| NET Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1My child, keep my words and treasure up my commands in your own keeping. | 1My son, obey my words, and treasure my commands. |
| 2Keep my commands so that you may live, and obey my instruction as your most prized possession. | 2Keep my commands and live; protect my teachings as the pupil of your eye. |
| 3Bind them on your forearm; write them on the tablet of your heart. | 3Tie them to your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. |
| 4Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call understanding a close relative, | 4Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call understanding your relative. |
| 5so that they may keep you from the adulterous woman, from the loose woman who flatters you with her words. | 5She will keep you from a forbidden woman, a stranger with her flattering talk. |
| 6For at the window of my house through my window lattice I looked out | 6At the window of my house I looked through my lattice. |
| 7and I saw among the naive--I discerned among the youths--a young man who lacked wisdom. | 7I saw among the inexperienced, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking sense. |
| 8He was passing by the street near her corner, making his way along the road to her house | 8Crossing the street near her corner, he strolled down the road to her house |
| 9in the twilight, the evening, in the dark of the night. | 9at twilight, in the evening, in the dark of the night. |
| 10Suddenly a woman came out to meet him! She was dressed like a prostitute and with secret intent. | 10A woman came to meet him dressed like a prostitute, having a hidden agenda. |
| 11(She is loud and rebellious, she does not remain at home-- | 11She is loud and defiant; her feet do not stay at home. |
| 12at one time outside, at another in the wide plazas, and by every corner she lies in wait.) | 12Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner. |
| 13So she grabbed him and kissed him, and with a bold expression she said to him, | 13She grabs him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him," |
| 14"I have fresh meat at home; today I have fulfilled my vows! | 14I've made fellowship offerings; today I've fulfilled my vows. |
| 15That is why I came out to meet you, to look for you, and I found you! | 15So I came out to meet you, to search for you, and I've found you. |
| 16I have spread my bed with elegant coverings, with richly colored fabric from Egypt. | 16I've spread coverings on my bed-- richly colored linen from Egypt. |
| 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 lovemaking until morning, let's delight ourselves with sexual intercourse. | 18Come, let's drink deeply of lovemaking until morning. Let's feast on each other's love! |
| 19For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a journey of some distance. | 19My husband isn't home; he went on a long journey. |
| 20He has taken a bag of money with him; he will not return until the end of the month." | 20He took a bag of money with him and will come home at the time of the full moon." |
| 21She persuaded him with persuasive words; with her smooth talk she compelled him. | 21She seduces him with her persistent pleading; she lures with her flattering talk. |
| 22Suddenly he went after her like an ox that goes to the slaughter, like a stag prancing into a trapper's snare | 22He follows her impulsively like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding toward a trap |
| 23till an arrow pierces his liver--like a bird hurrying into a trap, and he does not know that it will cost him his life. | 23until an arrow pierces its liver, like a bird darting into a snare-- he doesn't know it will cost him his life. |
| 24So now, sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words I speak. | 24Now, my sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words of my mouth. |
| 25Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways--do not wander into her pathways; | 25Don't let your heart turn aside to her ways; don't stray onto her paths. |
| 26for she has brought down many fatally wounded, and all those she has slain are many. | 26For she has brought many down to death; her victims are countless. |
| 27Her house is the way to the grave, going down to the chambers of death. | 27Her house is the road to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death. |
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