7

  1My son, keep my words,
   And treasure my commands within you.
   2Keep my commands and live,
   And my law as the apple of your eye.
   3Bind them on your fingers;
   Write them on the tablet of your heart.
   4Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
   And call understanding your nearest kin,
   5That they may keep you from the immoral woman,
   From the seductress who flatters with her words.

The Crafty Harlot

  6For at the window of my house
   I looked through my lattice,
   7And saw among the simple,
   I perceived among the youths,
   A young man devoid of understanding,
   8Passing along the street near her corner;
   And he took the path to her house
   9In the twilight, in the evening,
   In the black and dark night.
  10And there a woman met him,
   With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart.
   11She was loud and rebellious,
   Her feet would not stay at home.
   12At times she was outside, at times in the open square,
   Lurking at every corner.
   13So she caught him and kissed him;
   With an impudent face she said to him:
   14I have peace offerings with me;
   Today I have paid my vows.
   15So I came out to meet you,
   Diligently to seek your face,
   And I have found you.
   16I have spread my bed with tapestry,
   Colored coverings of Egyptian linen.
   17I have perfumed my bed
   With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
   18Come, let us take our fill of love until morning;
   Let us delight ourselves with love.
   19For my husband is not at home;
   He has gone on a long journey;
   20He has taken a bag of money with him,
   And will come home on the appointed day.”
  21With her enticing speech she caused him to yield,
   With her flattering lips she seduced him.
   22Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter,
   Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,
   23Till an arrow struck his liver.
   As a bird hastens to the snare,
   He did not know it would cost his life.
  24Now therefore, listen to me, my children;
   Pay attention to the words of my mouth:
   25Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
   Do not stray into her paths;
   26For she has cast down many wounded,
   And all who were slain by her were strong men.
   27Her house is the way to hell,
   Descending to the chambers of death.