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