New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
1 My son, remember what I say, and treasure my commands.
1
My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.
2 Obey my commands, and you will live. Guard my teachings as you would your own eyes.
2
Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3 Remind yourself of them; write them on your heart as if on a tablet.
3
Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Treat wisdom as a sister, and make understanding your closest friend.
4
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and to insight, “You are my relative.”
5 Wisdom and understanding will keep you away from adultery, away from the unfaithful wife and her pleasing words.
5
They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words.
6 Once while I was at the window of my house I looked out through the shutters
6
At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice.
7 and saw some foolish, young men. I noticed one of them had no wisdom.
7
I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense.
8 He was walking down the street near the corner on the road leading to her house.
8
He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house
9 It was the twilight of the evening; the darkness of the night was just beginning.
9
at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.
10 Then the woman approached him, dressed like a prostitute and planning to trick him.
10
Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
11 She was loud and stubborn and never stayed at home.
11
(She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home;
12 She was always out in the streets or in the city squares, waiting around on the corners of the streets.
12
now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.)
13 She grabbed him and kissed him. Without shame she said to him,
13
She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said:
14 "I made my fellowship offering and took some of the meat home. Today I have kept my special promises.
14
“Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.
15 So I have come out to meet you; I have been looking for you and have found you.
15
So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you!
16 I have covered my bed with colored sheets from Egypt.
16
I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt.
17 I have made my bed smell sweet with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
17
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
18 Come, let's make love until morning. Let's enjoy each other's love.
18
Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning; let’s enjoy ourselves with love!
19 My husband is not home; he has gone on a long trip.
19
My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.
20 He took a lot of money with him and won't be home for weeks."
20
He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.”
21 By her clever words she made him give in; by her pleasing words she led him into doing wrong.
21
With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk.
22 All at once he followed her, like an ox led to the butcher, like a deer caught in a trap
22
All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose
23 and shot through the liver with an arrow. Like a bird caught in a trap, he didn't know what he did would kill him.
23
till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life.
24 Now, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say.
24
Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say.
25 Don't let yourself be tricked by such a woman; don't go where she leads you.
25
Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths.
26 She has ruined many good men, and many have died because of her.
26
Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng.
27 Her house is on the road to death, the road that leads down to the grave.
27
Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. 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.