Proverbs 7

NIRV — New International Reader's Version Bible (NIRV)

AMP — Amplified Bible (AMP)

Verse 1

My son, obey my words.
Store up my commands inside you.

My son, keep my words
And treasure my commandments within you [so they are readily available to guide you].

Verse 2

Obey my commands and you will live.
Guard my teachings as you would guard your own eyes.

Keep my commandments and live,
And keep my teaching and law as the apple of your eye.

Verse 3

Tie them on your fingers.
Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Bind them [securely] on your fingers;
Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Verse 4

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister.”
Say to understanding, “You are a member of my family.”

Say to [skillful and godly] wisdom, “You are my sister,”
And regard understanding and intelligent insight as your intimate friends;

Verse 5

They will keep you from a woman who commits adultery.
They will keep you from the smooth talk of a sinful wife.

That they may keep you from the immoral woman,
From the foreigner [who does not observe God’s laws and] who flatters with her [smooth] words.

Verse 6

I stood at the window of my house.
I looked down through it.

For at the window of my house
I looked out through my lattice.

Verse 7

Among those who were childish
I saw a young man who had no sense.

And among the naive [the inexperienced and gullible],
I saw among the youths
A young man lacking [good] sense,

Verse 8

He went down the street near that sinful woman’s corner.
He walked toward her house.

Passing through the street near her corner;
And he took the path to her house

Verse 9

The sun had gone down, and the day was fading.
The darkness of night was falling.

In the twilight, in the evening;
In the black and dark night.

Verse 10

A woman came out to meet him.
She was dressed like a prostitute and had a clever plan.

And there a woman met him,
Dressed as a prostitute and sly and cunning of heart.

Verse 11

She was wild and pushy.
She never stayed at home.

She was boisterous and rebellious;
^[a]She would not stay at home.

Verse 12

Sometimes she’s in the streets. Sometimes she’s at other places.
At every corner she waits.

At times she was in the streets, at times in the market places,
Lurking and setting her ambush at every corner.

Verse 13

She took hold of the young man and kissed him.
With a bold face she spoke to him. She said,

So she caught him and kissed him
And with a brazen and impudent face she said to him:

Verse 14

“Today I offered what I promised I would.
At home I have meat left over from my fellowship offering.

“I have peace offerings with me;
Today I have paid my vows.

Verse 15

So I came out to meet you.
I looked for you and have found you!

“So I came out to meet you [that you might share with me the feast of my offering],
Diligently I sought your face and I have found you.

Verse 16

I have covered my bed
with colored sheets from Egypt.

“I have spread my couch with coverings and cushions of tapestry,
With colored fine linen of Egypt.

Verse 17

I’ve perfumed my bed with spices.
I used myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.

“I have perfumed my bed
With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

Verse 18

Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning.
Let’s enjoy ourselves by sleeping together!

“Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning;
Let us console and delight ourselves with love.

Verse 19

My husband isn’t home.
He’s gone on a long journey.

“For my husband is not at home.
He has gone on a long journey;

Verse 20

He took his bag full of money.
He won’t be home for several days.”

He has taken a bag of money with him,
And he will come home on the appointed day.”

Verse 21

She led him astray with her clever words.
She charmed him with her smooth talk.

With her many persuasions she caused him to yield;
With her flattering lips she seduced him.

Verse 22

All at once he followed her.
He was like an ox going to be killed.
He was like a deer stepping into a trap

Suddenly he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter [not knowing the outcome],
Or as one in stocks going to the correction [to be given] to a fool,

Verse 23

until an arrow struck its liver.
He was like a bird rushing into a trap.
Little did he know it would cost him his life!

Until an arrow pierced his liver [with a mortal wound];
Like a bird fluttering straight into the net,
He did not know that it would cost him his life.

Verse 24

My sons, listen to me.
Pay attention to what I say.

Now therefore, my sons, listen to me,
And pay attention to the words of my mouth.

Verse 25

Don’t let your hearts turn to her ways.
Don’t step onto her paths.

Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
Do not stray into her [evil, immoral] paths.

Verse 26

She has brought down a lot of men.
She has killed a huge crowd.

For she has cast down many [mortally] wounded;
Indeed, all who were killed by her were strong.

Verse 27

Her house is a road to the grave.
It leads down to the place of the dead.

Her house is the way to ^[b]Sheol,
Descending to the chambers of death.