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Proverbs 7
New International Version

### Warning Against the Adulterous Woman

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

6 At the window of my house
I looked down through the lattice.
7 I saw among the simple,
I noticed among the young men,
a youth who had no sense.(E)
8 He was going down the street near her corner,
walking along in the direction of her house
9 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.

#### Cross references

1. Proverbs 7:1 : S Pr 1:8
2. Proverbs 7:2 : Pr 4:4
3. Proverbs 7:3 : S Pr 3:3
4. Proverbs 7:5 : ver 21; S Job 31:9; S Pr 2:16; 6:24
5. Proverbs 7:7 : S Pr 1:22; S 6:32
6. Proverbs 7:9 : Job 24:15
7. Proverbs 7:11 : Pr 9:13
8. Proverbs 7:12 : Pr 8:1-36; 23:26-28
9. Proverbs 7:13 : S Ge 39:12
10. Proverbs 7:13 : S Pr 1:20
11. Proverbs 7:14 : S Lev 7:11-18
12. Proverbs 7:17 : S Est 1:6; Isa 57:7; Eze 23:41; Am 6:4
13. Proverbs 7:17 : S Ge 37:25
14. Proverbs 7:18 : S Ge 39:7
15. Proverbs 7:21 : S ver 5
16. Proverbs 7:22 : S Job 18:10
17. Proverbs 7:23 : S Job 15:22; S 16:13
18. Proverbs 7:23 : S Pr 6:26; Ecc 7:26
19. Proverbs 7:24 : Pr 1:8-9; 8:32
20. Proverbs 7:25 : Pr 5:7-8
21. Proverbs 7:27 : Jdg 16:19; S Pr 2:18; Rev 22:15

New International Version (NIV)

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