New International Version NIV
Young's Literal Translation YLT
1 My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you.
1
My son! keep my sayings, And my commands lay up with thee.
2 Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
2
Keep my commands, and live, And my law as the pupil of thine eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
3
Bind them on thy fingers, Write them on the tablet of thy heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and to insight, “You are my relative.”
4
Say to wisdom, `My sister Thou [art].' And cry to understanding, `Kinswoman!'
5 They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words.
5
To preserve thee from a strange woman, From a stranger who hath made smooth her sayings.
6 At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice.
6
For, at a window of my house, Through my casement I have looked out,
7 I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense.
7
And I do see among the simple ones, I discern among the sons, A young man lacking understanding,
8 He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house
8
Passing on in the street, near her corner, And the way [to] her house he doth step,
9 at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.
9
In the twilight -- in the evening of day, In the darkness of night and blackness.
10 Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
10
And, lo, a woman to meet him -- (A harlot's dress, and watchful of heart,
11 (She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home;
11
Noisy she [is], and stubborn, In her house her feet rest not.
12 now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.)
12
Now in an out-place, now in broad places, And near every corner she lieth in wait) --
13 She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said:
13
And she laid hold on him, and kissed him, She hath hardened her face, and saith to him,
14 “Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home.
14
`Sacrifices of peace-offerings [are] by me, To-day I have completed my vows.
15 So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you!
15
Therefore I have come forth to meet thee, To seek earnestly thy face, and I find thee.
16 I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt.
16
[With] ornamental coverings I decked my couch, Carved works -- cotton of Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
17
I sprinkled my bed -- myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning; let’s enjoy ourselves with love!
18
Come, we are filled [with] loves till the morning, We delight ourselves in loves.
19 My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.
19
For the man is not in his house, He hath gone on a long journey.
20 He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.”
20
A bag of money he hath taken in his hand, At the day of the new moon he cometh to his house.'
21 With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk.
21
She turneth him aside with the abundance of her speech, With the flattery of her lips she forceth him.
22 All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose
22
He is going after her straightway, As an ox unto the slaughter he cometh, And as a fetter unto the chastisement of a fool,
23 till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life.
23
Till an arrow doth split his liver, As a bird hath hastened unto a snare, And hath not known that it [is] for its life.
24 Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say.
24
And now, ye sons, hearken to me, And give attention to sayings of my mouth.
25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths.
25
Let not thy heart turn unto her ways, Do not wander in her paths,
26 Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng.
26
For many [are] the wounded she caused to fall, And mighty [are] all her slain ones.
27 Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.
27
The ways of Sheol -- her house, Going down unto inner 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.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.