Proverbs 7
1 My son, accept what I say and value my instructions.
My son, observe my sayings, and my commandments must thou treasure up with thee.
2 Do what I tell you and you will live. Observe my teachings, valuing them as your main focus in life.
Observe my commandments, and live: and my teaching as the apple of thy eyes.
3 Tie them to your fingers; write them in your mind.
Bind them around thy fingers, write them upon the table of thy heart.
4 Tell wisdom, “You're my sister,” and call insight your best friend.
Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:
5 They will protect you from the immoral woman, from the prostitute with her seductive words.
That they may keep thee from an adulterous woman, from an alien that useth flattering speeches.
6 One time I looked through the lattice of the window in my house,
For through the window of my house, through my lattice did I [once] look out,
7 and I saw among the immature young men one who had no sense at all.
And I beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a lad void of sense;
8 He was walking down the street near the corner where she lived and took the road passing her house.
He was passing through the market-place near her corner; and he stepped along on the way to her house,
9 It was at dusk in the evening, as the light was fading and the dark night closed in.
In the twilight, in the evening of the day, in the depth of the night and when it was dark:
10 Then out came a woman came to meet him. She was dressed as a prostitute and had deceptive intentions.
And, behold, a woman came to meet him with the attire of a harlot, and obdurate of heart.
11 (She was loud and provocative, never wanting to stay at home.
(She is noisy and ungovernable; in her house her feet never rest;
12 One moment she'd be walking the streets, the next she'd be there in the town squares, loitering at every corner.)
At one time she is in the street, at another in the open places, and near every corner doth she lurk, )
13 She grabbed hold of him and kissed him, and with a bold face she told him,
And she caught hold of him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face she said to him,
14 “I sacrificed my peace offering today, and paid my vows.
“I had bound myself to bring peace-offerings; this day have I 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 am I come forth to meet thee, to seek thy presence diligently, and I have found thee.
16 My bed is made, covered with colorful linens from Egypt.
With tapestry coverings have I decked my bed, with embroidered coverlids of the fine linen of Egypt.
17 I've sprinkled perfume on my bed—myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
I have sprinkled my couch 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 indulge in love until the morning: let us delight ourselves with dalliances.
19 My husband isn't home; he's gone on a long trip.
For the man is not in his house, he is gone on a journey a great way off:
20 He took a bag of money with him, and he won't be coming back until the full moon.”
The bag of money hath he taken with him, by the day of the new-moon festival only will he come home.”
21 She convinced him with all that she said; she seduced him with her smooth talking.
She seduced him by the abundance of her reasoning: by the flattery of her lips she misguided him.
22 He followed her right away, like an ox to the slaughter. Like a stag that's caught in a snare
He followed after her suddenly, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, and as in fetters to his correction, the fool:
23 until an arrow pierces its liver, like a bird flying into a trap, he's unaware he will pay with his life.
Till an arrow cleaveth through his liver; as a bird hasteneth into the snare, and knoweth not that it is done to take his life.
24 So now listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to what I'm saying.
And now, O children, hearken unto me, and listen to the sayings of my mouth.
25 Don't even think about following her. Don't stray down her road.
Let not thy heart turn aside to her ways, do not go astray on her paths.
26 For she has brought down and destroyed a lot of men; she's killed so many.
For many deadly wounded hath she caused to fall: yea, very numerous are all those slain by her.
