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 out through my lattice.
7 I saw amongst the simple ones . I discerned amongst 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 . Today 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 army.
27 Her house is the way to Sheol , going down to the rooms of death .