^{1 Ref} My son, keep my sayings, and let my rules be stored up with you.

^{2 Ref} Keep my rules and you will have life; let my teaching be to you as the light of your eyes;

^{3 Ref} Let them be fixed to your fingers, and recorded in your heart.

^{4 Ref} Say to wisdom, You are my sister; let knowledge be named your special friend:

^{5 Ref} So that they may keep you from the strange woman, even from her whose words are smooth.

^{6 Ref} Looking out from my house, and watching through the window,

^{7 Ref} I saw among the young men one without sense,

^{8 Ref} Walking in the street near the turn of her road, going on the way to her house,

^{9 Ref} At nightfall, in the evening of the day, in the black dark of the night.

^{10 Ref} And the woman came out to him, in the dress of a loose woman, with a designing heart;

^{11 Ref} She is full of noise and uncontrolled; her feet keep not in her house.

^{12 Ref} Now she is in the street, now in the open spaces, waiting at every turning of the road.

^{13 Ref} So she took him by his hand, kissing him, and without a sign of shame she said to him:

^{14 Ref} I have a feast of peace-offerings, for today my oaths have been effected.

¹⁵ So I came out in the hope of meeting you, looking for you with care, and now I have you.

^{16 Ref} My bed is covered with cushions of needlework, with coloured cloths of the cotton thread of Egypt;

^{17 Ref} I have made my bed sweet with perfumes and spices.

¹⁸ Come, let us take our pleasure in love till the morning, having joy in love's delights.

^{19 Ref} For the master of the house is away on a long journey:

^{20 Ref} He has taken a bag of money with him; he is coming back at the full moon.

^{21 Ref} With her fair words she overcame him, forcing him with her smooth lips.

^{22 Ref} The simple man goes after her, like an ox going to its death, like a roe pulled by a cord;

^{23 Ref} Like a bird falling into a net; with no thought that his life is in danger, till an arrow goes into his side.

^{24 Ref} So now, my sons, give ear to me; give attention to the sayings of my mouth;

^{25 Ref} Let not your heart be turned to her ways, do not go wandering in her footsteps.

^{26 Ref} For those wounded and made low by her are great in number; and all those who have come to their death through her are a great army.

^{27 Ref} Her house is the way to the underworld, going down to the rooms of death.

^{1 Ref} My son, keep my words, And lay up my commandments with thee.

^{2 Ref} Keep my commandments and live; And my law as the apple of thine eye.

^{3 Ref} Bind them upon thy fingers; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart.

^{4 Ref} Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; And call understanding `thy' kinswoman:

^{5 Ref} That they may keep thee from the strange woman, From the foreigner that flattereth with her words.

^{6 Ref} For at the window of my house I looked forth through my lattice;

^{7 Ref} And I beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, A young man void of understanding,

^{8 Ref} Passing through the street near her corner; And he went the way to her house,

^{9 Ref} In the twilight, in the evening of the day, In the middle of the night and in the darkness.

^{10 Ref} And, behold, there met him a woman With the attire of a harlot, and wily of heart.

^{11 Ref} She is clamorous and wilful; Her feet abide not in her house:

^{12 Ref} Now she is in the streets, now in the broad places, And lieth in wait at every corner.

^{13 Ref} So she caught him, and kissed him, `And' with an impudent face she said unto him:

^{14 Ref} Sacrifices of peace-offerings are with me; This day have I paid my vows.

¹⁵ Therefore came I forth to meet thee, Diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

^{16 Ref} I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, With striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt.

^{17 Ref} I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

¹⁸ Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning; Let us solace ourselves with loves.

^{19 Ref} For the man is not at home; He is gone a long journey:

^{20 Ref} He hath taken a bag of money with him; He will come home at the full moon.

^{21 Ref} With her much fair speech she causeth him to yield; With the flattering of her lips she forceth him along.

^{22 Ref} He goeth after her straightway, As an ox goeth to the slaughter, Or as `one in' fetters to the correction of the fool;

^{23 Ref} Till an arrow strike through his liver; As a bird hasteth to the snare, And knoweth not that it is for his life.

^{24 Ref} Now therefore, `my' sons, hearken unto me, And attend to the words of my mouth.

^{25 Ref} Let not thy heart decline to her ways; Go not astray in her paths.

^{26 Ref} For she hath cast down many wounded: Yea, all her slain are a mighty host.

^{27 Ref} Her house is the way to Sheol, Going down to the chambers of death.

^{1 Ref} My son, keep my words. Lay up my commandments within you.

^{2 Ref} Keep my commandments and live; Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye.

^{3 Ref} Bind them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart.

^{4 Ref} Tell wisdom, "You are my sister." Call understanding your relative,

^{5 Ref} That they may keep you from the strange woman, From the foreigner who flatters with her words.

^{6 Ref} For at the window of my house, I looked out through my lattice.

^{7 Ref} I saw among the simple ones. I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding,

^{8 Ref} Passing through the street near her corner, He went the way to her house,

^{9 Ref} In the twilight, in the evening of the day, In the middle of the night and in the darkness.

^{10 Ref} Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, And with crafty intent.

^{11 Ref} She is loud and defiant. Her feet don't stay in her house.

^{12 Ref} Now she is in the streets, now in the squares, And lurking at every corner.

^{13 Ref} So she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him:

^{14 Ref} "Sacrifices of peace-offerings are with me. This day I have paid my vows.

¹⁵ Therefore I came out to meet you, To diligently seek your face, And I have found you.

^{16 Ref} I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, With striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt.

^{17 Ref} I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

¹⁸ Come, let's take our fill of loving until the morning. Let's solace ourselves with loving.

^{19 Ref} For my husband isn't at home. He has gone on a long journey.

^{20 Ref} He has taken a bag of money with him. He will come home at the full moon."

^{21 Ref} With persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him.

^{22 Ref} He followed her immediately, As an ox goes to the slaughter, As a fool stepping into a noose.

^{23 Ref} Until an arrow strikes through his liver, As a bird hurries to the snare, And doesn't know that it will cost his life.

^{24 Ref} Now therefore, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to the words of my mouth.

^{25 Ref} Don't let your heart turn to her ways. Don't go astray in her paths,

^{26 Ref} For she has thrown down many wounded. Yes, all her slain are a mighty host.

^{27 Ref} Her house is the way to Sheol, Going down to the chambers of death.