Proverbs 7

Warning Against the Adulteress

1 Son, keep my words, and store my commands inside you.

2 Obey my commands and live; guard my teaching like the apple of your eye.

3 Tie them on your fingers, write them on your heart.

4 Say to wisdom, “You my sister,” call understanding your close kin.

5 They will guard you from the immoral woman, from the smooth words of the temptress.

6 From the window of my house, I looked out through the lattice.

7 I peeped the simple ones, I spotted a young dude lacking sense.

8 He was strolling down the street, near her corner, headed to her crib.

9 At twilight, in the evening, when the night was dark.

10 And look, a woman came out to meet him, dressed to seduce, slick in her moves.

11 She loud and rebellious, never stays home.

12 One minute she in the streets, next she in the square, lurking at every corner.

13 She grabbed him, kissed him, with a bold face she said:

14 “I had to offer my sacrifices, today I paid my vows.”

15 “So I came out to meet you, to look for you, and I found you.”

16 “I covered my bed with fancy sheets, with colored linens from Egypt.”

17 “I sprayed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.”

18 “Come, let us drink deep of love till morning; let us enjoy ourselves with passion.”

19 “My man is not home, he went on a long trip.”

20 “He took a bag of money with him, he will not be back till the full moon.”

21 With smooth talk she dragged him in, with flattering lips she trapped him.

22 He followed her right away, like an ox to the slaughter, like a deer caught in a trap.

23 Till an arrow pierces his liver; like a bird rushing into a snare, not knowing it is his life on the line.

24 Now listen, sons, pay attention to what I say.

25 Do not let your heart stray into her ways, do not wander into her paths.

26 For many victims she has laid low, a lot of strong men got dropped by her.

27 Her house is the road to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.