Proverbs 7
1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
2 Keep my commandments and live, and my teaching as the apple of thine eye.
Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thy heart.
Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
4 Say unto wisdom: 'Thou art my sister', and call understanding thy kinswoman;
Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:
5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the alien woman that maketh smooth her words.
That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.
6 For at the window of my house I looked forth through my lattice;
For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
7 And I beheld among the thoughtless ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
8 Passing through the street near her corner, and he went the way to her house;
Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
9 In the twilight, in the evening of the day, in the blackness of night and the darkness.
In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of a harlot, and wily of heart.
And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
11 She is riotous and rebellious, her feet abide not in her house;
(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
12 Now she is in the streets, now in the broad places, and lieth in wait at every corner.
Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face she said unto him:
So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
14 'Sacrifices of peace-offerings were due from me; this day have I paid my vows.
I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
16 I have decked my couch with coverlets, with striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt.
I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning; let us solace ourselves with loves.
Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
19 For my husband is not at home, he is gone a long journey;
For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
20 He hath taken the bag of money with him; he will come home at the full moon.'
He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
21 With her much fair speech she causeth him to yield, with the blandishment of her lips she enticeth him away.
With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox that goeth to the slaughter, or as one in fetters to the correction of the fool;
He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
23 Till an arrow strike through his liver; as a bird hasteneth to the snare — and knoweth not that it is at the cost of his life.
Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
24 Now therefore, O ye children, hearken unto me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not thy heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
26 For she hath cast down many wounded; yea, a mighty host are all her slain.
For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
