Proverbs, 7

1. My child, keep my words, and treasure my precepts,

1. My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you;

2. keep my precepts and you will live, keep my teaching as the apple of your eye.

2. keep my commandments and live, keep my teachings as the apple of your eye;

3. Bind these to your fingers, write them on the tablet of your heart.

3. bind them on your fingers, write them on the tablet of your heart.

4. Say to Wisdom, 'You are my sister!' Call Understanding your relation,

4. Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call insight your intimate friend;

5. to save yourself from the woman that belongs to another, from the stranger, with her seductive words.

5. to preserve you from the loose woman, from the adventuress with her smooth words.

6. While I was at the window of my house, I was looking out through the lattice

6. For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice,

7. and I saw, among the callow youths, I noticed among the lads, one boy who had no sense.

7. and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man without sense,

8. Going along the lane, near the corner where she lives, he reaches the path to her house,

8. passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house

9. at twilight when day is declining, at dead of night and in the dark.

9. in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness.

10. And look, a woman is coming to meet him, dressed like a prostitute, false of heart.

10. And lo, a woman meets him, dressed as a harlot, wily of heart.

11. She is loud and brazen; her feet cannot rest at home.

11. She is loud and wayward, her feet do not stay at home;

12. Once in the street, once in the square, she lurks at every corner.

12. now in the street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait.

13. She catches hold of him, she kisses him, the bold-faced creature says to him,

13. She seizes him and kisses him, and with impudent face she says to him:

14. 'I had to offer a communion sacrifice, I have discharged my vows today;

14. "I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows;

15. that is why I came out to meet you, to look for you, and now I have found you.

15. so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.

16. I have spread coverlets over my divan, embroidered stuff, Egyptian material,

16. I have decked my couch with coverings, colored spreads of Egyptian linen;

17. I have sprinkled my bed with myrrh, with aloes and cinnamon.

17. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

18. Come on, we'll make love as much as we like, till morning. Let us enjoy the delights of love!

18. Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love.

19. For my husband is not at home, he has gone on a very long journey,

19. For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey;

20. taking his moneybags with him; he will not be back till the moon is full.'

20. he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home."

21. With her persistent coaxing she overcomes him, lures him on with her wheedling patter.

21. With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him.

22. Forthwith he follows her, like an ox on its way to the slaughterhouse, like a madman on his way to the stocks,

22. All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast

23. until an arrow pierces him to the liver, like the bird that dashes into the net without realising that its life is at stake.

23. till an arrow pierces its entrails; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.

24. And now, son, listen to me, pay attention to the words I have to say:

24. And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth.

25. do not let your heart stray into her ways, or wander into her paths;

25. Let not your heart turn aside to her ways, do not stray into her paths;

26. she has done so many to death, and the strongest have all been her victims.

26. for many a victim has she laid low; yea, all her slain are a mighty host.

27. Her house is the way to Sheol, the descent to the courts of death.

27. Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.