New International Version NIV
New Living Translation NLT
1 My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.
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Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands.
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 instructions as you guard your own eyes.
3 Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
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Tie them on your fingers as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and to insight, “You are my relative.”
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Love wisdom like a sister; make insight a beloved member of your family.
5 They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words.
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Let them protect you from an affair with an immoral woman, from listening to the flattery of a promiscuous woman.
6 At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice.
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While I was at the window of my house, looking through the curtain,
7 I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense.
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I saw some naive young men, and one in particular who lacked common 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 near the house of an immoral woman, strolling down the path by her house.
9 at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.
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It was at twilight, in the evening, as deep darkness fell.
10 Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
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The woman approached him, seductively dressed and sly of heart.
11 (She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home;
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She was the brash, rebellious type, never content to stay at home.
12 now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.)
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She is often in the streets and markets, soliciting at every corner.
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 him and kissed him, and with a brazen look she said,
14 “Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.
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“I’ve just made my peace offerings and fulfilled my vows.
15 So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you!
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You’re the one I was looking for! I came out to find you, and here you are!
16 I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt.
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My bed is spread with beautiful blankets, with colored sheets of 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, let’s drink our fill of love until morning. Let’s enjoy each other’s caresses,
19 My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.
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for my husband is not home. He’s away 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 has taken a wallet full of money with him and won’t return until later this month. ”
21 With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk.
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So she seduced him with her pretty speech and enticed 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 followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter. He was like a stag caught in 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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awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart. He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life.
24 Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say.
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So listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to my words.
25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths.
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Don’t let your hearts stray away toward her. Don’t wander down her wayward path.
26 Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng.
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For she has been the ruin of many; many men have been her victims.
27 Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.
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Her house is the road to the grave. Her bedroom is the den 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.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.