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[1] My son, keep my words, and hide my commandments with thee.
[2] Keep my commandments, and thou shalt live, and mine instruction as the apple of thine eyes.
[3] Bind them upon thy fingers, and write them upon the table of thine heart.
[4] Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister: and call understanding thy kinswoman,
[5] That they may keep thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger that is smooth in her words.
[6] As I was in the window of mine house, I looked through my window,
[7] And I saw among the fools, and considered among the children a young man destitute of understanding,
[8] Who passed through the street by her corner, and went toward her house,
[9] In the twilight in the evening, when the night began to be black and dark.
[10] And behold, there met him a woman with an harlot's behavior, and subtle in heart.
[11] (She is babbling and loud: whose feet cannot abide in her house.
[12] Now she is without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner)
[13] So she caught him and kissed him and with an impudent face said unto him,
[14] I have peace offerings: this day have I paid my vows.
[15] Therefore came I forth to meet thee, that I might seek thy face: and I have found thee.
[16] I have decked my bed with ornaments, carpets and laces of Egypt.
[17] I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
[18] Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us take our pleasure in dalliance.
[19] For mine husband is not at home: he is gone a journey far off.
[20] He hath taken with him a bag of silver, and will come home at the day appointed.
[21] Thus with her great craft she caused him to yield, and with her flattering lips she enticed him.
[22] And he followed her straight ways, as an ox that goeth to the slaughter, and as a fool to the stocks for correction,
[23] Till a dart strike through his liver, as a bird hasteth to the snare, not knowing that he is in danger.
[24] Hear me now therefore, O children, and hearken to the words of my mouth.
[25] Let not thine heart decline to her ways: wander thou not in her paths.
[26] For she hath caused many to fall down wounded, and the strong men are all slain by her.
[27] Her house is the way unto the grave, which goeth down to the chambers of death.
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