| 1 |
fili mi custodi sermones meos et praecepta mea reconde tibi
My son, keep my words, and lay up my precepts with thee. Son,
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| 2 |
serva mandata mea et vives et legem meam quasi pupillam oculi tui
Keep my commandments, and thou shalt live: and my law as the apple of thy eye:
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| 3 |
liga eam in digitis tuis scribe illam in tabulis cordis tui
Bind it upon thy fingers, write it upon the tables of thy heart.
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| 4 |
dic sapientiae soror mea es et prudentiam voca amicam tuam
Say to wisdom: Thou art my sister: and call prudence thy friend,
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| 5 |
ut custodiat te a muliere extranea et ab aliena quae verba sua dulcia facit
That she may keep thee from the woman that is not thine, and from the stranger who sweeteneth her words.
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| 6 |
de fenestra enim domus meae per cancellos prospexi
For I looked out of the window of my house through the lattice,
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| 7 |
et video parvulos considero vecordem iuvenem
And I see little ones, I behold a foolish young man,
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| 8 |
qui transit in platea iuxta angulum et propter viam domus illius graditur
Who passeth through the street by the corner, and goeth nigh the way of her house,
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| 9 |
in obscuro advesperascente die in noctis tenebris et caligine
In the dark when it grows late, in the darkness and obscurity of the night.
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| 10 |
et ecce mulier occurrit illi ornatu meretricio praeparata ad capiendas animas garrula et vaga
And behold a woman meeteth him in harlot's attire, prepared to deceive souls: talkative and wandering,
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| 11 |
quietis inpatiens nec valens in domo consistere pedibus suis
Not bearing to be quiet, not able to abide still at home,
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| 12 |
nunc foris nunc in plateis nunc iuxta angulos insidians
Now abroad, now in the streets, now lying in wait near the corners.
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| 13 |
adprehensumque deosculatur iuvenem et procaci vultu blanditur dicens
And catching the young man, she kisseth him, and with an impudent face, flattereth, saying:
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| 14 |
victimas pro salute debui hodie reddidi vota mea
I vowed victims for prosperity, this day I have paid my vows.
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| 15 |
idcirco egressa sum in occursum tuum desiderans te videre et repperi
Therefore I am come out to meet thee, desirous to see thee, and I have found thee.
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| 16 |
intexui funibus lectum meum stravi tapetibus pictis ex Aegypto
I have woven my bed with cords, I have covered it with painted tapestry, brought from Egypt.
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| 17 |
aspersi cubile meum murra et aloe et cinnamomo
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
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| 18 |
veni inebriemur uberibus donec inlucescat dies et fruamur cupitis amplexibus
Come, let us be inebriated with the breasts, and let us enjoy the desired embraces, till the day appear.
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| 19 |
non est enim vir in domo sua abiit via longissima
For my husband is not at home, he is gone a very long journey.
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| 20 |
sacculum pecuniae secum tulit in die plenae lunae reversurus est domum suam
He took with him a bag of money: he will return home the day of the full moon.
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| 21 |
inretivit eum multis sermonibus et blanditiis labiorum protraxit illum
She entangled him with many words, and drew him away with the flattery of her lips.
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| 22 |
statim eam sequitur quasi bos ductus ad victimam et quasi agnus lasciviens et ignorans quod ad vincula stultus trahatur
Immediately he followeth her as an ox led to be a victim, and as a lamb playing the wanton, and not knowing that he is drawn like a fool to bonds,
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| 23 |
donec transfigat sagitta iecur eius velut si avis festinet ad laqueum et nescit quia de periculo animae illius agitur
Till the arrow pierce his liver: as if a bird should make haste to the snare, and knoweth not that his life is in danger.
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| 24 |
nunc ergo fili audi me et adtende verba oris mei
Now, therefore, my son, hear me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
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| 25 |
ne abstrahatur in viis illius mens tua neque decipiaris semitis eius
Let not thy mind be drawn away in her ways: neither be thou deceived with her paths.
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| 26 |
multos enim vulneratos deiecit et fortissimi quique interfecti sunt ab ea
For she hath cast down many wounded, and the strongest have been slain by her.
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| 27 |
viae inferi domus eius penetrantes interiora mortis
Her house is the way to hell, reaching even to the inner chambers of death.
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