Proverbs 7:10–23

And behold, the woman meets him,

dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart.

She is loud and wayward;

her feet do not stay at home;

now in the street, now in the market,

and at every corner she lies in wait.

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.

Then out came a woman to meet him,

dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.

(She is unruly and defiant,

her feet never stay at home;

now in the street, now in the squares,

at every corner she lurks.)

She took hold of him and kissed him

and with a brazen face she said:

“Today I fulfilled my vows,

and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.

So I came out to meet you;

I looked for you and have found you!

I have covered my bed

with colored linens from Egypt.

I have perfumed my bed

with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.

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

let’s enjoy ourselves with love!

My husband is not at home;

he has gone on a long journey.

He took his purse filled with money

and will not be home till full moon.”

With persuasive words she led him astray;

she seduced him with her smooth talk.

All at once he followed her

like an ox going to the slaughter,

like a deer stepping into a noose

till an arrow pierces his liver,

like a bird darting into a snare,

little knowing it will cost him his life.

A woman came to meet him

dressed like a prostitute,

having a hidden agenda.

She is loud and defiant;

her feet do not stay at home.

Now in the street, now in the squares,

she lurks at every corner.

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.

The woman approached him,

seductively dressed and sly of heart.

She was the brash, rebellious type,

never content to stay at home.

She is often in the streets and markets,

soliciting at every corner.

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.

Then behold! A woman comes to meet him

with the garment of a prostitute and a secret heart.

She is loud and stubborn;

her feet do not stay at her house.

Now in the street, now in the square,

at every corner she lies in wait.

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, behold, there met him a woman

With the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.

(She is loud and stubborn;

Her feet abide not in her house:

Now is she without, now in the streets,

And lieth in wait at every corner.)

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.