Hold Wisdom Close
A father watching from his window tells what he saw. A young man with no sense walks toward a particular house at dusk, met by a woman who has made her plans and knows her husband is away. He follows like an ox to the slaughter.
7 1My son, keep my words, and store up my commandments within you.
2Keep my commandments and live; guard my teaching as the apple of your eye. 3Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
4Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call understanding your dearest friend, 5to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the stranger with her smooth words.
6For at the window of my house I looked down through my lattice, 7and I saw among the naive, I noticed among the young men, a youth who lacked sense, 8passing through the street near her corner, taking the road to her house, 9in the twilight, as the day faded, in the dark of night and gloom.
10And there a woman comes to meet him, dressed like a prostitute, with cunning in her heart. 11She is loud and defiant; her feet will not stay at home. 12Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner. 13She grabs him and kisses him, and with a brazen face she says to him:
14"I had peace offerings to bring; today I have paid my vows. a a v14 A peace offering was shared as a feast — she means she has food ready and a reason to celebrate at home. 15So I came out to meet you, to look for you eagerly, and I have found you. 16I have spread my bed with coverings, with colored linens from Egypt. 17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18Come, let us drink deep of love until morning; let us lose ourselves in love. 19For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. 20He took a bag of money with him and will not come home until the full moon."
21With all her persuasive words she sways him; with her smooth lips she draws him in. 22All at once he follows her, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a snare, 23until an arrow pierces its liver; like a bird darting into a trap, he does not know it will cost him his life.
24Now then, my sons, listen to me, and pay attention to what I say. 25Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways; do not wander into her paths. 26For she has brought down many victims; her slain are a mighty multitude. 27Her house is the road to the grave, going down to the chambers of death.
