Revised Standard Version w/ Apocrypha RSVA
New International Version NIV
1 My son, keep my words and treasure 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 to preserve you from the loose woman, from the adventuress 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 have looked out through my lattice,
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At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice.
7 and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived 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 And lo, a woman meets him, dressed as a harlot, 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 market, 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 till 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; at full moon he will come home."
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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 All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast
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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 an arrow pierces its entrails; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know 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, O sons, 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 Let not your heart 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 a victim has she laid low; yea, all her slain are a mighty host.
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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.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the 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.