The Latin Vulgate VUL
Good News Translation GNT
1 fili mi adtende sapientiam meam et prudentiae meae inclina aurem tuam
1
My child, pay attention and listen to my wisdom and insight.
2 ut custodias cogitationes et disciplinam labia tua conservent
2
Then you will know how to behave properly, and your words will show that you have knowledge.
3 favus enim stillans labia meretricis et nitidius oleo guttur eius
3
The lips of another man's wife may be as sweet as honey and her kisses as smooth as olive oil,
4 novissima autem illius amara quasi absinthium et acuta quasi gladius biceps
4
but when it is all over, she leaves you nothing but bitterness and pain.
5 pedes eius descendunt in mortem et ad inferos gressus illius penetrant
5
She will take you down to the world of the dead; the road she walks is the road to death.
6 per semitam vitae non ambulat vagi sunt gressus eius et investigabiles
6
She does not stay on the road to life; but wanders off, and does not realize what is happening.
7 nunc ergo fili audi me et ne recedas a verbis oris mei
7
Now listen to me, sons, and never forget what I am saying.
8 longe fac ab ea viam tuam et ne adpropinques foribus domus eius
8
Keep away from such a woman! Don't even go near her door!
9 ne des alienis honorem tuum et annos tuos crudeli
9
If you do, others will gain the respect that you once had, and you will die young at the hands of merciless people.
10 ne forte impleantur extranei viribus tuis et labores tui sint in domo aliena
10
Yes, strangers will take all your wealth, and what you have worked for will belong to someone else.
11 et gemas in novissimis quando consumpseris carnes et corpus tuum et dicas
11
You will lie groaning on your deathbed, your flesh and muscles being eaten away,
12 cur detestatus sum disciplinam et increpationibus non adquievit cor meum
12
and you will say, "Why would I never learn? Why would I never let anyone correct me?
13 nec audivi vocem docentium me et magistris non inclinavi aurem meam
13
I wouldn't listen to my teachers. I paid no attention to them.
14 paene fui in omni malo in medio ecclesiae et synagogae
14
And suddenly I found myself publicly disgraced."
15 bibe aquam de cisterna tua et fluenta putei tui
15
Be faithful to your own wife and give your love to her alone.
16 deriventur fontes tui foras et in plateis aquas tuas divide
16
Children that you have by other women will do you no good.
17 habeto eas solus nec sint alieni participes tui
17
Your children should grow up to help you, not strangers.
18 sit vena tua benedicta et laetare cum muliere adulescentiae tuae
18
So be happy with your wife and find your joy with the woman you married -
19 cerva carissima et gratissimus hinulus ubera eius inebrient te omni tempore in amore illius delectare iugiter
19
pretty and graceful as a deer. Let her charms keep you happy; let her surround you with her love.
20 quare seduceris fili mi ab aliena et foveris sinu alterius
20
Son, why should you give your love to another woman? Why should you prefer the charms of another man's wife?
21 respicit Dominus vias hominis et omnes gressus illius considerat
21
The Lord sees everything you do. Wherever you go, he is watching.
22 iniquitates suae capiunt impium et funibus peccatorum suorum constringitur
22
The sins of the wicked are a trap. They get caught in the net of their own sin.
23 ipse morietur quia non habuit disciplinam et multitudine stultitiae suae decipietur
23
They die because they have no self-control. Their utter stupidity will send them to their graves.
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.