16  So ^pyou will be delivered from the forbidden¹ woman,

from ^qthe adulteress² with ^rher smooth words,

3  For the lips of ^aa forbidden¹ woman drip honey,

and her speech² is ^bsmoother than oil,

20  Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with ^wa forbidden woman

and embrace the bosom of ^wan adulteress?¹

5  to keep you from ^lthe forbidden¹ woman,

from ^lthe adulteress² with her smooth words.

6  For at ^mthe window of my house

I have looked out through my lattice,

7  and I have seen among ⁿthe simple,

I have perceived among the youths,

a young man ^olacking sense,

8  passing along the street ^pnear her corner,

taking the road to her house

9  in ^qthe twilight, in the evening,

at ^rthe time of night and darkness.

10  And behold, the woman meets him,

^sdressed as a prostitute, wily of heart.³

11  She is ^tloud and ^uwayward;

^vher feet do not stay at home;

12  now in the street, now in the market,

and ^wat every corner she ^xlies in wait.

13  She seizes him and kisses him,

and with ^ybold face she says to him,

14  “I had to ^zoffer sacrifices,⁴

and today I have ^apaid my vows;

15  so now I have come out to meet you,

to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.

16  I have spread my couch with ^bcoverings,

colored linens from ^cEgyptian linen;

17  I have perfumed my bed with ^dmyrrh,

aloes, and ^ecinnamon.

18  Come, let us take our fill of love till morning;

let us delight ourselves with love.

19  For ^fmy husband is not at home;

he has gone on a long journey;

20  he took a bag of money with him;

at full moon he will come home.”

21  With much seductive speech she persuades him;

with ^gher smooth talk she compels him.

22  All at once he follows her,

as an ox goes to the slaughter,

or as a stag is caught fast⁵

23  till an arrow pierces its liver;

as ^ha bird rushes into a snare;

he does not know that it will cost him his life.

24  And ⁱnow, O sons, listen to me,

and be attentive to the words of my mouth.

25  Let not your heart turn aside to her ways;

do not stray into her paths,

26  for many a victim has she laid low,

and all her slain are ^ja mighty throng.

27  Her house is ^kthe way to Sheol,

going down to the chambers of death.

14  The mouth of ^kforbidden¹ women is ^la deep pit;

^mhe with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.

26  My son, give me your heart,

and let your eyes observe¹ my ways.

27  For a prostitute is ^ha deep pit;

ⁱan adulteress² is a narrow ^jwell.

28  ^kShe lies in wait like a robber

and increases the traitors among mankind.