Proverbs 7

Thomson(i) 1 My son keep my words and lay up my commandments with thee. My son, honor the Lord and thou shall be strong; but besides him, fear no other. 2 Keep my commandments, that thou mayst live; and my words as the apple of thine eye. 3 Bind them about thy fingers, and write them on the table of thy heart. 4 Implore Wisdom to be thy sister, and make Understanding thine acquaintance: 5 that she may keep thee from a strange and wicked woman, in case she, with alluring words should attack thee. 6 For through a lattice she looketh out of her house into the streets; 7 and if among the simple youths she chanceth to see a young man, void of understanding, 8 walking near a corner in the passages to her house, 9 and talking in the twilight, when the evening is still and duskish: 10 then this woman, who maketh the hearts of young men flutter, meeteth him, in the attire of a harlot. 11 Indeed she is ever on the wing and insatiable, and her feet abide not at home. 12 For sometimes she roveth abroad: and sometimes lieth in wait in the streets, at every corner. 13 Ha! she hath caught him and kissed him, and with an unblushing countenance, said to him: 14 "I have a peace offering; today I am paying my vows: 15 for this reason I came out to meet thee: earnestly longing to see thee. 16 I have found thee. With cords I have stretched my bed, and decked it with tapestry from Egypt. 17 I have perfumed my bed with saffron, and my house with cinnamon: 18 come, and let us take our fill of love till the morning: come and let us solace ourselves with love. 19 For my husband is not at home, he is gone a long journey; 20 he took in his hand a roll of silver, and will return to his house after many days." 21 So with much fawning discourse she led him astray; and with the flattery of her lips inveigled him. 22 And he is gone after her, attracted by her; as an ox is led to slaughter, or as a dog to be chained: or like a deer pierced through the liver with a dart. 23 And he hasteth like a bird to a snare; not knowing that he is running the risk of his life. 24 Now therefore ray son hearken to me; and attend to the words of my mouth. 25 Let not thy heart turn aside to her ways: 26 for she hath wounded and brought down many; and innumerable are they whom she hath slain. 27 Her house is the highway to Hades, leading down to the chambers of death.