1My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.2Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.3Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.4Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:5That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.6For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,7And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,8Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,9In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:10And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.11(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:12Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)13So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,14I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.15Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.16I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works , with fine linen of Egypt.17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.18Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.19For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:20He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.21With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.22He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;23Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.24Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.25Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.26For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.27Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
Proverbs 7
New International Reader’s Version
A warning against a woman who commits adultery
1My son, obey my words. Store up my commands inside you.2Obey my commands and you will live. Guard my teachings as you would guard your own eyes.3Tie them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart.4Say to wisdom, ‘You are my sister.’ Say to understanding, ‘You are a member of my family.’5They will keep you from a woman who commits adultery. They will keep you from the smooth talk of a sinful wife.6I stood at the window of my house. I looked down through it.7Among those who were childish I saw a young man who had no sense.8He went down the street near that sinful woman’s corner. He walked towards her house.9The sun had gone down, and the day was fading. The darkness of night was falling.10A woman came out to meet him. She was dressed like a prostitute and had a clever plan.11She was wild and pushy. She never stayed at home.12Sometimes she’s in the streets. Sometimes she’s at other places. At every corner she waits.13She 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.15So I came out to meet you. I looked for you and have found you!16I have covered my bed with coloured sheets from Egypt.17I’ve perfumed my bed with spices. I used myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.18Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning. Let’s enjoy ourselves by sleeping together!19My husband isn’t home. He’s gone on a long journey.20He took his bag full of money. He won’t be home for several days.’21She led him astray with her clever words. She charmed him with her smooth talk.22All at once he followed her. He was like an ox going to be killed. He was like a deer stepping into a trap23until an arrow struck its liver. He was like a bird rushing into a trap. Little did he know it would cost him his life!24My sons, listen to me. Pay attention to what I say.25Don’t let your hearts turn to her ways. Don’t step onto her paths.26She has brought down a lot of men. She has killed a huge crowd.27Her house is a road to the grave. It leads down to the place of the dead.