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Chapter 7
1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my precepts with you. Son,
2 Keep my commandments, and you shall live: and my law as the apple of your eye:
3 Bind it upon your fingers, write it upon the tables of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom: you are my sister: and call prudence your friend,
5 That she may keep you from the woman that is not yours, and from the stranger who sweetens her words.
6 For I look out of the window of my house through the lattice,
7 And I see little ones, I behold a foolish young man,
8 Who passes through the street by the corner, and goes 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 meets 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 kisses him, and with an impudent face, flatters, saying:
14 I vowed victims for prosperity, this day I have paid my vows.
15 Therefore I am come out to meet you, desirous to see you, and I have found you.
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 mill 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 follows 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 know 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 your mind be drawn away in her ways: neither be deceived with her paths.
26 For she has 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.