Proverbs 7:10–23

¹⁰Then out came a woman to meet him,

dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.

¹¹(She is unruly^f and defiant,

her feet never stay at home;

¹²now in the street, now in the squares,

at every corner she lurks.)^g

¹³She took hold of him^h and kissed him

and with a brazen face she said:ⁱ

¹⁴“Today I fulfilled my vows,

and I have food from my fellowship offering^j at home.

¹⁵So I came out to meet you;

I looked for you and have found you!

¹⁶I have covered my bed

with colored linens from Egypt.

¹⁷I have perfumed my bed^k

with myrrh,^l aloes and cinnamon.

¹⁸Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning;

let’s enjoy ourselves with love!^m

¹⁹My husband is not at home;

he has gone on a long journey.

²⁰He took his purse filled with money

and will not be home till full moon.”

²¹With persuasive words she led him astray;

she seduced him with her smooth talk.ⁿ

²²All at once he followed her

like an ox going to the slaughter,

like a deer^a stepping into a noose^bo

²³till an arrow pierces^p his liver,

like a bird darting into a snare,

little knowing it will cost him his life.^q