New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
1My son, keep my words, And treasure my commands within you. | 1My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you. |
2Keep my commands and live, And my law as the apple of your eye. | 2Keep my commandments and live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. |
3Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart. | 3Tie them to your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. |
4Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” And call understanding your nearest kin, | 4Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your kinsman, |
5That they may keep you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words. | 5that they may keep you from the adulteress, from the stranger with seductive words. |
6For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice, | 6For at the window of my house I looked through the lattice. |
7And saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, A young man devoid of understanding, | 7I saw among the simple, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking judgment, |
8Passing along the street near her corner; And he took the path to her house | 8crossing the street near her corner, strolling down the road to her house, |
9In the twilight, in the evening, In the black and dark night. | 9at twilight, as the day was fading into the dark of the night. |
10And there a woman met him, With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart. | 10Then a woman came out to meet him, with the attire of a harlot and cunning of heart. |
11She was loud and rebellious, Her feet would not stay at home. | 11She is loud and defiant; her feet do not remain at home. |
12At times she was outside, at times in the open square, Lurking at every corner. | 12Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner. |
13So she caught him and kissed him; With an impudent face she said to him: | 13She seizes him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him: |
14“I have peace offerings with me; Today I have paid my vows. | 14“I have made my peace offerings; today I have paid my vows. |
15So I came out to meet you, Diligently to seek your face, And I have found you. | 15So I came out to meet you; I sought you, and I have found you. |
16I have spread my bed with tapestry, Colored coverings of Egyptian linen. | 16I have decked my bed with coverings, with colored linen from Egypt. |
17I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. | 17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, with aloes, and with cinnamon. |
18Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; Let us delight ourselves with love. | 18Come, let us take our fill of love till morning. Let us delight in loving caresses! |
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 long journey. |
20He has taken a bag of money with him, And will come home on the appointed day.” | 20He took with him a bag of money and will not return till the moon is full.” |
21With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, With her flattering lips she seduced him. | 21With her great persuasion she entices him; with her flattering lips she lures him. |
22Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks, | 22He follows her on impulse, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding into a trap, |
23Till an arrow struck his liver. As a bird hastens to the snare, He did not know it would cost his life. | 23until an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare—not knowing it will cost him his life. |
24Now therefore, listen to me, my children; Pay attention to the words of my mouth: | 24Now, my sons, listen to me, and attend to the words of my mouth. |
25Do not let 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 stray into her paths. |
26For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong men. | 26For she has brought many down to death; her slain are many in number. |
27Her house is the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death. | 27Her house is the road to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death. |
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