Proverbs 7

Verse 1. My son, keep my words, and lay up my precepts with thee. Son,

Verse 2. Keep my commandments, and thou shalt live: and my law as the apple of thy eye:

Verse 3. Bind it upon thy fingers, write it upon the tables of thy heart.

Verse 4. Say to wisdom: Thou art my sister: and call prudence thy friend,

Verse 5. That she may keep thee from the woman that is not thine, and from the stranger who sweeteneth her words.

Verse 6. For I look out of the window of my house through the lattice,

Verse 7. And I see little ones, I behold a foolish young man,

Verse 8. Who passeth through the street by the corner, and goeth nigh the way of her house.

Verse 9. In the dark, when it grows late, in the darkness and obscurity of the night,

Verse 10. And behold a woman meeteth him in harlot's attire prepared to deceive souls; talkative and wandering,

Verse 11. Not bearing to be quiet, not able to abide still at home,

Verse 12. Now abroad, now in the streets, now lying in wait near the corners.

Verse 13. And catching the young man, she kisseth him, and with an impudent face, flattereth, saying:

Verse 14. I vowed victims for prosperity, this day I have paid my vows.

Verse 15. Therefore I am come out to meet thee, desirous to see thee, and I have found thee.

Verse 16. I have woven my bed with cords, I have covered it with painted tapestry, brought from Egypt.

Verse 17. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Verse 18. Come, let us be inebriated with the breasts, and let us enjoy the desired embraces, till the day appear.

Verse 19. For my husband is not at home, he is gone a very long journey.

Verse 20. He took with him a bag of money: he will return home the day of the full moon.

Verse 21. She entangled him with many words, and drew him away with the flattery of her lips.

Verse 22. Immediately he followeth her as an ox led to be a victim, and as a lamb playing the wanton, and not knowing that he is drawn like a fool to bonds,

Verse 23. Till the arrow pierce his liver: as if a bird should make haste to the snare, and knoweth not that his life is in danger.

Verse 24. Now therefore, my son, hear me, and attend to the words of my mouth.

Verse 25. Let not thy mind be drawn away in her ways: neither be thou deceived with her paths.

Verse 26. For she hath cast down many wounded, and the strongest have been slain by her.

Verse 27. Her house is the way to hell, reaching even to the inner chambers of death.