Proverbs 7
1 My sonne, keepe my wordes, and hide my commandements with thee.
My son, keep my words, and lay up my precepts with thee. Son,
2 Keepe my commandements, and thou shalt liue, and mine instruction as the apple of thine eyes.
Keep my commandments, and thou shalt live: and my law as the apple of thy eye:
3 Binde them vpon thy fingers, and write them vpon the table of thine heart.
Bind it upon thy fingers, write it upon the tables of thy heart.
4 Say vnto wisedome, Thou art my sister: and call vnderstanding thy kinswoman,
Say to wisdom: Thou art my sister: and call prudence thy friend,
5 That they may keepe thee from the strange woman, euen from the stranger that is smoothe in her wordes.
That she may keep thee from the woman that is not thine, and from the stranger who sweeteneth her words.
6 As I was in the window of mine house, I looked through my windowe,
For I look out of the window of my house through the lattice,
7 And I sawe among the fooles, and considered among the children a yong man destitute of vnderstanding,
And I see little ones, I behold a foolish young man,
8 Who passed through the streete by her corner, and went toward her house,
Who passeth through the street by the corner, and goeth nigh the way of her house.
9 In the twilight in the euening, when the night began to be blacke and darke.
In the dark, when it grows late, in the darkness and obscurity of the night,
10 And beholde, there met him a woman with an harlots behauiour, and subtill in heart.
And behold a woman meeteth him in harlot’s attire prepared to deceive souls; talkative and wandering,
11 (She is babling and loud: whose feete can not abide in her house.
Not bearing to be quiet, not able to abide still at home,
12 Nowe she is without, nowe in the streetes, and lyeth in waite at euery corner)
Now abroad, now in the streets, now lying in wait near the corners.
13 So she caught him and kissed him and with an impudent face said vnto him,
And catching the young man, she kisseth him, and with an impudent face, flattereth, saying:
14 I haue peace offerings: this day haue I payed my vowes.
I vowed victims for prosperity, this day I have paid my vows.
15 Therefore came I forth to meete thee, that I might seeke thy face: and I haue found thee.
Therefore I am come out to meet thee, desirous to see thee, and I have found thee.
16 I haue deckt my bed with ornaments, carpets and laces of Egypt.
I have woven my bed with cords, I have covered it with painted tapestry, brought from Egypt.
17 I haue perfumed my bedde with myrrhe, aloes, and cynamom.
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let vs take our fill of loue vntill the morning: let vs take our pleasure in daliance.
Come, let us be inebriated with the breasts, and let us enjoy the desired embraces, till the day appear.
19 For mine husband is not at home: he is gone a iourney farre off.
For my husband is not at home, he is gone a very 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: he mill return home the day of the full moon.
21 Thus with her great craft she caused him to yeelde, and with her flattering lips she entised him.
She entangled him with many words, and drew him away with the flattery of her lips.
22 And he followed her straight wayes, as an oxe that goeth to the slaughter, and as a foole to the stockes for correction,
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 Till a dart strike through his liuer, as a bird hasteth to the snare, not knowing that he is in danger.
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 Heare me now therefore, O children, and hearken to the wordes of my mouth.
Now therefore, my son, hear me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not thine heart decline to her wayes: wander thou not in her paths.
Let not thy mind be drawn away in her ways: neither be thou deceived with her paths.
26 For shee hath caused many to fall downe wounded, and the strong men are all slaine by her.
For she hath cast down many wounded, and the strongest have been slain by her.
