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