Holman Christian Standard Bible CSB
English Standard Version ESV
1 My son, obey my words, and treasure my commands.
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My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you;
2 Keep my commands and live; protect my teachings as you would the pupil of your eye.
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keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;
3 Tie them to 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 understanding [your] relative.
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Say to wisdom, “You are my sister, ”and call insight your intimate friend,
5 She will keep you from a forbidden woman, a stranger with her flattering talk.
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to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words.
6 At the window of my house I looked through my lattice.
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For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice,
7 I saw among the inexperienced, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking sense.
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and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense,
8 Crossing the street near her corner, he strolled down the road to her house
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passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house
9 at twilight, in the evening, in the dark of the night.
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in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness.
10 A woman came to meet him, dressed like a prostitute, having a hidden agenda.
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And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart.
11 She is loud and defiant; her feet do not stay at home.
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She is loud and wayward; her feet do not stay at home;
12 Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner.
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now in the street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait.
13 She grabs him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him,
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She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him,
14 "I've made fellowship offerings; today I've fulfilled my vows.
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“I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows;
15 So I came out to meet you, to search for you, and I've found you.
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so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.
16 I've spread coverings on my bed- richly colored linen from Egypt.
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I have spread my couch with coverings, colored linens from Egyptian linen;
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 deeply of lovemaking until morning. Let's feast on each other's love!
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Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love.
19 My husband isn't home; he went on a long journey.
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For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey;
20 He took a bag of money with him and will come home at the time of the full moon."
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he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home. ”
21 She seduces him with her persistent pleading; she lures with her flattering talk.
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With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him.
22 He follows her impulsively like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding toward a trap
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All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast
23 until an arrow pierces its liver, like a bird darting into a snare- he doesn't know it will cost him his life.
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till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life.
24 Now, [my] sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words of my mouth.
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And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth.
25 Don't let your heart turn aside to her ways; don't stray onto her paths.
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Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths,
26 For she has brought many down to death; her victims are countless.
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for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng.
27 Her house is the road to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.
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Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025