Warning Against the Adulterous Woman
1My son, keep my words
and store up my commands within you.
2Keep my commands and you will live;
guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3Bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and to insight, “You are my relative.”
5They will keep you from the adulterous woman,
from the wayward woman with her seductive words.
6At the window of my house
I looked down through the lattice.
7I saw among the simple,
I noticed among the young men,
a youth who had no sense.
8He was going down the street near her corner,
walking along in the direction of her house
9at twilight, as the day was fading,
as the dark of night set in.
10Then 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;
12now in the street, now in the squares,
at every corner she lurks.)
13She took hold of him and kissed him
and with a brazen face she said:
14“Today I fulfilled my vows,
and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.
15So I came out to meet you;
I looked for you and have found you!
16I have covered my bed
with colored linens from Egypt.
17I have perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
18Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning;
let’s enjoy ourselves with love!
19My husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey.
20He took his purse filled with money
and will not be home till full moon.”
21With persuasive words she led him astray;
she seduced him with her smooth talk.
22All at once he followed her
like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer7:22 Syriac (see also Septuagint); Hebrew fool stepping into a noose7:22 The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.
23till an arrow pierces his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
little knowing it will cost him his life.
24Now then, my sons, listen to me;
pay attention to what I say.
25Do not let your heart turn to her ways
or stray into her paths.
26Many are the victims she has brought down;
her slain are a mighty throng.
27Her house is a highway to the grave,
leading down to the chambers of death.
A Warning Against a Woman Who Commits Adultery
1My son, obey my words.
Store up my commands inside you.
2Obey my commands and you will live.
Guard my teachings as you would guard your own eyes.
3Tie them on your fingers.
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4Say to wisdom, “You are my sister.”
Say to understanding, “You are a member of my family.”
5They will keep you from a woman who commits adultery.
They will keep you from the smooth talk of a sinful wife.
6I stood at the window of my house.
I looked down through it.
7Among those who were childish
I saw a young man who had no sense.
8He went down the street near that sinful woman’s corner.
He walked toward her house.
9The sun had gone down, and the day was fading.
The darkness of night was falling.
10A woman came out to meet him.
She was dressed like a prostitute and had a clever plan.
11She was wild and pushy.
She never stayed at home.
12Sometimes she’s in the streets. Sometimes she’s at other places.
At every corner she waits.
13She took hold of the young man and kissed him.
With a bold face she spoke to him. She said,
14“Today I offered what I promised I would.
At home I have meat left over from my fellowship offering.
15So I came out to meet you.
I looked for you and have found you!
16I have covered my bed
with colored sheets from Egypt.
17I’ve perfumed my bed with spices.
I used myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
18Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning.
Let’s enjoy ourselves by sleeping together!
19My husband isn’t home.
He’s gone on a long journey.
20He took his bag full of money.
He won’t be home for several days.”
21She led him astray with her clever words.
She charmed him with her smooth talk.
22All at once he followed her.
He was like an ox going to be killed.
He was like a deer stepping into a trap
23until an arrow struck its liver.
He was like a bird rushing into a trap.
Little did he know it would cost him his life!
24My sons, listen to me.
Pay attention to what I say.
25Don’t let your hearts turn to her ways.
Don’t step onto her paths.
26She has brought down a lot of men.
She has killed a huge crowd.
27Her house is a road to the grave.
It leads down to the place of the dead.
