Proverbs 7
7
Warning Against the Adulterous Woman
1My son, keep my words
and store up my commands within you.
2Keep my commands and you will live;
guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3Bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and to insight, “You are my relative.”
5They will keep you from the adulterous woman,
from the wayward woman with her seductive words.
6At the window of my house
I looked down through the lattice.
7I saw among the simple,
I noticed among the young men,
a youth who had no sense.
8He was going down the street near her corner,
walking along in the direction of her house
9at twilight, as the day was fading,
as the dark of night set in.
10Then out came a woman to meet him,
dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
11(She is unruly and defiant,
her feet never stay at home;
12now in the street, now in the squares,
at every corner she lurks.)
13She took hold of him and kissed him
and with a brazen face she said:
14“Today I fulfilled my vows,
and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.
15So I came out to meet you;
I looked for you and have found you!
16I have covered my bed
with colored linens from Egypt.
17I have perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
18Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning;
let’s enjoy ourselves with love!
19My husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey.
20He took his purse filled with money
and will not be home till full moon.”
21With persuasive words she led him astray;
she seduced him with her smooth talk.
22All at once he followed her
like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer#7:22 Syriac (see also Septuagint); Hebrew fool stepping into a noose#7:22 The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.
23till an arrow pierces his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
little knowing it will cost him his life.
24Now then, my sons, listen to me;
pay attention to what I say.
25Do not let your heart turn to her ways
or stray into her paths.
26Many are the victims she has brought down;
her slain are a mighty throng.
27Her house is a highway to the grave,
leading down to the chambers of death.
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The Holy Bible, New International Version® NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®
Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
Proverbs 7
7
Warning Against the Strange Woman
1My child, guard my sayings;
store my commandments with you.
2Keep my commands and live,
and my teaching like the apple of your eye.#A single word meaning “pupil of the eye”
3Bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4Say to wisdom,#Hebrew “the wisdom” “you are my sister,”
and you shall call insight,#Hebrew “the insight” “intimate friend.”#Literally “one who is known.” To “know” is often a euphemism for intercourse. Therefore “intimate friend” may also be read “lover.”
5In order to guard yourself from an adulteress,#Literally “a strange woman”
from the foreigner who makes her words smooth.#Literally “causes to be smooth her words”
6For at the window of my house,
through my lattice, I looked down.
7And I saw among the simple,
I observed among the youth,
a young man lacking sense,#Literally “heart”
8passing on the street at#Literally “at the place of” her corner,
and he takes the road to her house,
9at twilight, at the day’s evening,
in the midst of night and the darkness.
10Then behold! A woman comes to meet him
with the garment of a prostitute#Or “whore” and a secret heart.#Literally “secret of heart”
11She is loud and stubborn;
her feet do not stay at her house.
12Now in the street, now in the square,
at#Literally “at the place of” every corner she lies in wait.
13She took hold of #Or “strengthened” him and kissed him.
Her face was impudent, and she said to him,
14“Sacrifices of peace offerings are upon me;
today#Literally “the day” I completed my vows.
15So#Hebrew “thus” I have come out to meet you,
to seek your face, and I have found you.
16With coverings I have adorned my couch,
spreads of the linen of Egypt;
17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh,
aloes, and cinnamon.
18Come, let us take our fill of love making,
until the morning let us delight in love.
19For there is no man#Or “husband” in his home;
he has gone on a long journey.#Literally “a journey from far”
20The bag of money he took in his hand,
for on the day of the full moon he will come home.”
21She persuades him with the greatness of her teachings;
with her smooth lips she compels him.
22He goes after her suddenly;
like an ox to the slaughter he goes,
and like a stag to the instruction of a fool,
23until an arrow pierces his entrails,#Literally “heaviness,” often referring to the liver
like a bird rushing into a snare,
but he does not know that it will cost him his life.#Literally “it is against his life”
Reiteration of the Warning Against a Strange Woman
24And now, my children, listen to me,
and be attentive to the sayings of my mouth.
25May your heart not turn aside to her ways;
do not stray into her path.
26For many slain she has laid low,
and countless#Or “strong men” are all of her killings.
27The ways of Sheol#A term for the place where the dead reside, i.e., the Underworld are her house,
descending to chambers of death.
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