in (A)the twilight, in the evening,
    at (B)the time of night and darkness.

10 And behold, the woman meets him,
    (C)dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart.[a]
11 She is (D)loud and (E)wayward;
    (F)her feet do not stay at home;
12 now in the street, now in the market,
    and (G)at every corner she (H)lies in wait.
13 She seizes him and kisses him,
    and with (I)bold face she says to him,
14 “I had to (J)offer sacrifices,[b]
    and today I have (K)paid my vows;
15 so now I have come out to meet you,
    to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.
16 I have spread my couch with (L)coverings,
    colored linens from (M)Egyptian linen;
17 I have perfumed my bed with (N)myrrh,
    aloes, and (O)cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love till morning;
    let us delight ourselves with love.
19 For (P)my husband is not at home;
    he has gone on a long journey;
20 he took a bag of money with him;
    at full moon he will come home.”

21 With much seductive speech she persuades him;
    with (Q)her smooth talk she compels him.
22 All at once he follows her,
    as an ox goes to the slaughter,
or as a stag is caught fast[c]
23     till an arrow pierces its liver;
as (R)a bird rushes into a snare;
    he does not know that it will cost him his life.

24 And (S)now, O sons, listen to me,
    and be attentive to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not your heart turn aside to her ways;
    do not stray into her paths,
26 for many a victim has she laid low,
    and all her slain are (T)a mighty throng.
27 Her house is (U)the way to Sheol,
    going down to the chambers of death.

The Blessings of Wisdom

Does not (V)wisdom call?
    Does not (W)understanding raise her voice?
On (X)the heights beside the way,
    at the crossroads she takes her stand;
beside (Y)the gates in front of (Z)the town,
    at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
“To you, O (AA)men, I call,
    and my cry is to (AB)the children of man.
O (AC)simple ones, learn (AD)prudence;
    O (AE)fools, learn sense.
Hear, for I will speak (AF)noble things,
    and from my lips will come (AG)what is right,
for my (AH)mouth will utter truth;
    wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
All the words of my mouth are righteous;
    there is nothing (AI)twisted or crooked in them.
They are all (AJ)straight to him who understands,
    and right to those who find knowledge.
10 (AK)Take my instruction instead of silver,
    and knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 (AL)for wisdom is better than jewels,
    and (AM)all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
    and I find knowledge and (AN)discretion.
13 (AO)The fear of the Lord is (AP)hatred of evil.
(AQ)Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
    and (AR)perverted speech I hate.
14 I have (AS)counsel and (AT)sound wisdom;
    I have insight; (AU)I have strength.
15 By me (AV)kings reign,
    and rulers decree what is just;
16 by me princes rule,
    and nobles, all who govern justly.[d]
17 (AW)I love those who love me,
    and (AX)those who seek me diligently find me.
18 (AY)Riches and honor are with me,
    (AZ)enduring wealth and (BA)righteousness.
19 My fruit is (BB)better than (BC)gold, even fine gold,
    and my yield than (BD)choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
    in the paths of justice,
21 granting an inheritance to those who love me,
    and filling their treasuries.

22 (BE)“The Lord (BF)possessed[e] me at the beginning of his work,[f]
    the first of his acts (BG)of old.
23 Ages ago I was (BH)set up,
    at the first, (BI)before the beginning of the earth.
24 When there were no (BJ)depths I was (BK)brought forth,
    when there were no springs abounding with water.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 7:10 Hebrew guarded in heart
  2. Proverbs 7:14 Hebrew peace offerings
  3. Proverbs 7:22 Probable reading (compare Septuagint, Vulgate, Syriac); Hebrew as a chain to discipline a fool
  4. Proverbs 8:16 Most Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint govern the earth
  5. Proverbs 8:22 Or fathered; Septuagint created
  6. Proverbs 8:22 Hebrew way

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