The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
New International Version NIV
1 My son, keep my words, store up my commands with you.
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My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.
2 Obey my commands, and live; guard my teaching like 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 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"; call understanding your kinswoman;
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Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and to insight, “You are my relative.”
5 so that they can keep you from unknown women, from loose women with their seductive talk.
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They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words.
6 For I was at the window of my house, glancing out through the lattice,
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At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice.
7 when I saw among the young men there, among those who don't think for themselves, a young fellow devoid of all sense.
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I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense.
8 He crosses the street near her corner and continues on toward her house.
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He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house
9 Dusk turns into evening, and finally night, dark and black.
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at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.
10 Then a woman approaches him, dressed as 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's the coarse, impulsive type, whose feet don't stay at home;
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(She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home;
12 rather, she stalks the streets and squares, lurking at every streetcorner.
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now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.)
13 She grabs him, gives him a kiss, and, brazen-faced, 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 peace sacrifices, and I fulfilled my vows today.
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“Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.
15 This is why I came out to meet you, to look for you; now 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 quilts on my couch made of colored 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 on, let's make love till morning; we'll enjoy making 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 at home, he's gone on a long trip;
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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 won't be back till the moon is full."
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He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.”
21 With all her sweet talk she convinces him, enticing him with her seductive words.
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With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk.
22 At once he follows her like an ox on its way to be slaughtered; like a fool to be punished in the stocks;
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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 or like a bird rushing into a trap, not knowing its life is at stake till an arrow pierces its liver.
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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 now, children, listen to me; pay attention to what I am saying.
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Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say.
25 Don't let your heart turn 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 many are those she has struck down dead, numerous those she has killed.
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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 Sh'ol; it leads down to the halls of death.
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Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.
Complete Jewish Bible Copyright 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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.