New Revised Standard w/ Apocrypha NRSA
New International Version NIV
1 My child, keep my words and store up my commandments with you;
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My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.
2 keep my commandments and live, keep my teachings as the apple of your eye;
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Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3 bind them on 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 insight your intimate friend,
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Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and to insight, “You are my relative.”
5 that they may keep you from the loose woman, from the adulteress with her smooth 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 out through my lattice,
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At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice.
7 and I saw among the simple ones, I observed among the youths, a young man without sense,
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I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense.
8 passing along the street near her corner, taking 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 in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness.
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at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.
10 Then a woman comes toward him, decked out like a prostitute, wily 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 wayward; 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, and at every corner she lies in wait.
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now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.)
13 She seizes him and kisses him, and with impudent face she says to him:
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She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said:
14 "I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows;
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“Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.
15 so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you!
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So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you!
16 I have decked my couch with coverings, colored spreads of Egyptian linen;
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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 morning; let us delight ourselves with love.
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Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning; let’s enjoy ourselves with love!
19 For my husband is not at home; he has gone 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; he will not come home until full moon."
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He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.”
21 With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him.
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With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk.
22 Right away he follows her, and goes like an ox to the slaughter, or bounds like a stag toward the 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 entrails. He is like a bird rushing into a snare, not knowing that 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 And now, my children, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth.
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Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say.
25 Do not let your hearts turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths.
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Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths.
26 for many are those she has laid low, and numerous are her victims.
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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 Sheol, 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.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. 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.