ReverendWatchful desire

Proverbs 7

A Young Man Passing by Her Corner at Twilight

7:1Son, guard my words,
and hide my commandments with yourself.

7:1aSon, honor the Lord and you will be strong;
apart from Him, fear no other.

7:2Guard my commandments and you will live,
and my words like the pupils of eyes.

7:3Put them around your fingers;
inscribe them on the broad surface of your heart.

7:4Say that wisdom is your sister,
and acquire understanding as your familiar companion,

7:5so that she may keep you from an alien and wicked woman,
if she catches you with pleasing words.

7:6For she leans out from a window of her house toward the squares,

7:7and whoever she sees among the foolish children—a young man lacking sense,

7:8passing by a corner in the passages of her houses

7:9and talking in evening darkness,
when night is still and murky—

7:10the woman meets him, with a prostitute’s appearance,
making young men’s hearts fly away.

7:11She is fluttering with excitement and dissolute;
her feet do not rest in the house.

7:12For at one time she roams outside,
and at another she lies in wait in the squares, at every corner.

7:13Then she took hold of him and kissed him;
with a shameless face she addressed him:

7:14“I have a peace sacrifice;
today I am paying my vows.

7:15For this reason I came out to meet you;
longing for your face, I have found you.

7:16I have stretched my bed with bands
and spread it with double-sided rugs from Egypt.

7:17I have sprinkled my bed with saffron
and my house with cinnamon.

7:18Come, let us enjoy affection until dawn;
come here, let us roll in love.

7:19For my husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey,

7:20taking a pouch of silver in his hand;
after many days he will return to his house.”

7:21She led him astray with much conversation
and drove him off course with snares from her lips.

7:22He followed her, made a fool,
as an ox is led to slaughter
and as a dog to bonds,

7:23or as a deer struck in the liver by an arrow.
He hurries like a bird into a trap,
not knowing that he runs for his life.

7:24Now therefore, son, listen to me,
and attend to my mouth’s sayings.

7:25Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways.

7:26For she has wounded and brought down many,
and those she has murdered are beyond counting.

7:27Her house is ways to Hades,
leading down to death’s chambers.

Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.