Proverbs 7:5–27

⁵They will keep you from the adulterous woman,

from the wayward woman with her seductive words.^c

⁶At the window of my house

I looked down through the lattice.

⁷I saw among the simple,

I noticed among the young men,

a youth who had no sense.^d

⁸He was going down the street near her corner,

walking along in the direction of her house

⁹at twilight,^e as the day was fading,

as the dark of night set in.

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

²⁴Now then, my sons, listen^r to me;

pay attention to what I say.

²⁵Do not let your heart turn to her ways

or stray into her paths.^s

²⁶Many are the victims she has brought down;

her slain are a mighty throng.

²⁷Her house is a highway to the grave,

leading down to the chambers of death.^t