Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
New Living Translation NLT
1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my precepts with thee. Son,
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Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands.
2 Keep my commandments, and thou shalt live: and my law as the apple of thy eye:
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Obey my commands and live! Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes.
3 Bind it upon thy fingers, write it upon the tables of thy heart.
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Tie them on your fingers as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart.
4 Say to wisdom: Thou art my sister: and call prudence thy friend,
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Love wisdom like a sister; make insight a beloved member of your family.
5 That she may keep thee from the woman that is not thine, and from the stranger who sweeteneth her 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 For I looked out of the window of my house through the lattice,
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While I was at the window of my house, looking through the curtain,
7 And I see little ones, I behold a foolish young man,
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I saw some naive young men, and one in particular who lacked common sense.
8 Who passeth through the street by the corner, and goeth nigh the way 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 In the dark when it grows late, in the darkness and obscurity of the night.
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It was at twilight, in the evening, as deep darkness fell.
10 And behold a woman meeteth him in harlot’s attire, prepared to deceive souls: talkative and wandering,
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The woman approached him, seductively dressed and sly of heart.
11 Not bearing to be quiet, not able to abide still at home,
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She was the brash, rebellious type, never content to stay at home.
12 Now abroad, now in the streets, now lying in wait near the corners.
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She is often in the streets and markets, soliciting at every corner.
13 And catching the young man, she kisseth him, and with an impudent face, flattereth, saying:
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She threw her arms around him and kissed him, and with a brazen look she said,
14 I vowed victims for prosperity, this day I have paid my vows.
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“I’ve just made my peace offerings and fulfilled my vows.
15 Therefore I am come out to meet thee, desirous to see thee, and I have found thee.
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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 woven my bed with cords, I have covered it with painted tapestry, brought 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 us be inebriated with the breasts, and let us enjoy the desired embraces, till the day appear.
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Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning. Let’s enjoy each other’s caresses,
19 For my husband is not at home, he is gone a very long journey.
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for my husband is not home. He’s away on a long trip.
20 He took with him a bag of money: he will return home the day of the 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 She entangled him with many words, and drew him away with the flattery of her lips.
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So she seduced him with her pretty speech and enticed him with her flattery.
22 Immediately he followeth her as an ox led to be a victim, and as a lamb playing the wanton, and not knowing that he is drawn like a fool to bonds,
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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 the arrow pierce his liver: as if a bird should make haste to the snare, and knoweth not that his life is in danger.
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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, therefore, my son, hear me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
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So listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to my words.
25 Let not thy mind be drawn away in her ways: neither be thou deceived with her paths.
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Don’t let your hearts stray away toward her. Don’t wander down her wayward path.
26 For she hath cast down many wounded, and the strongest have been slain by her.
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For she has been the ruin of many; many men have been her victims.
27 Her house is the way to hell, reaching even to the inner chambers of death.
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Her house is the road to the grave. Her bedroom is the den of death.
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.
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.