Proverbs 7
1 My son, keep my words and hold on to my commands.
2 Obey my commands and live; guard my teaching like the apple of your eye.
3 Tie them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your friend.
5 They will keep you from the strange woman, from the foreign woman whose words are smooth.
6 From the window of my house, through the lattice, I looked out.
7 I saw among the naive, noticed among the young men, a young man lacking sense.
8 He was passing along the street near her corner, heading toward her house.
9 It was twilight, as evening fell, in the middle of the night and darkness.
10 Look, a woman came to meet him, dressed like a prostitute, with a cunning heart.
11 She is restless and stubborn; her feet do not stay at home.
12 Now she is in the street, now in the squares, lurking at every corner.
13 She grabbed him and kissed him. With a shameless look, she said to him:
14 “I owed fellowship offerings; today I have paid my vows.
15 That is why I came out to meet you, to seek you, and I have found you.
16 I have spread covers on my bed, fine linen from Egypt in bright colors.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s drink our fill of caresses until morning; let’s delight in love.
19 For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a distant journey.
20 He took a bag of money with him; he will not return home until the full moon.”
21 With her many words she persuaded him; with her smooth lips she led him astray.
22 At once he followed her, like an ox going to slaughter, like a fool led in chains to punishment,
23 until an arrow pierced his liver. He was like a bird rushing into a snare, not knowing it would cost him his life.
24 Now, sons, listen to me; pay attention to the words of my mouth.
25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray onto her paths.
26 For she has brought down many wounded; all those she has killed are countless.
27 Her house is a road to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.
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