Proverbs 7:6–27

⁶For, at a window of my house, Through my casement I have looked out, ⁷And I do see among the simple ones, I discern among the sons, A young man lacking understanding, ⁸Passing on in the street, near her corner, And the way to her house he doth step, ⁹In the twilight—in the evening of day, In the darkness of night and blackness. ¹⁰And, lo, a woman to meet him—(A harlot’s dress, and watchful of heart, ¹¹Noisy she is, and stubborn, In her house her feet rest not. ¹²Now in an out-place, now in broad places, And near every corner she lieth in wait)— ¹³And she laid hold on him, and kissed him, She hath hardened her face, and saith to him, ¹⁴‘Sacrifices of peace-offerings are by me, To-day I have completed my vows. ¹⁵Therefore I have come forth to meet thee, To seek earnestly thy face, and I find thee. ¹⁶With ornamental coverings I decked my couch, Carved works—cotton of Egypt. ¹⁷I sprinkled my bed—myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. ¹⁸Come, we are filled with loves till the morning, We delight ourselves in loves. ¹⁹For the man is not in his house, He hath gone on a long journey. ²⁰A bag of money he hath taken in his hand, At the day of the new moon he cometh to his house.’ ²¹She turneth him aside with the abundance of her speech, With the flattery of her lips she forceth him. ²²He is going after her straightway, As an ox unto the slaughter he cometh, And as a fetter unto the chastisement of a fool, ²³Till an arrow doth split his liver, As a bird hath hastened unto a snare, And hath not known that it is for its life.

²⁴And now, ye sons, hearken to me, And give attention to sayings of my mouth. ²⁵Let not thy heart turn unto her ways, Do not wander in her paths, ²⁶For many are the wounded she caused to fall, And mighty are all her slain ones. ²⁷The ways of Sheol—her house, Going down unto inner chambers of death!

Chapter 8