Proverbs 7
7
Wisdom Will Keep You From Adultery
1My son, remember my words. Don’t forget what I have told you. 2Consider my teaching as precious as your own eyes. Obey my commands, and you will have a good life. 3Tie them around your finger. Write them on your heart. 4Treat wisdom like the woman you love and knowledge like the one dearest to you. 5Wisdom will save you from that other woman, the other man’s wife, who tempts you with such sweet words.
6One day I was looking out my window 7at some foolish teenagers and noticed one who had no sense at all. 8He was walking through the marketplace and came to the corner where a certain woman lived. He then turned up the road that goes by her house. 9The day was ending. The sun had set, and it was almost dark. 10Suddenly, there she was in front of him, dressed like a prostitute. She had plans for him. 11She was a wild and rebellious woman who would not stay at home. 12She walked the streets, always looking for someone to trap. 13She grabbed the young man and kissed him. Without shame, she looked him in the eye and said, 14“I offered a fellowship offering today. I gave what I promised to give, 15and I still have plenty of food left. So I came out to find you, and here you are! 16I have clean sheets on my bed—special ones from Egypt. 17My bed smells wonderful with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18Come, let’s enjoy ourselves all night. We can make love until dawn. 19My husband has gone on a business trip. 20He took enough money for a long trip and won’t be home for two weeks.#7:20 won’t be … weeks Literally, “will not come home until the full moon.” The fellowship offering (see verse 14) was usually at the time of the new moon, the first day of the Hebrew month, which was two weeks before the full moon.”
21This is what the woman said to tempt the young man, and her smooth words tricked him. 22He followed her, like a bull being led to the slaughter. He was like a deer walking into a trap, 23where a hunter waits to shoot an arrow through its heart. The boy was like a bird flying into a net, never seeing the danger he was in.
24Now, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to what I say. 25Don’t let your heart lead you to an evil woman like that. Don’t go where she wants to lead you. 26She has brought down some of the most powerful men; she has left many dead bodies in her path. 27Her house is the place of death. The road to it leads straight to the grave.
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© 1987, 2004 Bible League International
Proverbs 7
7
1My son,
pay attention to my words.
Treasure my commands that are within you.
2Obey my commands so that you may live.
Follow my teachings just as you protect 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.”
Give the name “my relative” to understanding
5in order to guard yourself from an adulterous woman,
from a loose woman with her smooth talk.
6From a window in my house I looked through my screen.
7I was looking at gullible people
when I saw a young man without much sense among youths
8He was crossing a street near her corner
and walking toward her house
9in the twilight,
in the evening,
in the dark hours of the night.
10A woman with an ulterior motive meets him.
She is dressed as a prostitute.
11She is loud and rebellious.
Her feet will not stay at home.
12One moment she is out on the street,
the next she is at the curb,
on the prowl at every corner.
13She grabs him and kisses him and brazenly says to him,
14“I have some sacrificial meat.
Today I kept my vows.
15That’s why I came to meet you.
Eagerly, I looked for you,
and I’ve found you.
16I’ve made my bed,
with colored sheets of Egyptian linen.
17I’ve sprinkled my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning.
Let’s enjoy making love,
19because my husband’s not home.
He has gone on a long trip.
20He took lots of money with him.
He won’t be home for a couple of weeks.”
21With all her seductive charms, she persuades him.
With her smooth lips, she makes him give in.
22He immediately follows her
like a steer on its way to be slaughtered,
like a ram hobbling into captivity
23until an arrow pierces his heart,
like a bird darting into a trap.
He does not realize that it will cost him his life.
24Now, sons,
listen to me.
Pay attention to the words from my mouth.
25Do not let your heart be turned to her ways.
Do not wander onto her paths,
26because she has brought down many victims,
and she has killed all too many.
27Her home is the way to hell
and leads to the darkest vaults of death.
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GOD'S WORD® Translation ©1995, 2003, 2013, 2014, 2019, 2020 by God's Word to the Nations Mission Society. All rights reserved.