Prov-07

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v1

My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you;

v2

keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;

v3

bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.

v4

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend,

v5

to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words.

v6

For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice,

v7

and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense,

v8

passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house

v9

in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness.

v10

And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart.

v11

She is loud and wayward; her feet do not stay at home;

v12

now in the street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait.

v13

She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him,

v14

“I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows;

v15

so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.

v16

I have spread my couch with coverings, colored linens from Egyptian linen;

v17

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

v18

Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love.

v19

For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey;

v20

he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home.”

v21

With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him.

v22

All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast

v23

till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.

v24

And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth.

v25

Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths,

v26

for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng.

v27

Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.


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