A reading from the book of Proverbs.

My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you.

Keep my commandments and live.

Keep my teaching as the apple of your eye, bind them on your fingers, write them on the tablet of your heart.

Say to wisdom, you are my sister, and call inside your intimate friend to keep you from the forbidden woman,

"'from the adulteress with her smooth words.

"'For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice,

"'and I have seen among the simple I have perceived among the ewes,

"'a young man lacking sense, passing along the street near her corner,

"'taking the road to her house, in the twilight, in the

evening, at the time of night and darkness, and behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a

prostitute, wily of heart. She is loud and wayward, her feet do not stay at home, now in the

street, now in the market, and at every corner she lies in wait. She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold

face she says to him, I had to offer sacrifices and today I have paid my vows, so now I have come out to

meet you to seek you eagerly, and I have found you. I have spread my couch with coverings,

colored linens from Egyptian linen. I have perfumed my bed with my my

aloes and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love till morning. Let us delight ourselves with love,

for my husband is not at home. He is gone on a long journey. He took a bag of money with him.

At full moon he will come home. With much seductive speech, she persuades him.

With her smooth talk, she compels him. All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter,

or as a stag is caught fast, till an arrow pierces its liver, as a bird rushes into a snare.

He does not know that it will cost him his life. And now,

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