Holman Christian Standard Bible CSB
New International Version NIV
1 My son, obey my words, and treasure my commands.
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My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.
2 Keep my commands and live; protect my teachings as you would the pupil of your eye.
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Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3 Tie them to your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
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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] relative.
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Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and to insight, “You are my relative.”
5 She will keep you from a forbidden woman, a stranger with her flattering talk.
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They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words.
6 At the window of my house I looked through my lattice.
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At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice.
7 I saw among the inexperienced, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking sense.
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I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense.
8 Crossing the street near her corner, he strolled down the road 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 at twilight, in the evening, in the dark of the night.
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at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.
10 A woman came to meet him, dressed like a prostitute, having a hidden agenda.
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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 defiant; her feet do not stay at home.
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(She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home;
12 Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner.
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now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.)
13 She grabs him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him,
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She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said:
14 "I've made fellowship offerings; today I've fulfilled my vows.
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“Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.
15 So I came out to meet you, to search for you, and I've found you.
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So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you!
16 I've spread coverings on my bed- richly colored linen from Egypt.
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I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt.
17 I've 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's drink deeply of lovemaking until morning. Let's feast on each other's love!
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Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning; let’s enjoy ourselves with love!
19 My husband isn't home; he went on a long journey.
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My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.
20 He took a bag of money with him and will come home at the time of the full moon."
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He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.”
21 She seduces him with her persistent pleading; she lures with her flattering talk.
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With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk.
22 He follows her impulsively like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding toward 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 until an arrow pierces its liver, like a bird darting into a snare- he doesn't know it will cost him 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, [my] sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words of my mouth.
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Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say.
25 Don't let your heart turn aside to her ways; don't stray onto her paths.
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Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths.
26 For she has brought many down to death; her victims are countless.
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Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng.
27 Her house is the road to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.
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Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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.