| 1 | My son, keep my words; lay up within you my commandments [for use when needed]
and
treasure them. |
| 2 | Keep my commandments and live, and keep my law
and
teaching as the apple (the pupil) of your eye. |
| 3 | Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. |
| 4 | Say to skillful
and
godly Wisdom, You are my sister, and regard understanding
or
insight as your intimate friend— |
| 5 | That they may keep you from the loose woman, from the adventuress who flatters with
and
makes smooth her words. |
| 6 | For at the window of my house I looked out through my lattice. |
| 7 | And among the simple (empty-headed and emptyhearted) ones, I perceived among the youths a young man void of good sense, |
| 8 | Sauntering through the street near the [loose woman’s] corner; and he went the way to her house |
| 9 | In the twilight, in the evening; night black and dense was falling [over the young man’s life]. |
| 10 | And behold, there met him a woman, dressed as a harlot and sly
and
cunning of heart. |
| 11 | She is turbulent
and
willful; her feet stay not in her house; |
| 12 | Now in the streets, now in the marketplaces, she sets her ambush at every corner. |
| 13 | So she caught him and kissed him and with impudent face she said to him, |
| 14 | Sacrifices of peace offerings were due from me; this day I paid my vows. |
| 15 | So I came forth to meet you [that you might share with me the feast from my offering]; diligently I sought your face, and I have found you. |
| 16 | I have spread my couch with rugs
and
cushions of tapestry, with striped sheets of fine linen of Egypt. |
| 17 | I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. |
| 18 | Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; let us console
and
delight ourselves with love. |
| 19 | For the man is not at home; he is gone on a long journey; |
| 20 | He has taken a bag of money with him and will come home at the day appointed [at the full moon]. |
| 21 | With much justifying
and
enticing argument she persuades him, with the allurements of her lips she leads him [to overcome his conscience and his fears]
and
forces him along. |
| 22 | Suddenly he [yields and] follows her reluctantly like an ox moving to the slaughter, like one in fetters going to the correction [to be given] to a fool
or
[a]
like a dog enticed by food to the muzzle
|
| 23 | Till a dart [of passion] pierces
and
inflames his vitals; then like a bird fluttering straight into the net [he hastens], not knowing that it will cost him his life. |
| 24 | Listen to me now therefore, O you sons, and be attentive to the words of my mouth. |
| 25 | Let not your heart incline toward her ways, do not stray into her paths. |
| 26 | For she has cast down many wounded; indeed, all her slain are a mighty host. |
| 27 | Her house is the way to Sheol (Hades, the place of the dead), going down to the chambers of death. |
Cross references:
-
Proverbs 7:26 : Neh. 13:26.
|