Proverbs 7
1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with you.
My son, accept what I say and value my instructions.
2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of your eye.
Do what I tell you and you will live. Observe my teachings, valuing them as your main focus in life.
3 Bind them on your fingers, write them on the table of your heart.
Tie them to your fingers; write them in your mind.
4 Say to wisdom, You are my sister; and call understanding your kinswoman:
Tell wisdom, “You're my sister,” and call insight your best friend.
5 That they may keep you from the strange woman, from the stranger which flatters with her words.
They will protect you from the immoral woman, from the prostitute with her seductive words.
6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
One time I looked through the lattice of the window in my house,
7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
and I saw among the immature young men one who had no sense at all.
8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
He was walking down the street near the corner where she lived and took the road passing her house.
9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
It was at dusk in the evening, as the light was fading and the dark night closed in.
10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtle of heart.
Then out came a woman came to meet him. She was dressed as a prostitute and had deceptive intentions.
11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
(She was loud and provocative, never wanting to stay at home.
12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lies in wait at every corner.)
One moment she'd be walking the streets, the next she'd be there in the town squares, loitering at every corner.)
13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said to him,
She grabbed hold of him and kissed him, and with a bold face she told him,
14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I paid my vows.
“I sacrificed my peace offering today, and paid my vows.
15 Therefore came I forth to meet you, diligently to seek your face, and I have found you.
That's why I came out to meet you. I was looking for you and now I've found you!
16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
My bed is made, covered with colorful linens from Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
I've sprinkled perfume on my bed—myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
Come with me, let's make love until the morning. Let's enjoy one another in our love-making!
19 For the manager is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
My husband isn't home; he's gone on a long trip.
20 He has taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
He took a bag of money with him, and he won't be coming back until the full moon.”
21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
She convinced him with all that she said; she seduced him with her smooth talking.
22 He goes after her straightway, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
He followed her right away, like an ox to the slaughter. Like a stag that's caught in a snare
23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hastens to the snare, and knows not that it is for his life.
until an arrow pierces its liver, like a bird flying into a trap, he's unaware he will pay with his life.
24 Listen to me now therefore, O you children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
So now listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to what I'm saying.
25 Let not your heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
Don't even think about following her. Don't stray down her road.
26 For she has cast down many wounded: yes, many strong men have been slain by her.
For she has brought down and destroyed a lot of men; she's killed so many.
