Proverbs 7
1My son, keep my words 1 and store up my commands within yourself. 1
2Keep my commands and live 1 and keep my instruction as the apple of your eye. 1
3Tie them on your fingers; 1 write them on the tablet of your heart. 1
4Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” 1 and call understanding your kinsman, 1
5in order to keep yourself from the adulterous woman, 1 from the immoral woman with her smooth words. 1
6At the window of my house 1 I was looking out through the lattice. 1
7I looked at the naive people, 1 and I noticed among the young men 1 a youth who had no sense. 1
8That young man passed down the street near her corner, 1 and he went toward her house. 1
9It was twilight, in the evening of the day, 1 at the time of night and darkness. 1
10There a woman met him, 1 dressed like a prostitute, with a false heart. 1
11She was loud and wayward; 1 her feet did not stay at home. 1
12Now in the streets, then in the market place, 1 and at every corner she waited in ambush. 1
13So she grabbed him and kissed him, 1 with a strong face she said to him, 1
14“I made my peace offering today, 1 I paid my vows, 1
15so came I out to meet you, 1 to eagerly seek your face, and I have found you. 1
16I have spread coverings on my bed, 1 colored linens from Egypt. 1
17I have sprinkled my bed 1 with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 1
18Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning; 1 let us take great pleasure in acts of love. 1
19For my husband is not at his house; 1 he has gone on a long journey. 1
20He took a bag of money with him; 1 he will return on the day of the full moon.” 1
21With much talk she turned him; 1 with her smooth lips she misled him. 1
22He went after her suddenly 1 like an ox going to slaughter, 1 like a deer caught in a trap, + 7:22 Deer could be a stag or an antelope. The Vulgate has: lamb . The LXX has: like a dog to the muzzle . 1
23until an arrow pierces through its liver. 1 He was like a bird rushing into a snare. 1 He did not know that it would cost his life. 1
24Now, my sons, listen to me; 1 pay attention to the words of my mouth. 1
25May your heart not turn aside onto her paths; 1 do not be led astray onto her paths. 1
26She has caused many people to fall down pierced; 1 her dead victims are very many. 1
27Her house is on the paths to Sheol; 1 they go down to the dark bedrooms of death.