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

For at the window of my house
I looked through my casement,
and beheld among the simple ones,
I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
passing through the street near her corner;
and he went the way to her house,
in the twilight, in the evening,
in the black and dark night:
10 and, 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:
12 now is she without, now in the streets,
and lieth in wait at every corner.)
13 So she caught him, and kissed him,
and with an impudent face said unto him,
14 I have peace offerings with me;
this day have I payed my vows.
15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee,
diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry,
with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh,
aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning:
let us solace ourselves with loves.
19 For the goodman is not at home,
he is gone a long journey:
20 he hath taken a bag of money with him,
and will come home at the day appointed.
21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield,
with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
22 He goeth after her straightway,
as an ox goeth to the slaughter,
or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
23 till a dart strike through his liver;
as a bird hasteth to the snare,
and knoweth not that it is for his life.

24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children,
and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways,
go not astray in her paths.
26 For she hath cast down many wounded:
yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
27 Her house is the way to hell,
going down to the chambers of death.

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13 A foolish woman is clamorous:
she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
14 For she sitteth at the door of her house,
on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 to call passengers who go right on their ways:
16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither:
and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
17 Stolen waters are sweet,
and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there;
and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

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