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My son, keep my words,
And a treasure my commands within you.
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b Keep my commands and live,
c And my law as the apple of your eye.
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d Bind them on 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 nearest kin,
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e That they may keep you from the immoral woman,
From the seductress who flatters with her words.
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For at the window of my house
I looked through my lattice,
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And saw among the simple,
I perceived among the 1 youths,
A young man f devoid 2 of understanding,
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Passing along the street near her corner;
And he took the path to her house
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g In the twilight, in the evening,
In the black and dark night.
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And there a woman met him,
With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart.
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h She was loud and rebellious,
i Her feet would not stay at home.
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At times she was outside, at times in the open square,
Lurking at every corner.
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So she caught him and kissed him;
With an 3 impudent face she said to him:
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"I have peace offerings with me;
Today I have paid my vows.
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So I came out to meet you,
Diligently to seek your face,
And I have found you.
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I have spread my bed with tapestry,
Colored coverings of j Egyptian linen.
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I have perfumed my bed
With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
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Come, let us take our fill of love until morning;
Let us delight ourselves with love.
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For 4 my husband is not at home;
He has gone on a long journey;
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He has taken a bag of money 5 with him,
And will come home 6 on the appointed day."
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7 With k her enticing speech she caused him to yield,
l With her flattering lips she 8 seduced him.
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Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter,
Or 9 as a fool to the correction of the 10 stocks,
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Till an arrow struck his liver.
m As a bird hastens to the snare,
He did not know it 11 would cost his life.
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Now therefore, listen to me, my children;
Pay attention to the words of my mouth:
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Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
Do not stray into her paths;
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For she has cast down many wounded,
And n all who were slain by her were strong men.
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o Her house is the way to 12 hell,
Descending to the chambers of death.