| New King James Version | English Standard Version |
| 1My son, keep my words, And treasure my commands within you. | 1My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; |
| 2Keep my commands and live, And my law as the apple of your eye. | 2keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; |
| 3Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart. | 3bind them on 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 insight your intimate friend, |
| 5That they may keep you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words. | 5to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words. |
| 6For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice, | 6For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice, |
| 7And saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, A young man devoid of understanding, | 7and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense, |
| 8Passing along the street near her corner; And he took the path to her house | 8passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house |
| 9In the twilight, in the evening, In the black and dark night. | 9in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness. |
| 10And there a woman met him, With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart. | 10And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart. |
| 11She was loud and rebellious, Her feet would not stay at home. | 11She is loud and wayward; her feet do not stay at home; |
| 12At times she was outside, at times in the open square, Lurking at every corner. | 12now in the street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait. |
| 13So she caught him and kissed him; With an impudent face she said to him: | 13She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him, |
| 14“I have peace offerings with me; Today I have paid my vows. | 14“I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows; |
| 15So I came out to meet you, Diligently to seek your face, And I have found you. | 15so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you. |
| 16I have spread my bed with tapestry, Colored coverings of Egyptian linen. | 16I have spread my couch with coverings, colored linens from Egyptian linen; |
| 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 until morning; Let us delight ourselves with love. | 18Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love. |
| 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 a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home.” |
| 21With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, With her flattering lips she seduced him. | 21With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. |
| 22Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks, | 22All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast |
| 23Till an arrow struck his liver. As a bird hastens to the snare, He did not know it would cost his life. | 23till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life. |
| 24Now therefore, listen to me, my children; Pay attention to the words of my mouth: | 24And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth. |
| 25Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths; | 25Let not 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 many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng. |
| 27Her house is the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death. | 27Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. |
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