7:1 My son, keep my words. Lay up my commandments within you.
7:2 Keep my commandments and live; Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye.
7:3 Bind them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
7:4 Tell wisdom, "You are my sister." Call understanding your relative,
7:5 That they may keep you from the strange woman, From the foreigner who flatters with her words.
7:6 For at the window of my house, I looked out through my lattice.
7:7 I saw among the simple ones. I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding,
7:8 Passing through the street near her corner, He went the way to her house,
7:9 In the twilight, in the evening of the day, In the middle of the night and in the darkness.
7:10 Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, And with crafty intent.
7:11 She is loud and defiant. Her feet don't stay in her house.
7:12 Now she is in the streets, now in the squares, And lurking at every corner.
7:13 So she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him:
7:14 "Sacrifices of peace-offerings are with me. This day I have paid my vows.
7:15 Therefore I came out to meet you, To diligently seek your face, And I have found you.
7:16 I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, With striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt.
7:17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
7:18 Come, let's take our fill of loving until the morning. Let's solace ourselves with loving.
7:19 For my husband isn't at home. He has gone on a long journey.
7:20 He has taken a bag of money with him. He will come home at the full moon."
7:21 With persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him.
7:22 He followed her immediately, As an ox goes to the slaughter, As a fool stepping into a noose.
7:23 Until an arrow strikes through his liver, As a bird hurries to the snare, And doesn't know that it will cost his life.
7:24 Now therefore, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to the words of my mouth.
7:25 Don't let your heart turn to her ways. Don't go astray in her paths,
7:26 For she has thrown down many wounded. Yes, all her slain are a mighty host.
7:27 Her house is the way to Sheol, Going down to the chambers of death.