Admonition to Avoid the Wiles of the Adulteress87

7:1 My child,1 keep my words

and treasure up my commands in your own keeping.2

7:2 Keep my commands3 so that you may live,4

and obey5 my instruction as your most prized possession.6

7:3 Bind them on your forearm;7

write them on the tablet of your heart.8

7:4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”9

and call understanding a close relative,

7:5 so that they may keep you10 from the adulterous11 woman,

from the loose woman12 who flatters you13 with her words.14

7:6 For at the window of my house

through my window lattice I looked out

7:7 and I saw among the naive—

I discerned among the youths15—

a young man16 who lacked wisdom.17

7:8 He was passing by the street near her corner,

making his way18 along the road to her house19

7:9 in the twilight, the evening,20

in the dark of the night.21

7:10 Suddenly22 a woman came out to meet him!

She was dressed like a prostitute23 and with secret intent.24

7:11 (She is loud and rebellious,

she25 does not remain26 at home—

7:12 at one time outside, at another27 in the wide plazas,

and by every corner she lies in wait.)

7:13 So she grabbed him and kissed him,

and with a bold expression28 she said to him,

7:14 “I have29 fresh meat at home;30

today I have fulfilled my vows!

7:15 That is why I came out to meet you,

to look for you,31 and I found you!

7:16 I have spread my bed with elegant coverings,32

with richly colored fabric33 from Egypt.

7:17 I have perfumed my bed

with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

7:18 Come, let’s drink deeply34 of lovemaking35 until morning,

let’s delight ourselves36 with sexual intercourse.37

7:19 For my husband38 is not at home;39

he has gone on a journey of some distance.

7:20 He has taken a bag of money with him;40

he will not return until41 the end of the month.”42

7:21 She persuaded him43 with persuasive words;44

with her smooth talk45 she compelled him.46

7:22 Suddenly he went47 after her

like an ox that goes to the slaughter,

like a stag prancing into a trapper’s snare48

7:23 till an arrow pierces his liver49—

like a bird hurrying into a trap,

and he does not know that it will cost him his life.50

7:24 So now, sons,51 listen to me,

and pay attention to the words I speak.52

7:25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways—

do not wander into her pathways;

7:26 for she has brought down53 many fatally wounded,

and all those she has slain are many.54

7:27 Her house is the way to the grave,55

going down56 to the chambers57 of death.