| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1My son, keep my words, And treasure my commands within you. | 1My child, keep my words and treasure up my commands in your own keeping. |
| 2Keep my commands and live, And my law as the apple of your eye. | 2Keep my commands so that you may live, and obey my instruction as your most prized possession. |
| 3Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart. | 3Bind them on your forearm; write them on the tablet of your heart. |
| 4Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” And call understanding your nearest kin, | 4Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call understanding a close relative, |
| 5That they may keep you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words. | 5so that they may keep you from the adulterous woman, from the loose woman who flatters you with her words. |
| 6For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice, | 6For at the window of my house through my window lattice I looked out |
| 7And saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, A young man devoid of understanding, | 7and I saw among the naive--I discerned among the youths--a young man who lacked wisdom. |
| 8Passing along the street near her corner; And he took the path to her house | 8He was passing by the street near her corner, making his way along the road to her house |
| 9In the twilight, in the evening, In the black and dark night. | 9in the twilight, the evening, in the dark of the night. |
| 10And there a woman met him, With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart. | 10Suddenly a woman came out to meet him! She was dressed like a prostitute and with secret intent. |
| 11She was loud and rebellious, Her feet would not stay at home. | 11(She is loud and rebellious, she does not remain at home-- |
| 12At times she was outside, at times in the open square, Lurking at every corner. | 12at one time outside, at another in the wide plazas, and by every corner she lies in wait.) |
| 13So she caught him and kissed him; With an impudent face she said to him: | 13So she grabbed him and kissed him, and with a bold expression she said to him, |
| 14“I have peace offerings with me; Today I have paid my vows. | 14"I have fresh meat at home; today I have fulfilled my vows! |
| 15So I came out to meet you, Diligently to seek your face, And I have found you. | 15That is why I came out to meet you, to look for you, and I found you! |
| 16I have spread my bed with tapestry, Colored coverings of Egyptian linen. | 16I have spread my bed with elegant coverings, with richly colored fabric from Egypt. |
| 17I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. | 17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. |
| 18Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; Let us delight ourselves with love. | 18Come, let's drink deeply of lovemaking until morning, let's delight ourselves with sexual intercourse. |
| 19For my husband is not at home; He has gone on a long journey; | 19For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a journey of some distance. |
| 20He has taken a bag of money with him, And will come home on the appointed day.” | 20He has taken a bag of money with him; he will not return until the end of the month." |
| 21With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, With her flattering lips she seduced him. | 21She persuaded him with persuasive words; with her smooth talk she compelled him. |
| 22Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks, | 22Suddenly he went after her like an ox that goes to the slaughter, like a stag prancing into a trapper's snare |
| 23Till an arrow struck his liver. As a bird hastens to the snare, He did not know it would cost his life. | 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. |
| 24Now therefore, listen to me, my children; Pay attention to the words of my mouth: | 24So now, sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words I speak. |
| 25Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths; | 25Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways--do not wander into her pathways; |
| 26For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong men. | 26for she has brought down many fatally wounded, and all those she has slain are many. |
| 27Her house is the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death. | 27Her house is the way to the grave, going down to the chambers of death. |
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