Proverbs

1My son, attend to my wisdom, and incline thy ear to my prudence.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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