| English Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; | 1My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. |
| 2keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; | 2Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. |
| 3bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. | 3Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. |
| 4Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend, | 4Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and to insight, "You are my relative." |
| 5to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words. | 5They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seductive words. |
| 6For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice, | 6At the window of my house I looked down through the lattice. |
| 7and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense, | 7I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense. |
| 8passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house | 8He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house |
| 9in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness. | 9at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in. |
| 10And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart. | 10Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. |
| 11She is loud and wayward; her feet do not stay at home; | 11(She is unruly and defiant, her feet never stay at home; |
| 12now in the street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait. | 12now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.) |
| 13She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him, | 13She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said: |
| 14“I had to offer sacrifices, and today I have paid my vows; | 14"Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home. |
| 15so now I have come out to meet you, to seek you eagerly, and I have found you. | 15So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you! |
| 16I have spread my couch with coverings, colored linens from Egyptian linen; | 16I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. |
| 17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. | 17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. |
| 18Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love. | 18Come, let's drink deeply of love till morning; let's enjoy ourselves with love! |
| 19For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey; | 19My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. |
| 20he took a bag of money with him; at full moon he will come home.” | 20He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon." |
| 21With much seductive speech she persuades him; with her smooth talk she compels him. | 21With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. |
| 22All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast | 22All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose |
| 23till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life. | 23till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life. |
| 24And now, O sons, listen to me, and be attentive to the words of my mouth. | 24Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say. |
| 25Let not your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths, | 25Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. |
| 26for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng. | 26Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. |
| 27Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death. | 27Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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