1 My child, remember what I say and never forget what I tell you to do. 2 Do what I say, and you will live. Be as careful to follow my teaching as you are to protect your eyes. 3 Keep my teaching with you all the time; write it on your heart. 4 Treat wisdom as your sister, and insight as your closest friend. 5 They will keep you away from other men's wives, from women with seductive words.
The Immoral Woman
6 Once I was looking out the window of my house, 7 and I saw many inexperienced young men, but noticed one foolish fellow in particular. 8 He was walking along the street near the corner where a certain woman lived. He was passing near her house 9 in the evening after it was dark. 10 And then she met him; she was dressed like a prostitute and was making plans. 11 She was a bold and shameless woman who always walked the streets 12 or stood waiting at a corner, sometimes in the streets, sometimes in the marketplace. 13 She threw her arms around the young man, kissed him, looked him straight in the eye, and said, 14 “I made my offerings today and have the meat from the sacrifices. 15 So I came out looking for you. I wanted to find you, and here you are! 16 I've covered my bed with sheets of colored linen from Egypt. 17 I've perfumed it with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18 Come on! Let's make love all night long. We'll be happy in each other's arms. 19 My husband isn't at home. He's on a long trip. 20 He took plenty of money with him and won't be back for two weeks.” 21 So she tempted him with her charms, and he gave in to her smooth talk. 22 Suddenly he was going with her like an ox on the way to be slaughtered, like a deer prancing into a trap 23 where an arrow would pierce its heart. He was like a bird going into a net—he did not know that his life was in danger.
24 Now then, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to what I say. 25 Do not let such a woman win your heart; don't go wandering after her. 26 She has been the ruin of many men and caused the death of too many to count. 27 If you go to her house, you are on the way to the world of the dead. It is a shortcut to death.
1 My sonne, keepe my wordes, and hide my commandements with thee. 2 Keepe my commandements, and thou shalt liue, and mine instruction as the apple of thine eyes. 3 Binde them vpon thy fingers, and write them vpon the table of thine heart. 4 Say vnto wisedome, Thou art my sister: and call vnderstanding thy kinswoman, 5 That they may keepe thee from the strange woman, euen from the stranger that is smoothe in her wordes. 6 As I was in the window of mine house, I looked through my windowe, 7 And I sawe among the fooles, and considered among the children a yong man destitute of vnderstanding, 8 Who passed through the streete by her corner, and went toward her house, 9 In the twilight in the euening, when the night began to be blacke and darke. 10 And beholde, there met him a woman with an harlots behauiour, and subtill in heart. 11 (She is babling and loud: whose feete can not abide in her house. 12 Nowe she is without, nowe in the streetes, and lyeth in waite at euery corner) 13 So she caught him and kissed him and with an impudent face said vnto him, 14 I haue peace offerings: this day haue I payed my vowes. 15 Therefore came I forth to meete thee, that I might seeke thy face: and I haue found thee. 16 I haue deckt my bed with ornaments, carpets and laces of Egypt. 17 I haue perfumed my bedde with myrrhe, aloes, and cynamom. 18 Come, let vs take our fill of loue vntill the morning: let vs take our pleasure in daliance. 19 For mine husband is not at home: he is gone a iourney farre off. 20 He hath taken with him a bagge of siluer, and will come home at the day appointed. 21 Thus with her great craft she caused him to yeelde, and with her flattering lips she entised him. 22 And he followed her straight wayes, as an oxe that goeth to the slaughter, and as a foole to the stockes for correction, 23 Till a dart strike through his liuer, as a bird hasteth to the snare, not knowing that he is in danger. 24 Heare me now therefore, O children, and hearken to the wordes of my mouth. 25 Let not thine heart decline to her wayes: wander thou not in her paths. 26 For shee hath caused many to fall downe wounded, and the strong men are all slaine by her. 27 Her house is the way vnto ye graue, which goeth downe to the chambers of death.