[1] My child, remember what I say and never forget what I tell you to do. [2] Do what I say, and you will live. Be as careful to follow my teaching as you are to protect your eyes. [3] Keep my teaching with you all the time; write it on your heart. [4] Treat wisdom as your sister, and insight as your closest friend. [5] They will keep you away from other men's wives, from women with seductive words. [6] Once I was looking out the window of my house, [7] and I saw many inexperienced young men, but noticed one foolish fellow in particular. [8] He was walking along the street near the corner where a certain woman lived. He was passing near her house [9] in the evening after it was dark. [10] And then she met him; she was dressed like a prostitute and was making plans. [11] She was a bold and shameless woman who always walked the streets [12] or stood waiting at a corner, sometimes in the streets, sometimes in the marketplace. [13] She threw her arms around the young man, kissed him, looked him straight in the eye, and said, [14] "I made my offerings today and have the meat from the sacrifices. [15] So I came out looking for you. I wanted to find you, and here you are! [16] I've covered my bed with sheets of colored linen from Egypt. [17] I've perfumed it with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. [18] Come on! Let's make love all night long. We'll be happy in each other's arms. [19] My husband isn't at home. He's on a long trip. [20] He took plenty of money with him and won't be back for two weeks." [21] So she tempted him with her charms, and he gave in to her smooth talk. [22] Suddenly he was going with her like an ox on the way to be slaughtered, like a deer prancing into a trap [23] where an arrow would pierce its heart. He was like a bird going into a net-he did not know that his life was in danger. [24] Now then, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to what I say. [25] Do not let such a woman win your heart; don't go wandering after her. [26] She has been the ruin of many men and caused the death of too many to count. [27] If you go to her house, you are on the way to the world of the dead. It is a shortcut to death.
