VerseAI

NIV

Proverbs 7

  1. 1<pb/><t>My son, keep my words</t> <t>and store up my commands within you.</t>
  2. 2<t>Keep my commands and you will live;</t> <t>guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.</t>
  3. 3<t>Bind them on your fingers;</t> <t>write them on the tablet of your heart.</t>
  4. 4<t>Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”</t> <t>and to insight, “You are my relative.”</t>
  5. 5<t>They will keep you from the adulterous woman,</t> <t>from the wayward woman with her seductive words. <pb/></t>
  6. 6<t>At the window of my house</t> <t>I looked down through the lattice.</t>
  7. 7<t>I saw among the simple,</t> <t>I noticed among the young men,</t> <t>a youth who had no sense.</t>
  8. 8<t>He was going down the street near her corner,</t> <t>walking along in the direction of her house</t>
  9. 9<t>at twilight, as the day was fading,</t> <t>as the dark of night set in. <pb/></t>
  10. 10<t>Then out came a woman to meet him,</t> <t>dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.</t>
  11. 11<t>(She is unruly and defiant,</t> <t>her feet never stay at home;</t>
  12. 12<t>now in the street, now in the squares,</t> <t>at every corner she lurks.)</t>
  13. 13<t>She took hold of him and kissed him</t> <t>and with a brazen face she said: <pb/></t>
  14. 14<t>“Today I fulfilled my vows,</t> <t>and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.</t>
  15. 15<t>So I came out to meet you;</t> <t>I looked for you and have found you!</t>
  16. 16<t>I have covered my bed</t> <t>with colored linens from Egypt.</t>
  17. 17<t>I have perfumed my bed</t> <t>with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.</t>
  18. 18<t>Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning;</t> <t>let’s enjoy ourselves with love!</t>
  19. 19<t>My husband is not at home;</t> <t>he has gone on a long journey.</t>
  20. 20<t>He took his purse filled with money</t> <t>and will not be home till full moon.” <pb/></t>
  21. 21<t>With persuasive words she led him astray;</t> <t>she seduced him with her smooth talk.</t>
  22. 22<t>All at once he followed her</t> <t>like an ox going to the slaughter,</t> <t>like a deer<f>[13]</f> stepping into a noose<f>[14]</f></t>
  23. 23<t>till an arrow pierces his liver,</t> <t>like a bird darting into a snare,</t> <t>little knowing it will cost him his life. <pb/></t>
  24. 24<t>Now then, my sons, listen to me;</t> <t>pay attention to what I say.</t>
  25. 25<t>Do not let your heart turn to her ways</t> <t>or stray into her paths.</t>
  26. 26<t>Many are the victims she has brought down;</t> <t>her slain are a mighty throng.</t>
  27. 27<t>Her house is a highway to the grave,</t> <t>leading down to the chambers of death.</t>