The Bible in Basic English BBE
New International Version NIV
1 My son, keep my sayings, and let my rules be stored up with you.
1
My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.
2 Keep my rules and you will have life; let my teaching be to you as the light of your eyes;
2
Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3 Let them be fixed to your fingers, and recorded in your heart.
3
Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, You are my sister; let knowledge be named your special friend:
4
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and to insight, “You are my relative.”
5 So that they may keep you from the strange woman, even from her whose words are smooth.
5
They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words.
6 Looking out from my house, and watching through the window,
6
At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice.
7 I saw among the young men one without sense,
7
I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense.
8 Walking in the street near the turn of her road, going on the way to her house,
8
He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house
9 At nightfall, in the evening of the day, in the black dark of the night.
9
at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.
10 And the woman came out to him, in the dress of a loose woman, with a designing heart;
10
Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
11 She is full of noise and uncontrolled; her feet keep not in her house.
11
(She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home;
12 Now she is in the street, now in the open spaces, waiting at every turning of the road.
12
now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.)
13 So she took him by his hand, kissing him, and without a sign of shame she said to him:
13
She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said:
14 I have a feast of peace-offerings, for today my oaths have been effected.
14
“Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.
15 So I came out in the hope of meeting you, looking for you with care, and now I have you.
15
So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you!
16 My bed is covered with cushions of needlework, with coloured cloths of the cotton thread of Egypt;
16
I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt.
17 I have made my bed sweet with perfumes and spices.
17
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our pleasure in love till the morning, having joy in love's delights.
18
Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning; let’s enjoy ourselves with love!
19 For the master of the house is away on a long journey:
19
My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.
20 He has taken a bag of money with him; he is coming back at the full moon.
20
He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.”
21 With her fair words she overcame him, forcing him with her smooth lips.
21
With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk.
22 The simple man goes after her, like an ox going to its death, like a roe pulled by a cord;
22
All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose
23 Like a bird falling into a net; with no thought that his life is in danger, till an arrow goes into his side.
23
till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life.
24 So now, my sons, give ear to me; give attention to the sayings of my mouth;
24
Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say.
25 Let not your heart be turned to her ways, do not go wandering in her footsteps.
25
Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths.
26 For those wounded and made low by her are great in number; and all those who have come to their death through her are a great army.
26
Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng.
27 Her house is the way to the underworld, going down to the rooms of death.
27
Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.
The Bible in Basic English 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.