1 My son, give attention to my wisdom,
Incline your ear to my understanding; | |
2 That you may observe discretion
And your lips may reserve knowledge. | |
3 For the lips of ana Lit strange womanadulteress drip honey
And smoother than oil is herb Lit palatespeech; | |
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 of Sheol. | |
6 c Lit That she not watchShe does not ponder the path of life;
Her ways are unstable, she does not know it. | |
7 Now then, my sons, listen to me
And do not depart from the words of my mouth. | |
8 Keep your way far from her
And do not go near the door of her house, | |
9 Or you will give your vigor to others
And your years to the cruel one; | |
10 And strangers will be filled with your strength
And your hard-earned goods will go to the house of an alien; | |
11 And you groan at yourd Or latterfinal end,
When your flesh and your body are consumed; | |
12 And you say, “How I have hated instruction!
And my heart spurned reproof! | |
13 “I have not listened to the voice of my teachers,
Nor inclined my ear to my instructors! | |
14 “I was almost in utter ruin
In the midst of the assembly and congregation.” | |
15 Drink water from your own cistern
Ande Lit flowingfresh water from your own well. | |
16 Should your springs be dispersed abroad,
Streams of water in the streets? | |
17 Let them be yours alone
And not for strangers with you. | |
18 Let your fountain be blessed,
And rejoice in the wife of your youth. | |
19 As a loving hind and a graceful doe,
Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
Bef Lit intoxicatedexhilarated always with her love. | |
20 For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with ang Lit strange womanadulteress
And embrace the bosom of a foreigner? | |
21 For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD,
And He watches all his paths. | |
22 His own iniquities will capture the wicked,
And he will be held with the cords of his sin. | |
23 He will die for lack of instruction,
And in the greatness of his folly he will go astray. | |
