[1] My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; [2]
keep my commandments and live, keep 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 call insight your intimate friend;
[5] to preserve you from the loose woman, from the adventuress with her
smooth words. [6] For at the window of my house I have looked out through
my lattice, [7] and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among
the youths, a young man without sense, [8] passing along the street near
her corner, taking the road to her house [9] in the twilight, in the
evening, at the time of night and darkness. [10] And lo, a woman meets him,
dressed as a harlot, wily of heart. [11] She is loud and wayward, her feet
do not stay at home; [12] now in the street, now in the market, and at
every corner she lies in wait. [13] She seizes him and kisses him, and with
impudent face she says to him: [14] "I had to offer sacrifices, and today I
have paid my vows; [15] so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you
eagerly, and I have found you. [16] I have decked my couch with coverings,
colored spreads of Egyptian linen; [17] I have perfumed my bed with myrrh,
aloes, and cinnamon. [18] Come, let us take our fill of love till morning;
let us delight ourselves with love. [19] For my husband is not at home; he
has gone on a long journey; [20] he took a bag of money with him; at full
moon he will come home." [21] With much seductive speech she persuades him;
with her smooth talk she compels him. [22] All at once he follows her, as
an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast [23] till an arrow
pierces its entrails; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that
it will cost him his life. [24] And now, O sons, listen to me, and be
attentive to the words of my mouth. [25] Let not your heart turn aside to
her ways, do not stray into her paths; [26] for many a victim has she laid
low; yea, all her slain are a mighty host. [27] Her house is the way to
Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.
