Proverbs 7

1 My [beloved] son, keep [obey, guard] my words [sayings, commands] and treasure [hide, store up] my commandments [laws, precepts] within [with, near] you. word study 2 Keep [obey, protect, attend to] my commandments [rules, laws, guidelines] and live [have life, revive, be quickened]; guard [watch over, protect] my teachings [instruction, law] as the [pupil of the] apple of your eye [the center of your vision, your most precious possession]. word study 3 Tie [bind, conspire] them to your fingers [or toes, to grasp]; write [record, inscribe] them on the tablet [polished stone, wood, or metal] of your heart [feelings, will, and intellect, the seat of emotions] [the center of your being]. word study 4 Say [speak, declare] to wisdom [skill, prudence, or good judgment], “You [as a close relative] are my sister [a biological sibling, a half-sister, or a close relative],” and call [invoke, summon] understanding [discernment, wisdom, or knowledge] your kinsman [relative, family member, or close friend], word study 5 that they may keep [protect, guard, watch over] you from the adulteress [strange woman, immoral woman], from the stranger [foreigner, unfamiliar woman] with seductive [smooth, flattering] words [speech, utterances]. word study 6 For [because of this, as a result] at the window [lattice, casement] of my house [dwelling place, home] I looked [gazed, peeped] through [out of, from] the lattice [crisscross pattern, trellis]. word study 7 I saw [beheld, observed] among the simple [naive, easily influenced], I noticed [discerned, perceived] among the youths [young people, from infancy to adolescence], a young man [a youth, lacking maturity] lacking [devoid of, without] judgment, word study 8 crossing [passing through, walking down] the street [public thoroughfare, pathway] near her corner [turn of her road, angle of her house], strolling [marching, stepping regularly] down the road [way, path] to her house [dwelling place, abode], word study 9 at [dusk, as the light faded] twilight, as the day [a 24-hour period, a space of time] was fading into the [black and dark, middle of the night] dark of the night [a period of rest, adversity, or hardship]. word study 10 Then a woman [with the attire of a harlot, dressed seductively] came out to meet him, with the attire [garment, clothing] of a harlot [prostitute, one who commits adultery] and cunning [subtil, wily, watchful] of heart [the seat of feelings, will, and intellect]. word study 11 She is [clamorous and wilful] loud and [stubborn, rebellious] defiant; her feet [the foot, the leg] do not remain [or stay, abide] at home [in her house, her dwelling place]. word study 12 Now [at one moment, in an out-place] in the street [broad places, public areas], now [at another time] in the squares [plazas, markets], she lurks [lieth in wait, waiting to trap] at [beside, near] every corner [turning of the road, pinnacle]. word study 13 She seizes [catches, laid hold of] him and kisses [touches, equips with affection] him; she brazenly [with an impudent face, without shame] says [speaks, declares] to him: word study 14 “I have made my [sacrifices of peace-offerings, voluntary offerings to God] peace offerings; today [this day, at this present time] I have paid [fulfilled, completed] my vows [promises made to God, sacred obligations]. word study 15 So [thus, in this manner] I came out [to emerge, to go forth] to meet [encounter, befall] you; I sought [to seek diligently, to search early] you [to find your face, to see your presence], and I have found [discovered, attained] you [in your presence, before your face]. word study 16 I have decked [spread, covered] my bed [couch, place of rest] with coverings [tapestry, blankets], with colored linen [fine, twisted yarn] from [imported from, brought from] Egypt [the land of the Egyptians]. word study 17 I have [sprinkled, waved back and forth] perfumed [with sweet-smelling fragrances] my bed [place of rest, intimate relationships] with myrrh [a bitter resin], with aloes [aloe wood, used for perfume], and with cinnamon [a fragrant bark, used for flavoring]. word study 18 Come, let us take our fill [be satisfied, quench our desire] of love [affection, strong desire] till [until, as far as] morning [break of day, new beginning]. Let us delight [rejoice, leap for joy] in loving [tender, intimate] caresses [emotional expressions, endearments]! word study 19 For [because of this reason] my husband [the master of the house, my spouse] is not at home [in his dwelling place, absent from our house]; he has gone [walked away, departed] on a long [distant, far-off] journey [a road or path, a way of travel]. word study 20 He took [in his hand, a bundle] with him a bag [zeror, a pouch] of money [silver, wealth] and will not return [come home, come back] till [at, on the day of] the moon [full moon] is full [complete, at its fullest point].” word study 21 With her great [abundant, persuasive] persuasion she entices [seduces, lures away] him; with her flattering [smooth] lips [language, words] she lures [forces, leads astray] him. word study 22 He follows [immediately, straight away] her on impulse [suddenly, without thinking], like an ox [cattle, a beast of burden] going to the slaughter [to be killed, a place of death], like a deer [a stag, a fool] bounding [stepping, rushing] into a trap [a snare, a noose], word study 23 until an arrow pierces [strikes through] his liver [the heaviest organ, seat of emotions], like a bird [a little bird, sparrow] darting [hastening, rushing] into a snare [a net, trap]— not knowing [unaware, without understanding] it will cost him his life [soul, living being]. word study 24 Now [at this time, in this moment], my sons [children, descendants], listen [hear and obey, give attention] to me, and attend [pay careful attention, listen carefully] to the words [sayings, teachings] of my mouth [lips, the edge of my speech]. word study 25 Do not [let it be] let your heart [the seat of feelings, will, and intellect] turn aside [decline, stray] to her ways [path, manner of life]; do not [under no circumstances] stray [go astray, wander] into her paths [roads, beaten tracks]. word study 26 For [because of this reason] she has brought [caused to fall, cast down] many [a multitude, a great number] down to death [the state of being dead, eternal separation]; her slain [killed, wounded] are many [countless, innumerable] in number [a great multitude, an army]. word study 27 Her house [the way to the underworld, a dwelling place] is the road [leading to the grave, the path to] to Sheol [the underworld, a place of no return], descending [going down, to fall] to the chambers [private rooms, innermost parts] of death [the end of life, eternal separation]. word study