Proverbs of Solomon 7 — The Holy Bible

A Son with Discernment

My son, guard my words,

And hide my commandments within yourself;

My son, honor the Lord, and you shall be strong,

And fear none other but Him.

Guard my commandments

And you will live, and my words as the pupils of your eyes;

And put them around your fingers,

And write them upon the breadth of your heart.

Say that wisdom is your sister,

And gain discernment as a friend for yourself,

So they may keep you from a strange and evil woman,

If she comes at you with flattering words.

A Son without Discernment

For she looks from a window of her house into the streets

Upon whom she might see among the undiscerning children,

A young man lacking discernment

Passing by near the corner on the pathways of her house;

And she speaks in the darkness at evening,

When there is silence on a dark night;

And the woman meets him, having the appearance of a prostitute;

She makes the heart of young men throb.

She is excited and debauched,

And her feet do not rest at home.

For at times she is outside roaming about,

And another time she is in the streets near every corner laying a trap.

Then laying hold of him, she kisses him,

And with a shameless face she says to him,

“I have a peace offering;

Today I pay my vows;

For this reason I came out to meet you;

Longing for your face, I found you;

I spread my bed with sheets

And covered it with tapestry from Egypt.

I sprinkled my bed with saffron

And my house with cinnamon;

Come, and let us enjoy love until morning;

Come, and let us embrace in love;

For my husband is not at home,

But is gone on a long journey

Taking a bag of money in his hand;

He will return to his house after many days.”

So she leads him astray with much conversation,

And with snares from her lips she compels him.

And being cajoled, he follows her

As an ox is led for slaughter

And as a dog to bonds,

Or as a deer struck with an arrow in the liver;

And he hastens even as a bird into a snare,

Not knowing he runs for his life.

Now therefore, my son, hear me,

And hold fast to the words of my mouth;

Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,

For she wounded and cast down many,

And those whom she slew are innumerable;

Her house is the road to Hades,

Leading down to the chambers of death.