New Living Translation | International Standard Version |
1Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands. | 1My son, guard what I say and treasure my commands. |
2Obey my commands and live! Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes. | 2Keep my commands and you'll live. Guard my teaching as you do your eyesight. |
3Tie them on your fingers as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. | 3Strap them to your fingers and engrave them on the tablet of your heart. |
4Love wisdom like a sister; make insight a beloved member of your family. | 4Say to wisdom, "You're my sister!" and call understanding your close relative, |
5Let them protect you from an affair with an immoral woman, from listening to the flattery of a promiscuous woman. | 5so they can keep you from an adulterous woman, from the immoral woman with her seductive words. |
6While I was at the window of my house, looking through the curtain, | 6For from a window in my house I peered through the lattice work, |
7I saw some naive young men, and one in particular who lacked common sense. | 7and I noticed among the naïve— that is, I discerned among the youths— a senseless young man. |
8He was crossing the street near the house of an immoral woman, strolling down the path by her house. | 8Proceeding down the street near her corner, he makes his way toward her house |
9It was at twilight, in the evening, as deep darkness fell. | 9at twilight, during the evening, even during the darkest part of the night. |
10The woman approached him, seductively dressed and sly of heart. | 10Look! A woman makes her way to meet him, dressed as a prostitute and intending to entrap him. |
11She was the brash, rebellious type, never content to stay at home. | 11She is brazen and defiant— her feet don't remain at home. |
12She is often in the streets and markets, soliciting at every corner. | 12Now she is in the street, now in the plazas, she lurks near every corner. |
13She threw her arms around him and kissed him, and with a brazen look she said, | 13So she grabs hold of him and kisses him, with a brazen face she speaks to him, |
14“I’ve just made my peace offerings and fulfilled my vows. | 14"I have given my peace offerings, and today I fulfilled my vows. |
15You’re the one I was looking for! I came out to find you, and here you are! | 15Therefore, I've come out to meet you, I've looked just for you, and I found you! |
16My bed is spread with beautiful blankets, with colored sheets of Egyptian linen. | 16I've decorated my bed with new coverings— embroidered linen from Egypt. |
17I’ve perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. | 17I've perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. |
18Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning. Let’s enjoy each other’s caresses, | 18Come, let's make love until dawn; let's comfort ourselves with love, |
19for my husband is not home. He’s away on a long trip. | 19because my husband isn't home. He left on a long trip. |
20He has taken a wallet full of money with him and won’t return until later this month. ” | 20He took a fist full of cash and he'll return home in a month." |
21So she seduced him with her pretty speech and enticed him with her flattery. | 21She leads him astray with great persuasion; with flattering lips she seduces him. |
22He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter. He was like a stag caught in a trap, | 22All of a sudden he follows her like an ox fit for slaughter or like a fool fit for a trap |
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. | 23until an arrow pierces his liver. As a bird darts into a snare, he doesn't realize his fatal decision. |
24So listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to my words. | 24So listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to what I have to say. |
25Don’t let your hearts stray away toward her. Don’t wander down her wayward path. | 25Don't be led astray by her lifestyle, and don't imitate her behavior. |
26For she has been the ruin of many; many men have been her victims. | 26For many are the victims whom she has conquered, and many are her slain. |
27Her house is the road to the grave. Her bedroom is the den of death. | 27Her house leads to Sheol, descending to death's catacombs. |
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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