Warning Against the Adulteress

Proverbs 7

1 h My son, keep my words
and h treasure up my commandments with you;
 2 i keep my commandments and live;
keep my teaching as j the apple of your eye;
 3 k bind them on your fingers;
k write them on the tablet of your heart.
 4 Say to wisdom, "You are my sister,"
and call insight your intimate friend,
 5 to keep you from l the forbidden 1 woman,
from l the adulteress 2 with her smooth words.

6 For at m the window of my house
I have looked out through my lattice,
 7 and I have seen among n the simple,
I have perceived among the youths,
a young man o lacking sense,
 8 passing along the street p near her corner,
taking the road to her house
 9 in q the twilight, in the evening,
at r the time of night and darkness.

10 And behold, the woman meets him,
s dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart. 3
11 She is t loud and u wayward;
v her feet do not stay at home;
 12 now in the street, now in the market,
and w at every corner she x lies in wait.
 13 She seizes him and kisses him,
and with y bold face she says to him,
 14 "I had to z offer sacrifices, 4
and today I have a paid 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 b coverings,
colored linens from c Egyptian linen;
 17 I have perfumed my bed with d myrrh,
aloes, and e cinnamon.
 18 Come, let us take our fill of love till morning;
let us delight ourselves with love.
 19 For f my 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 g her 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 fast 5
23 till an arrow pierces its liver;
as h a bird rushes into a snare;
he does not know that it will cost him his life.

24 And i now, 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 j a mighty throng.
 27 Her house is k the way to Sheol,
going down to the chambers of death.

  1. Cross References
    Proverbs 2:1
    My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you.
  2. Cross References
    Proverbs 2:1
    My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you.
  3. Cross References
    Proverbs 4:4
    He taught me and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.
  4. Cross References
    Deuteronomy 32:10
    He found him in a desert land, and in the howling waste of the wilderness; he encircled him, he cared for him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.
  5. Cross References
    Proverbs 3:3
    Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.
  6. Cross References
    Proverbs 3:3
    Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.
  7. Cross References
    Proverbs 2:16
    So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words.
  8. Cross References
    Proverbs 2:16
    So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words.
  9. Cross References
    Judges 5:28
    "Out of the window she peered, the mother of Sisera wailed through the lattice: 'Why is his chariot so long in coming? Why tarry the hoofbeats of his chariots?'
  10. Cross References
    Proverbs 1:4
    To give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth -
  11. Cross References
    Proverbs 6:32
    He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.
  12. Cross References
    Proverbs 7:12
    Now in the street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait.
  13. Cross References
    Job 24:15
    The eye of the adulterer also waits for the twilight, saying, 'No eye will see me'; and he veils his face.
  14. Cross References
    Proverbs 20:20
    If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
  15. Cross References
    Genesis 38:14
    She took off her widow's garments and covered herself with a veil, wrapping herself up, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she had not been given to him in marriage.
  16. Cross References
    Proverbs 9:13
    The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing.
  17. Cross References
    Hosea 4:16
    Like a stubborn heifer, Israel is stubborn; can the Lord now feed them like a lamb in a broad pasture?
  18. Cross References
    1 Timothy 5:13
    Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not.
    Titus 2:5
    To be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
  19. Cross References
    Proverbs 7:8
    Passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house
  20. Cross References
    Proverbs 23:28
    She lies in wait like a robber and increases the traitors among mankind.
  21. Cross References
    Proverbs 21:29
    A wicked man puts on a bold face, but the upright gives thought to his ways.
  22. Cross References
    Leviticus 7:11
    And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings that one may offer to the Lord.
  23. Cross References
    Psalms 50:14
    Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High.
  24. Cross References
    Proverbs 31:22
    She makes bed coverings for herself; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
  25. Cross References
    Isaiah 19:9
    The workers in combed flax will be in despair, and the weavers of white cotton.
  26. Cross References
    Psalms 45:8
    Your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia. From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad.
  27. Cross References
    Exodus 30:23
    Take the finest spices: of liquid myrrh 500 shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon half as much, that is, 250, and 250 of aromatic cane.
  28. Cross References
    Matthew 20:11
    And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house.
  29. Cross References
    Proverbs 5:3
    For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil.
    Proverbs 6:24
    To preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.
    Psalms 12:2
    Everyone utters lies to his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak.
  30. Cross References
    Ecclesiastes 9:12
    For man does not know his time. Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.
  31. Cross References
    Proverbs 4:1
    Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight.
  32. Cross References
    Nehemiah 13:26
    Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin.
    Judges 16:1 - 5
    Samson went to Gaza, and there he saw a prostitute, and he went in to her.
  33. Cross References
    Proverbs 2:18
    For her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed.
    Proverbs 5:5
    Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol.
    Proverbs 9:18
    But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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