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. |