1My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.2Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.3Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.4Say to wisdom, ‘You are my sister,’ and to insight, ‘You are my relative.’5They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words.6At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice.7I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense.8He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house9at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.10Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.11(She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home;12now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.)13She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said:14‘Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.15So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you!16I have covered my bed with coloured linens from Egypt.17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.18Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning; let’s enjoy ourselves with love!19My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.20He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.’21With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk.22All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer[1] stepping into a noose[2]23till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life.24Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say.25Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths.26Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng.27Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.
1My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; (Pr 2:1)2keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; (De 32:10; Pr 4:4)3bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. (Pr 3:3)4Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend,5to keep you from the forbidden[1] woman, from the adulteress[2] with her smooth words. (Pr 2:16)6For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice, (Jud 5:28)7and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense, (Pr 1:4; Pr 6:32)8passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house (Pr 7:12)9in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness. (Job 24:15; Pr 20:20)10And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart.[3] (Ge 38:14)11She is loud and wayward; her feet do not stay at home; (Pr 9:13; Ho 4:16; 1Ti 5:13; Tit 2:5)12now in the street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait. (Pr 7:8; Pr 23:28)13She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him, (Pr 21:29)14“I had to offer sacrifices,[4] and today I have paid my vows; (Le 7:11; Ps 50:14)15so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.16I have spread my couch with coverings, colored linens from Egyptian linen; (Pr 31:22; Isa 19:9)17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. (Ex 30:23; Ps 45:8)18Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love.19For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey; (Mt 20:11)20he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home.”21With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. (Ps 12:2; Pr 5:3; Pr 6:24)22All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast[5]23till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life. (Ec 9:12)24And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth. (Pr 4:1)25Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths,26for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng. (Ne 13:26)27Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death. (Pr 2:18; Pr 5:5; Pr 9:18)