7
The Wiles of the Harlot
1 My son, AProv 2:1; 6:20keep my words
And treasure my commandments within you.
2 AProv 4:4Keep my commandments and live,
3 ADeut 6:8; 11:18; Prov 6:21Bind them on your fingers;
BProv 3:3Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
And call understanding your intimate friend;
5 That they may keep you from an 1Lit strange womanadulteress,
From the foreigner who 2Lit is smoothflatters with her words.
6 For AJudg 5:28at the window of my house
I looked out BSong 2:9through my lattice,
And discerned among the 2Lit sonsyouths
A young man BProv 6:32; 9:4lacking 3Lit heartsense,
8 Passing through the street near AProv 7:12her corner;
And he 1Lit stepstakes the way to BProv 7:27her house,
In the 2Lit pupil (of the eye)middle of the night and in the darkness.
10 And behold, a woman comes to meet him,
AGen 38:14, 15; 1 Tim 2:9Dressed as a harlot and cunning of heart.
11 She is AProv 9:13boisterous and rebellious,
Her B1 Tim 5:13; Titus 2:5feet do not remain at home;
And BProv 23:28lurks by every corner.
13 So she seizes him and kisses him
1Lit She makes bold her face and saysAnd with a AProv 21:29brazen face she says to him:
Today I have BLev 7:16paid my vows.
15 “Therefore I have come out to meet you,
To seek your presence earnestly, and I have found you.
16 “I have spread my couch with AProv 31:22coverings,
With colored BIs 19:9; Ezek 27:7linens of Egypt.
17 “I have sprinkled my bed
18 “Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning;
Let us delight ourselves with caresses.
19 “For 1Lit the manmy husband is not at home,
He has gone on a long journey;
At the full moon he will come home.”
21 With her many persuasions she entices him;
With her 1Lit smoothAProv 5:3; 6:24flattering lips she seduces him.
22 Suddenly he follows her
As an ox goes to the slaughter,
Or as 1Or as a stag goes into a trap; so some ancient versionsone in fetters to the discipline of a fool,
23 Until an arrow pierces through his liver;
As a AEccl 9:12bird hastens to the snare,
So he does not know that it will cost him his life.
And pay attention to the words of my mouth.
25 Do not let your heart AProv 5:8turn aside to her ways,
Do not stray into her paths.
26 For many are the 1Lit mortally woundedvictims she has cast down,
And AProv 9:18numerous are all her slain.
27 Her AProv 2:18; 5:5; 9:18; 1 Cor 6:9, 10; Rev 22:15house is the way to Sheol,
Descending to the chambers of death.
17:2 Or law
B7:2 Deut 32:10; Ps 17:8; Zech 2:8
27:2 Lit pupil
A7:3 Deut 6:8; 11:18; Prov 6:21
17:5 Lit strange woman
27:5 Lit is smooth
17:7 Lit simple ones
27:7 Lit sons
37:7 Lit heart
17:8 Lit steps
17:9 Lit evening of the day
27:9 Lit pupil (of the eye)
A7:10 Gen 38:14, 15; 1 Tim 2:9
17:13 Lit She makes bold her face and says
17:14 Lit Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me
17:19 Lit the man
17:20 Lit in his hand
17:21 Lit smooth
17:22 Or as a stag goes into a trap; so some ancient versions
17:26 Lit mortally wounded
A7:27 Prov 2:18; 5:5; 9:18; 1 Cor 6:9, 10; Rev 22:15