New Living Translation NLT
New International Version NIV
1 Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands.
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My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.
2 Obey my commands and live! Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes.
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Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3 Tie them on your fingers as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.
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Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Love wisdom like a sister; make insight a beloved member of your family.
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Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and to insight, “You are my relative.”
5 Let them protect you from an affair with an immoral woman, from listening to the flattery of a promiscuous woman.
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They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words.
6 While I was at the window of my house, looking through the curtain,
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At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice.
7 I saw some naive young men, and one in particular who lacked common sense.
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I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense.
8 He was crossing the street near the house of an immoral woman, strolling down the path by her house.
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He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house
9 It was at twilight, in the evening, as deep darkness fell.
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at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.
10 The woman approached him, seductively dressed and sly of heart.
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Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
11 She was the brash, rebellious type, never content to stay at home.
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(She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home;
12 She is often in the streets and markets, soliciting at every corner.
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now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.)
13 She threw her arms around him and kissed him, and with a brazen look she said,
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She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said:
14 “I’ve just made my peace offerings and fulfilled my vows.
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“Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.
15 You’re the one I was looking for! I came out to find you, and here you are!
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So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you!
16 My bed is spread with beautiful blankets, with colored sheets of Egyptian linen.
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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 our fill of love until morning. Let’s enjoy each other’s caresses,
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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 home. He’s away on a long trip.
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My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.
20 He has taken a wallet full of money with him and won’t return until later this month. ”
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He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.”
21 So she seduced him with her pretty speech and enticed him with her flattery.
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With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk.
22 He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter. He was like a stag caught in 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 awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart. He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would 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 So listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to my words.
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Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say.
25 Don’t let your hearts stray away toward her. Don’t wander down her wayward path.
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Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths.
26 For she has been the ruin of many; many men have been 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 road to the grave. Her bedroom is the den of death.
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Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. 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.