Proverbs 7
1 My son, keep my words, And treasure my commands within you.2 Keep my commands and live, And my law as the apple of your eye.3 Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart.4 Say to wisdom, You are my sister, And call understanding your nearest kin,5 That they may keep you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words.
The Crafty Harlot
6 For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice,7 And saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, A young man devoid of understanding,8 Passing along the street near her corner; And he took the path to her house9 In the twilight, in the evening, In the black and dark night.10 And there a woman met him, With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart.11 She was loud and rebellious, Her feet would not stay at home.12 At times she was outside, at times in the open square, Lurking at every corner.13 So she caught him and kissed him; With an impudent face she said to him:14 I have peace offerings with me; Today I have paid my vows.15 So I came out to meet you, Diligently to seek your face, And I have found you.16 I have spread my bed with tapestry, Colored coverings of Egyptian linen.17 I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.18 Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; Let us delight ourselves with love.19 For my husband is not at home; He has gone on a long journey;20 He has taken a bag of money with him, And will come home on the appointed day.21 With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, With her flattering lips she seduced him.22 Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,23 Till an arrow struck his liver. As a bird hastens to the snare, He did not know it would cost his life.24 Now therefore, listen to me, my children; Pay attention to the words of my mouth:25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths;26 For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong men. 27 Her house is the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death.
PROVERBS 7
The Foolishness //of Unfaithfulness
1 My son, pay close attention
and don't forget
what I tell you to do.
2 Obey me, and you will live!
Let my instructions be
your greatest treasure.
3 Keep them at your fingertips
and write them
in your mind.
4 Let wisdom be your sister
and make common sense
your closest friend.
5 They will protect you
from the flattering words
of someone else's wife.
6 From the window of my house,
I once happened to see
7 some foolish young men.
8 It was late in the evening,
sometime after dark.
9 One of these young men
turned the corner
and was walking by the house
of an unfaithful wife.
10 She was dressed fancy
like a woman of the street
with only one thing in mind.
11 She was one of those women
who are loud and restless
and never stay at home,
12 who walk street after street,
waiting to trap a man.
13 She grabbed him and kissed him,
and with no sense of shame,
she said:
14 “I had to offer a sacrifice,
and there is enough meat
left over for a feast.
15 So I came looking for you,
and here you are!
16 The sheets on my bed
are bright-colored cloth
from Egypt.
17 And I have covered it
with perfume made of myrrh,
aloes, and cinnamon.
18 “Let's go there
and make love all night.
19 My husband is traveling,
and he's far away.
20 He took a lot of money along,
and he won't be back home
before the middle
of the month.”
21 And so, she tricked him
with all of her sweet talk
and her flattery.
22 At once he followed her
like an ox on the way
to be slaughtered,
or like a fool on the way
to be punishedt
23 and killed with arrows.
He was no more than a bird
rushing into a trap,
without knowing
it would cost him his life.
24 My son, pay close attention
to what I have said.
25 Don't even think about
that kind of woman
or let yourself be misled
by someone like her.
26 Such a woman has caused
the downfall and destruction
of a lot of men.
27 Her house is a one-way street
leading straight down
to the world of the dead.