2.0 KiB
Chapter 7
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My son, obey my words, and treasure my commands.
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Keep my commands and live, and guard my instructions as you would the pupil of your eye.
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Tie them to your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
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Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call understanding your relative.
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She will keep you from a forbidden woman, a wayward woman with her flattering talk.
A Story of Seduction
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At the window of my house I looked through my lattice.
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I saw among the inexperienced, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking sense.
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Crossing the street near her corner, he strolled down the road to her house
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at twilight, in the evening, in the dark of the night.
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A woman came to meet him dressed like a prostitute, having a hidden agenda.
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She is loud and defiant; her feet do not stay at home.
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Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner.
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She grabs him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him,
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"I've made fellowship offerings; today I've fulfilled my vows.
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So I came out to meet you, to search for you, and I've found you.
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I've spread coverings on my bed-- richly colored linen from Egypt.
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I've perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
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Come, let's drink deeply of lovemaking until morning. Let's feast on each other's love!
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My husband isn't home; he went on a long journey.
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He took a bag of silver with him and will come home at the time of the full moon."
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She seduces him with her persistent pleading; she lures with her flattering talk.
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He follows her impulsively like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding toward a trap
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until an arrow pierces its liver, like a bird darting into a snare-- he doesn't know it will cost him his life.
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Now, sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words from my mouth.
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Don't let your heart turn aside to her ways; don't stray onto her paths.
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For she has brought many down to death; her victims are countless.
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Her house is the road to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.