My child, devote yourself to my words

and store up my commands inside yourself.

Keep my commands so that you may live,

and obey my instruction as your most prized possession.

Bind them on your forearm;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”

and call understanding a close relative

so that they may keep you from the adulterous woman,

from the loose woman who has flattered you with her words.

For at the window of my house

through my window lattice I looked out,

and I saw among the naive—

I discerned among the youths—

a young man who lacked sense.

He was passing by the street near her corner,

making his way along the road to her house

in the twilight, the evening,

in the dark of the night.

Suddenly a woman came out to meet him!

She was dressed like a prostitute and with secret intent.

(She is loud and rebellious;

she does not remain at home—

at one time outside, at another in the wide plazas,

and by every corner she lies in wait.)

So she grabbed him and kissed him,

and with a bold expression she said to him,

“I have meat from my peace offerings at home;

today I have fulfilled my vows!

That is why I came out to meet you,

to look for you, and I found you!

I have spread my bed with elegant coverings,

with richly colored fabric from Egypt.

I have perfumed my bed

with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Come, let’s drink deeply of lovemaking until morning;

let’s delight ourselves with love’s pleasures.

For my husband is not at home;

he has gone on a journey of some distance.

He has taken a bag of money with him;

he will not return until the end of the month.”

She turned him aside with her persuasions;

with her smooth talk she was enticing him along.

Suddenly he was going after her

like an ox that goes to the slaughter,

like a stag prancing into a trapper’s snare

till an arrow pierces his liver—

like a bird hurrying into a trap,

and he does not know that it will cost him his life.

So now, sons, listen to me,

and pay attention to the words I speak.

Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways—

do not wander into her pathways;

for she has brought down many fatally wounded,

and all those she has slain are many.

Her house is the way to the grave,

going down to the chambers of death.