| New King James Version | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1My son, keep my words, And treasure my commands within you. | 1My son, obey my words, and treasure my commands. |
| 2Keep my commands and live, And my law as the apple of your eye. | 2Keep my commands and live; protect my teachings as the pupil 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 relative. |
| 5That they may keep you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words. | 5She will keep you from a forbidden woman, a stranger with her flattering talk. |
| 6For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice, | 6At the window of my house I looked through my lattice. |
| 7And saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, A young man devoid of understanding, | 7I saw among the inexperienced, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking sense. |
| 8Passing along the street near her corner; And he took the path to her house | 8Crossing the street near her corner, he strolled down the road to her house |
| 9In the twilight, in the evening, In the black and dark night. | 9at twilight, in the evening, in the dark of the night. |
| 10And there a woman met him, With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart. | 10A woman came to meet him dressed like a prostitute, having a hidden agenda. |
| 11She was loud and rebellious, Her feet would not stay at home. | 11She is loud and defiant; 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 squares, she lurks at every corner. |
| 13So she caught him and kissed him; With an impudent face she said to him: | 13She grabs him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him," |
| 14“I have peace offerings with me; Today I have paid my vows. | 14I've made fellowship offerings; today I've fulfilled 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, to search for you, and I've found you. |
| 16I have spread my bed with tapestry, Colored coverings of Egyptian linen. | 16I've spread coverings on my bed-- richly colored linen from Egypt. |
| 17I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. | 17I've 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's drink deeply of lovemaking until morning. Let's feast on each other's love! |
| 19For my husband is not at home; He has gone on a long journey; | 19My husband isn't home; he went 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 and will come home at the time of the full moon." |
| 21With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, With her flattering lips she seduced him. | 21She seduces him with her persistent pleading; she lures with her flattering talk. |
| 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 impulsively like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding toward 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 its liver, like a bird darting into a snare-- he doesn't know 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 pay attention to the words of my mouth. |
| 25Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths; | 25Don't let your heart turn aside to her ways; don't stray onto 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 victims are countless. |
| 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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