New International Version | New Living Translation |
1My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. | 1Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands. |
2Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. | 2Obey my commands and live! Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes. |
3Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. | 3Tie them on your fingers as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. |
4Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and to insight, "You are my relative." | 4Love wisdom like a sister; make insight a beloved member of your family. |
5They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words. | 5Let them protect you from an affair with an immoral woman, from listening to the flattery of a promiscuous woman. |
6At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice. | 6While I was at the window of my house, looking through the curtain, |
7I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense. | 7I saw some naive young men, and one in particular who lacked common sense. |
8He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house | 8He was crossing the street near the house of an immoral woman, strolling down the path by her house. |
9at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in. | 9It was at twilight, in the evening, as deep darkness fell. |
10Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. | 10The woman approached him, seductively dressed and sly of heart. |
11(She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home; | 11She was the brash, rebellious type, never content to stay at home. |
12now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.) | 12She is often in the streets and markets, soliciting at every corner. |
13She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said: | 13She threw her arms around him and kissed him, and with a brazen look she said, |
14"Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home. | 14“I’ve just made my peace offerings and fulfilled my vows. |
15So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you! | 15You’re the one I was looking for! I came out to find you, and here you are! |
16I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. | 16My bed is spread with beautiful blankets, with colored sheets of Egyptian linen. |
17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. | 17I’ve perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. |
18Come, let's drink deeply of love till morning; let's enjoy ourselves with love! | 18Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning. Let’s enjoy each other’s caresses, |
19My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. | 19for my husband is not home. He’s away on a long trip. |
20He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon." | 20He has taken a wallet full of money with him and won’t return until later this month. ” |
21With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. | 21So she seduced him with her pretty speech and enticed him with her flattery. |
22All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose | 22He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter. He was like a stag caught in a trap, |
23till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life. | 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. |
24Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say. | 24So listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to my words. |
25Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. | 25Don’t let your hearts stray away toward her. Don’t wander down her wayward path. |
26Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. | 26For she has been the ruin of many; many men have been her victims. |
27Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death. | 27Her house is the road to the grave. Her bedroom is the den of death. |
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. | 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. |
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