1My son, keep my words and remain faithful to my commands. 2Hold fast to my instruction and you will have life; treasure my teachings as the apple of your eye. 3Bind them on your fingers, write them on the tablets of your heart. 4Let wisdom be your sister and knowledge your friend, 5so that you will be saved from the adulterous woman, from the stranger with her enticing words.
6From my window I was looking out through the lattice and 7I saw among the young men, an inexperienced youth 8who walked along the road near her corner, towards the path to her house. 9It was dusk, daylight was fading – the time of darkness and shadow. 10And look! Out comes this woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute, covered with a veil.
11She is brazen and shameless, unable to remain in the house. 12Now at the corner, now in the square, she is on the lookout. 13She throws herself at him, kisses him and confidently says, 14“I have to offer sacrifices and terminate my vows; because of this 15I came out to meet you. I sought and found you. 16I have spread on my bed quilts and fine Egyptian sheets and 17sprinkled it with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. 18Come, let us abandon ourselves to pleasure and drink our fill of love all night, 19for my husband is not at home but away on a long journey. 20He has taken his moneybags and will not return before the full moon.”
21She led him astray with such smooth and seductive words.
22At once he followed her, as an ox led to slaughter or a deer caught in a snare 23until its liver is pierced by an arrow; as a bird springs at the snare unaware that its life is at stake.
24Now then, my sons, listen and pay attention to my words. 25Do not be led astray or lose yourself on her paths. 26For she has brought many to their death and the strongest were all her victims. 27Her house leads to hell and death.
