Proverbs 7

DOUAI-RHEIMS	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my precepts with thee. Son,	1 My son, guard my words and conceal my precepts within you.
2 Keep my commandments, and thou shalt live: and my law as the apple of thy eye:	2 Son, preserve my commandments, and you shall live. And keep my law as the pupil of your eye.
3 Bind it upon thy fingers, write it upon the tables of thy heart.	3 Bind it with your fingers; write it on the tablets of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom: Thou art my sister: and call prudence thy friend,	4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call prudence your friend.
5 That she may keep thee from the woman that is not thine, and from the stranger who sweeteneth her words.	5 So may she guard you from the woman who is an outsider, and from the stranger who sweetens her words.
6 For I look out of the window of my house through the lattice,	6 For I gaze from the window of my house, through the lattice,
7 And I see little ones, I behold a foolish young man,	7 and I see little ones. I consider a frenzied youth,
8 Who passeth through the street by the corner, and goeth nigh the way of her house.	8 who crosses the street at the corner and close to the way of that house.
9 In the dark, when it grows late, in the darkness and obscurity of the night,	9 He steps into shadows, as day becomes evening, into the darkness and gloom of the night.
10 And behold a woman meeteth him in harlot's attire prepared to deceive souls; talkative and wandering,	10 And behold, a woman meets him, dressed like a harlot, prepared to captivate souls: chattering and rambling,
11 Not bearing to be quiet, not able to abide still at home,	11 unwilling to bear silence, unable to keep her feet at home,
12 Now abroad, now in the streets, now lying in wait near the corners.	12 now outside, now in the streets, now lying in ambush near the corners.
13 And catching the young man, she kisseth him, and with an impudent face, flattereth, saying:	13 And overtaking the youth, she kisses him, and with a provocative face, she flatters him, saying:
14 I vowed victims for prosperity, this day I have paid my vows.	14 “I vowed sacrifices for well-being. Today I have repaid my vows.
15 Therefore I am come out to meet thee, desirous to see thee, and I have found thee.	15 Because of this, I have gone out to meet you, desiring to see you, and I have found you.
16 I have woven my bed with cords, I have covered it with painted tapestry, brought from Egypt.	16 I have woven my bed with cords. I have strewn it with embroidered tapestries from Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.	17 I have sprinkled my bed with myrrh, aloe, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us be inebriated with the breasts, and let us enjoy the desired embraces, till the day appear.	18 Come, let us be inebriated in abundance, and let us delight in the embraces of desire, until the day begins to dawn.
19 For my husband is not at home, he is gone a very long journey.	19 For my husband is not in his house. He has gone away on a very long journey.
20 He took with him a bag of money: he mill return home the day of the full moon.	20 He took with him a bag of money. He will return to his house on the day of the full moon.”
21 She entangled him with many words, and drew him away with the flattery of her lips.	21 She enmeshed him with many words, and she drew him forward with the flattery of her lips.
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,	22 Immediately, he follows her, like an ox being led to the sacrifice, and like a lamb acting lasciviously, and not knowing that he is being drawn foolishly into chains,
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.	23 until the arrow pierces his liver. It is just as if a bird were to hurry into the snare. And he does not know that his actions endanger his own soul.
24 Now therefore, my son, hear me, and attend to the words of my mouth.	24 Therefore, my son, hear me now, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not thy mind be drawn away in her ways: neither be thou deceived with her paths.	25 Do not let your mind be pulled into her ways. And do not be deceived by her paths.
26 For she hath cast down many wounded, and the strongest have been slain by her.	26 For she has tossed aside many wounded, and some of those who were very strong have been slain by her.
27 Her house is the way to hell, reaching even to the inner chambers of death.	27 Her household is the way to Hell, reaching even to the inner places of death.