WeBible

1 - My son, keep my words, and lay up my precepts with thee. Son,

2 - Keep my commandments, and thou shalt live: and my law as the apple of thy eye:

3 - Bind it upon thy fingers, write it upon the tables of thy heart.

4 - Say to wisdom: Thou art my sister: and call prudence thy friend,

5 - That she may keep thee from the woman that is not thine, and from the stranger who sweeteneth her words.

6 - For I looked out of the window of my house through the lattice,

7 - And I see little ones, I behold a foolish young man,

8 - Who passeth through the street by the corner, and goeth nigh the way of her house,

9 - In the dark when it grows late, in the darkness and obscurity of the night.

10 - And behold a woman meeteth him in harlot's attire, prepared to deceive souls: talkative and wandering,

11 - Not bearing to be quiet, not able to abide still at home,

12 - Now abroad, now in the streets, now lying in wait near the corners.

13 - And catching the young man, she kisseth him, and with an impudent face, flattereth, saying:

14 - I vowed victims for prosperity, this day I have paid my vows.

15 - Therefore I am come out to meet thee, desirous to see thee, and I have found thee.

16 - I have woven my bed with cords, I have covered it with painted tapestry, brought from Egypt.

17 - I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

18 - Come, let us be inebriated with the breasts, and let us enjoy the desired embraces, till the day appear.

19 - For my husband is not at home, he is gone a very long journey.

20 - He took with him a bag of money: he will return home the day of the full moon.

21 - She entangled him with many words, and drew him away with the flattery of her lips.

22 - Immediately he followeth her as an ox led to be a victim, and as a lamb playing the wanton, and not knowing that he is drawn like a fool to bonds,

23 - Till the arrow pierce his liver: as if a bird should make haste to the snare, and knoweth not that his life is in danger.

24 - Now, therefore, my son, hear me, and attend to the words of my mouth.

25 - Let not thy mind be drawn away in her ways: neither be thou deceived with her paths.

26 - For she hath cast down many wounded, and the strongest have been slain by her.

27 - Her house is the way to hell, reaching even to the inner chambers of death.