Warning Against the Adulterous Woman
1 My son, keep my words
and store up my commands within you.
1 My son, keep my words
and store up my commands within you.
2 Keep my commands and you will live;
guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and to insight, “You are my relative.”
and to insight, “You are my relative.”
5 They will keep you from the adulterous woman,
from the wayward woman with her seductive words.
from the wayward woman with her seductive words.
6 At the window of my house
I looked down through the lattice.
I looked down through the lattice.
7 I saw among the simple,
I noticed among the young men,
a youth who had no sense.
I noticed among the young men,
a youth who had no sense.
8 He was going down the street near her corner,
walking along in the direction of her house
walking along in the direction of her house
9 at twilight, as the day was fading,
as the dark of night set in.
as the dark of night set in.
10 Then out came a woman to meet him,
dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
11 (She is unruly and defiant,
her feet never stay at home;
her feet never stay at home;
12 now in the street, now in the squares,
at every corner she lurks.)
at every corner she lurks.)
13 She took hold of him and kissed him
and with a brazen face she said:
and with a brazen face she said:
14 “Today I fulfilled my vows,
and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.
and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.
15 So I came out to meet you;
I looked for you and have found you!
I looked for you and have found you!
16 I have covered my bed
with colored linens from Egypt.
with colored linens from Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning;
let’s enjoy ourselves with love!
let’s enjoy ourselves with love!
19 My husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey.
he has gone on a long journey.
20 He took his purse filled with money
and will not be home till full moon.”
and will not be home till full moon.”
21 With persuasive words she led him astray;
she seduced him with her smooth talk.
she seduced him with her smooth talk.
22 All at once he followed her
like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deera stepping into a nooseb
like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deera stepping into a nooseb
23 till an arrow pierces his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
little knowing it will cost him his life.
like a bird darting into a snare,
little knowing it will cost him his life.
24 Now then, my sons, listen to me;
pay attention to what I say.
pay attention to what I say.
25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways
or stray into her paths.
or stray into her paths.
26 Many are the victims she has brought down;
her slain are a mighty throng.
her slain are a mighty throng.
27 Her house is a highway to the grave,
leading down to the chambers of death.
leading down to the chambers of death.