Chapter 7

  My son, keep my sayings, and let my rules be stored up with you.  

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  Keep my rules and you will have life; let my teaching be to you as the light of your eyes;  

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  Let them be fixed to your fingers, and recorded in your heart.  

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  Say to wisdom, You are my sister; let knowledge be named your special friend:  

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  So that they may keep you from the strange woman, even from her whose words are smooth.  

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  Looking out from my house, and watching through the window,  

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  I saw among the young men one without sense,  

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  Walking in the street near the turn of her road, going on the way to her house,  

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  At nightfall, in the evening of the day, in the black dark of the night.  

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  And the woman came out to him, in the dress of a loose woman, with a designing heart;  

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  She is full of noise and uncontrolled; her feet keep not in her house.  

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  Now she is in the street, now in the open spaces, waiting at every turning of the road.  

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  So she took him by his hand, kissing him, and without a sign of shame she said to him:  

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  I have a feast of peace-offerings, for today my oaths have been effected.  

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  So I came out in the hope of meeting you, looking for you with care, and now I have you.  

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  My bed is covered with cushions of needlework, with coloured cloths of the cotton thread of Egypt;  

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  I have made my bed sweet with perfumes and spices.  

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  Come, let us take our pleasure in love till the morning, having joy in love's delights.  

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  For the master of the house is away on a long journey:  

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  He has taken a bag of money with him; he is coming back at the full moon.  

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  With her fair words she overcame him, forcing him with her smooth lips.  

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  The simple man goes after her, like an ox going to its death, like a roe pulled by a cord;  

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  Like a bird falling into a net; with no thought that his life is in danger, till an arrow goes into his side.  

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  So now, my sons, give ear to me; give attention to the sayings of my mouth;  

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  Let not your heart be turned to her ways, do not go wandering in her footsteps.  

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  For those wounded and made low by her are great in number; and all those who have come to their death through her are a great army.  

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  Her house is the way to the underworld, going down to the rooms of death.  

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