The Latin Vulgate VUL
English Standard Version ESV
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 teaching as the apple of your eye;
3 liga eam in digitis tuis scribe illam 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 tuam
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 keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress 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 parvulos considero vecordem iuvenem
7
and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense,
8 qui transit in platea iuxta angulum et propter viam domus illius graditur
8
passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house
9 in obscuro advesperascente die in noctis tenebris et caligine
9
in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness.
10 et ecce mulier occurrit illi ornatu meretricio praeparata ad capiendas animas garrula et vaga
10
And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart.
11 quietis inpatiens 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 nunc iuxta angulos insidians
12
now in the street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait.
13 adprehensumque deosculatur iuvenem et procaci vultu blanditur dicens
13
She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him,
14 victimas pro salute debui 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 intexui funibus lectum meum stravi tapetibus pictis ex Aegypto
16
I have spread my couch with coverings, colored linens from Egyptian linen;
17 aspersi cubile meum murra et aloe et cinnamomo
17
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 veni inebriemur uberibus donec inlucescat dies et fruamur cupitis amplexibus
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 domum suam
20
he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home. ”
21 inretivit eum multis sermonibus et blanditiis labiorum protraxit illum
21
With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him.
22 statim eam sequitur quasi bos ductus ad victimam et quasi agnus lasciviens et ignorans quod ad vincula stultus trahatur
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 quia de periculo animae illius agitur
23
till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.
24 nunc ergo fili audi me et adtende verba 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, and all her slain are a mighty throng.
27 viae inferi domus eius penetrantes interiora mortis
27
Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025