New International Version NIV
Common English Bible CEB
1 My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.
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My son, keep my words; store up my commands within you.
2 Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
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Keep my commands and live, and my instruction like the pupil 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,” and to insight, “You are my relative.”
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Say to wisdom, "You are my sister"; call understanding "friend,"
5 They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words.
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so she might guard you against the mysterious woman, from the foreign woman who flatters you.
6 At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice.
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When from the window of my house, from behind the screen, I gazed down,
7 I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense.
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I looked among the naive young men and noticed among the youth, one who had no sense.
8 He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house
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He was crossing the street at her corner and walked down the path to her house
9 at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.
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in the early evening, at the onset of night and darkness.
10 Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
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All of a sudden a woman approaches him, dressed like a prostitute and with a cunning mind.
11 (She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home;
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She is noisy and defiant; her feet don't stay long in her own house.
12 now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.)
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She has one foot in the street, one foot in the public square. She lies in wait at every corner.
13 She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said:
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She grabs him and kisses him. Her face is brazen as she speaks to him:
14 “Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.
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"I've made a sacrifice of well-being; today I fulfilled my solemn promises.
15 So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you!
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So I've come out to meet you, seeking you, and I have found you.
16 I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt.
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I've spread my bed with luxurious covers, with colored linens from Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
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I've sprinkled my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning; let’s enjoy ourselves with love!
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Come, let's drink deep of love until morning; let's savor our lovemaking.
19 My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.
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For my husband isn't home; he's gone far away.
20 He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.”
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He took a pouch of money with him; he won't come home till full moon."
21 With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk.
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She seduces him with all her talk. She entices him with her flattery.
22 All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose
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He goes headlong after her, like an ox to the slaughter, like a deer leaping into a trap,
23 till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life.
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until an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird hurrying to the snare, not aware that it will cost him his life.
24 Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say.
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Now children, listen to me, and pay attention to my speech.
25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths.
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Don't turn your heart to her ways; don't wander down her paths.
26 Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng.
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She has caused many corpses to fall; she has killed many people.
27 Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.
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Her house is a path to the grave, going down to the chambers of death.
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.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible