Warning Against the Adulterous Woman

7 My son,z keep my words

and store up my commands within you.

2 Keep my commands and you will live;a

guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.

3 Bind them on your fingers;

write them on the tablet of your heart.b

4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”

and to insight, “You are my relative.”

5 They will keep you from the adulterous woman,

from the wayward woman with her seductive words.c

6 At the window of my house

I looked down through the lattice.

7 I saw among the simple,

I noticed among the young men,

a youth who had no sense.d

8 He was going down the street near her corner,

walking along in the direction of her house

9 at twilight,e as the day was fading,

as the dark of night set in.

10 Then out came a woman to meet him,

dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.

11 (She is unrulyf and defiant,

her feet never stay at home;

12 now in the street, now in the squares,

at every corner she lurks.)g

13 She took hold of himh and kissed him

and with a brazen face she said:i

14 “Today I fulfilled my vows,

and I have food from my fellowship offeringj at home.

15 So I came out to meet you;

I looked for you and have found you!

16 I have covered my bed

with colored linens from Egypt.

17 I have perfumed my bedk

with myrrh,l aloes and cinnamon.

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

let’s enjoy ourselves with love!m

19 My husband is not at home;

he has gone on a long journey.

20 He took his purse filled with money

and will not be home till full moon.”

21 With persuasive words she led him astray;

she seduced him with her smooth talk.n

22 All at once he followed her

like an ox going to the slaughter,

like a deera stepping into a nooseb o

23 till an arrow piercesp his liver,

like a bird darting into a snare,

little knowing it will cost him his life.q

24 Now then, my sons, listenr to me;

pay attention to what I say.

25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways

or stray into her paths.s

26 Many are the victims she has brought down;

her slain are a mighty throng.

27 Her house is a highway to the grave,

leading down to the chambers of death.t