Wisdom as your sister
My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, You are my sister, and to insight, You are my relative. They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words.
My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.
My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
Say to wisdom, You are my sister, and to insight, You are my relative.
Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:
They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words.
That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.
The foolish young man
At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice. I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense. He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in. Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home; now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks. She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said: Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home. So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you. I have covered my bed with coloured linens from Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come, let's drink deeply of love till morning; let's enjoy ourselves with love. My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon. With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life. Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say. Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.
At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice.
For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense.
And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house
Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.
In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home;
(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.
Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said:
So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.
I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you.
Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
I have covered my bed with coloured linens from Egypt.
I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
Come, let's drink deeply of love till morning; let's enjoy ourselves with love.
Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.
For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.
He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk.
With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose
He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life.
Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say.
Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths.
Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng.
For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.
Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.