Proverbs (Sentences), 7
The love of wisdom is the best preservative from being led astray by temptation.
[1] My son, keep my words, and lay up my precepts with thee. Son, •
[2] Keep my commandments, and thou shalt live: and my law as the apple of thy eye:
[3] Bind it upon thy fingers, write it upon the tables of thy heart. •
[4] Say to wisdom: Thou art my sister: and call prudence thy friend,
[5] That she may keep thee from the woman that is not thine, and from the stranger who sweeteneth her words. •
[6] For I looked out of the window of my house through the lattice, •
[7] And I see little ones, I behold a foolish young man, •
[8] Who passeth through the street by the corner, and goeth nigh the way of her house,
[9] In the dark when it grows late, in the darkness and obscurity of the night.
[10] And behold a woman meeteth him in harlot's attire, prepared to deceive souls: talkative and wandering, •
[11] Not bearing to be quiet, not able to abide still at home, •
[12] Now abroad, now in the streets, now lying in wait near the corners.
[13] And catching the young man, she kisseth him, and with an impudent face, flattereth, saying:
[14] I vowed victims for prosperity, this day I have paid my vows. •
[15] Therefore I am come out to meet thee, desirous to see thee, and I have found thee.
[16] I have woven my bed with cords, I have covered it with painted tapestry, brought from Egypt. •
[17] I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. •
[18] Come, let us be inebriated with the breasts, and let us enjoy the desired embraces, till the day appear. •
[19] For my husband is not at home, he is gone a very long journey. •
[20] He took with him a bag of money: he will return home the day of the full moon. •
[21] She entangled him with many words, and drew him away with the flattery of her lips.
[22] Immediately he followeth her as an ox led to be a victim, and as a lamb playing the wanton, and not knowing that he is drawn like a fool to bonds, •
[23] Till the arrow pierce his liver: as if a bird should make haste to the snare, and knoweth not that his life is in danger.
[24] Now, therefore, my son, hear me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
[25] Let not thy mind be drawn away in her ways: neither be thou deceived with her paths.
[26] For she hath cast down many wounded, and the strongest have been slain by her. •
[27] Her house is the way to hell, reaching even to the inner chambers of death. •