Proverbs 7
International Children’s Bible
The Woman of Adultery
7 My son, remember what I say.
Treasure my commands.
2 Obey my commands, and you will live.
Protect my teachings as you would your own eyes.
3 Remind yourself of them.
Write them down in your mind as if on a tablet.
4 Be good to wisdom as if she were your sister.
Make understanding your closest friend.
5 Wisdom and understanding will keep you away from adultery.
They will keep you away from the unfaithful wife and her pleasing words.
6 I once was standing at the window of my house.
I looked out through the shutters.
7 I saw some foolish, young men.
I noticed one of them who had no wisdom.
8 He was walking down the street near the corner.
He was on the road leading to her house.
9 It was the twilight of the evening.
The darkness of the night was just beginning.
10 Then the woman approached him.
She was dressed like a prostitute
and was planning to trick him.
11 She was a loud and stubborn woman.
She never stayed at home.
12 She was always out in the streets or in the city squares.
She was always waiting around on the street corners.
13 She grabbed him and kissed him.
Without shame she said to him,
14 “I made my fellowship offering and have the meat at home.
I have kept my special promises.
15 So I have come out to meet you.
I have been looking for you and have found you!
16 I have covered my bed
with colored sheets from Egypt.
17 I have made my bed smell sweet
with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s make love until morning.
Let’s enjoy each other’s love!
19 My husband is not home.
He has gone on a long trip.
20 He took a lot of money with him.
And he won’t be home for weeks.”
21 By her clever words she made him give in.
By her pleasing words she led him into doing wrong.
22 All at once he followed her.
He was like an ox being led to the butcher.
He was like a deer caught in a trap.
23 But quickly an arrow shot through his liver.
He was like a bird caught in a trap.
He didn’t know what he did would kill him.
24 Now, my sons, listen to me.
Pay attention to what I say.
25 Don’t let yourself be tricked by the woman who is guilty of adultery.
Don’t join her in her evil actions.
26 She has ruined many good men.
Many have died because of her.
27 Going to her house is like taking the road to death.
That road leads down to where the dead are.
Proverbs 7
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
7 My son, keep my words; lay up within you my commandments [for use when needed] and treasure them.
2 Keep my commandments and live, and keep my law and teaching as the apple (the pupil) of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to skillful and godly Wisdom, You are my sister, and regard understanding or insight as your intimate friend—
5 That they may keep you from the loose woman, from the adventuress who flatters with and makes smooth her words.
6 For at the window of my house I looked out through my lattice.
7 And among the simple (empty-headed and emptyhearted) ones, I perceived among the youths a young man void of good sense,
8 Sauntering through the street near the [loose woman’s] corner; and he went the way to her house
9 In the twilight, in the evening; night black and dense was falling [over the young man’s life].
10 And behold, there met him a woman, dressed as a harlot and sly and cunning of heart.
11 She is turbulent and willful; her feet stay not in her house;
12 Now in the streets, now in the marketplaces, she sets her ambush at every corner.
13 So she caught him and kissed him and with impudent face she said to him,
14 Sacrifices of peace offerings were due from me; this day I paid my vows.
15 So I came forth to meet you [that you might share with me the feast from my offering]; diligently I sought your face, and I have found you.
16 I have spread my couch with rugs and cushions of tapestry, with striped sheets of 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 morning; let us console and delight ourselves with love.
19 For the man is not at home; he is gone on a long journey;
20 He has taken a bag of money with him and will come home at the day appointed [at the full moon].
21 With much justifying and enticing argument she persuades him, with the allurements of her lips she leads him [to overcome his conscience and his fears] and forces him along.
22 Suddenly he [yields and] follows her reluctantly like an ox moving to the slaughter, like one in fetters going to the correction [to be given] to a fool or [a]like a dog enticed by food to the muzzle
23 Till a dart [of passion] pierces and inflames his vitals; then like a bird fluttering straight into the net [he hastens], not knowing that it will cost him his life.
24 Listen to me now therefore, O you sons, and be attentive to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not your heart incline toward her ways, do not stray into her paths.
26 For she has cast down many wounded; indeed, all her slain are a mighty host.(A)
27 Her house is the way to Sheol (Hades, the place of the dead), going down to the chambers of death.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 7:22 The Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament) so reads at this point.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
