Proverbs 7

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