7:1 My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; 7:2 keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; 7:3 bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. 7:4 Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call insight your intimate friend, 7:5 to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words. 7:6 For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice, 7:7 and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense, 7:8 passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house 7:9 in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness. 7:10 And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart. 7:11 She is loud and wayward; her feet do not stay at home; 7:12 now in the street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait. 7:13 She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him, 7:14 "I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows; 7:15 so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you. 7:16 I have spread my couch with coverings, colored linens from Egyptian linen; 7:17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 7:18 Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love. 7:19 For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey; 7:20 he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home." 7:21 With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. 7:22 All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast 7:23 till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life. 7:24 And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth. 7:25 Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths, 7:26 for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng. 7:27 Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.