NET Bible

Admonition to Avoid the Wiles of the Adulteress1

^7:1 My child, devote yourself to my words and store up my commands inside yourself. ^7:2 Keep my commands so that you may live, and obey my instruction as your most prized possession. ^7:3 Bind them on your forearm; write them on the tablet of your heart. ^7:4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding a close relative ^7:5 so that they may keep you from the adulterous woman, from the loose woman who has flattered you with her words. ^7:6 For at the window of my house through my window lattice I looked out, ^7:7 and I saw among the naive — I discerned among the youths — a young man who lacked sense. ^7:8 He was passing by the street near her corner, making his way along the road to her house ^7:9 in the twilight, the evening, in the dark of the night. ^7:10 Suddenly a woman came out to meet him! She was dressed like a prostitute and with secret intent. ^7:11 (She is loud and rebellious; she does not remain at home— ^7:12 at one time outside, at another in the wide plazas, and by every corner she lies in wait.) ^7:13 So she grabbed him and kissed him, and with a bold expression she said to him, ^7:14 “I have meat from my peace offerings at home; today I have fulfilled my vows! ^7:15 That is why I came out to meet you, to look for you, and I found you! ^7:16 I have spread my bed with elegant coverings, with richly colored fabric from Egypt. ^7:17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. ^7:18 Come, let’s drink deeply of lovemaking until morning; let’s delight ourselves with love’s pleasures. ^7:19 For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a journey of some distance. ^7:20 He has taken a bag of money with him; he will not return until the end of the month.” ^7:21 She turned him aside with her persuasions; with her smooth talk she was enticing him along. ^7:22 Suddenly he was going after her like an ox that goes to the slaughter, like a stag prancing into a trapper’s snare ^7:23 till an arrow pierces his liver — like a bird hurrying into a trap, and he does not know that it will cost him his life. ^7:24 So now, sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words I speak. ^7:25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways— do not wander into her pathways; ^7:26 for she has brought down many fatally wounded, and all those she has slain are many. ^7:27 Her house is the way to the grave, going down to the chambers of death.