| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1My child, keep my words and treasure up my commands in your own keeping. | 1Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands. |
| 2Keep my commands so that you may live, and obey my instruction as your most prized possession. | 2Obey my commands and live! Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes. |
| 3Bind them on your forearm; write them on the tablet of your heart. | 3Tie them on your fingers as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. |
| 4Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call understanding a close relative, | 4Love wisdom like a sister; make insight a beloved member of your family. |
| 5so that they may keep you from the adulterous woman, from the loose woman who flatters you with her words. | 5Let them protect you from an affair with an immoral woman, from listening to the flattery of a promiscuous woman. |
| 6For at the window of my house through my window lattice I looked out | 6While I was at the window of my house, looking through the curtain, |
| 7and I saw among the naive--I discerned among the youths--a young man who lacked wisdom. | 7I saw some naive young men, and one in particular who lacked common sense. |
| 8He was passing by the street near her corner, making his way along the road to her house | 8He was crossing the street near the house of an immoral woman, strolling down the path by her house. |
| 9in the twilight, the evening, in the dark of the night. | 9It was at twilight, in the evening, as deep darkness fell. |
| 10Suddenly a woman came out to meet him! She was dressed like a prostitute and with secret intent. | 10The woman approached him, seductively dressed and sly of heart. |
| 11(She is loud and rebellious, she does not remain at home-- | 11She was the brash, rebellious type, never content to stay at home. |
| 12at one time outside, at another in the wide plazas, and by every corner she lies in wait.) | 12She is often in the streets and markets, soliciting at every corner. |
| 13So she grabbed him and kissed him, and with a bold expression she said to him, | 13She threw her arms around him and kissed him, and with a brazen look she said, |
| 14"I have fresh meat at home; today I have fulfilled my vows! | 14“I’ve just made my peace offerings and fulfilled my vows. |
| 15That is why I came out to meet you, to look for you, and I found you! | 15You’re the one I was looking for! I came out to find you, and here you are! |
| 16I have spread my bed with elegant coverings, with richly colored fabric from Egypt. | 16My bed is spread with beautiful blankets, with colored sheets of Egyptian linen. |
| 17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. | 17I’ve perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. |
| 18Come, let's drink deeply of lovemaking until morning, let's delight ourselves with sexual intercourse. | 18Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning. Let’s enjoy each other’s caresses, |
| 19For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a journey of some distance. | 19for my husband is not home. He’s away on a long trip. |
| 20He has taken a bag of money with him; he will not return until the end of the month." | 20He has taken a wallet full of money with him and won’t return until later this month. ” |
| 21She persuaded him with persuasive words; with her smooth talk she compelled him. | 21So she seduced him with her pretty speech and enticed him with her flattery. |
| 22Suddenly he went after her like an ox that goes to the slaughter, like a stag prancing into a trapper's snare | 22He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter. He was like a stag caught in a trap, |
| 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. | 23awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart. He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life. |
| 24So now, sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words I speak. | 24So listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to my words. |
| 25Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways--do not wander into her pathways; | 25Don’t let your hearts stray away toward her. Don’t wander down her wayward path. |
| 26for she has brought down many fatally wounded, and all those she has slain are many. | 26For she has been the ruin of many; many men have been her victims. |
| 27Her house is the way to the grave, going down to the chambers of death. | 27Her house is the road to the grave. Her bedroom is the den of death. |
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