He further exhorteth young men to seek wisdom, 5. especially to flee from the enticements of harlots, largely describing the same, 22. and the ruin of them that are so deluded.He further exhorteth yongmen to seke wisdom, 5. especially to flee from the intisements of harlots, largely describing the same, 22. and the ruine of them that are so deluded.✦
My son, keep my words, and my precepts hide with thee. Son,MY sonne, keepe my wordes, and my preceptes hide with thee. Sonne,✦Fili mi, custodi sermones meos, et præcepta mea reconde tibi. Fili,
2keep my commandments, and thou shalt live: and my law as the apple of thine eye:keepe my commandmentes, and thou shalt liue: and my law as the apple of thine eie:✦serva mandata mea, et vives ; et legem meam quasi pupillam oculi tui :
3bind it on thy fingers, write it in the tables of thy heart.binde it on thy fingers, write it in the tables of thy hart.✦liga eam in digitis tuis, scribe illam in tabulis cordis tui.
4Say to wisdom, thou art my sister: and call prudence thy friend,Say to wisdom, thou art my sister: & cal prudence thy freind,✦Dic sapientiæ : Soror mea es, et prudentiam voca amicam tuam :
5that she may keep thee from the strange woman, and from the foreigner which maketh her words sweet.that she may keepe thee from the strange woman, and from the forener which maketh her wordes sweete.ut custodiant te a muliere extranea, et ab aliena quæ verba sua dulcia facit.
6For out of the window of my house I looked out through the lattice,For out of the window of my house I looked out through the lattise,✦De fenestra enim domus meæ per cancellos prospexi,
7and I see little ones, I behold a foolish young man,and I see litle ones, I behold a foolish youngman,✦et video parvulos ; considero vecordem juvenem,
8which passeth through the streets by the corner, and goeth nigh the way of her house,which passeth through the streates by the corner, and goeth nigh the way of her house,✦qui transit per plateam juxta angulum et prope viam domus illius graditur :
9in the dark the day being toward evening, in the darkness of the night, and dimness,in the darke the day being toward euening, in the darkenes of the night, and dimnes,in obscuro, advesperascente die, in noctis tenebris et caligine.
10And behold the woman meeteth him in harlot's attire, prepared to deceive souls: babbling and wandering,And behold the woman meeteth him in harlotes atyre, prepared to deceiue soules: babling and wandering,✦Et ecce occurrit illi mulier ornatu meretricio, præparata ad capiendas animas : garrula et vaga,
11impatient of rest, nor able to consistere: be composed of; stand still, abide in the house on her feet,impatient of rest, nor able to consist in the house on her feete,✦quietis impatiens, nec valens in domo consistere pedibus suis ;
12now abroad, now in the streets, now lying in wait near the corners.now abrode, now in the streates, now lying in wayte neere the corners.nunc foris, nunc in plateis, nunc juxta angulos insidians.
13And taking the young man she kisseth him, and with procaci: impudent, saucy countenance speaketh fair, saying:And taking the youngman she kisseth him, and with malepert countenance speaketh fayre, saying:✦Apprehensumque deosculatur juvenem, et procaci vultu blanditur, dicens :
14I vowed victims for welfare, this day I have paid my vows.I vowed victimes for welfare, this day I haue payed my vowes.✦Victimas pro salute vovi ; hodie reddidi vota mea :
15Therefore I am come forth to meet thee, desirous to see thee, and I have found thee.Therfore I am come forth to meete thee, desirous to see thee, and I haue found thee.idcirco egressa sum in occursum tuum, desiderans te videre, et reperi.
16I have woven my bed with cords, I have adorned it with tapestry pictured out of Egypt.I haue wouen my bed with cordes, I haue adorned it with tapestrie pictured out of Ægypt.✦Intexui funibus lectulum meum ; stravi tapetibus pictis ex Ægypto :
17I have sprinkled my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.I haue sprinkled my bed with myrrhe, aloes, and cinamome.✦aspersi cubile meum myrrha, et aloë, et cinnamomo.
18Come let us be inebriated with breasts, and let us enjoy desired embracings, till the day appear.Come let vs be inebriated with brestes, and let vs enioy desired embracings, til the day appeare.✦Veni, inebriemur uberibus, et fruamur cupitis amplexibus donec illucescat dies.
19For my husband is not at home, he is gone a very long journey.For my husband is not at home, he is gone a very long iourney.✦Non est enim vir in domo sua : abiit via longissima :
20he carried with him a bag of money: in the day of the full moon he will return to his house.he caried with him a bagge of money: in the day of the ful moone he wil returne to his house.sacculum pecuniæ secum tulit ; in die plenæ lunæ reversurus est in domum suam.
21She entangled him with many words, and with flattery of lips drew him.She intangled him with many wordes, and with flatterie of lippes drewe him.✦Irretivit eum multis sermonibus, et blanditiis labiorum protraxit illum.
22Immediately 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 as a fool to bonds,Immediatly he foloweth her as an oxe led to be a victime, & as a lambe playing the wanton, and not knowing that he is drawen as a foole to bondes,✦Statim eam sequitur quasi bos ductus ad victimam, et quasi agnus lasciviens, et ignorans quod ad vincula stultus trahatur :
23till the arrow pierce his liver: as if a bird should make haste to the snare, and knoweth not that his life is in danger.til the arow pearse his liuer: as if a birde should make haste to the snare, and knoweth not that his life is in danger.✦donec transfigat sagitta jecur ejus, velut si avis festinet ad laqueum, et nescit quod de periculo animæ illius agitur.
24Now therefore my son, hear me, and attend to the words of my mouth.Now therfore my sonne, heare me, and attend to the wordes of my mouth.✦Nunc ergo, fili mi, audi me, et attende verbis oris mei.
25Let not thy mind be drawn away in her ways: neither be thou deceived with her paths.Let not thy mind be drawen away in her wayes: neither be thou deceiued with her pathes.Ne abstrahatur in viis illius mens tua, neque decipiaris semitis ejus ;
26For she hath cast down many wounded, and all the most strong are slain by her.For she hath cast downe manie wounded, and al the most strong are slaine by her.✦multos enim vulneratos dejecit, et fortissimi quique interfecti sunt ab ea.
27Her house the ways of hell, penetrating to the inner parts of death.Her house the wayes of hel, penetrating to the inner partes of death.✦Viæ inferi domus ejus, penetrantes in interiora mortis.
The reading text follows the 1582 first edition.