If they say, “Come with us,
Let us lie in wait for blood,
Let us ambush the innocent without cause;

Let us swallow them alive like Sheol,
Even whole, as those who go down to the pit;

My son, do not forget my teaching,
But let your heart keep my commandments;

Do not let kindness and truth leave you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.

My son, let them not vanish from your sight;
Keep sound wisdom and discretion,

Then he taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
Keep my commandments and live;

Take hold of instruction; do not let go.
Guard her, for she is your life.

Do not let them depart from your sight;
Keep them in the midst of your heart.

Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.

Let them be yours alone
And not for strangers with you.

Let your fountain be blessed,
And rejoice in the wife of your youth.

As a loving hind and a graceful doe,
Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
Be exhilarated always with her love.

Do not desire her beauty in your heart,
Nor let her capture you with her eyelids.

“Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning;
Let us delight ourselves with caresses.

Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
Do not stray into her paths.

“Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!”
To him who lacks understanding she says,

“Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,”
And to him who lacks understanding she says,

Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his folly.

Do not let your heart envy sinners,
But live in the fear of the Lord always.

Let your father and your mother be glad,
And let her rejoice who gave birth to you.

Give me your heart, my son,
And let your eyes delight in my ways.

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;

Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house,
Or he will become weary of you and hate you.

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
A stranger, and not your own lips.

A man who is laden with the guilt of human blood
Will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him.

Let him drink and forget his poverty
And remember his trouble no more.

Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.