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[1]My son, keep my words, and hide with thee my commandments. My son, honour the Lord, and thou shalt be strong; and fear none but him:
[2]keep my commandments, and thou shalt live; and keep my words as the pupils of thine eyes.
[3]And bind them on thy fingers, and write them on the table of thine heart.
[4]Say that wisdom is thy sister, and gain prudence as an acquaintance for thyself;
[5]that she may keep thee from the strange and wicked woman, if she should assail thee with flattering words.
[6]For she looks from a window out of her house into the streets, at one whom she may see of the senseless ones, a young man void of understanding,
[7]passing by the corner in the passages near her house,
[8]and speaking, in the dark of the evening,
[9]when there happens to be the stillness of night and of darkness:
[10]and the woman meets him having the appearance of a harlot, that causes the hearts of young men to flutter.
[11]And she is fickle, and debauched, and her feet abide not at home.
[12]For at one time she wanders without, and at another time she lies in wait in the streets, at every corner.
[13]Then she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said to him,
[14]I have a peace-offering; today I pay my vows:
[15]therefore I came forth to meet thee, desiring thy face; and I have found thee.
[16]I have spread my bed with sheets, and I have covered it with double tapestry from Egypt.
[17]I have sprinkled my couch with saffron, and my house with cinnamon.
[18]Come, and let us enjoy love until the morning; come, and let us embrace in love.
[19]For my husband is not at home, but is gone on a long journey,
[20]having taken in his hand a bundle of money: after many days he will return to his house.
[21]So with much converse she prevailed on him to go astray, and with the snares of her lips forced him from the right path.
[22]And he followed her, being gently led on, and that as an ox is led to the slaughter, and as a dog to bonds, or as a hart shot in the liver with an arrow:
[23]and he hastens as a bird into a snare, not knowing that he is running for his life.
[24]Now then, my son, hearken to me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
[25]Let not thine heart turn aside to her ways:
[26]for she has wounded and cast down many, and those whom she has slain are innumerable.
[27]Her house is the way of hell, leading down to the chambers of death.
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