1My son keep my words, and hide my commandments with thee.
2Keep my commandments, and thou shalt live, and mine instruction, as the apple of thine eyes.
3Bind them upon thy fingers, and write them upon the table of thine heart.
4Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister, and call understanding thy kinswoman,
5That they may keep thee from the strange woman, even from the strange that is smooth in her words.
6As I was in the window of mine house, I looked through my window,
7And I saw among the fools, and considered among the children a young man destitute of understanding,
8Who passed through the street by her corner, and went toward her house,
9In the twilight in the evening, when the night began to be black and dark.
10And behold, there met him a woman with an harlot’s behavior, and subtle in heart.
11(She is babbling and loud, whose feet cannot abide in her house.
12Now she is without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner)
13So she caught him and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
14I have peace offerings: this day have I paid my vows.
15Therefore came I forth to meet thee, that I might seek thy face: and I have found thee.
16I have decked my bed with ornaments, carpets and laces of Egypt.
17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us take our pleasure in dalliance.
19For mine husband is not at home: he is gone a journey far off.
20He hath taken with him a bag of silver, and will come home at the day appointed.
21Thus with her great craft she caused him to yield, and with her flattering lips she enticed him.
22And he followed her straightway, as an ox that goeth to the slaughter, and as a fool to the stocks for correction,
23Till a dart strike through his liver, as a bird hasteth to the snare, not knowing that he is in danger.
24Hear me now therefore, O children, and hearken to the words of my mouth.
25Let not thine heart decline to her ways: wander thou not in her paths.
26For she hath caused many to fall down wounded, and the strong men are all slain by her.
27Her house is the way unto the grave, which goeth down to the chambers of death.