| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; | 1My child, keep my words and treasure up my commands in your own keeping. |
| 2keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; | 2Keep my commands so that you may live, and obey my instruction as your most prized possession. |
| 3bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. | 3Bind them on your forearm; write them on the tablet of your heart. |
| 4Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend, | 4Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call understanding a close relative, |
| 5to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words. | 5so that they may keep you from the adulterous woman, from the loose woman who flatters you with her words. |
| 6For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice, | 6For at the window of my house through my window lattice I looked out |
| 7and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense, | 7and I saw among the naive--I discerned among the youths--a young man who lacked wisdom. |
| 8passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house | 8He was passing by the street near her corner, making his way along the road to her house |
| 9in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness. | 9in the twilight, the evening, in the dark of the night. |
| 10And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart. | 10Suddenly a woman came out to meet him! She was dressed like a prostitute and with secret intent. |
| 11She is loud and wayward; her feet do not stay at home; | 11(She is loud and rebellious, she does not remain at home-- |
| 12now in the street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait. | 12at one time outside, at another in the wide plazas, and by every corner she lies in wait.) |
| 13She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him, | 13So she grabbed him and kissed him, and with a bold expression she said to him, |
| 14“I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows; | 14"I have fresh meat at home; today I have fulfilled my vows! |
| 15so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you. | 15That is why I came out to meet you, to look for you, and I found you! |
| 16I have spread my couch with coverings, colored linens from Egyptian linen; | 16I have spread my bed with elegant coverings, with richly colored fabric from Egypt. |
| 17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. | 17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. |
| 18Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love. | 18Come, let's drink deeply of lovemaking until morning, let's delight ourselves with sexual intercourse. |
| 19For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey; | 19For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a journey of some distance. |
| 20he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home.” | 20He has taken a bag of money with him; he will not return until the end of the month." |
| 21With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. | 21She persuaded him with persuasive words; with her smooth talk she compelled him. |
| 22All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast | 22Suddenly he went after her like an ox that goes to the slaughter, like a stag prancing into a trapper's snare |
| 23till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life. | 23till an arrow pierces his liver--like a bird hurrying into a trap, and he does not know that it will cost him his life. |
| 24And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth. | 24So now, sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words I speak. |
| 25Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths, | 25Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways--do not wander into her pathways; |
| 26for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng. | 26for she has brought down many fatally wounded, and all those she has slain are many. |
| 27Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death. | 27Her house is the way to the grave, going down to the chambers of death. |
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