¹⁶ It will save you from the unfaithful wife
    who tries to lead you into adultery with 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.

¹⁴ The words of an unfaithful wife are like a deep trap.
    Those who make the Lord angry will get caught by them.

²⁶ My son, pay attention to me.
    And watch closely what I do.
²⁷ A prostitute is as dangerous as a deep pit.
    And an unfaithful wife is like a narrow well.
²⁸ They ambush you like robbers.
    And they cause many men to be unfaithful to their wives.