The Proverbs

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

⮜ Back | Contents | Next ⮞

- Chapter 7 -

prevention against fornication

My sonne, keepe my wordes, and hide my commandements with thee.

Keepe my commandements, and thou shalt liue, and mine instruction as the apple of thine eyes.

Binde them vpon thy fingers, and write them vpon the table of thine heart.

Say vnto wisedome, Thou art my sister: and call vnderstanding thy kinswoman,

That they may keepe thee from the strange woman, euen from the stranger that is smoothe in her wordes.

As I was in the window of mine house, I looked through my windowe,

And I sawe among the fooles, and considered among the children a yong man destitute of vnderstanding,

Who passed through the streete by her corner, and went toward her house,

In the twilight in the euening, when the night began to be blacke and darke.

And beholde, there met him a woman with an harlots behauiour, and subtill in heart.

(She is babling and loud: whose feete can not abide in her house.

Nowe she is without, nowe in the streetes, and lyeth in waite at euery corner)

So she caught him and kissed him and with an impudent face said vnto him,

I haue peace offerings: this day haue I payed my vowes.

Therefore came I forth to meete thee, that I might seeke thy face: and I haue found thee.

I haue deckt my bed with ornaments, carpets and laces of Egypt.

I haue perfumed my bedde with myrrhe, aloes, and cynamom.

Come, let vs take our fill of loue vntill the morning: let vs take our pleasure in daliance.

For mine husband is not at home: he is gone a iourney farre off.

He hath taken with him a bagge of siluer, and will come home at the day appointed.

Thus with her great craft she caused him to yeelde, and with her flattering lips she entised him.

And he followed her straight wayes, as an oxe that goeth to the slaughter, and as a foole to the stockes for correction,

Till a dart strike through his liuer, as a bird hasteth to the snare, not knowing that he is in danger.

Heare me now therefore, O children, and hearken to the wordes of my mouth.

Let not thine heart decline to her wayes: wander thou not in her paths.

For shee hath caused many to fall downe wounded, and the strong men are all slaine by her.

Her house is the way vnto ye graue, which goeth downe to the chambers of death.

prevention against fornication

My son, keep my words. Lay up my commandments within you.

Keep my commandments and live! Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye.

Bind them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Tell wisdom, “You are my sister.” Call understanding your relative,

that they may keep you from the strange woman, from the foreigner who flatters with her words.

For at the window of my house, I looked out through my lattice.

I saw among the simple ones. I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding,

passing through the street near her corner, he went the way to her house,

in the twilight, in the evening of the day, in the middle of the night and in the darkness.

Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, and with crafty intent.

She is loud and defiant. Her feet don’t stay in her house.

Now she is in the streets, now in the squares, and lurking at every corner.

So she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him:

“Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me. Today I have paid my vows.

Therefore I came out to meet you, to diligently seek your face, and I have found you.

I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, with striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt.

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Come, let’s take our fill of loving until the morning. Let’s solace ourselves with loving.

For my husband isn’t at home. He has gone on a long journey.

He has taken a bag of money with him. He will come home at the full moon.”

With persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him.

He followed her immediately, as an ox goes to the slaughter, as a fool stepping into a noose.

Until an arrow strikes through his liver, as a bird hurries to the snare, and doesn’t know that it will cost his life.

Now therefore, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to the words of my mouth.

Don’t let your heart turn to her ways. Don’t go astray in her paths,

for she has thrown down many wounded. Yes, all her slain are a mighty army.

Her house is the way to Sheol,(a) going down to the rooms of death.

Footnotes

(a)7:27 Sheol is the place of the dead.