New International Version NIV
Good News Translation GNT
1 My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.
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My child, remember what I say and never forget what I tell you to do.
2 Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
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Do what I say, and you will live. Be as careful to follow my teaching as you are to protect your eyes.
3 Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
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Keep my teaching with you all the time; write it on your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and to insight, “You are my relative.”
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Treat wisdom as your sister, and insight as your closest friend.
5 They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words.
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They will keep you away from other men's wives, from women with seductive words.
6 At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice.
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Once I was looking out the window of my house,
7 I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense.
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and I saw many inexperienced young men, but noticed one foolish fellow in particular.
8 He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house
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He was walking along the street near the corner where a certain woman lived. He was passing near her house
9 at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.
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in the evening after it was dark.
10 Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
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And then she met him; she was dressed like a prostitute and was making plans.
11 (She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home;
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She was a bold and shameless woman who always walked the streets
12 now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.)
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or stood waiting at a corner, sometimes in the streets, sometimes in the marketplace.
13 She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said:
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She threw her arms around the young man, kissed him, looked him straight in the eye, and said,
14 “Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.
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"I made my offerings today and have the meat from the sacrifices.
15 So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you!
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So I came out looking for you. I wanted to find you, and here you are!
16 I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt.
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I've covered my bed with sheets of colored linen from Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
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I've perfumed it 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 all night long. We'll be happy in each other's arms.
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 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 plenty of money with him and won't be back for two weeks."
21 With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk.
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So she tempted him with her charms, and he gave in to her smooth talk.
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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Suddenly he was going with her like an ox on the way to be slaughtered, like a deer prancing 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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where an arrow would pierce its heart. He was like a bird going into a net - he did not know that his life was in danger.
24 Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say.
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Now then, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to what I say.
25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths.
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Do not let such a woman win your heart; don't go wandering after her.
26 Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng.
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She has been the ruin of many men and caused the death of too many to count.
27 Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.
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If you go to her house, you are on the way to the world of the dead. It is a shortcut to 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.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.