AB - Proverbs - 7

7:1  My son, keep my words, and hide my commandments with you. (7:2) My son, honor the Lord, and you shall be strong; and fear none but Him.

7:2  Keep my commandments, and you shall live; and keep my words as the pupils of your eyes.

7:3  And bind them on your fingers, and write them on the table of your heart.

7:4  Say that wisdom is your sister, and gain prudence as an acquaintance for yourself;

7:5  that she may keep you from the strange and wicked woman, if she should assail you with flattering words.

7:6  For she looks from a window out of her house into the streets, at one whom she may see of the senseless ones, a young man devoid of understanding,

7:7  passing by the corner in the passages near her house,

7:8  and speaking, in the dark of the evening,

7:9  when there happens to be the stillness of night and of darkness:

7:10  and the woman meets him having the appearance of a harlot, that causes the hearts of young men to flutter.

7:11  And she is fickle and rebellious, and her feet abide not at home.

7:12  For at one time she wanders outside, and at another time she lies in wait in the streets, at every corner.

7:13  Then she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said to him,

7:14  I have a peace offering; today I pay my vows:

7:15  therefore I came forth to meet you, desiring your face; and I have found you.

7:16  I have spread my bed with sheets, and I have covered it with double tapestry from Egypt.

7:17  I have sprinkled my couch with saffron, and my house with cinnamon.

7:18  Come, and let us enjoy love until the morning; come, and let us embrace in love.

7:19  For my husband is not at home, and has gone on a long journey,

7:20  having taken in his hand a bundle of money: after many days he will return to his house.

7:21  So with much conversation she prevailed on him to go astray, and with the snares of her lips forced him from the right path.

7:22  And he followed her, being gently led on, as that of an ox led to the slaughter, and as a dog to bonds, or as a deer shot in the liver with an arrow:

7:23  and he hastens as a bird into a snare, not knowing that he is running for his life.

7:24  Now then my son, listen to me, and attend to the words of my mouth.

7:25  Let not your heart turn aside to her ways,

7:26  for she has wounded and cast down many, and those whom she has slain are innumerable.

7:27  Her house is the way of hell, leading down to the chambers of death.