[1] My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you.
[2] Keep my commandments and live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
[3] Tie them to your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
[4] Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your kinsman,
[5] that they may keep you from the adulteress, from the stranger with seductive words.
[6] For at the window of my house I looked through the lattice.
[7] I saw among the simple, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking judgment,
[8] crossing the street near her corner, strolling down the road to her house,
[9] at twilight, as the day was fading into the dark of the night.
[10] Then a woman came out to meet him, with the attire of a harlot and cunning of heart.
[11] She is loud and defiant; her feet do not remain at home.
[12] Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner.
[13] She seizes him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him:
[14] “I have made my peace offerings; today I have paid my vows.
[15] So I came out to meet you; I sought you, and I have found you.
[16] I have decked my bed with coverings, with colored linen from Egypt.
[17] I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, with aloes, and with cinnamon.
[18] Come, let us take our fill of love till morning. Let us delight in loving caresses!
[19] For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.
[20] He took with him a bag of money and will not return till the moon is full.”
[21] With her great persuasion she entices him; with her flattering lips she lures him.
[22] He follows her on impulse, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding into a trap,
[23] until an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare— not knowing it will cost him his life.
[24] Now, my sons, listen to me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
[25] Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths.
[26] For she has brought many down to death; her slain are many in number.
[27] Her house is the road to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.