[1] My son, remember my words. Don’t forget the commands I give you.
[2] Obey my commands and you will have life. Make my teaching the most important thing in your life.
[3] ˻Keep my commands and teachings with you always.˼ Tie them around your fingers. Write them on your heart.
[4] Treat wisdom like a sister. Treat understanding like a part of your family.
[5] Then they will protect you from the “other women.” They will protect you from their nice words that can lead you into sin.
[6] One day I was looking out my window
[7] at some foolish teenagers and noticed one that was especially foolish.
[8] He walked through the market place toward that bad woman’s corner and walked straight to her house.
[9] It was almost dark—the sun was setting. The night was beginning.
[10] The woman came out of the house to meet him. She was dressed like a prostitute. She had plans for the young man.
[11] She was wild and rebellious. She wasn’t going to stay at home!
[12] She walked the streets. She went everywhere looking for trouble.
[13] She grabbed the young man and kissed him. Without any shame she looked him in the eye and said,
[14] “I had to offer a fellowship sacrifice today. I gave what I promised to give.
[15] ˻Now I have plenty of food.˼ So I came out to invite you to join me. I looked and looked for you. And now I found you!
[16] I put clean sheets on my bed. They are very beautiful sheets from Egypt.
[17] I put perfume on my bed. The myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon smell wonderful!
[18] Come, we can enjoy ourselves all night. We can make love until dawn.
[19] My husband is gone. He is away on a business trip.
[20] He took enough money with him for a long trip. He won’t come home for two weeks.”
[21] The woman used those words to tempt the young man. Her smooth words tricked him.
[22] And the young man followed her to the trap. He was like a bull being led to the slaughter. He was like a deer walking into a trap,
[23] with a hunter ready to put an arrow through its heart. The boy was like a bird flying into a net. He didn’t know the danger he was in.
[24] Now sons, listen to me. Pay attention to the words I say.
[25] Don’t let your heart lead you toward an evil woman—don’t follow where she wants to lead you. Don’t follow her ways.
[26] She has caused many men to fall. She has destroyed many men.
[27] Her house is the place of death. Her path leads straight to death!