The Wiles of a Harlot
1 My son, keep my words,
And treasure my commands within you.
1 My son, keep my words,
And treasure my commands within you.
2 Keep my commands and live,
And my law as the apple of your eye.
And my law as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers;
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
And call understanding your nearest kin,
And call understanding your nearest kin,
5 That they may keep you from the immoral woman,
From the seductress who flatters with her words.
From the seductress who flatters with her words.
The Crafty Harlot
6 For at the window of my house
I looked through my lattice,
6 For at the window of my house
I looked through my lattice,
7 And saw among the simple,
I perceived among the [a]youths,
A young man devoid[b] of understanding,
I perceived among the [a]youths,
A young man devoid[b] of understanding,
8 Passing along the street near her corner;
And he took the path to her house
And he took the path to her house
9 In the twilight, in the evening,
In the black and dark night.
In the black and dark night.
10 And there a woman met him,
With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart.
With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart.
11 She was loud and rebellious,
Her feet would not stay at home.
Her feet would not stay at home.
12 At times she was outside, at times in the open square,
Lurking at every corner.
Lurking at every corner.
13 So she caught him and kissed him;
With an [c]impudent face she said to him:
With an [c]impudent face she said to him:
14 “I have peace offerings with me;
Today I have paid my vows.
Today I have paid my vows.
15 So I came out to meet you,
Diligently to seek your face,
And I have found you.
Diligently to seek your face,
And I have found you.
16 I have spread my bed with tapestry,
Colored coverings of Egyptian linen.
Colored coverings of Egyptian linen.
17 I have perfumed my bed
With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until morning;
Let us delight ourselves with love.
Let us delight ourselves with love.
19 For [d]my husband is not at home;
He has gone on a long journey;
He has gone on a long journey;
20 He has taken a bag of money [e]with him,
And will come home [f]on the appointed day.”
And will come home [f]on the appointed day.”
21 [g]With her enticing speech she caused him to yield,
With her flattering lips she [h]seduced him.
With her flattering lips she [h]seduced him.
22 Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter,
Or [i]as a fool to the correction of the [j]stocks,
Or [i]as a fool to the correction of the [j]stocks,
23 Till an arrow struck his liver.
As a bird hastens to the snare,
He did not know it [k]would cost his life.
As a bird hastens to the snare,
He did not know it [k]would cost his life.
24 Now therefore, listen to me, my children;
Pay attention to the words of my mouth:
Pay attention to the words of my mouth:
25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
Do not stray into her paths;
Do not stray into her paths;
26 For she has cast down many wounded,
And all who were slain by her were strong men.
And all who were slain by her were strong men.
27 Her house is the way to [l]hell,
Descending to the chambers of death.
Descending to the chambers of death.