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1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
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2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
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3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
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4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:
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5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.
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6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
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7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
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8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
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9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
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10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
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11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
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12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
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13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
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14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
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15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
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16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
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17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
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18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
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19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
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20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
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21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
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22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
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23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
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24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
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25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
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26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
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27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
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- 1 My son, keep my words And treasure my commandments within you.
- 2 Keep my commandments and live, And my teaching as the apple of your eye.
- 3 Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart.
- 4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” And call understanding your intimate friend;
- 5 That they may keep you from an adulteress, From the foreigner who flatters with her words.
- 6 For at the window of my house I looked out through my lattice,
- 7 And I saw among the naive, And discerned among the youths A young man lacking sense,
- 8 Passing through the street near her corner; And he takes the way to her house,
- 9 In the twilight, in the evening, In the middle of the night and in the darkness.
- 10 And behold, a woman comes to meet him, Dressed as a harlot and cunning of heart.
- 11 She is boisterous and rebellious, Her feet do not remain at home;
- 12 She is now in the streets, now in the squares, And lurks by every corner.
- 13 So she seizes him and kisses him And with a brazen face she says to him:
- 14 “I was due to offer peace offerings; Today I have paid my vows.
- 15 “Therefore I have come out to meet you, To seek your presence earnestly, and I have found you.
- 16 “I have spread my couch with coverings, With colored linens of Egypt.
- 17 “I have sprinkled my bed With myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
- 18 “Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning; Let us delight ourselves with caresses.
- 19 “For my husband is not at home, He has gone on a long journey;
- 20 He has taken a bag of money with him, At the full moon he will come home.”
- 21 With her many persuasions she entices him; With her flattering lips she seduces him.
- 22 Suddenly he follows her As an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool,
- 23 Until an arrow pierces through his liver; As a bird hastens to the snare, So he does not know that it will cost him his life.
- 24 Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, And 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.
- 26 For many are the victims she has cast down, And numerous are all her slain.
- 27 Her house is the way to Sheol, Descending to the chambers of death.
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