Proverbs 7
1 [My] son, keep my words, and hide with you my commandments. [My] son, honor the Lord, and you shall be strong; and fear none but him:
My son, accept what I say and value my instructions.
2 keep my commandments, and you shall live; and [keep] my words as the pupils of [your] eyes.
Do what I tell you and you will live. Observe my teachings, valuing them as your main focus in life.
3 And bind them on your fingers, and write [them] on the table of your heart.
Tie them to your fingers; write them in your mind.
4 Say that wisdom is your sister, and gain prudence as an acquaintance for yourself;
Tell wisdom, “You're my sister,” and call insight your best friend.
5 that she may keep you from the strange and wicked woman, if she should assail you with flattering words.
They will protect you from the immoral woman, from the prostitute with her seductive words.
6 For she looks from a window out of her house into the streets, at one whom she may see of the senseless ones, a young man void of understanding,
One time I looked through the lattice of the window in my house,
7 passing by the corner in the passages near her house,
and I saw among the immature young men one who had no sense at all.
8 and speaking, in the dark of the evening,
He was walking down the street near the corner where she lived and took the road passing her house.
9 when there happens [to be] the stillness of night and of darkness:
It was at dusk in the evening, as the light was fading and the dark night closed in.
10 and the woman meets him having the appearance of a harlot, that causes the hearts of young men to flutter.
Then out came a woman came to meet him. She was dressed as a prostitute and had deceptive intentions.
11 And she is fickle, and debauched, and her feet abide not at home.
(She was loud and provocative, never wanting to stay at home.
12 For at one time she wanders without, and at [another] time she lies in wait in the streets, 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 Then 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 a peace-offering; today I pay my vows:
“I sacrificed my peace offering today, and paid my vows.
15 therefore I came forth to meet you, desiring 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 spread my bed with sheets, and I have covered it with double tapestry from Egypt.
My bed is made, covered with colorful linens from Egypt.
17 I have sprinkled my couch with saffron, and my house with cinnamon.
I've sprinkled perfume on my bed—myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, and let us enjoy love until the morning; come, and let us embrace in love.
Come with me, let's make love until the morning. Let's enjoy one another in our love-making!
19 For my husband is not at home, but is gone on a long journey,
My husband isn't home; he's gone on a long trip.
20 having taken in his hand a bundle of money: after many days he will return to his house.
He took a bag of money with him, and he won't be coming back until the full moon.”
21 So with much converse she prevailed on him to go astray, and with the snares of her lips forced him from [the right path].
She convinced him with all that she said; she seduced him with her smooth talking.
22 And he followed her, being gently led on, and [that] as an ox is led to the slaughter, and as a dog to bonds, or as a hart shot in the liver with an arrow:
He followed her right away, like an ox to the slaughter. Like a stag that's caught in a snare
23 and he hastens as a bird into a snare, not knowing that he is running 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 Now then, [my] son, listen to me, 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 turn aside to her ways:
Don't even think about following her. Don't stray down her road.
26 for she has wounded and cast down many, and those whom she has slain are innumerable.
For she has brought down and destroyed a lot of men; she's killed so many.
