Proverbs 7:13–25

She seizes him and kisses him,

and with bold face she says to him,

“I had to offer sacrifices,

and today I have paid my vows;

so now I have come out to meet you,

to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.

I have spread my couch with coverings,

colored linens from Egyptian linen;

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh,

aloes, and cinnamon.

Come, let us take our fill of love till morning;

let us delight ourselves with love.

For my husband is not at home;

he has gone on a long journey;

he took a bag of money with him;

at full moon he will come home.”

With much seductive speech she persuades him;

with her smooth talk she compels him.

All at once he follows her,

as an ox goes to the slaughter,

or as a stag is caught fast

till an arrow pierces its liver;

as a bird rushes into a snare;

he does not know that it will cost him his life.

And now, O sons, listen to me,

and be attentive to the words of my mouth.

Let not your heart turn aside to her ways;

do not stray into her paths,

She grabs him and kisses him;

she brazenly says to him,

“I’ve made fellowship offerings;

today I’ve fulfilled my vows.

So I came out to meet you,

to search for you, and I’ve found you.

I’ve spread coverings on my bed—

richly colored linen from Egypt.

I’ve perfumed my bed

with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Come, let’s drink deeply of lovemaking until morning.

Let’s feast on each other’s love!

My husband isn’t home;

he went on a long journey.

He took a bag of silver with him

and will come home at the time of the full moon.”

She seduces him with her persistent pleading;

she lures with her flattering talk.

He follows her impulsively

like an ox going to the slaughter,

like a deer bounding toward a trap

until an arrow pierces its liver,

like a bird darting into a snare—

he doesn’t know it will cost him his life.

Now, sons, listen to me,

and pay attention to the words from my mouth.

Don’t let your heart turn aside to her ways;

don’t stray onto her paths.

She threw her arms around him and kissed him,

and with a brazen look she said,

“I’ve just made my peace offerings

and fulfilled my vows.

You’re the one I was looking for!

I came out to find you, and here you are!

My bed is spread with beautiful blankets,

with colored sheets of Egyptian linen.

I’ve perfumed my bed

with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning.

Let’s enjoy each other’s caresses,

for my husband is not home.

He’s away on a long trip.

He has taken a wallet full of money with him

and won’t return until later this month.”

So she seduced him with her pretty speech

and enticed him with her flattery.

He followed her at once,

like an ox going to the slaughter.

He was like a stag caught in a trap,

awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart.

He was like a bird flying into a snare,

little knowing it would cost him his life.

So listen to me, my sons,

and pay attention to my words.

Don’t let your hearts stray away toward her.

Don’t wander down her wayward path.

She took hold of him and kissed him.

Her face was impudent, and she said to him,

“Sacrifices of peace offerings are upon me;

today I completed my vows.

So I have come out to meet you,

to seek your face, and I have found you.

With coverings I have adorned my couch,

spreads of the linen of Egypt;

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh,

aloes, and cinnamon.

Come, let us take our fill of love making,

until the morning let us delight in love.

For there is no man in his home;

he has gone on a long journey.

The bag of money he took in his hand,

for on the day of the full moon he will come home.”

She persuades him with the greatness of her teachings;

with her smooth lips she compels him.

He goes after her suddenly;

like an ox to the slaughter he goes,

and like a stag to the instruction of a fool,

until an arrow pierces his entrails,

like a bird rushing into a snare,

but he does not know that it will cost him his life.

And now, my children, listen to me,

and be attentive to the sayings of my mouth.

May your heart not turn aside to her ways;

do not stray into her path.

So she caught him, and kissed him,

And with an impudent face said unto him,

I have peace offerings with me;

This day have I payed my vows.

Therefore came I forth to meet thee,

Diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry,

With carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.

I have perfumed my bed

With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning:

Let us solace ourselves with loves.

For the goodman is not at home,

He is gone a long journey:

He hath taken a bag of money with him,

And will come home at the day appointed.

With her much fair speech she caused him to yield,

With the flattering of her lips she forced him.

He goeth after her straightway,

As an ox goeth to the slaughter,

Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;

Till a dart strike through his liver;

As a bird hasteth to the snare,

And knoweth not that it is for his life.

Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children,

And attend to the words of my mouth.

Let not thine heart decline to her ways,

Go not astray in her paths.