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The Woman of Adultery

My son, remember what I say.
    Treasure my commands.
Obey my commands, and you will live.
    Protect my teachings as you would your own eyes.
Remind yourself of them.
    Write them down in your mind as if on a tablet.
Be good to wisdom as if she were your sister.
    Make understanding your closest friend.
Wisdom and understanding will keep you away from adultery.
    They will keep you away from the unfaithful wife and her pleasing words.

I once was standing at the window of my house.
    I looked out through the shutters.
I saw some foolish, young men.
    I noticed one of them who had no wisdom.
He was walking down the street near the corner.
    He was on the road leading to her house.
It was the twilight of the evening.
    The darkness of the night was just beginning.
10 Then the woman approached him.
    She was dressed like a prostitute
    and was planning to trick him.
11 She was a loud and stubborn woman.
    She never stayed at home.
12 She was always out in the streets or in the city squares.
    She was always waiting around on the street corners.
13 She grabbed him and kissed him.
    Without shame she said to him,
14 “I made my fellowship offering and have the meat at home.
    I have kept my special promises.
15 So I have come out to meet you.
    I have been looking for you and have found you!
16 I have covered my bed
    with colored sheets from Egypt.
17 I have made my bed smell sweet
    with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s make love until morning.
    Let’s enjoy each other’s love!
19 My husband is not home.
    He has gone on a long trip.
20 He took a lot of money with him.
    And he won’t be home for weeks.”
21 By her clever words she made him give in.
    By her pleasing words she led him into doing wrong.
22 All at once he followed her.
    He was like an ox being led to the butcher.
He was like a deer caught in a trap.
23     But quickly an arrow shot through his liver.
He was like a bird caught in a trap.
    He didn’t know what he did would kill him.

24 Now, my sons, listen to me.
    Pay attention to what I say.
25 Don’t let yourself be tricked by the woman who is guilty of adultery.
    Don’t join her in her evil actions.
26 She has ruined many good men.
    Many have died because of her.
27 Going to her house is like taking the road to death.
    That road leads down to where the dead are.

Warning Against the Adulterous Woman

My son,(A) keep my words
    and store up my commands within you.
Keep my commands and you will live;(B)
    guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
Bind them on your fingers;
    write them on the tablet of your heart.(C)
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
    and to insight, “You are my relative.”
They will keep you from the adulterous woman,
    from the wayward woman with her seductive words.(D)

At the window of my house
    I looked down through the lattice.
I saw among the simple,
    I noticed among the young men,
    a youth who had no sense.(E)
He was going down the street near her corner,
    walking along in the direction of her house
at twilight,(F) as the day was fading,
    as the dark of night set in.

10 Then out came a woman to meet him,
    dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
11 (She is unruly(G) and defiant,
    her feet never stay at home;
12 now in the street, now in the squares,
    at every corner she lurks.)(H)
13 She took hold of him(I) and kissed him
    and with a brazen face she said:(J)

14 “Today I fulfilled my vows,
    and I have food from my fellowship offering(K) at home.
15 So I came out to meet you;
    I looked for you and have found you!
16 I have covered my bed
    with colored linens from Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed(L)
    with myrrh,(M) aloes and cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning;
    let’s enjoy ourselves with love!(N)
19 My husband is not at home;
    he has gone on a long journey.
20 He took his purse filled with money
    and will not be home till full moon.”

21 With persuasive words she led him astray;
    she seduced him with her smooth talk.(O)
22 All at once he followed her
    like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer[a] stepping into a noose[b](P)
23     till an arrow pierces(Q) his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
    little knowing it will cost him his life.(R)

24 Now then, my sons, listen(S) to me;
    pay attention to what I say.
25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways
    or stray into her paths.(T)
26 Many are the victims she has brought down;
    her slain are a mighty throng.
27 Her house is a highway to the grave,
    leading down to the chambers of death.(U)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 7:22 Syriac (see also Septuagint); Hebrew fool
  2. Proverbs 7:22 The meaning of the Hebrew for this line is uncertain.