Hold Tight to Wisdom
Study note
Before telling the story, the father again urges his son to cling to wisdom like a close family member. In Hebrew culture, calling someone 'sister' or 'close relative' meant they were part of your inner circle of trust. Keeping wisdom this close would protect the young man from the flattering words of a tempting woman.
1 My child, take my words to heart and lock my commands away inside you. My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
2 Follow my instructions and you will thrive. Protect what I teach you the way you protect your own eyesight. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
3 Wear them on your fingers where you can always see them. Engrave them right on your heart. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
4 Treat wisdom like a sister. Consider understanding your best friend. Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:
5 They will keep you safe from the unfaithful woman who uses flattery to get what she wants. That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.
The Foolish Young Man's Story
Study note
The father describes looking out his window and watching a young man who lacked good sense walking near the home of a married woman at twilight. She comes out dressed to attract him, bold and restless. She tells him she has prepared a feast and her husband is away on a long trip. Step by step, using flattery and bold promises, she lures him in. The father compares him to an ox being led to the slaughterhouse or a bird flying into a net, not knowing it will cost him his life.
6 I was looking out my window one day, peering through the screen, For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
7 when I spotted a young man among a group of clueless guys. He clearly had no common sense at all. And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
8 He was strolling along the street near her corner, wandering in the direction of her house. Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
9 It was dusk, right at that point where daylight gives way to darkness. In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
10 Suddenly a woman came out to meet him. She was dressed to get his attention, and her real intentions were hidden. And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
11 She was the loud, pushy type who could never sit still at home. (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
12 One moment she is in the streets. The next she is in the marketplace. She is always hanging around every corner. Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
13 She caught hold of him and planted a kiss on him, then looked him right in the eye with zero shame and said, So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
14 "I just came from making sacrifices at the temple. I kept all my religious promises today." I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
15 "So I came looking specifically for you. I wanted to find you, and here you are!" Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
16 "I have draped my bed with gorgeous colored linens imported from Egypt." I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
17 "I have scented my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon so it smells amazing." I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 "Come on, let us lose ourselves in love all night long. Let us enjoy each other until morning." Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
19 "Do not worry, my husband is away. He left on a long business trip." For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
20 "He packed plenty of money for the journey. He will not be back for quite a while." He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
21 One smooth word after another, she wore down his resistance. Her flattery dragged him along like a rope. With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
22 Without thinking twice he followed her. He was like an ox walking to the place where it would be killed, like a fool stepping into a trap. He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
23 like a bird flying straight into a net. He had no idea this choice would cost him his life, until the arrow went through his heart. Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
The Final Warning
Study note
The father concludes with a strong warning: do not even let your heart drift toward her. Many strong men have been destroyed by this kind of temptation. Her house is described as a road to the grave, emphasizing the deadly seriousness of the warning.
24 So now, my children, I am asking you to truly listen to me. Let these words sink in. Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Do not let your heart drift even a little bit in her direction. Stay completely off her paths. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
26 She has left a trail of ruined lives behind her. Even the strongest men have been brought down by her. For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
27 Her house sits at the entrance to the grave. It is a highway that leads straight to death. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.