Chapter 7

  My son, keep my words, and lay up my precepts with thee. Son,  

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  Keep my commandments, and thou shalt live: and my law as the apple of thy eye:  

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  Bind it upon thy fingers, write it upon the tables of thy heart.  

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  Say to wisdom: Thou art my sister: and call prudence thy friend,  

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  That she may keep thee from the woman that is not thine, and from the stranger who sweeteneth her words.  

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  For I look out of the window of my house through the lattice,  

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  And I see little ones, I behold a foolish young man,  

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  Who passeth through the street by the corner, and goeth nigh the way of her house.  

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  In the dark, when it grows late, in the darkness and obscurity of the night,  

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  And behold a woman meeteth him in harlot's attire prepared to deceive souls; talkative and wandering,  

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  Not bearing to be quiet, not able to abide still at home,  

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  Now abroad, now in the streets, now lying in wait near the corners.  

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  And catching the young man, she kisseth him, and with an impudent face, flattereth, saying:  

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  I vowed victims for prosperity, this day I have paid my vows.  

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  Therefore I am come out to meet thee, desirous to see thee, and I have found thee.  

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  I have woven my bed with cords, I have covered it with painted tapestry, brought from Egypt.  

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  I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.  

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  Come, let us be inebriated with the breasts, and let us enjoy the desired embraces, till the day appear.  

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  For my husband is not at home, he is gone a very long journey.  

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  He took with him a bag of money: he mill return home the day of the full moon.  

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  She entangled him with many words, and drew him away with the flattery of her lips.  

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  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,  

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  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.  

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  Now therefore, my son, hear me, and attend to the words of my mouth.  

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  Let not thy mind be drawn away in her ways: neither be thou deceived with her paths.  

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  For she hath cast down many wounded, and the strongest have been slain by her.  

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  Her house is the way to hell, reaching even to the inner chambers of death.  

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