7MY SON, keep my words; lay up within you my commandments [for use when needed] {and} treasure them.H1121H8104H561H6845H46872Keep my commandments and live, and keep my law {and} teaching as the apple (the pupil) of your eye.H8104H4687H2421H8451H380H58693Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.H7194H676H3789H3871H38204Say to skillful {and} godly Wisdom, You are my sister, and regard understanding {or} insight as your intimate friend--H559H2451H269H7121H998H41295That they may keep you from the loose woman, from the adventuress who flatters with {and} makes smooth her words.H8104H2114H802H5237H2505H5616For at the window of my house I looked out through my lattice.H2474H1004H8259H8227And among the simple (empty-headed and emptyhearted) ones, I perceived among the youths a young man void of good sense,H7200H6612H995H1121H5288H2638H38208Sauntering through the street near the [loose woman's] corner; and he went the way to her houseH5674H7784H681H6434H6805H1870H10049In the twilight, in the evening; night black and dense was falling [over the young man's life].H5399H3117H6153H380H653H391510And behold, there met him a woman, dressed as a harlot and sly {and} cunning of heart.H7125H802H7897H2181H5341H382011She is turbulent {and} willful; her feet stay not in her house;H1993H5637H7272H7931H100412Now in the streets, now in the marketplaces, she sets her ambush at every corner.H6471H2351H6471H7339H693H681H643813So she caught him and kissed him and with impudent face she said to him,H2388H5401H5810H6440H55914Sacrifices of peace offerings were due from me; this day I paid my vows.H8002H2077H3117H7999H508815So I came forth to meet you [that you might share with me the feast from my offering]; diligently I sought your face, and I have found you.H3318H7125H7836H6440H467216I have spread my couch with rugs {and} cushions of tapestry, with striped sheets of fine linen of Egypt.H7234H6210H4765H2405H330H471417I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.H5130H4904H4753H174H707618Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; let us console {and} delight ourselves with love.H3212H7301H1730H1242H5965H15919For the man is not at home; he is gone on a long journey;H376H1004H1980H7350H187020He has taken a bag of money with him and will come home at the day appointed [at the full moon].H3947H6872H3701H3027H935H1004H3117H367721With much justifying {and} enticing argument she persuades him, with the allurements of her lips she leads him [to overcome his conscience and his fears] {and} forces him along.H7230H3948H5186H2506H8193H508022Suddenly he [yields and] follows her reluctantly like an ox moving to the slaughter, like one in fetters going to the correction [to be given] to a fool {or} {like a dog enticed by food to the muzzle}H1980H310H6597H7794H935H2874H191H4148H591423Till a dart [of passion] pierces {and} inflames his vitals; then like a bird fluttering straight into the net [he hastens], not knowing that it will cost him his life.H2671H6398H3516H6833H4116H6341H3045H531524Listen to me now therefore, O you sons, and be attentive to the words of my mouth.H8085H1121H7181H561H631025Let not your heart incline toward her ways, do not stray into her paths.H3820H7847H1870H8582H541026For she has cast down many wounded; indeed, all her slain are a mighty host.H5307H7227H2491H6099H202627Her house is the way to Sheol (Hades, the place of the dead), going down to the chambers of death.H1004H1870H7585H3381H2315H4194
Dublin, OH
