1My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:
2My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:
3That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
4That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
5¶ For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:5.3 mouth: Heb. palate
6¶ For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:5.3 mouth: Heb. palate
7But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.
8But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.
9Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.
10Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.
11Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.
12Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.
13Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.
14Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.
15Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:
16Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:
17Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:
18Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:
19Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;5.10 thy wealth: Heb. thy strength
20Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;5.10 thy wealth: Heb. thy strength
21And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,
22And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,
23And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;
24And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;
25And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!
26And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!
27I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.
28I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.
29¶ Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.
30¶ Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.
31Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.
32Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.
33Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee.
34Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee.
35Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
36Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
37Let 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.5.19 satisfy…: Heb. water thee5.19 be thou…: Heb. err thou always in her love
38Let 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.5.19 satisfy…: Heb. water thee5.19 be thou…: Heb. err thou always in her love
39And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?
40And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?
41For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.
42For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.
43¶ His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.5.22 sins: Heb. sin
44¶ His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.5.22 sins: Heb. sin
45He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
46He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.