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.
Onyo Dhidi Ya Mwanamke Mzinzi
17:1 Mt 1:8Mwanangu, shika maneno yangu
na kuzihifadhi amri zangu ndani yako.
27:2 Mit 4:4; Law 18:5; Kum 32:10Shika amri zangu nawe utaishi;
linda mafundisho yangu kama mboni ya jicho lako.
37:3 Kum 6:8; Mit 3:3; Isa 30:8; 2Kor 3:3Yafunge katika vidole vyako;
yaandike katika kibao cha moyo wako.
4Mwambie hekima, “Wewe ni dada yangu,”
uite ufahamu jamaa yako;
57:5 Ay 31:9; Mit 2:16watakuepusha na mwanamke mzinzi,
kutokana na mwanamke mpotovu
na maneno yake ya kubembeleza.
6Kwenye dirisha la nyumba yangu
nilitazama nje kupitia upenyo
kwenye mwimo wa dirisha.
77:7 Mit 6:32Niliona miongoni mwa wajinga,
nikagundua miongoni mwa wanaume vijana,
kijana asiye na akili.
8Alikuwa akishuka njiani karibu na pembe ya kwake,
akielekea kwenye nyumba ya huyo mwanamke
97:9 Ay 24:15wakati wa machweo, jua likipungua nuru yake,
giza la usiku lilipokuwa likiingia.
107:10 1Tim 2:9Ndipo huyo mwanamke akatoka kumlaki,
hali amevaa kama kahaba akiwa na nia ya udanganyifu.
117:11 Mit 9:13; 1Tim 5:13(Ni mwanamke mwenye makelele na mkaidi,
miguu yake haitulii nyumbani;
127:12 Mit 8:1-36; 23:26-28mara kwenye barabara za mji,
mara kwenye viwanja vikubwa,
kwenye kila pembe huvizia.)
137:13 Mwa 39:12; Mit 1:20Huyo mwanamke alimkumbatia kijana na kumbusu,
na kwa uso usio na haya akamwambia:
147:14 Law 7:11-18“Nina sadaka za amani nyumbani;
leo nimetimiza nadhiri zangu.
15Kwa hiyo nimetoka nje kukulaki;
nimekutafuta na nimekupata!
167:16 Isa 19:9Nimetandika kitanda changu
kwa kitani za rangi kutoka Misri.
177:17 Amo 6:4; Mwa 37:25Nimetia manukato kitanda changu
kwa manemane, udi na mdalasini.
187:18 Mwa 39:7Njoo, tuzame katika mapenzi mpaka asubuhi;
tujifurahishe wenyewe kwa mapenzi!
19Mume wangu hayupo nyumbani;
amekwenda safari ya mbali.
20Amechukua mkoba uliojazwa fedha
na hatakuwepo nyumbani karibuni.”
217:21 Mit 1:8-9; 8:32Kwa maneno laini yule mwanamke akampotosha;
alimshawishi kwa maneno yake laini.
227:22 Ay 18:10Mara huyo kijana alimfuata yule mwanamke
kama fahali aendaye machinjoni,
kama kulungu aingiaye kwenye kitanzi,
237:23 Ay 15:22; 16:13; Mit 6:26; Mhu 9:12mpaka mshale umchome ini lake,
kama ndege anayenaswa kwenye mtego,
bila kujua itamgharimu maisha yake.
247:24 Mit 1:8-9; 8:32Sasa basi wanangu, nisikilizeni;
sikilizeni kwa makini nisemalo.
257:25 Mit 5:7-8Usiruhusu moyo wako ugeukie njia za huyo mwanamke,
wala usitangetange katika mapito yake.
267:26 Neh 13:26Aliowaangusha ni wengi;
aliowachinja ni kundi kubwa.
277:27 Amu 16:19; Ufu 22:15Nyumba yake ni njia kuu iendayo kaburini,7:27 Kaburini hapa maana yake ni Kuzimu, kwa Kiebrania ni Sheol.
ielekeayo chini kwenye vyumba vya mauti.