¹⁶ Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,^(A)
    from the wayward woman with her seductive words,
¹⁷ who has left the partner of her youth
    and ignored the covenant she made before God.^[a](B)
18 Surely her house leads down to death
    and her paths to the spirits of the dead.^(C)
19 None who go to her return
    or attain the paths of life.^(D)

⁷ Now then, my sons, listen^(E) to me;
    do not turn aside from what I say.
⁸ Keep to a path far from her,^(F)
    do not go near the door of her house,
⁹ lest you lose your honor to others
    and your dignity^[a] to one who is cruel,

⁷ Now then, my sons, listen^(A) to me;
    do not turn aside from what I say.

²⁰ Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife?
    Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?

²¹ For your ways are in full view^(A) of the Lord,
    and he examines^(B) all your paths.^(C)
22 The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;^(D)
    the cords of their sins hold them fast.^(E)
23 For lack of discipline they will die,^(F)
    led astray by their own great folly.^(G)

²⁵ Do not lust in your heart after her beauty
    or let her captivate you with her eyes.

²⁶ For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread,
    but another man’s wife preys on your very life.^(D)
27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap
    without his clothes being burned?
²⁸ Can a man walk on hot coals
    without his feet being scorched?
²⁹ So is he who sleeps^(E) with another man’s wife;^(F)
    no one who touches her will go unpunished.

³² But a man who commits adultery^(A) has no sense;^(B)
    whoever does so destroys himself.
³³ Blows and disgrace are his lot,
    and his shame will never^(C) be wiped away.

³⁴ For jealousy^(D) arouses a husband’s fury,^(E)
    and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
³⁵ He will not accept any compensation;
    he will refuse a bribe, however great it is.^(F)

¹⁰ Then out came a woman to meet him,
    dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
¹¹ (She is unruly^(A) and defiant,
    her feet never stay at home;
¹² now in the street, now in the squares,
    at every corner she lurks.)^(B)
13 She took hold of him^(C) and kissed him
    and with a brazen face she said:^(D)

¹⁴ “Today I fulfilled my vows,
    and I have food from my fellowship offering^(E) at home.
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^(F)
    with myrrh,^(G) aloes and cinnamon.
¹⁸ Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning;
    let’s enjoy ourselves with love!^(H)
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.^(I)
22 All at once he followed her
    like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer^[a] stepping into a noose^[b](J)
23     till an arrow pierces^(K) his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
    little knowing it will cost him his life.^(L)