20 Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife?

Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?

21 For your ways are in full view of the Lord,

and he examines all your paths.

22 The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;

the cords of their sins hold them fast.

20 Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman

and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?

21 For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord,

and he ponders all his paths.

22 The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him,

and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.

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.

20 For why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman,

And be embraced in the arms of a seductress?

21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord,

And He ponders all his paths.

22 His own iniquities entrap the wicked man,

And he is caught in the cords of his sin.

20 My son, don’t be held captive by a woman who takes part in adultery.

Don’t fondle a woman who is not your wife.

21 The Lord sees everything you do,

and he watches where you go.

22 An evil man will be caught in his wicked ways;

the ropes of his sins will tie him up.

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.

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.

20 Why should you, my son, 

be intoxicated with an adulterous woman 

and fondle a loose woman’s breast? 

21 Each person’s ways are clearly seen by the Lord, 

and he surveys all his actions. 

22 A wicked person will be trapped by his own wrongs, 

and he will be caught in the ropes of his own sin. 

20 Why, my son, would you be infatuated

with a forbidden woman

or embrace the breast of a stranger?

21 For a man’s ways are before the Lord’s eyes,

and He considers all his paths.

22 A wicked man’s iniquities entrap him;

he is entangled in the ropes of his own sin.

20 Why should you be intoxicated, my son, by another woman

and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?

21 For human ways are under the eyes of the Lord,

and he examines all their paths.

22 The iniquities of the wicked ensnare them,

and they are caught in the toils of their sin.

20 Why should you be intoxicated, my child, by a strange woman,

and embrace the bosom of a foreigner?

21 For before the eyes of Yahweh are human ways,

and all his paths he examines.

22 His iniquities shall ensnare him, the evildoer,

and in the vanity of his sin he shall be caught.

20 My son, why be captured by a woman who commits adultery?

Why hug the wife of another man?

21 The Lord watches a man’s ways.

He studies all of his paths.

22 A sinner is trapped by his own evil acts.

He is held tight by the ropes of his sins.

20 For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an adulteress

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.