Be Faithful to Your Wife
1 My son, if you listen closely
to my wisdom and good sense,
2 you will have sound judgment,
and you will always know
the right thing to say.
3 The words of an immoral woman
may be as sweet as honey
and as smooth as olive oil.
4 But all that you really get
from being with her
is bitter poison and pain.
5 If you follow her,
she will lead you down
to the world of the dead.
6 She has missed the path
that leads to life
and doesn't even know it.
7 My son, listen to me
and do everything I say.
8 Stay away from a bad woman!
Don't even go near the door
of her house.
9 You will lose your self-respect
and end up in debt
to some cruel person
for the rest of your life.
10 Strangers will get your money
and everything else
you have worked for.
11 When it's all over,
your body will waste away,
as you groan 12 and shout,
“I hated advice and correction!
13 I paid no attention
to my teachers,
14 and now I am disgraced
in front of everyone.”
15 You should be faithful
to your wife,
just as you take water
from your own well.
16 And don't be like a stream
from which just any woman
may take a drink.
17 Save yourself for your wife
and don't have sex
with other women.
18 Be happy with the wife
you married
when you were young.
19 She is beautiful and graceful,
just like a deer;
you should be attracted to her
and stay deeply in love.
20 Don't go crazy over a woman
who is unfaithful
to her own husband!
21 The Lord sees everything,
and he watches us closely.
22 Sinners are trapped and caught
by their own evil deeds.
23 They get lost and die
because of their foolishness
and lack of self-control.
Brīdinājums sargāties no nešķīstības
1 Dēls, manā gudrībā vērīgi lūkojies,
ko es esmu sapratis, tagad tu klausies,
2 tad sargās tevi izmanība un zināšana –
tās uzraudzīs tavas lūpas!
3 Medus lāso no svešinieces lūpām,
aukslējas tai glāsmainākas par eļļu,
4 taču vēlāk tā rūgta kā vērmele,
asa kā abpusgriezīgs zobens!
5 Viņas kājas tek lejup nāvē,
šeolā steidz viņas soļi,
6 kur tādai apjaust dzīvības ceļu,
gaita tai viļas – pati nezina!
7 Nu tad, dēls, klausies manī,
nenovērsies no tā, ko saku, –
8 turies tu tālāk no viņas,
netuvojies viņas namdurvīm,
9 ka citi neatņem tavu godu
un varmākas tava mūža gadus,
10 ka neaprij sveši tavu mantu –
tiks tavi pūliņi svešinieka namam,
11 tad beigās tev atliks vien vaimanāt,
ka pagalam tavs augums un miesa!
12 Tad teiksi: kāpēc es nīdu pārmācību
un par rājieniem smējos sirdī,
13 neklausīju savus skolotājus,
saviem audzinātājiem pat ausi nepievērsu –
14 ātri vien tiku kaunā
tautas vidū un ļaužu priekšā!
15 Dzer ūdeni no savas akas
un ūdens strūklas no sava avota!
16 Vai taviem strautiem aiztecēt prom?
Vai velti plūst tavām ūdens straumēm?
17 Lai tās paliek tev vienam,
lai netiek svešajiem, kas tev līdzās!
18 Tavs avots lai svētīts!
Smel prieku no savas jaunības sievas,
19 tīkamās stirnas, jaukās kalnu kazas –
lai viņas krūtis tevi atdzirda!
No viņas mīlas skurbsti vienmēr!
20 Kādēļ tev skurbt, dēls, no svešas sievas,
kādēļ skaut svešinieces krūtis!
21 Jo Kungs redz visas cilvēka gaitas
un paver tam visus ceļus.
22 Paša apgrēcība tver viņu, ļaundari,
sava grēka saitēs viņš noķerts.
23 Nu tam jāmirst, jo netika pārmācīts,
muļķības pilns – no tās viņš skurbst!
