7:1  MY SON, keep my words; lay up within you my commandments [for use when needed] {and} treasure them.

7:2  Keep my commandments and live, and keep my law {and} teaching as the apple (the pupil) of your eye.

7:3  Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.

7:4  Say to skillful {and} godly Wisdom, You are my sister, and regard understanding {or} insight as your intimate friend--

7:5  That they may keep you from the loose woman, from the adventuress who flatters with {and} makes smooth her words.

7:6  For at the window of my house I looked out through my lattice.

7:7  And among the simple (empty-headed and emptyhearted) ones, I perceived among the youths a young man void of good sense,

7:8  Sauntering through the street near the [loose woman's] corner; and he went the way to her house

7:9  In the twilight, in the evening; night black and dense was falling [over the young man's life].

7:10  And behold, there met him a woman, dressed as a harlot and sly {and} cunning of heart.

7:11  She is turbulent {and} willful; her feet stay not in her house;

7:12  Now in the streets, now in the marketplaces, she sets her ambush at every corner.

7:13  So she caught him and kissed him and with impudent face she said to him,

7:14  Sacrifices of peace offerings were due from me; this day I paid my vows.

7:15  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.

7:16  I have spread my couch with rugs {and} cushions of tapestry, with striped sheets of fine linen of Egypt.

7:17  I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

7:18  Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; let us console {and} delight ourselves with love.

7:19  For the man is not at home; he is gone on a long journey;

7:20  He has taken a bag of money with him and will come home at the day appointed [at the full moon].

7:21  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.

7:22  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} {like a dog enticed by food to the muzzle}

7:23  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.

7:24  Listen to me now therefore, O you sons, and be attentive to the words of my mouth.

7:25  Let not your heart incline toward her ways, do not stray into her paths.

7:26  For she has cast down many wounded; indeed, all her slain are a mighty host.

7:27  Her house is the way to Sheol (Hades, the place of the dead), going down to the chambers of death.