Go deeper without the clutter. Bible Gateway Plus keeps your study focused—Scripture first, with trusted resources close at hand.
Log In/Sign Up

#
Proverbs 7
New King James Version

### The Wiles of a Harlot

7 My son, keep my words,
And (A)treasure my commands within you.
2 (B)Keep my commands and live,
(C)And my law as the apple of your eye.
3 (D)Bind them on your fingers;
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
And call understanding your nearest kin,
5 (E)That they may keep you from the immoral woman,
From the seductress who flatters with her words.

### The Crafty Harlot

6 For at the window of my house
I looked through my lattice,
7 And saw among the simple,
I perceived among the [a]youths,
A young man (F)devoid[b] of understanding,
8 Passing along the street near her corner;
And he took the path to her house
9 (G)In the twilight, in the evening,
In the black and dark night.

10 And there a woman met him,
With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart.
11 (H)She was loud and rebellious,
(I)Her feet would not stay at home.
12 At times she was outside, at times in the open square,
Lurking at every corner.
13 So she caught him and kissed him;
With an [c]impudent face she said to him:
14 “I have peace offerings with me;
Today I have paid my vows.
15 So I came out to meet you,
Diligently to seek your face,
And I have found you.
16 I have spread my bed with tapestry,
Colored coverings of (J)Egyptian linen.
17 I have perfumed my bed
With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until morning;
Let us delight ourselves with love.
19 For [d]my husband is not at home;
He has gone on a long journey;
20 He has taken a bag of money [e]with him,
And will come home [f]on the appointed day.”

21 [g]With (K)her enticing speech she caused him to yield,
(L)With her flattering lips she [h]seduced him.
22 Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter,
Or [i]as a fool to the correction of the [j]stocks,
23 Till an arrow struck his liver.
(M)As a bird hastens to the snare,
He did not know it [k]would cost his life.

24 Now therefore, listen to me, my children;
Pay attention to the words of my mouth:
25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
Do not stray into her paths;
26 For she has cast down many wounded,
And (N)all who were slain by her were strong men.
27 (O)Her house is the way to [l]hell,
Descending to the chambers of death.

#### Footnotes

1. Proverbs 7:7 Lit. sons
2. Proverbs 7:7 lacking
3. Proverbs 7:13 shameless
4. Proverbs 7:19 Lit. the man
5. Proverbs 7:20 Lit. in his hand
6. Proverbs 7:20 at the full moon
7. Proverbs 7:21 By the greatness of her words
8. Proverbs 7:21 compelled
9. Proverbs 7:22 LXX, Syr., Tg. as a dog to bonds; Vg. as a lamb . . . to bonds
10. Proverbs 7:22 shackles
11. Proverbs 7:23 Lit. is for
12. Proverbs 7:27 Or Sheol

#### Cross references

1. Proverbs 7:1 : Prov. 2:1
2. Proverbs 7:2 : Lev. 18:5; Prov. 4:4; [Is. 55:3]
3. Proverbs 7:2 : Deut. 32:10; Ps. 17:8; Zech. 2:8
4. Proverbs 7:3 : Deut. 6:8; Prov. 6:21
5. Proverbs 7:5 : Prov. 2:16; 5:3
6. Proverbs 7:7 : [Prov. 6:32; 9:4, 16]
7. Proverbs 7:9 : Job 24:15
8. Proverbs 7:11 : Prov. 9:13; 1 Tim. 5:13
9. Proverbs 7:11 : Titus 2:5
10. Proverbs 7:16 : Is. 19:9; Ezek. 27:7
11. Proverbs 7:21 : Prov. 5:3
12. Proverbs 7:21 : Ps. 12:2
13. Proverbs 7:23 : Eccl. 9:12
14. Proverbs 7:26 : Neh. 13:26
15. Proverbs 7:27 : Prov. 2:18; 5:5; 9:18; [1 Cor. 6:9, 10; Rev. 22:15]

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

#### Bible Gateway Recommends

NKJV, Woman's Study Bible, Red Letter, Full-Color: Receiving God's Truth for Balance, Hope, and Transformation
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $34.99
Save: $15.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, 2nd Edition, Comfort Print: Growing in Knowledge and Understanding of God Through His Word
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, The Story: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People
Retail: $19.98
Our Price: $13.99
Save: $5.99 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, Spirit-Filled Life Bible, Third Edition, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Kingdom Equipping Through the Power of the Word
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV Study Bible, Full-Color, Comfort Print: The Complete Resource for Studying God’s Word
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NKJV, Gift and Award Bible, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version
Retail: $9.99
Our Price: $6.99
Save: $3.00 (30%)
Buy Now
View more titles