| Chapter 7 |
1 |
My son, keep my words. Lay up my commandments within you. |
2 |
Keep my commandments and live; Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye. |
3 |
Bind them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart. |
4 |
Tell wisdom, "You are my sister." Call understanding your relative, |
5 |
That they may keep you from the strange woman, From the foreigner who flatters with her words. |
6 |
For at the window of my house, I looked forth through my lattice. |
7 |
I saw among the simple ones. I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding, |
8 |
Passing through the street near her corner, He went the way to her house, |
9 |
In the twilight, in the evening of the day, In the middle of the night and in the darkness. |
10 |
Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, And with crafty intent. |
11 |
She is loud and defiant. Her feet don`t stay in her house. |
12 |
Now she is in the streets, now in the squares, And lurking at every corner. |
13 |
So she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him: |
14 |
"Sacrifices of peace-offerings are with me. This day I have paid my vows. |
15 |
Therefore I came out to meet you, To diligently seek your face, And I have found you. |
16 |
I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, With striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt. |
17 |
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. |
18 |
Come, let`s take our fill of loving until the morning. Let`s solace ourselves with loving. |
19 |
For my husband isn`t at home. He has gone on a long journey. |
20 |
He has taken a bag of money with him. He will come home at the full moon." |
21 |
With persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him. |
22 |
He followed her immediately, As an ox goes to the slaughter, As a fool stepping into a noose. |
23 |
Until an arrow strikes through his liver, As a bird hurries to the snare, And doesn`t know that it will cost his life. |
24 |
Now therefore, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to the words of my mouth. |
25 |
Don`t let your heart turn to her ways. Don`t go astray in her paths, |
26 |
For she has thrown down many wounded. Yes, all her slain are a mighty host. |
27 |
Her house is the way to Sheol, Going down to the chambers of death. |