and forsake not the law of thy mother: 21 Bind them continually upon thy heart, and tie them about thy neck. 22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. 23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: [1] 24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of an adulteress woman. [2] 25 Lust not after her beauty in thy heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. 26 For by means of an harlot a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. [3] 27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? 28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? 29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. 30 Men do not despise a thief, if he stealeth to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; 31 But if he is found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house. 32 But whoever committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. [4] 33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. 34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts. [5]
CHAP. 7.
My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thy eye.
3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thy heart.
4 Say to wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:
5 That they may keep thee from the adulteress, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.
6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, [6]
8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: [7]
10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
12 Now is she outside, 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 to him, [8]
14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I paid my vows. [9]
15 Therefore I came forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen 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 solace ourselves with loves.
19 For my husband is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed. [10] [11]
21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she seduced him.
22 He goeth after her quickly, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; [12]
23 Till an arrow striketh through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
24 Now therefore hearken to me, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not thy heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
CHAP. 8.
Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
2 She standeth on the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entrance of the doors.
4 To you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. [13]
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing crooked or perverse in them. [14]
9 They are all plain to him that understandeth,
- ↑ lamp: or, candle
- ↑ of the...: or, of the strange tongue
- ↑ the adulteress: Heb. the woman of a man, or, a man’s wife
- ↑ understanding: Heb. heart
- ↑ He will...: Heb. He will not accept the face of any ransom
- ↑ the youths: Heb. the sons
- ↑ in the evening: Heb. in the evening of days
- ↑ with...: Heb. she strengthened her face and said
- ↑ I have...: Heb. Peace offerings are upon me
- ↑ with...: Heb. in his hand
- ↑ the day...: or, the new moon
- ↑ straightway: Heb. suddenly
- ↑ an...: Heb. the abomination of my lips
- ↑ froward: Heb. wreathed
