Proverbs 7

NEW JERUSALEM	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 My child, keep my words, and treasure my precepts,	1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my precepts with thee. Son,
2 keep my precepts and you wil live, keep my teaching as the apple of your eye.	2 Keep my commandments, and thou shalt live: and my law as the apple of thy eye:
3 Bind these to your fingers, write them on the tablet of your heart.	3 Bind it upon thy fingers, write it upon the tables of thy heart.
4 Say to Wisdom, 'You are my sister!' Cal Understanding your relation,	4 Say to wisdom: Thou art my sister: and call prudence thy friend,
5 to save yourself from the woman that belongs to another, from the stranger, with her seductive words.	5 That she may keep thee from the woman that is not thine, and from the stranger who sweeteneth her words.
6 While I was at the window of my house, I was looking out through the lattice	6 For I look out of the window of my house through the lattice,
7 and I saw, among the cal ow youths, I noticed among the lads, one boy who had no sense.	7 And I see little ones, I behold a foolish young man,
8 Going along the lane, near the corner where she lives, he reaches the path to her house,	8 Who passeth through the street by the corner, and goeth nigh the way of her house.
9 at twilight when day is declining, at dead of night and in the dark.	9 In the dark, when it grows late, in the darkness and obscurity of the night,
10 And look, a woman is coming to meet him, dressed like a prostitute, false of heart.	10 And behold a woman meeteth him in harlot's attire prepared to deceive souls; talkative and wandering,
11 She is loud and brazen; her feet cannot rest at home.	11 Not bearing to be quiet, not able to abide still at home,
12 Once in the street, once in the square, she lurks at every corner.	12 Now abroad, now in the streets, now lying in wait near the corners.
13 She catches hold of him, she kisses him, the bold-faced creature says to him,	13 And catching the young man, she kisseth him, and with an impudent face, flattereth, saying:
14 'I had to offer a communion sacrifice, I have discharged my vows today;	14 I vowed victims for prosperity, this day I have paid my vows.
15 that is why I came out to meet you, to look for you, and now I have found you.	15 Therefore I am come out to meet thee, desirous to see thee, and I have found thee.
16 I have spread coverlets over my divan, embroidered stuff, Egyptian material,	16 I have woven my bed with cords, I have covered it with painted tapestry, brought from Egypt.
17 I have sprinkled my bed with myrrh, with aloes and cinnamon.	17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come on, we'l make love as much as we like, till morning. Let us enjoy the delights of love!	18 Come, let us be inebriated with the breasts, and let us enjoy the desired embraces, till the day appear.
19 For my husband is not at home, he has gone on a very long journey,	19 For my husband is not at home, he is gone a very long journey.
20 taking his moneybags with him; he wil not be back til the moon is ful .'	20 He took with him a bag of money: he mill return home the day of the full moon.
21 With her persistent coaxing she overcomes him, lures him on with her wheedling patter.	21 She entangled him with many words, and drew him away with the flattery of her lips.
22 Forthwith he fol ows her, like an ox on its way to the slaughterhouse, like a madman on his way to thestocks,	22 Immediately he followeth her as an ox led to be a victim, and as a lamb playing the wanton, and not knowing that he is drawn like a fool to bonds,
23 until an arrow pierces him to the liver, like the bird that dashes into the net without realising that its lifeis at stake.	23 Till the arrow pierce his liver: as if a bird should make haste to the snare, and knoweth not that his life is in danger.
24 And now, son, listen to me, pay attention to the words I have to say:	24 Now therefore, my son, hear me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 do not let your heart stray into her ways, or wander into her paths;	25 Let not thy mind be drawn away in her ways: neither be thou deceived with her paths.
26 she has done so many to death, and the strongest have al been her victims.	26 For she hath cast down many wounded, and the strongest have been slain by her.
27 Her house is the way to Sheol, the descent to the courts of death.	27 Her house is the way to hell, reaching even to the inner chambers of death.