Proverbs 7

1My son, keep my words, and treasure up my commandments with you.

2Keep my commandments and live, and keep my instruction like the pupil of your eye.

3Tie them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.

4Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your close friend,

5to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the foreign woman whose words are smooth.

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

7and I saw among the simple; I discerned among the young men a youth lacking sense.

8passing through the street near her corner, and he walks along the road to her house.

9at twilight, at the close of day, in the black of night and darkness.

10And look—a woman came to meet him, dressed like a prostitute, with a guarded heart.

11She is loud and rebellious; her feet do not stay at home.

12Sometimes outside, sometimes in the squares, and beside every corner she lies in wait.

13She seized him and kissed him; with a bold face she said to him:

14I have peace offerings with me; today I have fulfilled my vows.

15Therefore I came out to meet you, to seek your face, and I have found you.

16I have spread my couch with coverings, with colored linens of Egypt.

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

18Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning; let us delight ourselves with love.

19For the man is not at home; he has gone on a journey far away.

20He took a bag of money with him; he will come home at the full moon.

21She sways him with much persuasive speech; with the smoothness of her lips she drives him on.

22He follows her at once, like an ox going to slaughter, and like a fool in fetters going to punishment.

23until an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird rushing into a snare, and he does not know that it will cost him his life.

24And now, sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words of my mouth.

25Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways; do not wander into her paths.

26For many are the slain she has brought down, and numerous are all her slain.

27Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.