Proverbs 7
1My son, keep my words. 2 Lay up my mitzvot ·instructions· within you. 1
2Obey my mitzvot ·instructions· and live! 2 Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye. 1
3Bind them on your fingers. 2 Write them on the tablet of your heart. 1
4Tell wisdom, “You are my sister.” 2 Call understanding your relative, 1
5that they may keep you from the strange woman, 2 from the foreigner who flatters with her words. 1
6For at the window of my house, 2 I looked out through my lattice. 1
7I saw among the simple ones. 2 I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding, 1
8passing through the street near her corner, 2 he went the way to her house, 1
9in the twilight, in the evening of the day, 2 in the middle of the night and in the darkness. 1
10Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, 2 and with crafty intent. 1
11She is loud and defiant. 2 Her feet don’t stay in her house. 1
12Now she is in the streets, now in the squares, 2 and lurking at every corner. 1
13So she caught him, and kissed him. 2 With an impudent face she said to him: 1
14“Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me. 2 Today I have paid my vows. 1
15Therefore I came out to meet you, 2 to diligently seek your face, 2 and I have found you. 1
16I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, 2 with striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt [Abode of slavery]. 1
17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 1
18Come, let’s take our fill of dod ·loving· until the morning. 2 Let’s solace ourselves with loving. 1
19For my husband is not at home. 2 He has gone on a long journey. 1
20He has taken a bag of money with him. 2 He will come home at the full moon.” 1
21With persuasive words, she led him astray. 2 With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him. 1
22He followed her immediately, 2 as an ox goes to the slaughter, 2 as a fool stepping into a noose. 1
23Until an arrow strikes through his liver, 2 as a bird hurries to the snare, 2 and does not know that it will cost his life. 1
24Now therefore, sons, sh'ma ·hear obey· me. 2 Pay attention to the words of my mouth. 1
25Don’t let your heart turn to her ways. 2 Don’t go astray in her paths, 1
26for she has thrown down many wounded. 2 Yes, all her slain are a mighty army. 1
27Her house is the way to Sheol ·Place of the dead·, 2 going down to the rooms of death.