Proverbs 5:2-23 in English

² That thou mayest preserve discretion, And that thy lips may keep knowledge.

³ For the lips of a strange woman drop honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil:

⁴ But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword.

⁵ Her feet go down to death; Her steps take hold on Sheol;

⁶ So that she findeth not the level path of life: Her ways are unstable, and she knoweth it not.

⁷ Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me, And depart not from the words of my mouth.

⁸ Remove thy way far from her, And come not nigh the door of her house;

⁹ Lest thou give thine honor unto others, And thy years unto the cruel;

¹⁰ Lest strangers be filled with thy strength, And thy labors be in the house of an alien,

¹¹ And thou mourn at thy latter end, When thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

¹² And say, How have I hated instruction, And my heart despised reproof;

¹³ Neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

¹⁴ I was well-nigh in all evil In the midst of the assembly and congregation.

¹⁵ Drink waters out of thine own cistern, And running waters out of thine own well.

¹⁶ Should thy springs be dispersed abroad, And streams of water in the streets?

¹⁷ Let them be for thyself alone, And not for strangers with thee.

¹⁸ Let thy fountain be blessed; And rejoice in the wife of thy youth.

¹⁹ As a loving hind and a pleasant doe, Let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; And be thou ravished always with her love.

²⁰ For why shouldest thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, And embrace the bosom of a foreigner?

²¹ For the ways of man are before the eyes of Jehovah; And he maketh level all his paths.

²² His own iniquities shall take the wicked, And he shall be holden with the cords of his sin.

²³ He shall die for lack of instruction; And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

² that thou mayest keep good understanding, and the discretion of my lips gives thee a charge. Give no heed to a worthless woman;

³ for honey drops from the lips of a harlot, who for a season pleases thy palate:

⁴ but afterwards thou wilt find her more bitter than gall, and sharper than a two-edged sword.

⁵ For the feet of folly lead those who deal with her down to the grave with death; and her steps are not established.

⁶ For she goes not upon the paths of life; but her ways are slippery, and not easily known.

⁷ Now then, my son, hear me, and make not my words of none effect.

⁸ Remove thy way far from her; draw not near to the doors of her house:

⁹ lest thou give away thy life to others, and thy substance to the merciless:

¹⁰ lest strangers be filled with thy strength, and thy labours come into the houses of strangers;

¹¹ and thou repent at last, when the flesh of thy body is consumed,

¹² and thou shalt say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart avoided reproofs!

¹³ I heard not the voice of him that instructed me, and taught me, neither did I apply mine ear.

¹⁴ I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.

¹⁵ Drink waters out of thine own vessels, and out of thine own springing wells.

¹⁶ Let not waters out of thy fountain be spilt by thee, but let thy waters go into thy streets.

¹⁷ Let them be only thine own, and let no stranger partake with thee.

¹⁸ Let thy fountain of water be truly thine own; and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

¹⁹ Let thy loving hart and thy graceful colt company with thee, and let her be considered thine own, and be with thee at all times; for ravished with her love thou shalt be greatly increased.

²⁰ Be not intimate with a strange woman, neither fold thyself in the arms of a woman not thine own.

²¹ For the ways of a man are before the eyes of God, and he looks on all his paths.

²² Iniquities ensnare a man, and every one is bound in the chains of his own sins.

²³ Such a man dies with the uninstructed; and he is cast forth from the abundance of his own substance, and has perished through folly.

² That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.

³ For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:

⁴ But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.

⁵ Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

⁶ Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.

⁷ Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.

⁸ Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:

⁹ Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:

¹⁰ Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;

¹¹ And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

¹² And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

¹³ And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

¹⁴ I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.

¹⁵ Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.

¹⁶ Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.

¹⁷ Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee.

¹⁸ Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

¹⁹ Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.

²⁰ And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

²¹ For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.

²² His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.

²³ He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

² That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.

³ For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:

⁴ But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.

⁵ Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

⁶ Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.

⁷ Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.

⁸ Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:

⁹ Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:

¹⁰ Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;

¹¹ And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

¹² And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

¹³ And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

¹⁴ I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.

¹⁵ Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.

¹⁶ Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.

¹⁷ Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee.

¹⁸ Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

¹⁹ Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.

²⁰ And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

²¹ For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.

²² His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.

²³ He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

² that you may keep good understanding, and the discretion of my lips gives you a charge. Give no heed to a worthless woman;

³ for honey drops from the lips of a harlot, who for a season pleases your palate:

⁴ but afterwards you will find her more bitter than gall, and sharper than a two-edged sword.

⁵ For the feet of folly lead those who deal with her down to the grave with death; and her steps are not established.

⁶ For she goes not upon the paths of life; but her ways are slippery, and not easily known.

⁷ Now then, my son, hear me, and make not my words of none effect.

⁸ Remove your way far from her; draw not near to the doors of her house:

⁹ lest you give away your life to others, and your substance to the merciless:

¹⁰ lest strangers be filled with your strength, and your labors come into the houses of strangers;

¹¹ And you repent at last, when the flesh of your body is consumed,

¹² and you shall say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart avoided reproofs!

¹³ I heard not the voice of him that instructed me, and taught me, neither did I apply my ear.

¹⁴ I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.

¹⁵ Drink waters out of your own vessels, and out of your own springing wells.

¹⁶ Let not waters out of your fountain be spilt by you, but let your waters go into your streets.

¹⁷ Let them be only your own, and let no stranger partake with you.

¹⁸ Let your fountain of water be truly your own; and rejoice with the wife of your youth.

¹⁹ Let your loving hart and your graceful colt company with you, and let her be considered your own, and be with you at all times; for ravished with her love you shall be greatly increased.

²⁰ Be not intimate with a strange woman, neither fold yourself in the arms of a woman not your own.

²¹ For the ways of a man are before the eyes of God, and he looks on all his paths.

²² Iniquities ensnare a man, and every one is bound in the chains of his own sins.

²³ Such a man dies with the uninstructed; and he is cast forth from the abundance of his own substance, and has perished through folly.

² That thou mayest preserve discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.

³ For the lips of a strange woman drop honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil:

⁴ But her latter end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.

⁵ Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on Sheol;

⁶ So that she findeth not the level path of life: her ways are unstable and she knoweth it not.

⁷ Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me, and depart not from the words of my mouth.

⁸ Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:

⁹ Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:

¹⁰ Lest strangers be filled with thy strength; and thy labours be in the house of an alien;

¹¹ And thou mourn at thy latter end, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

¹² And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

¹³ Neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

¹⁴ I was well nigh in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.

¹⁵ Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.

¹⁶ Should thy springs be dispersed abroad, and rivers of water in the streets?

¹⁷ Let them be for thyself alone, and not for strangers with thee.

¹⁸ Let thy fountain be blessed; and rejoice in the wife of thy youth.

¹⁹ As a loving hind and a pleasant doe, let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.

²⁰ For why shouldest thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

²¹ For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he maketh level all his paths.

²² His own iniquities shall take the wicked, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sin.

²³ He shall die for lack of instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

² If you do that, you will be able to choose wisely what to do, and you will know the right things to say MTY.

³ What an immoral woman says to you may be as sweet as honey, and sound smoother than olive oil feels on your skin,

⁴ but the result of being with her will be bitter like gall and injure you as badly, like being cut with a sharp two-edged sword.

⁵ If you go where she goes MTY, you will go down to where the dead people are. Her steps will lead you straight to the grave.

⁶ She is not concerned about the roads that lead to a long life. She walks down a crooked path, and she does not realize that she is on the wrong road.

⁷ So now, my sons, listen to me. ◄Never turn aside from/always remember► LIT what I am about to tell you.

⁸ Run away from immoral women! Do not go near the doors of their houses!

⁹ If you enter the home of one of them, you will lose your ◄self-respect/good reputation► and that woman's husband will not act mercifully toward you; he will kill you and take everything that you have acquired during your life!

¹⁰ Foreigners will take your money, and all the good things that you have worked for will ◄end up in their hands/become their possessions►.

¹¹ And when you are about to die, you will groan with severe pain because diseases that you have gotten from being immoral will be destroying your body.

¹² Then you will say, “I hated it when people tried to correct me. I despised people when they reproved/rebuked me.

¹³ I did not heed what my teachers said! I paid no attention to those who tried to teach me something about my behavior.

¹⁴ Now I am almost ruined, and I will be disgraced in public gatherings.”

¹⁵ Like a man is refreshed by drinking water from his own well MET, enjoy having sex EUP only with your own wife.

¹⁶ Like you would not waste good water by pouring it into the street, you should not have sex with other women. MET, EUP

¹⁷ Enjoy having sex only with your wife; do not have sex with other women.

¹⁸ Let your wife be a source of great pleasure to you. ◄Be happy/ Enjoy sex► with the woman whom you married when you were both young.

¹⁹ She is as pretty and graceful as a young female deer. Allow her breasts to always satisfy you. Allow her lovemaking to excite you.

²⁰ My son, do not be RHQ captivated/charmed by an immoral woman! Do not fondle the breasts of another man's wife!

²¹ I say that because Yahweh sees clearly everything that we do; he knows where we are going on the roads that we walk on.

²² Evil men's sinful desires hold them fast; their sins are like ropes that bind them.

²³ Evil men will die because they are unable to say “No” to their desires; they will ◄go astray/be lost► because of the foolish things that they do.

² that you may keep good understanding, and the discretion of my lips gives you a charge. Give no heed to a worthless woman;

³ for honey drops from the lips of a harlot, who for a season pleases your palate:

⁴ but afterwards you will find her more bitter than gall, and sharper than a two-edged sword.

⁵ For the feet of folly lead those who deal with her down to the grave with death; and her steps are not established.

⁶ For she goes not upon the paths of life; but her ways are slippery, and not easily known.

⁷ Now then, my son, hear me, and make not my words of none effect.

⁸ Remove your way far from her; draw not near to the doors of her house:

⁹ lest you give away your life to others, and your substance to the merciless:

¹⁰ lest strangers be filled with your strength, and your labours come into the houses of strangers;

¹¹ And you repent at last, when the flesh of your body is consumed,

¹² and you shall say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart avoided reproofs!

¹³ I heard not the voice of him that instructed me, and taught me, neither did I apply my ear.

¹⁴ I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.

¹⁵ Drink waters out of your own vessels, and out of your own springing wells.

¹⁶ Let not waters out of your fountain be spilt by you, but let your waters go into your streets.

¹⁷ Let them be only your own, and let no stranger partake with you.

¹⁸ Let your fountain of water be truly your own; and rejoice with the wife of your youth.

¹⁹ Let your loving hart and your graceful colt company with you, and let her be considered your own, and be with you at all times; for ravished with her love you shall be greatly increased.

²⁰ Be not intimate with a strange woman, neither fold yourself in the arms of a woman not your own.

²¹ For the ways of a man are before the eyes of God, and he looks on all his paths.

²² Iniquities ensnare a man, and every one is bound in the chains of his own sins.

²³ Such a man dies with the uninstructed; and he is cast forth from the abundance of his own substance, and has perished through folly.

² that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge.

³ For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,

⁴ but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword.

⁵ Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol.

⁶ She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn’t know it.

⁷ Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don’t depart from the words of my mouth.

⁸ Remove your way far from her. Don’t come near the door of her house,

⁹ lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one;

¹⁰ lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich another man’s house.

¹¹ You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed,

¹² and say, “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof.

¹³ I haven’t obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me!

¹⁴ I have come to the brink of utter ruin, among the gathered assembly.”

¹⁵ Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well.

¹⁶ Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares?

¹⁷ Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you.

¹⁸ Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.

¹⁹ A loving doe and a graceful deer— let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.

²⁰ For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?

²¹ For the ways of man are before Yahweh’s eyes. He examines all his paths.

²² The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly.

²³ He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.

² that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge.

³ For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,

⁴ but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword.

⁵ Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol.

⁶ She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn’t know it.

⁷ Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don’t depart from the words of my mouth.

⁸ Remove your way far from her. Don’t come near the door of her house,

⁹ lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one;

¹⁰ lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich another man’s house.

¹¹ You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed,

¹² and say, “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof.

¹³ I haven’t obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me!

¹⁴ I have come to the brink of utter ruin, among the gathered assembly.”

¹⁵ Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well.

¹⁶ Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares?

¹⁷ Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you.

¹⁸ Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.

¹⁹ A loving doe and a graceful deer— let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.

²⁰ For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?

²¹ For the ways of man are before Yahweh’s eyes. He examines all his paths.

²² The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly.

²³ He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.

² that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge.

³ For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,

⁴ but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword.

⁵ Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol.

⁶ She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn’t know it.

⁷ Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don’t depart from the words of my mouth.

⁸ Remove your way far from her. Don’t come near the door of her house,

⁹ lest you give your honour to others, and your years to the cruel one;

¹⁰ lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labours enrich another man’s house.

¹¹ You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed,

¹² and say, “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof.

¹³ I haven’t obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me!

¹⁴ I have come to the brink of utter ruin, amongst the gathered assembly.”

¹⁵ Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well.

¹⁶ Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares?

¹⁷ Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you.

¹⁸ Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.

¹⁹ A loving doe and a graceful deer— let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.

²⁰ For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?

²¹ For the ways of man are before the LORD’s eyes. He examines all his paths.

²² The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly.

²³ He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.

² So that you may be ruled by a wise purpose, and your lips may keep knowledge.

³ For honey is dropping from the lips of the strange woman, and her mouth is smoother than oil;

⁴ But her end is bitter as wormwood, and sharp as a two-edged sword;

⁵ Her feet go down to death, and her steps to the underworld;

⁶ She never keeps her mind on the road of life; her ways are uncertain, she has no knowledge.

⁷ Give ear to me then, my sons, and do not put away my words from you.

⁸ Go far away from her, do not come near the door of her house;

⁹ For fear that you may give your honour to others, and your wealth to strange men:

¹⁰ And strange men may be full of your wealth, and the fruit of your work go to the house of others;

¹¹ And you will be full of grief at the end of your life, when your flesh and your body are wasted;

¹² And you will say, How was teaching hated by me, and my heart put no value on training;

¹³ I did not give attention to the voice of my teachers, my ear was not turned to those who were guiding me!

¹⁴ I was in almost all evil in the company of the people.

¹⁵ Let water from your store and not that of others be your drink, and running water from your fountain.

¹⁶ Let not your springs be flowing in the streets, or your streams of water in the open places.

¹⁷ Let them be for yourself only, not for other men with you.

¹⁸ Let blessing be on your fountain; have joy in the wife of your early years.

¹⁹ As a loving hind and a gentle doe, let her breasts ever give you rapture; let your passion at all times be moved by her love.

²⁰ Why let yourself, my son, go out of the way with a strange woman, and take another woman in your arms?

²¹ For a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he puts all his goings in the scales.

²² The evil-doer will be taken in the net of his crimes, and prisoned in the cords of his sin.

²³ He will come to his end for need of teaching; he is so foolish that he will go wandering from the right way.

² that thou mayest keep reflection, and that thy lips may preserve knowledge.

³ For the lips of the strange woman drop honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil;

⁴ but her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.

⁵ Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on Sheol.

⁶ Lest she should ponder the path of life, her ways wander, she knoweth not whither.

⁷ And now, children, hearken unto me, and depart not from the words of my mouth.

⁸ Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:

⁹ lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel;

¹⁰ lest strangers be filled with thy wealth, and the fruits of thy toil come into the house of a stranger;

¹¹ and thou mourn in thine end, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed;

¹² and thou say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof!

¹³ and I have not hearkened unto the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to those that instructed me;

¹⁴ I was well nigh in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.

¹⁵ Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.

¹⁶ Thy fountains shall be poured forth, as water-brooks in the broadways.

¹⁷ Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee.

¹⁸ Let thy fountain be blessed; and have joy of the wife of thy youth.

¹⁹ As a lovely hind and a graceful roe, let her breasts satisfy thee at all times: be thou ravished continually with her love.

²⁰ And why shouldest thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

²¹ For the ways of man are before the eyes of Jehovah, and he pondereth all his paths.

²² His own iniquities shall take the wicked, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sin.

²³ He shall die for want of discipline; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

² That thou mayst keep thoughts, and thy lips may preserve instruction. Mind not the deceit of a woman.

³ For the lips of a harlot are like a honeycomb dropping, and her throat is smoother than oil.

⁴ But her end is bitter as wormwood, and sharp as a two-edged sword.

⁵ Her feet go down into death, and her steps go in as far as hell.

⁶ They walk not by the path of life, her steps are wandering, and unaccountable.

⁷ Now therefore, my son, hear me, and depart not from the words of my mouth.

⁸ Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the doors of her house.

⁹ Give not thy honour to strangers, and thy years to the cruel.

¹⁰ Lest strangers be filled with thy strength, and thy labours be in another man’s house,

¹¹ And thou mourn it the last, when thou shalt have spent thy flesh and thy body, and say:

¹² Why have I hated instruction, and my heart consented not to reproof,

¹³ And have not heard the voice of them that taught me, and have not inclined my ear to masters?

¹⁴ I have almost been in all evil, in the midst of the church and of the congregation.

¹⁵ Drink water out of thy own cistern, and the streams of thy own well:

¹⁶ Let thy fountains be conveyed abroad, and in the streets divide thy waters.

¹⁷ Keep them to thyself alone, neither let strangers be partakers with thee.

¹⁸ Let thy vein be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of thy youth:

¹⁹ Let her be thy dearest hind, and most agreeable fawn: let her breasts inebriate thee at all times; he thou delighted continually with her love.

²⁰ Why art thou seduced, my son, by a strange woman, and art cherished in the bosom of another?

²¹ The Lord beholdeth the ways of man, and considereth all his steps.

²² His own iniquities catch the wicked, and he is fast bound with the ropes of his own sins.

²³ He shall die, because he hath not received instruction, and in the multitude of his folly he shall be deceived.

² so you can make good decisions and protect knowledge with your lips.

³ For the lips of an immoral woman may taste as sweet as honey, the kisses of her mouth may be as smooth as oil,

⁴ but in the end what you get from her is the bitterness of wormwood and the sharp pain of being cut with a two-edged sword.

⁵ She leads you down to death; she takes you down to the grave.

⁶ She doesn't follow the path that leads to life—she wanders away and doesn't even know she's lost.

⁷ Now, my son, listen to me; don't reject what I have taught you.

⁸ Stay far away from her! Don't go near the door of her house!

⁹ Otherwise you'll surrender your honor to others, and your character to cruel people.

¹⁰ Strangers will spend your wealth; everything you've worked for will go to someone else.

¹¹ When you come to the end of your life you'll moan in pain as disease destroys your body.

¹² You'll say, “How I used to hate discipline, and my mind rebelled against being corrected!

¹³ I didn't listen to what my teacher said. I didn't pay attention to my instructors.

¹⁴ Now I'm on the verge of being completely disgraced before everyone in the community.”

¹⁵ Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well.

¹⁶ Why should your springs be spilled outside, your streams of water poured out in the streets?

¹⁷ Keep them for yourselves alone. They're not for you to share with strangers.

¹⁸ May your spring of water be blessed, and may you enjoy the wife you married when you were young.

¹⁹ May she be to you a loving deer, a graceful doe. May her breasts always be intoxicating to you; may you be drunk on her love forever.

²⁰ Why, my son, become intoxicated with an immoral woman? Why embrace the breasts of a woman who acts like a prostitute?

²¹ For the Lord sees everything people do, the Lord investigates everywhere they go.

²² The wicked are trapped by their evil actions; the cords of their sins tie them up.

²³ They will die because they lack self-control, lost because of their great stupidity.

² That thou maiest regarde counsell, and thy lippes obserue knowledge.

³ For the lippes of a strange woman drop as an honie combe, and her mouth is more soft then oyle.

⁴ But the end of her is bitter as wormewood, and sharpe as a two edged sworde.

⁵ Her feete goe downe to death, and her steps take holde on hell.

⁶ She weigheth not the way of life: her paths are moueable: thou canst not knowe them.

⁷ Heare yee me nowe therefore, O children, and depart not from the wordes of my mouth.

⁸ Keepe thy way farre from her, and come not neere the doore of her house,

⁹ Least thou giue thine honor vnto others, and thy yeeres to the cruell:

¹⁰ Least the stranger should be silled with thy strength, and thy labours bee in the house of a stranger,

¹¹ And thou mourne at thine end, (when thou hast consumed thy flesh and thy bodie)

¹² And say, How haue I hated instruction, and mine heart despised correction!

¹³ And haue not obeied the voyce of them that taught mee, nor enclined mine eare to them that instructed me!

¹⁴ I was almost brought into all euil in ye mids of the Congregation and assemblie.

¹⁵ Drinke the water of thy cisterne, and of the riuers out of the middes of thine owne well.

¹⁶ Let thy fountaines flow foorth, and the riuers of waters in the streetes.

¹⁷ But let them bee thine, euen thine onely, and not the strangers with thee.

¹⁸ Let thy fountaine be blessed, and reioyce with the wife of thy youth.

¹⁹ Let her be as the louing hinde and pleasant roe: let her brests satisfie thee at all times, and delite in her loue continually.

²⁰ For why shouldest thou delite, my sonne, in a strange woman, or embrace the bosome of a stranger?

²¹ For the waies of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his pathes.

²² His owne iniquities shall take the wicked himselfe, and he shall be holden with the cordes of his owne sinne.

²³ Hee shall die for fault of instruction, and shall goe astray through his great follie.

² That thou mayest preserve discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.

³ For the lips of a strange woman drop honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil;

⁴ But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.

⁵ Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on the nether-world;

⁶ Lest she should walk the even path of life, her ways wander, but she knoweth it not.

⁷ Now therefore, O ye children, hearken unto me, and depart not from the words of my mouth.

⁸ Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house;

⁹ Lest thou give thy vigour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel;

¹⁰ Lest strangers be filled with thy strength, and thy labours be in the house of an alien;

¹¹ And thou moan, when thine end cometh, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

¹² And say: 'How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

¹³ Neither have I hearkened to the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

¹⁴ I was well nigh in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.'

¹⁵ Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.

¹⁶ Let thy springs be dispersed abroad, and courses of water in the streets.

¹⁷ Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee.

¹⁸ Let thy fountain be blessed; and have joy of the wife of thy youth.

¹⁹ A lovely hind and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; with her love be thou ravished always.

²⁰ Why then wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of an alien?

²¹ For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He maketh even all his paths.

²² His own iniquities shall ensnare the wicked, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sin.

²³ He shall die for lack of instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall reel.

² That thou mayest regard discretion, And that thy lips may keep knowledge.

³ For the lips of a strange woman drop as a honeycomb, And her mouth is smoother than oil:

⁴ But her end is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a twoedged sword.

⁵ Her feet go down to death; Her steps take hold on hell.

⁶ Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, Her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.

⁷ Hear me now therefore, O ye children, And depart not from the words of my mouth.

⁸ Remove thy way far from her, And come not nigh the door of her house:

⁹ Lest thou give thine honour unto others, And thy years unto the cruel:

¹⁰ Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; And thy labours be in the house of a stranger;

¹¹ And thou mourn at the last, When thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

¹² And say, How have I hated instruction, And my heart despised reproof;

¹³ And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

¹⁴ I was almost in all evil In the midst of the congregation and assembly.

¹⁵ Drink waters out of thine own cistern, And running waters out of thine own well.

¹⁶ Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, And rivers of waters in the streets.

¹⁷ Let them be only thine own, And not strangers’ with thee.

¹⁸ Let thy fountain be blessed: And rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

¹⁹ Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; Let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; And be thou ravisht always with her love.

²⁰ And why wilt thou, my son, be ravisht with a strange woman, And embrace the bosom of a stranger?

²¹ For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, And he pondereth all his goings.

²² His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, And he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.

²³ He shall die without instruction; And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

² That thou mayest observe discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.

³ For as of fine honey drop the lips of an adulterous woman, and smoother than oil is her palate;

⁴ But her end is bitter as wormwood, it is sharp as a two-edged sword.

⁵ Her feet go down to death, her steps take firm hold on the nether world:

⁶ So that she cannot balance the path of life; her tracks are unsteady, and she knoweth it not.

⁷ And now, O ye children, hearken unto me, and depart not from the sayings of my mouth.

⁸ Remove far from her thy way, and come not nigh to the door of her house;

⁹ That thou mayest not give up unto others thy vigor, and thy years unto the cruel;

¹⁰ That strangers may not satisfy themselves with thy strength, and with thy exertions, in the house of an alien:

¹¹ While thou moanest at thy end, when thy flesh and thy body are coming to their end,

¹² And thou sayest, How have I hated correction, and how hath my heart rejected reproof;

¹³ While I hearkened not to the voice of my instructors, and to my teachers I inclined not my ear;

¹⁴ But little more was wanting, and I had been in all kinds of unhappiness in the midst of the congregation and assembly.

¹⁵ Drink water out of thy own cistern, and running waters out of thy own well.

¹⁶ So will thy springs overflow abroad; and in the open streets will be thy rivulets of water;

¹⁷ They will be thy own only, and not those of strangers with thee.

¹⁸ Thy fountain will be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth,—

¹⁹ The lovely gazelle and the graceful chamois: let her bosom satisfy thee abundantly at all times; with her love be thou ravished continually.

²⁰ And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with an adulteress, and embrace the bosom of an alien woman?

²¹ For before the eyes of the Lord are the ways of man, and all his tracks doth he weigh in the balance.

²² His own iniquities will truly catch the wicked, and with the cords of his sin will he be held firmly.

²³ He will indeed die for want of correction; and through the abundance of his folly will he sink into error.

² That thou mayest keep good understanding, And the discretion of my lips gives thee a charge. Give no heed to a worthless woman;

³ For honey drops from the lips of a harlot, Who for a season pleases thy palate:

⁴ But afterward thou wilt find her more bitter than gall, And sharper than a two-edged sword.

⁵ For the feet of folly lead Those who deal with her down to the grave with death; And her steps are not established.

⁶ For she goes not upon the paths of life; But her ways are slippery, and not easily known.

⁷ Now then, my son, hear me, And make not my words of none effect.

⁸ Remove thy way far from her; Draw not near to the doors of her house:

⁹ Lest thou give away thy life to others, And thy substance to the merciless:

¹⁰ Lest strangers be filled with thy strength, And thy labors come into the houses of strangers;

¹¹ And thou repent at last, When the flesh of thy body is consumed,

¹² And thou shalt say, How have I hated instruction, And my heart avoided reproofs!

¹³ I heard not the voice of him that instructed me, and taught me, Neither did I apply mine ear.

¹⁴ I was almost in all evil In the midst of the congregation and assembly.

¹⁵ Drink waters out of thine own vessels, And out of thine own springing wells.

¹⁶ Let not waters out of thy fountain be spilt by thee, But let thy waters go into thy streets.

¹⁷ Let them be only thine own, And let no stranger partake with thee.

¹⁸ Let thy fountain of water be truly thine own; And rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

¹⁹ Let thy loving hart and thy graceful colt company with thee, And let her be considered thine own, and be with thee at all times; For ravished with her love thou shalt be greatly increased.

²⁰ Be not intimate with a strange woman, Neither fold thyself in the arms of a woman not thine own.

²¹ For the ways of a man are before the eyes of God, And he looks on all his paths.

²² Iniquities ensnare a man, And every one is bound in the chains of his own sins.

²³ Such a man dies with the uninstructed; And he is cast forth from the abundance of his own substance, And has perished through folly.

² That thou mayest keep discretion, And that thy lips may preserve knowledge!

³ Truly, the lips of a strange woman drop honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil;

⁴ But her end is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword.

⁵ Her feet go down to death; Her steps lay hold of the under-world.

⁶ That she may not ponder the way of life, Her paths waver when she heedeth it not.

⁷ Hear me now, therefore, O children! And turn not away from the words of my mouth!

⁸ Remove thy way far from her. And come not nigh the door of her house:

⁹ Lest thou give thy bloom to others, And thy years to a cruel one;

¹⁰ Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth, And thine earnings be in the house of an alien;

¹¹ And lest thou mourn in thy latter end. When thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

¹² And say, “How have I hated instruction! And how hath my heart despised reproof!

¹³ I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined mine ear to my instructors;

¹⁴ I have well-nigh fallen into utter misery; In the midst of the congregation and the assembly.”

¹⁵ Drink water out of thine own cistern. And running water out of thine own well:

¹⁶ So shall thy fountains overflow in the streets, In the wide streets, as streams of water;

¹⁷ They shall belong to thee alone, And not to strangers with thee;

¹⁸ And thy fountain shall be blessed, Yea, thou shalt have joy in the wife of thy youth.

¹⁹ A lovely hind, a graceful doe, Her breasts shall satisfy thee at all times, And thou shalt be always ravished with her love.

²⁰ Why, then, my son, wilt thou be ravished with a wanton, And embrace the bosom of a stranger?

²¹ For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, And he weigheth well all his paths.

²² His own iniquities shall ensnare the wicked; Yea, he shall be held fast by the cords of his own sins.

²³ He shall die for want of instruction; Yea, through the greatness of his folly he shall stagger.

² that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge.

³ For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,

⁴ But in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword.

⁵ Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol ·Place of the dead·.

⁶ She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she does not know it.

⁷ Now therefore, my sons, sh'ma ·hear obey· me. Don’t depart from the words of my mouth.

⁸ Remove your way far from her. Don’t come near the door of her house,

⁹ lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one;

¹⁰ lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich another man’s house.

¹¹ You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed,

¹² and say, “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

¹³ neither have I sh'ma ·heard obeyed· the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me!

¹⁴ I have come to the brink of utter ruin, among the gathered assembly.”

¹⁵ Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well.

¹⁶ Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares?

¹⁷ Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you.

¹⁸ Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.

¹⁹ An ahab ·affectionately loving· doe and a chen ·graceful· deer— let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.

²⁰ For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?

²¹ For the ways of man are before Adonai ’s eyes. He examines all his paths.

²² The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly.

²³ He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.

² so you may learn about discretion and your lips may protect knowledge.

³ For the lips of an adulteress drip with honey and her mouth is smoother than oil,

⁴ but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, cutting like a sharp sword.

⁵ Her feet go down to death; her steps go all the way to Sheol.

⁶ She gives no thought to the path of life. Her footsteps wander; she does not know where she is going.

⁷ Now, my sons, listen to me; do not turn away from listening to the words of my mouth.

⁸ Keep your path far away from her and do not come near the door of her house.

⁹ In that way you will not give away your honor to others or years of your life to a cruel person;

¹⁰ strangers will not feast on your wealth; what you have worked for will not go into the house of strangers.

¹¹ At the end of your life you will groan when your flesh and your body waste away.

¹² You will say, “How I hated instruction and my heart despised correction!

¹³ I would not obey my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors.

¹⁴ I was almost completely ruined in the midst of the assembly, among the gathering of the people.”

¹⁵ Drink water from your own cistern and drink running water from your own well.

¹⁶ Should your springs overflow everywhere and your streams of water flow in the public squares?

¹⁷ Let them be for yourself alone and not for strangers with you.

¹⁸ May your fountain be blessed and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth,

¹⁹ for she is a loving deer and a graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; may you be continually intoxicated by her love.

²⁰ For why should you, my son, be captivated by an adulteress; why should you embrace the breasts of an immoral woman?

²¹ Yahweh sees everything a person does and watches all the paths he takes.

²² A wicked person will be seized by his own iniquities; the cords of his sin will hold him tight.

²³ He will die because he lacks instruction; he is led astray by his great foolishness.

² that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge.

³ For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,

⁴ but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword.

⁵ Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol.

⁶ She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn’t know it.

⁷ Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don’t depart from the words of my mouth.

⁸ Remove your way far from her. Don’t come near the door of her house,

⁹ lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one;

¹⁰ lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich another man’s house.

¹¹ You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed,

¹² and say, “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof.

¹³ I haven’t obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me!

¹⁴ I have come to the brink of utter ruin, among the gathered assembly.”

¹⁵ Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well.

¹⁶ Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares?

¹⁷ Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you.

¹⁸ Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.

¹⁹ A loving doe and a graceful deer— let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.

²⁰ For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?

²¹ For the ways of man are before Yahweh’s eyes. He examines all his paths.

²² The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly.

²³ He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.

² that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge.

³ For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,

⁴ but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword.

⁵ Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol.

⁶ She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn’t know it.

⁷ Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don’t depart from the words of my mouth.

⁸ Remove your way far from her. Don’t come near the door of her house,

⁹ lest you give your honour to others, and your years to the cruel one;

¹⁰ lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labours enrich another man’s house.

¹¹ You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed,

¹² and say, “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof.

¹³ I haven’t obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me!

¹⁴ I have come to the brink of utter ruin, amongst the gathered assembly.”

¹⁵ Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well.

¹⁶ Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares?

¹⁷ Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you.

¹⁸ Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.

¹⁹ A loving doe and a graceful deer— let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.

²⁰ For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?

²¹ For the ways of man are before the LORD’s eyes. He examines all his paths.

²² The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly.

²³ He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.

² That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.

³ For the lips of a strange woman drop as a honey-comb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:

⁴ But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.

⁵ Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

⁶ Lest thou shouldst ponder the path of life, her ways are movable, that thou canst not know them .

⁷ Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.

⁸ Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:

⁹ Lest thou give thy honor to others, and thy years to the cruel:

¹⁰ Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labors be in the house of a stranger;

¹¹ And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

¹² And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

¹³ And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined my ear to them that instructed me!

¹⁴ I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.

¹⁵ Drink waters out of thy own cistern, and running waters out of thy own well.

¹⁶ Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.

¹⁷ Let them be only thy own, and not for strangers with thee.

¹⁸ Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

¹⁹ Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.

²⁰ And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

²¹ For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.

²² His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be held with the cords of his sins.

²³ He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

² that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge.

³ For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,

⁴ but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword.

⁵ Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol.

⁶ She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn’t know it.

⁷ Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don’t depart from the words of my mouth.

⁸ Remove your way far from her. Don’t come near the door of her house,

⁹ lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one;

¹⁰ lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich another man’s house.

¹¹ You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed,

¹² and say, “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof.

¹³ I haven’t obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me!

¹⁴ I have come to the brink of utter ruin, among the gathered assembly.”

¹⁵ Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well.

¹⁶ Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares?

¹⁷ Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you.

¹⁸ Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.

¹⁹ A loving doe and a graceful deer— let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.

²⁰ For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?

²¹ For the ways of man are before the LORD’s eyes. He examines all his paths.

²² The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly.

²³ He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.

² that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge.

³ For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,

⁴ but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword.

⁵ Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol.

⁶ She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn’t know it.

⁷ Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don’t depart from the words of my mouth.

⁸ Remove your way far from her. Don’t come near the door of her house,

⁹ lest you give your honour to others, and your years to the cruel one;

¹⁰ lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labours enrich another man’s house.

¹¹ You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed,

¹² and say, “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof.

¹³ I haven’t obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me!

¹⁴ I have come to the brink of utter ruin, amongst the gathered assembly.”

¹⁵ Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well.

¹⁶ Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares?

¹⁷ Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you.

¹⁸ Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.

¹⁹ A loving doe and a graceful deer— let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.

²⁰ For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?

²¹ For the ways of man are before the LORD’s eyes. He examines all his paths.

²² The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly.

²³ He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.

² that thou keep thy thoughts, and thy lips keep teaching.

³ Give thou not attention to the falseness of a woman; for the lips of an whore be an honeycomb dropping, and her throat is clearer than oil;

⁴ but the last things of her be bitter as wormwood, and her tongue is sharp as a sword carving, or cutting, on each side.

⁵ Her feet go down into death; and her steps pierce to hells or to hell.

⁶ Those or they go not by the path of life; her steps be uncertain, and may not be sought out.

⁷ Now therefore, my son, hear thou me, and go thou not away from the words of my mouth.

⁸ Make far thy way from her, and nigh thou not to the doors of her house.

⁹ Give thou not thine honour to aliens, and thy years to the cruel;

¹⁰ lest peradventure strangers be filled with thy strengths, and lest thy travails be in an alien’s house;

¹¹ and thou bewail in the last days, when thou hast wasted thy flesh, and thy body;

¹² and say, Why loathed I teaching, and mine heart assented not to blamings;

¹³ neither I heard the voice of men teaching me, and I bowed not down mine ear to masters?

¹⁴ Almost I was in all-evil, in the midst of the church, and of the synagogue.

¹⁵ Drink thou water of thy cistern, and the floods of thy well.

¹⁶ Thy wells be streamed forth; and part thy waters in streets.

¹⁷ Have thou alone them or them alone; and aliens be not thy partners.

¹⁸ Thy vein be blessed; and be thou glad with the woman of thy young waxing age.

¹⁹ An hind most dearworthy; and an hart calf most acceptable. Her teats fill thee in all time; and delight thou continually in the love of her.

²⁰ My son, why art thou deceived of an alien woman; and art fostered in the bosom of another?

²¹ The Lord seeth the ways of a man; and he beholdeth all his steps.

²² The wickednesses of a wicked man take him; and he is bound with the ropes of his sins.

²³ He shall die, for he had not learning, and he shall be deceived in the muchliness of his folly.

² (so) that thou keep thy thoughts (proper), and thy lips keep teaching (or and thy lips speak knowingly).

³ Give thou not attention to the falseness of a woman; for the lips of an whore be an honeycomb dropping (or for a whore’s lipsbe like a dripping honeycomb), and her throat is clearer than oil;

⁴ but the last things of her be (as) bitter as wormwood, and her tongue is (as) sharp as a sword carving, (or cutting), on each side.

⁵ Her feet go down into death; and her steps pierce to hells. (Her feet go downward unto death; and her steps shall lead thee unto Sheol, or the land of the dead, or and her steps shall lead thee to hell.)

⁶ Those go not by the path of life; her steps be uncertain, and may not be sought out. (They do not go on the path of life; her steps be uncertain, and should not be followed.)

⁷ Now therefore, my son, hear thou me, (or And so now, my son, listen to me), and go thou not away from the words of my mouth.

⁸ Make far thy way from her (or Make thy way far away from her), and nigh thou not to the doors of her house.

⁹ Give thou not thine honour to aliens (or Give thou not thy honour to strangers), and thy years to the cruel;

¹⁰ lest peradventure strangers be filled with thy strengths, and lest (the rewards of) thy travails be in an alien’s house; (lest perhaps strangers take all thy wealth, and the rewards of all thy efforts be in someone else’s house;)

¹¹ and thou bewail in the last days, when thou hast wasted thy flesh, and thy body;

¹² and say, Why loathed I teaching, and mine heart assented not to blamings; (and thou say, Why did I loathe discipline, and why did I not listen to rebukes;)

¹³ neither I heard the voice of men teaching me, and I bowed not down mine ear to masters?

¹⁴ Almost I was in all-evil, in the midst of the church, and of the synagogue. (I was almost uniformly despised, in the midst of the congregation, and among those in the assembly.)

¹⁵ Drink thou water of thy cistern, and the floods of thy well. (Drink thou water from thy own cistern, and the out-flowings from thy own well.)

¹⁶ Thy wells be streamed forth; and part thy waters in streets. (Let thy well floweth forth; and let thy water be parted in the streets.)

¹⁷ Have thou alone them; and aliens be not thy partners. (Have thou them alone; and let not strangers be thy partners.)

¹⁸ Thy vein be blessed (or Let thy fountain be blessed); and be thou glad with the woman of thy young waxing age.

¹⁹ An hind most dearworthy; and an hart calf most acceptable. Her teats fill thee in all time; and delight thou continually in the love of her. (She is like a most dearworthy deer; and a most acceptable hart calf. Let her breasts fulfill, or satisfy, thee at all times; and delight thou continually in her love.)

²⁰ My son, why art thou deceived of an alien woman; and art fostered in the bosom of another? (My son, why art thou deceived by a strange, or an unknown, woman; and why art thou comforted in the bosom of another?)

²¹ The Lord seeth the way(s) of a man; and he beholdeth all his steps.

²² The wickednesses of a wicked man take (hold of) him; and he is bound with the ropes of his sins.

²³ He shall die, for he had not learning, (or He shall die, for he had no discipline); and he shall be deceived in the muchliness of his folly.

² To observe thoughtfulness, And knowledge do thy lips keep.

³ For the lips of a strange woman drop honey, And smoother than oil is her mouth,

⁴ And her latter end is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a sword with mouths.

⁵ Her feet are going down to death, Sheol do her steps take hold of.

⁶ The path of life — lest thou ponder, Moved have her paths — thou knowest not.

⁷ And now, ye sons, hearken to me, And turn not from sayings of my mouth.

⁸ Keep far from off her thy way, And come not near unto the opening of her house,

⁹ Lest thou give to others thy honour, And thy years to the fierce,

¹⁰ Lest strangers be filled with thy power, And thy labours in the house of a stranger,

¹¹ And thou hast howled in thy latter end, In the consumption of thy flesh and thy food,

¹² And hast said, 'How have I hated instruction, And reproof hath my heart despised,

¹³ And I have not hearkened to the voice of my directors, And to my teachers have not inclined mine ear.

¹⁴ As a little thing I have been all evil, In the midst of an assembly and a company.

¹⁵ Drink waters out of thine own cistern, Even flowing ones out of thine own well.

¹⁶ Let thy fountains be scattered abroad, In broad places rivulets of waters.

¹⁷ Let them be to thee for thyself, And not to strangers with thee.

¹⁸ Let thy fountain be blessed, And rejoice because of the wife of thy youth,

¹⁹ A hind of loves, and a roe of grace! Let her loves satisfy thee at all times, In her love magnify thyself continually.

²⁰ And why dost thou magnify thyself, My son, with a stranger? And embrace the bosom of a strange woman?

²¹ For over-against the eyes of Jehovah are the ways of each, And all his paths He is pondering.

²² His own iniquities do capture the wicked, And with the ropes of his sin he is holden.

²³ He dieth without instruction, And in the abundance of his folly magnifieth himself!