Proverbs 7
1 [My] son, keep my words, and hide with thee my commandments. [My] son, honour the Lord, and thou shalt be strong; and fear none but him:
[My] son, keep my words, and hide with you my commandments. [My] son, honor the Lord, and you shall be strong; and fear none but him:
2 keep my commandments, and thou shalt live; and [keep] my words as the pupils of [thine] eyes.
keep my commandments, and you shall live; and [keep] my words as the pupils of [your] eyes.
3 And bind them on thy fingers, and write [them] on the table of thine heart.
And bind them on your fingers, and write [them] on the table of your heart.
4 Say that wisdom is thy sister, and gain prudence as an acquaintance for thyself;
Say that wisdom is your sister, and gain prudence as an acquaintance for yourself;
5 that she may keep thee from the strange and wicked woman, if she should assail thee with flattering words.
that she may keep you from the strange and wicked woman, if she should assail you with flattering words.
6 For she looks from a window out of her house into the streets, at one whom she may see of the senseless ones, a young man void of understanding,
For she looks from a window out of her house into the streets, at one whom she may see of the senseless ones, a young man void of understanding,
7 passing by the corner in the passages near her house,
passing by the corner in the passages near her house,
8 and speaking, in the dark of the evening,
and speaking, in the dark of the evening,
9 when there happens [to be] the stillness of night and of darkness:
when there happens [to be] the stillness of night and of darkness:
10 and the woman meets him having the appearance of a harlot, that causes the hearts of young men to flutter.
and the woman meets him having the appearance of a harlot, that causes the hearts of young men to flutter.
11 And she is fickle, and debauched, and her feet abide not at home.
And she is fickle, and debauched, and her feet abide not at home.
12 For at one time she wanders without, and at [another] time she lies in wait in the streets, at every corner.
For at one time she wanders without, and at [another] time she lies in wait in the streets, at every corner.
13 Then she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said to him,
Then she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said to him,
14 I have a peace-offering; today I pay my vows:
I have a peace-offering; today I pay my vows:
15 therefore I came forth to meet thee, desiring thy face; [and] I have found thee.
therefore I came forth to meet you, desiring your face; [and] I have found you.
16 I have spread my bed with sheets, and I have covered it with double tapestry from Egypt.
I have spread my bed with sheets, and I have covered it with double tapestry from Egypt.
17 I have sprinkled my couch with saffron, and my house with cinnamon.
I have sprinkled my couch with saffron, and my house with cinnamon.
18 Come, and let us enjoy love until the morning; come, and let us embrace in love.
Come, and let us enjoy love until the morning; come, and let us embrace in love.
19 For my husband is not at home, but is gone on a long journey,
For my husband is not at home, but is gone on a long journey,
20 having taken in his hand a bundle of money: after many days he will return to his house.
having taken in his hand a bundle of money: after many days he will return to his house.
21 So with much converse she prevailed on him to go astray, and with the snares of her lips forced him from [the right path].
So with much converse she prevailed on him to go astray, and with the snares of her lips forced him from [the right path].
22 And he followed her, being gently led on, and [that] as an ox is led to the slaughter, and as a dog to bonds, or as a hart shot in the liver with an arrow:
And he followed her, being gently led on, and [that] as an ox is led to the slaughter, and as a dog to bonds, or as a hart shot in the liver with an arrow:
23 and he hastens as a bird into a snare, not knowing that he is running for [his] life.
and he hastens as a bird into a snare, not knowing that he is running for [his] life.
24 Now then, [my] son, hearken to me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
Now then, [my] son, listen to me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not thine heart turn aside to her ways:
Let not your heart turn aside to her ways:
26 for she has wounded and cast down many, and those whom she has slain are innumerable.
for she has wounded and cast down many, and those whom she has slain are innumerable.
