Good News Translation GNT
New International Version NIV
1 My child, remember what I say and never forget what I tell you to do.
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My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.
2 Do what I say, and you will live. Be as careful to follow my teaching as you are to protect your eyes.
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Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3 Keep my teaching with you all the time; write it on your heart.
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Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Treat wisdom as your sister, and insight as your closest friend.
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Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and to insight, “You are my relative.”
5 They will keep you away from other men's wives, from women with seductive words.
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They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words.
6 Once I was looking out the window of my house,
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At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice.
7 and I saw many inexperienced young men, but noticed one foolish fellow in particular.
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I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense.
8 He was walking along the street near the corner where a certain woman lived. He was passing near her house
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He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house
9 in the evening after it was dark.
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at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.
10 And then she met him; she was dressed like a prostitute and was making plans.
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Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
11 She was a bold and shameless woman who always walked the streets
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(She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home;
12 or stood waiting at a corner, sometimes in the streets, sometimes in the marketplace.
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now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.)
13 She threw her arms around the young man, kissed him, looked him straight in the eye, and said,
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She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said:
14 "I made my offerings today and have the meat from the sacrifices.
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“Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.
15 So I came out looking for you. I wanted to find you, and here you are!
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So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you!
16 I've covered my bed with sheets of colored linen from Egypt.
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I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt.
17 I've perfumed it with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
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I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
18 Come on! Let's make love all night long. We'll be happy in each other's arms.
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Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning; let’s enjoy ourselves with love!
19 My husband isn't at home. He's on a long trip.
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My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.
20 He took plenty of money with him and won't be back for two weeks."
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He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.”
21 So she tempted him with her charms, and he gave in to her smooth talk.
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With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk.
22 Suddenly he was going with her like an ox on the way to be slaughtered, like a deer prancing into a trap
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All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose
23 where an arrow would pierce its heart. He was like a bird going into a net - he did not know that his life was in danger.
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till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life.
24 Now then, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to what I say.
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Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say.
25 Do not let such a woman win your heart; don't go wandering after her.
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Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths.
26 She has been the ruin of many men and caused the death of too many to count.
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Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng.
27 If you go to her house, you are on the way to the world of the dead. It is a shortcut to death.
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Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.