Proverbs 7

My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.

Dear child, cherish my teachings and hold my guidance close to your heart.

Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.

Cherish my teachings, they are your life; hold my rules close, as precious as the sight in your eyes.

Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.

Tie them around your fingers, etch them deep within your heart.

Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:

Speak to wisdom as if it's your beloved sister, and treat understanding like a close family member.

That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

To protect you from the adulteress, the woman who is not yours, who uses sweet words to seduce.

For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,

From the vantage point of my home's window, I peered through the gaps, observing the world outside.

And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,

I saw among the naive, and noticed among the young, a boy lacking wisdom.

Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,

Strolling down the street near her home, he found himself drawn towards her abode.

In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:

As dusk falls, when evening descends, amidst the deep darkness of the night:

And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.

Suddenly, he encountered a woman dressed provocatively, with a cunning heart.

(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:

She's noisy and defiant, never content to stay at home.

Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)

Now she's outside, now in the streets, lying in wait at every corner.

So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,

She seized him, passionately kissed him, and with a bold, defiant look, she spoke to him.

I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.

I've made my peace offerings; today I've fulfilled my vows.

Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

I eagerly stepped out to find you, passionately searching for your presence, and now, I've joyfully discovered you.

I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.

I've adorned my bed with intricate tapestries, exquisite carvings, and the finest Egyptian linen, all brimming with love and care.

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

I've lovingly scented my bed with the sweet fragrances of myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.

Let's immerse ourselves in love until dawn, finding comfort and joy in each other's affection.

For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:

My husband isn't at home; he's gone away on a long trip.

He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.

He's taken a sack of coins and will return on the promised day.

With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.

Her sweet words easily swayed him, her charming flattery compelled him.

He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;

He blindly follows her, like an innocent ox led to its death, or like a fool who doesn't realize he's walking into punishment.

Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

Until a sudden pain pierces his core, like a bird rushing into a trap, unaware that it's risking its life.

Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.

Listen carefully, my dear children, and truly understand the words I speak.

Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.

Don't let your heart be swayed by her allure, don't lose yourself in her deceptive ways.

For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.

She has brought down many victims; indeed, even the mightiest have been killed because of her.

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

Her home is the road to hell, leading down to the chambers of death.