Warning against Adultery
1 My child, pay attention and listen to my wisdom and insight. 2 Then you will know how to behave properly, and your words will show that you have knowledge. 3 The lips of another man's wife may be as sweet as honey and her kisses as smooth as olive oil, 4 but when it is all over, she leaves you nothing but bitterness and pain. 5 She will take you down to the world of the dead; the road she walks is the road to death. 6 She does not stay on the road to life; but wanders off, and does not realize what is happening.
7 Now listen to me, sons, and never forget what I am saying. 8 Keep away from such a woman! Don't even go near her door! 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 Yes, strangers will take all your wealth, and what you have worked for will belong to someone else. 11 You will lie groaning on your deathbed, your flesh and muscles being eaten away, 12 and you will say, “Why would I never learn? Why would I never let anyone correct me? 13 I wouldn't listen to my teachers. I paid no attention to them. 14 And suddenly I found myself publicly disgraced.”
15 Be faithful to your own wife and give your love to her alone. 16 Children that you have by other women will do you no good. 17 Your children should grow up to help you, not strangers. 18 So be happy with your wife and find your joy with the woman you married— 19 pretty and graceful as a deer. Let her charms keep you happy; let her surround you with her love. 20 Son, why should you give your love to another woman? Why should you prefer the charms of another man's wife? 21 The Lord sees everything you do. Wherever you go, he is watching. 22 The sins of the wicked are a trap. They get caught in the net of their own sin. 23 They die because they have no self-control. Their utter stupidity will send them to their graves.
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!
