Irretivit eum multis sermonibus et blanditiis labiorum protraxit illum.
21. With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him.
22. Stultus eam sequitur quasi bos ductus ad victimam, sicut irretitur vinculo cervus,
22. All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast
23. donec transfigat sagitta iecur eius; velut si avis festinet ad laqueum et nescit quod de periculo animae illius agitur.
23. till an arrow pierces its entrails; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.
24. Nunc ergo, fili mi, audi me et attende verbis oris mei.
24. And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth.
25. Ne abstrahatur in viis illius mens tua, neque decipiaris semitis eius.
25. Let not 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:
26. for many a victim has she laid low; yea, all her slain are a mighty host.
27. viae inferi domus eius penetrantes in interiora mortis.
27. Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.
