Warnings against Foolishness 1{2}Thou art ensnared with the words of thy mouth, and caught with thy own words. 2{3}Do, therefore, my son, what I say, and deliver thyself: because thou art fallen into the hand of thy neighbour. Run about, make haste, stir up thy friend: 3{4}Give not sleep to thy eyes, neither let thy eyelids slumber. 4{5}Deliver thyself as a doe from the hand, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler. 5{6}Go to the ant, O sluggard, and consider her ways, and learn wisdom: 6{7}Which, although she hath no guide, nor master, nor captain, 7{8}Provideth her meat for herself in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. 8{9}How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 9{10}Thou wilt sleep a little, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to sleep: 10{11}And want shall come upon thee, as a traveller, and poverty as a man armed. But if thou be diligent, thy harvest shall come as a fountain, and want shall flee far from thee. 11{12}A man that is an apostate, an unprofitable man, walketh with a perverse mouth, 12{13}He winketh with the eyes, presseth with the foot, speaketh with the finger. 13{14}With a wicked heart he deviseth evil, and at all times he soweth discord. 14{15}To such a one his destruction shall presently come, and he shall suddenly be destroyed, and shall no longer have any remedy. 15{16}Six things there are, which the Lord hateth, and the seventh his soul detesteth: 16{17}Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 17{18}A heart that deviseth wicked plots, feet that are swift to run into mischief, 18{19}A deceitful witness that uttereth lies, and him that soweth discord among brethren. 19{20}My son, keep the commandments of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother. Warnings against Adultery 20{21}Bind them in thy heart continually, and put them about thy neck. 21{22}When thou walkest, let them go with thee: when thou sleepest, let them keep thee, and when thou awakest, talk with them. 22{23}Because the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light, and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: 23{24}That they may keep thee from the evil woman, and from the flattering tongue of the stranger. 24{25}Let not thy heart covet her beauty, be not caught with her winks: 25{26}For the price of a harlot is scarce one loaf: but the woman catcheth the precious soul of a man. 26{27}Can a man hide fire in his bosom, and his garments not burn? 27{28}Or can he walk upon hot coals, and his feet not be burnt? 28{29}So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife, shall not be clean when he shall touch her. 29{30}The fault is not so great when a man hath stolen: for he stealeth to fill his hungry soul: 30{31}And if he be taken, he shall restore sevenfold, and shall give up all the substance of his house. 31{32}But he that is an adulterer, for the folly of his heart shall destroy his own soul: 32{33}He gathereth to himself shame and dishonour, and his reproach shall not be blotted out: 33{34}Because the jealousy and rage of the husband will not spare in the day of revenge, 34{35}Nor will he yield to any man's prayers, nor will he accept for satisfaction ever so many gifts. 35{7:1}My son, keep my words, and lay up my precepts with thee. Son, Douay Rheims Version - Bishop Challoner Revision Home |