Proverbs 7 (New International Version)

Proverbs 7

Warning Against the Adulteress

 ² Keep my commands and you will live;
       guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.

 ³ Bind them on your fingers;
       write them on the tablet of your heart.

 ⁴ Say to wisdom, "You are my sister,"
       and call understanding your kinsman;

 ⁵ they will keep you from the adulteress,
       from the wayward wife with her seductive words.

 ⁶ At the window of my house
       I looked out through the lattice.

 ⁷ I saw among the simple,
       I noticed among the young men,
       a youth who lacked judgment.

 ⁸ He was going down the street near her corner,
       walking along in the direction of her house

 ⁹ at twilight, as the day was fading,
       as the dark of night set in.

 ¹⁰ Then out came a woman to meet him,
       dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.

 ¹¹ (She is loud and defiant,
       her feet never stay at home;

 ¹² now in the street, now in the squares,
       at every corner she lurks.)

 ¹³ She took hold of him and kissed him
       and with a brazen face she said:

 ¹⁴ "I have fellowship offerings ^[a] at home;
       today I fulfilled my vows.

 ¹⁵ So I came out to meet you;
       I looked for you and have found you!

 ¹⁶ I have covered my bed
       with colored linens from Egypt.

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

 ¹⁸ Come, let's drink deep of love till morning;
       let's enjoy ourselves with love!

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

 ²⁰ He took his purse filled with money
       and will not be home till full moon."

 ²¹ With persuasive words she led him astray;
       she seduced him with her smooth talk.

 ²² All at once he followed her
       like an ox going to the slaughter,
       like a deer ^[b] stepping into a noose ^[c]

 ²³ till an arrow pierces his liver,
       like a bird darting into a snare,
       little knowing it will cost him his life.

 ²⁴ Now then, my sons, listen to me;
       pay attention to what I say.

 ²⁵ Do not let your heart turn to her ways
       or stray into her paths.

 ²⁶ Many are the victims she has brought down;
       her slain are a mighty throng.

 ²⁷ Her house is a highway to the grave, ^[d]
       leading down to the chambers of death.