1. My son, heed my words; And store up my commandments with you.
2. Keep my commandments and live, My teaching, as the apple of your eye.
3. Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your mind.
4. Say to Wisdom, "You are my sister," And call Understanding a kinswoman.
5. She will guard you from a forbidden woman; From an alien woman whose talk is smooth.
6. From the window of my house, Through my lattice, I looked out
7. And saw among the simple, Noticed among the youths, A lad devoid of sense.
8. He was crossing the street near her corner, Walking toward her house
9. In the dusk of evening, In the dark hours of night.
10. A woman comes toward him Dressed like a harlot, with set purpose.
11. She is bustling and restive; She is never at home.
12. Now in the street, now in the square, She lurks at every corner.
13. She lays hold of him and kisses him; Brazenly she says to him,
14. "I had to make a sacrifice of well-being; Today I fulfilled my vows.
15. Therefore I have come out to you, Seeking you, and have found you.
16. I have decked my couch with covers Of dyed Egyptian linen;
17. I have sprinkled my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18. Let us drink our fill of love till morning; Let us delight in amorous embrace.
19. For the man of the house is away; He is off on a distant journey.
20. He took his bag of money with him And will return only at mid-month."
21. She sways him with her eloquence, Turns him aside with her smooth talk.
22. Thoughtlessly he follows her, Like an ox going to the slaughter, Like a fool to the stocks for punishment --
23. Until the arrow pierces his liver. He is like a bird rushing into a trap, Not knowing his life is at stake.
24. Now, sons, listen to me; Pay attention to my words;
25. Let your mind not wander down her ways; Do not stray onto her paths.
26. For many are those she has struck dead, And numerous are her victims.
27. Her house is a highway to Sheol Leading down to Death's inner chambers.
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