The love of wisdom is the best preservative from being led astray by
temptation.
7:1. My son, keep my words, and lay up my precepts with thee. Son,
7:2. Keep my commandments, and thou shalt live: and my law as the apple
of thy eye:
7:3. Bind it upon thy fingers, write it upon the tables of thy heart.
7:4. Say to wisdom: Thou art my sister: and call prudence thy friend,
7:5. That she may keep thee from the woman that is not thine, and from
the stranger who sweeteneth her words.
7:6. For I looked out of the window of my house through the lattice,
7:7. And I see little ones, I behold a foolish young man,
7:8. Who passeth through the street by the corner, and goeth nigh the
way of her house,
7:9. In the dark when it grows late, in the darkness and obscurity of
the night.
7:10. And behold a woman meeteth him in harlot's attire, prepared to
deceive souls: talkative and wandering,
7:11. Not bearing to be quiet, not able to abide still at home,
7:12. Now abroad, now in the streets, now lying in wait near the
corners.
7:13. And catching the young man, she kisseth him, and with an impudent
face, flattereth, saying:
7:14. I vowed victims for prosperity, this day I have paid my vows.
7:15. Therefore I am come out to meet thee, desirous to see thee, and I
have found thee.
7:16. I have woven my bed with cords, I have covered it with painted
tapestry, brought from Egypt.
7:17. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
7:18. Come, let us be inebriated with the breasts, and let us enjoy the
desired embraces, till the day appear.
7:19. For my husband is not at home, he is gone a very long journey.
7:20. He took with him a bag of money: he will return home the day of
the full moon.
7:21. She entangled him with many words, and drew him away with the
flattery of her lips.
7:22. Immediately he followeth her as an ox led to be a victim, and as a
lamb playing the wanton, and not knowing that he is drawn like a fool to
bonds,
7:23. Till the arrow pierce his liver: as if a bird should make haste to
the snare, and knoweth not that his life is in danger.
7:24. Now, therefore, my son, hear me, and attend to the words of my
mouth.
7:25. Let not thy mind be drawn away in her ways: neither be thou
deceived with her paths.
7:26. For she hath cast down many wounded, and the strongest have been
slain by her.
7:27. Her house is the way to hell, reaching even to the inner chambers
of death.