1 M y son! keep my sayings, And my commands lay up with thee.

2 K eep my commands, and live, And my law as the pupil of thine eye.

3 B ind them on thy fingers, Write them on the tablet of thy heart.

4 S ay to wisdom, `My sister Thou.' And cry to understanding, `Kinswoman!'

5 T o preserve thee from a strange woman, From a stranger who hath made smooth her sayings.

6 F or, at a window of my house, Through my casement I have looked out,

7 A nd I do see among the simple ones, I discern among the sons, A young man lacking understanding,

8 P assing on in the street, near her corner, And the way her house he doth step,

9 I n the twilight -- in the evening of day, In the darkness of night and blackness.

10 A nd, lo, a woman to meet him -- (A harlot's dress, and watchful of heart,

11 N oisy she, and stubborn, In her house her feet rest not.

12 N ow in an out-place, now in broad places, And near every corner she lieth in wait) --

13 A nd she laid hold on him, and kissed him, She hath hardened her face, and saith to him,

14 ` Sacrifices of peace-offerings by me, To-day I have completed my vows.

15 T herefore I have come forth to meet thee, To seek earnestly thy face, and I find thee.

16 o rnamental coverings I decked my couch, Carved works -- cotton of Egypt.

17 I sprinkled my bed -- myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

18 C ome, we are filled loves till the morning, We delight ourselves in loves.

19 F or the man is not in his house, He hath gone on a long journey.

20 A bag of money he hath taken in his hand, At the day of the new moon he cometh to his house.'

21 S he turneth him aside with the abundance of her speech, With the flattery of her lips she forceth him.

22 H e is going after her straightway, As an ox unto the slaughter he cometh, And as a fetter unto the chastisement of a fool,

23 T ill an arrow doth split his liver, As a bird hath hastened unto a snare, And hath not known that it for its life.

24 A nd now, ye sons, hearken to me, And give attention to sayings of my mouth.

25 L et not thy heart turn unto her ways, Do not wander in her paths,

26 F or many the wounded she caused to fall, And mighty all her slain ones.

27 T he ways of Sheol -- her house, Going down unto inner chambers of death!