Proverbs 7

1My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.

2Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.

3Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.

4Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:

5That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

6For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,

7And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,footnote a

8Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,

9In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:footnote b

10And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.

11(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:

12Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)

13So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,footnote c

14I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.footnote d

15Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

16I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.

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

18Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.

19For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:

20He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.footnote efootnote f

21With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.

22He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;footnote g

23Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

24Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.

25Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.

26For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.

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

Warnings about the Adulteress

1My son, keep my wordsand treasure my commandments within you. 2Keep my commandments and live;guard my teachings as the applefootnote aof your eye. 3Tie them to your fingers;write them on the tablet of your heart. 4Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”and call understanding your kinsman, 5that they may keep you from the adulteress,from the stranger with seductive words.

6For at the window of my houseI looked through the lattice. 7I saw among the simple,I noticed among the youths,a young man lacking judgment, 8crossing the street near her corner,strolling down the road to her house, 9at twilight, as the day was fadinginto the dark of the night.

10Then a woman came out to meet him,with the attire of a harlot and cunning of heart. 11She is loud and defiant;her feet do not remain at home. 12Now in the street, now in the squares,she lurks at every corner. 13She seizes him and kisses him;she brazenly says to him:

14“I have made my peace offerings;today I have paid my vows. 15So I came out to meet you;I sought you, and I have found you. 16I have decked my bed with coverings,with colored linen from Egypt. 17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh,with aloes, and with cinnamon. 18Come, let us take our fill of love till morning.Let us delight in loving caresses! 19For my husband is not at home;he has gone on a long journey. 20He took with him a bag of moneyand will not return till the moon is full.”

21With her great persuasion she entices him;with her flattering lips she lures him. 22He follows her on impulse,like an ox going to the slaughter,like a deer bounding into a trap,footnote b 23until an arrow pierces his liver,like a bird darting into a snare—not knowing it will cost him his life.

24Now, my sons, listen to me,and attend to the words of my mouth. 25Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways;do not stray into her paths. 26For she has brought many down to death;her slain are many in number. 27Her house is the road to Sheol,descending to the chambers of death.