Proverbs 7

1My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.WEBMy son, keep my words. Lay up my commandments within you.

2Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.WEBKeep my commandments and live! Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye.

3Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.WEBBind them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart.

4Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:WEBTell wisdom, “You are my sister.” Call understanding your relative,

5That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.WEBthat they may keep you from the strange woman, from the foreigner who flatters with her words.

6For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,WEBFor at the window of my house, I looked out through my lattice.

7And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,WEBI saw among the simple ones. I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding,

8Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,WEBpassing through the street near her corner, he went the way to her house,

9In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:WEBin the twilight, in the evening of the day, in the middle of the night and in the darkness.

10And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.WEBBehold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, and with crafty intent.

11(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:WEBShe is loud and defiant. Her feet don’t stay in her house.

12Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)WEBNow she is in the streets, now in the squares, and lurking at every corner.

13So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,WEBSo she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him:

14I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.WEB“Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me. Today I have paid my vows.

15Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.WEBTherefore I came out to meet you, to diligently seek your face, and I have found you.

16I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.WEBI have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, with striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt.

17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.WEBI have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

18Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.WEBCome, let’s take our fill of loving until the morning. Let’s solace ourselves with loving.

19For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:WEBFor my husband isn’t at home. He has gone on a long journey.

20He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.WEBHe has taken a bag of money with him. He will come home at the full moon.”

21With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.WEBWith persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him.

22He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;WEBHe followed her immediately, as an ox goes to the slaughter, as a fool stepping into a noose.

23Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.WEBUntil an arrow strikes through his liver, as a bird hurries to the snare, and doesn’t know that it will cost his life.

24Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.WEBNow therefore, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to the words of my mouth.

25Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.WEBDon’t let your heart turn to her ways. Don’t go astray in her paths,

26For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.WEBfor she has thrown down many wounded. Yes, all her slain are a mighty army.

27Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.WEBHer house is the way to Sheol, going down to the rooms of death.