English Standard Version

New International Version

Warning Against the Adulteress

My son, keep my words
and treasure up my commandments with you;

1

Warning Against the Adulterous Woman

My son, keep my words
and store up my commands within you.

2

keep my commandments and live;
keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;

2

Keep my commands and you will live;
guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.

3

bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.

3

Bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.

4

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and call insight your intimate friend,

4

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and to insight, “You are my relative.”

5

to keep you from the forbiddena woman,
from the adulteressb with her smooth words.

5

They will keep you from the adulterous woman,
from the wayward woman with her seductive words.

6

For at the window of my house
I have looked out through my lattice,

6

At the window of my house
I looked down through the lattice.

7

and I have seen among the simple,
I have perceived among the youths,
a young man lacking sense,

7

I saw among the simple,
I noticed among the young men,
a youth who had no sense.

8

passing along the street near her corner,
taking the road to her house

8

He was going down the street near her corner,
walking along in the direction of her house

9

in the twilight, in the evening,
at the time of night and darkness.

9

at twilight, as the day was fading,
as the dark of night set in.

10

And behold, the woman meets him,
dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart.c

10

Then out came a woman to meet him,
dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.

11

She is loud and wayward;
her feet do not stay at home;

11

(She is unruly and defiant,
her feet never stay at home;

12

now in the street, now in the market,
and at every corner she lies in wait.

12

now in the street, now in the squares,
at every corner she lurks.)

13

She seizes him and kisses him,
and with bold face she says to him,

13

She took hold of him and kissed him
and with a brazen face she said:

14

“I had to offer sacrifices,d
and today I have paid my vows;

14

“Today I fulfilled my vows,
and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.

15

so now I have come out to meet you,
to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.

15

So I came out to meet you;
I looked for you and have found you!

16

I have spread my couch with coverings,
colored linens from Egyptian linen;

16

I have covered my bed
with colored linens from Egypt.

17

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh,
aloes, and cinnamon.

17

I have perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.

18

Come, let us take our fill of love till morning;
let us delight ourselves with love.

18

Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning;
let’s enjoy ourselves with love!

19

For my husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey;

19

My husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey.

20

he took a bag of money with him;
at full moon he will come home.”

20

He took his purse filled with money
and will not be home till full moon.”

21

With much seductive speech she persuades him;
with her smooth talk she compels him.

21

With persuasive words she led him astray;
she seduced him with her smooth talk.

22

All at once he follows her,
as an ox goes to the slaughter,
or as a stag is caught faste

22

All at once he followed her
like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deera stepping into a nooseb

23

till an arrow pierces its liver;
as a bird rushes into a snare;
he does not know that it will cost him his life.

23

till an arrow pierces his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
little knowing it will cost him his life.

24

And now, O sons, listen to me,
and be attentive to the words of my mouth.

24

Now then, my sons, listen to me;
pay attention to what I say.

25

Let not your heart turn aside to her ways;
do not stray into her paths,

25

Do not let your heart turn to her ways
or stray into her paths.

26

for many a victim has she laid low,
and all her slain are a mighty throng.

26

Many are the victims she has brought down;
her slain are a mighty throng.

27

Her house is the way to Sheol,
going down to the chambers of death.

27

Her house is a highway to the grave,
leading down to the chambers of death.

Parallel

English Standard Version

New International Version

Proverbs 7

Proverbs 7