10 And there a woman met him,
With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart.
11 (A)She was loud and rebellious,
(B)Her feet would not stay at home.
12 At times she was outside, at times in the open square,
Lurking at every corner.
13 So she caught him and kissed him;
With an [a]impudent face she said to him:
14 I have peace offerings with me;
Today I have paid my vows.
15 So I came out to meet you,
Diligently to seek your face,
And I have found you.
16 I have spread my bed with tapestry,
Colored coverings of (C)Egyptian linen.
17 I have perfumed my bed
With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until morning;
Let us delight ourselves with love.
19 For [b]my husband is not at home;
He has gone on a long journey;
20 He has taken a bag of money [c]with him,
And will come home [d]on the appointed day.”

21 [e]With (D)her enticing speech she caused him to yield,
(E)With her flattering lips she [f]seduced him.
22 Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter,
Or [g]as a fool to the correction of the [h]stocks,
23 Till an arrow struck his liver.
(F)As a bird hastens to the snare,
He did not know it [i]would cost his life.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 7:13 shameless
  2. Proverbs 7:19 Lit. the man
  3. Proverbs 7:20 Lit. in his hand
  4. Proverbs 7:20 at the full moon
  5. Proverbs 7:21 By the greatness of her words
  6. Proverbs 7:21 compelled
  7. Proverbs 7:22 LXX, Syr., Tg. as a dog to bonds; Vg. as a lamb . . . to bonds
  8. Proverbs 7:22 shackles
  9. Proverbs 7:23 Lit. is for

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)

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 7:22 Syriac (see also Septuagint); Hebrew fool
  2. Proverbs 7:22 The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.