Proverbs 7

A Warning Against a Woman Who Commits Adultery ¹ My son, obey my words. Store up my commands inside you.

² Obey my commands and you will live. Guard my teachings as you would guard your own eyes.

³ Tie them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart.

⁴ Say to wisdom, “You are my sister.” Say to understanding, “You are a member of my family.”

⁵ They will keep you from a woman who commits adultery. They will keep you from the smooth talk of a sinful wife.

⁶ I stood at the window of my house. I looked down through it.

⁷ Among those who were childish I saw a young man who had no sense.

⁸ He went down the street near that sinful woman’s corner. He walked toward her house.

⁹ The sun had gone down, and the day was fading. The darkness of night was falling.

¹⁰ A woman came out to meet him. She was dressed like a prostitute and had a clever plan.

¹¹ She was wild and pushy. She never stayed at home.

¹² Sometimes she’s in the streets. Sometimes she’s at other places. At every corner she waits.

¹³ She took hold of the young man and kissed him. With a bold face she spoke to him. She said,

¹⁴ “Today I offered what I promised I would. At home I have meat left over from my fellowship offering.

¹⁵ So I came out to meet you. I looked for you and have found you!

¹⁶ I have covered my bed with colored sheets from Egypt.

¹⁷ I’ve perfumed my bed with spices. I used myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.

¹⁸ Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning. Let’s enjoy ourselves by sleeping together!

¹⁹ My husband isn’t home. He’s gone on a long journey.

²⁰ He took his bag full of money. He won’t be home for several days.”

²¹ She led him astray with her clever words. She charmed him with her smooth talk.

²² All at once he followed her. He was like an ox going to be killed. He was like a deer stepping into a trap

²³ until an arrow struck its liver. He was like a bird rushing into a trap. Little did he know it would cost him his life!

²⁴ My sons, listen to me. Pay attention to what I say.

²⁵ Don’t let your hearts turn to her ways. Don’t step onto her paths.

²⁶ She has brought down a lot of men. She has killed a huge crowd. ²⁷ Her house is a road to the grave. It leads down to the place of the dead.