1My son, obey my words,

and treasure my commands.a

2Keep my commands and live;b

protect my teachings

as the pupil of your eye.c

3Tie them to your fingers;

write them on the tablet of your heart.d

4Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”e

and call understanding your relative.

5She will keep you from a forbidden woman,

a stranger with her flattering talk.f

A Story of Seduction

6At the window of my house

I looked through my lattice.g

7I saw among the inexperienced,h

I noticed among the youths,

a young man lacking sense.

8Crossing the street near her corner,

he strolled down the road to her house

9at twilight, in the evening,

in the dark of the night.i

10A woman came to meet him

dressed like a prostitute,j

having a hidden agenda.k

11She is loud and defiant;l

her feet do not stay at home.m

12Now in the street, now in the squares,n

she lurks at every corner.o

13She grabs him and kisses him;

she brazenly saysp to him,

14“I’ve made •fellowship offerings;q

today I’ve fulfilled my vows.r

15So I came out to meet you,

to search for you, and I’ve found you.

16I’ve spread coverings on my beds —

richly colored linen from Egypt.t

17I’ve perfumed my bed

with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.u

18Come, let’s drink deeply of lovemaking until morning.v

Let’s feast on each other’s love!

19My husband isn’t home;

he went on a long journey.

20He took a bag of money with him

and will come home at the time of the full moon.”

21She seduces him with her persistent pleading;

she lures with her flatteringw talk.

22He follows her impulsively

like an ox going to the slaughter,

like a deer bounding toward a trapx

23until an arrow pierces itsy liver,z

like a bird darting into a snareaa —

he doesn’t know it will cost him his life.

24Now, my sons, listen to me,

and pay attention to the words of my mouth.

25Don’t let your heart turn aside to her ways;

don’t stray onto her paths.ab

26For she has brought many down to death;

her victims are countless.ac

27Her house is the road to •Sheol,

descending to the chambers of death.ad