In verses 13-18 the woman invites the young man to share her sacrificial meal and describes the perfumed bed they will enjoy.

“She seizes him and kisses him”: The woman grabs hold of the youth. In this combination of verbs it may be more natural to follow those translations that say, “She puts her arm[s] around him. . ..” “Kiss” in the Old Testament normally refers to the gesture of greeting or taking leave of close relatives. The “kiss” that has sexual significance is mentioned only here and in Song 1.2 and 8.1. In some languages the equivalent of “kiss” is hug, embrace, press the body against, or push the lips together.

“With impudent face”: This expression is literally “she hardens her face” and probably means to put on a bold front (see 21.29) or to do something without showing shame or regret. A number of translations have “She looked him straight in the eye and said. . ..”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .