Proverbs 7
1 My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you.
My son, accept what I say and value my instructions.
2 Keep my commandments and live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
Do what I tell you and you will live. Observe my teachings, valuing them as your main focus in life.
3 Tie them to your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
Tie them to your fingers; write them in your mind.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your kinsman,
Tell wisdom, “You're my sister,” and call insight your best friend.
5 that they may keep you from the adulteress, from the stranger with seductive words.
They will protect you from the immoral woman, from the prostitute with her seductive words.
6 For at the window of my house I looked through the lattice.
One time I looked through the lattice of the window in my house,
7 I saw among the simple, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking judgment,
and I saw among the immature young men one who had no sense at all.
8 crossing the street near her corner, strolling down the road to her house,
He was walking down the street near the corner where she lived and took the road passing her house.
9 at twilight, as the day was fading into the dark of the night.
It was at dusk in the evening, as the light was fading and the dark night closed in.
10 Then a woman came out to meet him, with the attire of a harlot and cunning of heart.
Then out came a woman came to meet him. She was dressed as a prostitute and had deceptive intentions.
11 She is loud and defiant; her feet do not remain at home.
(She was loud and provocative, never wanting to stay at home.
12 Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner.
One moment she'd be walking the streets, the next she'd be there in the town squares, loitering at every corner.)
13 She seizes him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him:
She grabbed hold of him and kissed him, and with a bold face she told him,
14 “I have made my peace offerings; today I have paid my vows.
“I sacrificed my peace offering today, and paid my vows.
15 So I came out to meet you; I sought you, and I have found you.
That's why I came out to meet you. I was looking for you and now I've found you!
16 I have decked my bed with coverings, with colored linen from Egypt.
My bed is made, covered with colorful linens from Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, with aloes, and with cinnamon.
I've sprinkled perfume on my bed—myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love till morning. Let us delight in loving caresses!
Come with me, let's make love until the morning. Let's enjoy one another in our love-making!
19 For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.
My husband isn't home; he's gone on a long trip.
20 He took with him a bag of money and will not return till the moon is full.”
He took a bag of money with him, and he won't be coming back until the full moon.”
21 With her great persuasion she entices him; with her flattering lips she lures him.
She convinced him with all that she said; she seduced him with her smooth talking.
22 He follows her on impulse, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding into a trap,
He followed her right away, like an ox to the slaughter. Like a stag that's caught in a snare
23 until an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare— not knowing it will cost him his life.
until an arrow pierces its liver, like a bird flying into a trap, he's unaware he will pay with his life.
24 Now, my sons, listen to me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
So now listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to what I'm saying.
25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths.
Don't even think about following her. Don't stray down her road.
26 For she has brought many down to death; her slain are many in number.
For she has brought down and destroyed a lot of men; she's killed so many.
