Chapter 7

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  Passing through the street near her corner, He went the way to her house,  

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

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

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

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

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

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  'Sacrifices of peace-offerings are with me. This day I have paid my vows.  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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  Until an arrow strikes through his liver, As a bird hurries to the snare, And doesn't know that it will cost his life.  

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

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

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  For she has thrown down many wounded. Yes, all her slain are a mighty host.  

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  Her house is the way to Sheol, Going down to the chambers of death.  

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