1 My son, hold fast to my words {amarai: collected instructions} and keep my commandments {mitsvotai: ordained directives} stored safely with you.
2 Keep my commandments and you will live; guard my teaching {torah: divine instruction} like the pupil {ishon: dark center} of your eye.
3 Fasten them upon your fingers {etzbe’otekha: tangible reminder}; imprint them upon the tablet {luach: inner inscription} of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister {achoti: close family bond},” and call understanding your near relative {umoda: intimate companion}.
5 So they may guard you from a foreign woman, from a stranger whose words {amareha: persuasive utterances} she makes smooth {hechelikah: skillfully flatters}.
6 From the window {challon: small opening} of my dwelling {beti: enclosed space} I looked out through my lattice.
7 I noticed among the simple ones{petayim: those lacking judgment}; I perceived among the youths a young man lacking heart{lev: inner resolve}.
8 He crossed the street {bashuk: public marketplace} by her corner, and he stepped along the road leading to her house {beitah: dwelling}.
9 In twilight{neshef: transitional light}, as evening{erev: day’s close} arrives, in the blackness of the night and in darkness.
10 And behold, a woman came to meet him, wearing the attire {shit: provocative appearance} of a prostitute and crafty at heart {lev: inner craftiness}.
11 She is loud {homiyyah: disruptive noise} and unruly; her feet do not dwell in her house {be-veitah: private sphere}.
12 One moment she is in the street {bachutz: public thoroughfare}, another in the squares; at every corner she lies in wait {teerov: stalks secretly}.
13 Then she seized him and kissed {venashka: physical gesture} him; with a brazen face {heezah: shameless boldness} she said to him.
14 I have peace offerings {shelamim: fellowship sacrifices} with me; today I have fulfilled my vows {nedarai: sacred promises}.
15 So I came out to meet you, to seek {leshacher: earnest pursuit} your face, and I have found {vaemtsaekha: successful discovery} you.
16 I have spread coverings {marbadim: ornamental fabrics} on my bed, with colored patterns {chatuvot: colored designs} and fine linen of Egypt.
17 I have scented my bed {mishkavi: personal resting place} with myrrh {mor: aromatic resin}, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us drink our fill of love {dodim: intimate affections} until morning; let us delight ourselves with love {baohavim: shared love-making}.
19 For the man is not in his house; he has gone {halakh: departed intentionally} on a journey {bederex: manner of travel} far away.
20 He has taken a pouch {tseror-ha-kesef: bound bundle} of silver in his hand; on the appointed day {ha-kese: full moon, set time}, he will come to his house.
21 With her abundant persuasion{likchah: persuasive influence}, she turned him aside; with the smoothness of her lips{sefatéha: instrument of seduction}, she drives him off course.
22 He goes after her at once, like an ox to the slaughter {tevach: violent killing}, or like one in restraints {eqes: bound by chains} going to correction.
23 Until an arrow pierces his liver {kevedo: vital seat}, as a bird rushes to a snare {pach: hidden pit}—and he does not know it is against his very life.
24 Now then, children {banim: sons and disciples}, listen to me, and pay attention to the words of my mouth {fi: personal speech utterance}.
25 Do not let your heart {lev: inner person} turn toward her ways; do not wander into her paths {netivot: habitual routes}.
26 For many are the wounded {chalalim: those struck down} whom she has brought down, and strong men are all her victims {harugeha: those whom she has slain}.
27 Her house is a pathway to Sheol {she’ol: realm of the dead}, descending to the chambers of death {mavet: termination of life}.