Proverbs 7
1 My son, accept what I say and value my instructions.
My son, keep my words, and lay up my precepts with thee. Son,
2 Do what I tell you and you will live. Observe my teachings, valuing them as your main focus in life.
Keep my commandments, and thou shalt live: and my law as the apple of thy eye:
3 Tie them to your fingers; write them in your mind.
Bind it upon thy fingers, write it upon the tables of thy heart.
4 Tell wisdom, “You're my sister,” and call insight your best friend.
Say to wisdom: Thou art my sister: and call prudence thy friend,
5 They will protect you from the immoral woman, from the prostitute with her seductive words.
That she may keep thee from the woman that is not thine, and from the stranger who sweeteneth her words.
6 One time I looked through the lattice of the window in my house,
For I look out of the window of my house through the lattice,
7 and I saw among the immature young men one who had no sense at all.
And I see little ones, I behold a foolish young man,
8 He was walking down the street near the corner where she lived and took the road passing her house.
Who passeth through the street by the corner, and goeth nigh the way of her house.
9 It was at dusk in the evening, as the light was fading and the dark night closed in.
In the dark, when it grows late, in the darkness and obscurity of the night,
10 Then out came a woman came to meet him. She was dressed as a prostitute and had deceptive intentions.
And behold a woman meeteth him in harlot’s attire prepared to deceive souls; talkative and wandering,
11 (She was loud and provocative, never wanting to stay at home.
Not bearing to be quiet, not able to abide still at home,
12 One moment she'd be walking the streets, the next she'd be there in the town squares, loitering at every corner.)
Now abroad, now in the streets, now lying in wait near the corners.
13 She grabbed hold of him and kissed him, and with a bold face she told him,
And catching the young man, she kisseth him, and with an impudent face, flattereth, saying:
14 “I sacrificed my peace offering today, and paid my vows.
I vowed victims for prosperity, this day I have paid my vows.
15 That's why I came out to meet you. I was looking for you and now I've found you!
Therefore I am come out to meet thee, desirous to see thee, and I have found thee.
16 My bed is made, covered with colorful linens from Egypt.
I have woven my bed with cords, I have covered it with painted tapestry, brought from Egypt.
17 I've sprinkled perfume on my bed—myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come with me, let's make love until the morning. Let's enjoy one another in our love-making!
Come, let us be inebriated with the breasts, and let us enjoy the desired embraces, till the day appear.
19 My husband isn't home; he's gone on a long trip.
For my husband is not at home, he is gone a very long journey.
20 He took a bag of money with him, and he won't be coming back until the full moon.”
He took with him a bag of money: he mill return home the day of the full moon.
21 She convinced him with all that she said; she seduced him with her smooth talking.
She entangled him with many words, and drew him away with the flattery of her lips.
22 He followed her right away, like an ox to the slaughter. Like a stag that's caught in a snare
Immediately he followeth her as an ox led to be a victim, and as a lamb playing the wanton, and not knowing that he is drawn like a fool to bonds,
23 until an arrow pierces its liver, like a bird flying into a trap, he's unaware he will pay with his life.
Till the arrow pierce his liver: as if a bird should make haste to the snare, and knoweth not that his life is in danger.
24 So now listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to what I'm saying.
Now therefore, my son, hear me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Don't even think about following her. Don't stray down her road.
Let not thy mind be drawn away in her ways: neither be thou deceived with her paths.
26 For she has brought down and destroyed a lot of men; she's killed so many.
For she hath cast down many wounded, and the strongest have been slain by her.
