The Webster Bible WBT
New International Version NIV
1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
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My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.
2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thy eye.
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Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thy heart.
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Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, Thou [art] my sister; and call understanding [thy] kinswoman:
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Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and to insight, “You are my relative.”
5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger [which] flattereth with her words.
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They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words.
6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
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At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice.
7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
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I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense.
8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to 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 twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
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at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.
10 And behold, there met him a woman [with] the attire of a harlot, and subtil of heart.
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Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
11 (She [is] loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
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(She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home;
12 Now [is she] without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
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now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.)
13 So she caught him, and kissed him, [and] with an impudent face said to him,
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She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said:
14 [I have] peace-offerings with me; this day have I paid my vows.
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“Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.
15 Therefore I came forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
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So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you!
16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved [works], with fine linen of Egypt.
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I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
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I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
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Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning; let’s enjoy ourselves with love!
19 For the good-man [is] not at home, he is gone a long journey:
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My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.
20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, [and] will come home at the day appointed.
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He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.”
21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she impelled him.
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With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk.
22 He goeth after her quickly, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
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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 Till a dart striketh through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it [is] for his life.
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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 therefore hearken to me, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
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Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say.
25 Let not thy heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
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Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths.
26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yes, many strong [men] have been slain by her.
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Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng.
27 Her house [is] the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
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Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.
The Webster Bible is in the public domain.
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.