Proverbs 7
1 My sonne, keepe my wordes, and hide my commandements with thee.
My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you.
2 Keepe my commandements, and thou shalt liue, and mine instruction as the apple of thine eyes.
Keep my commandments and live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3 Binde them vpon thy fingers, and write them vpon the table of thine heart.
Tie them to your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say vnto wisedome, Thou art my sister: and call vnderstanding thy kinswoman,
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your kinsman,
5 That they may keepe thee from the strange woman, euen from the stranger that is smoothe in her wordes.
that they may keep you from the adulteress, from the stranger with seductive words.
6 As I was in the window of mine house, I looked through my windowe,
For at the window of my house I looked through the lattice.
7 And I sawe among the fooles, and considered among the children a yong man destitute of vnderstanding,
I saw among the simple, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking judgment,
8 Who passed through the streete by her corner, and went toward her house,
crossing the street near her corner, strolling down the road to her house,
9 In the twilight in the euening, when the night began to be blacke and darke.
at twilight, as the day was fading into the dark of the night.
10 And beholde, there met him a woman with an harlots behauiour, and subtill in heart.
Then a woman came out to meet him, with the attire of a harlot and cunning of heart.
11 (She is babling and loud: whose feete can not abide in her house.
She is loud and defiant; her feet do not remain at home.
12 Nowe she is without, nowe in the streetes, and lyeth in waite at euery corner)
Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner.
13 So she caught him and kissed him and with an impudent face said vnto him,
She seizes him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him:
14 I haue peace offerings: this day haue I payed my vowes.
“I have made my peace offerings; today I have paid my vows.
15 Therefore came I forth to meete thee, that I might seeke thy face: and I haue found thee.
So I came out to meet you; I sought you, and I have found you.
16 I haue deckt my bed with ornaments, carpets and laces of Egypt.
I have decked my bed with coverings, with colored linen from Egypt.
17 I haue perfumed my bedde with myrrhe, aloes, and cynamom.
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, with aloes, and with cinnamon.
18 Come, let vs take our fill of loue vntill the morning: let vs take our pleasure in daliance.
Come, let us take our fill of love till morning. Let us delight in loving caresses!
19 For mine husband is not at home: he is gone a iourney farre off.
For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.
20 He hath taken with him a bagge of siluer, and will come home at the day appointed.
He took with him a bag of money and will not return till the moon is full.”
21 Thus with her great craft she caused him to yeelde, and with her flattering lips she entised him.
With her great persuasion she entices him; with her flattering lips she lures him.
22 And he followed her straight wayes, as an oxe that goeth to the slaughter, and as a foole to the stockes for correction,
He follows her on impulse, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding into a trap,
23 Till a dart strike through his liuer, as a bird hasteth to the snare, not knowing that he is in danger.
until an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare— not knowing it will cost him his life.
24 Heare me now therefore, O children, and hearken to the wordes of my mouth.
Now, my sons, listen to me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not thine heart decline to her wayes: wander thou not in her paths.
Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths.
26 For shee hath caused many to fall downe wounded, and the strong men are all slaine by her.
For she has brought many down to death; her slain are many in number.
