5
1 My
son, pay attention
to my wisdom.
Turn your ear to
my understanding,
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.