1 My son, keep my wordsand store up my commands within you.
2 Keep my commands and you will live;guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers;write them on the tablet of your heart.
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.
6 At the window of my houseI looked down through the lattice.
7 I saw among the simple,I noticed among the young men,a youth who had no sense.
8 He was going down the street near her corner,walking along in the direction of her house
9 at twilight, 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 unruly and defiant,her feet never stay at home;
12 now in the street, now in the squares,at every corner she lurks.)
13 She took hold of him and kissed himand with a brazen face she said:
14 ‘Today I fulfilled my vows,and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.
15 So I came out to meet you;I looked for you and have found you!
16 I have covered my bedwith coloured linens from Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bedwith myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning;let’s enjoy ourselves with love!
19 My husband is not at home;he has gone on a long journey.
20 He took his purse filled with moneyand will not be home till full moon.’
21 With persuasive words she led him astray;she seduced him with her smooth talk.
22 All at once he followed herlike an ox going to the slaughter,like a deer stepping into a noose
23 till an arrow pierces his liver,like a bird darting into a snare,little knowing it will cost him his life.
24 Now then, my sons, listen to me;pay attention to what I say.
25 Do not let your heart turn to her waysor stray into her paths.
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.