1
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MY SON, keep my words; lay up within you my commandments [for use when needed] and treasure them. |
2
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Keep my commandments and live, and keep my law and teaching as the apple (the pupil) of your eye. |
3
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Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. |
4
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Say to skillful and godly Wisdom, You are my sister, and regard understanding or insight as your intimate friend-- |
5
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That they may keep you from the loose woman, from the adventuress who flatters with and makes smooth her words. |
6
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For at the window of my house I looked out through my lattice. |
7
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And among the simple (empty-headed and emptyhearted) ones, I perceived among the youths a young man void of good sense, |
8
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Sauntering through the street near the [loose woman's] corner; and he went the way to her house |
9
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In the twilight, in the evening; night black and dense was falling [over the young man's life]. |
10
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And behold, there met him a woman, dressed as a harlot and sly and cunning of heart. |
11
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She is turbulent and willful; her feet stay not in her house; |
12
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Now in the streets, now in the marketplaces, she sets her ambush at every corner. |
13
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So she caught him and kissed him and with impudent face she said to him, |
14
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Sacrifices of peace offerings were due from me; this day I paid my vows. |
15
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So I came forth to meet you [that you might share with me the feast from my offering]; diligently I sought your face, and I have found you. |
16
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I have spread my couch with rugs and cushions of tapestry, with striped sheets of fine linen of Egypt. |
17
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I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. |
18
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Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; let us console and delight ourselves with love. |
19
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For the man is not at home; he is gone on a long journey; |
20
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He has taken a bag of money with him and will come home at the day appointed [at the full moon]. |
21
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With much justifying and enticing argument she persuades him, with the allurements of her lips she leads him [to overcome his conscience and his fears] and forces him along. |
22
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Suddenly he [yields and] follows her reluctantly like an ox moving to the slaughter, like one in fetters going to the correction [to be given] to a fool or like a dog enticed by food to the muzzle |
23
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Till a dart [of passion] pierces and inflames his vitals; then like a bird fluttering straight into the net [he hastens], not knowing that it will cost him his life. |
24
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Listen to me now therefore, O you sons, and be attentive to the words of my mouth. |
25
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Let not your heart incline toward her ways, do not stray into her paths. |
26
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For she has cast down many wounded; indeed, all her slain are a mighty host. [Neh. 13:26.] |
27
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Her house is the way to Sheol (Hades, the place of the dead), going down to the chambers of death. |
Proverbs 7:1 English Language Bible Words basic statistical display
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