1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom,

turn your ear to my words of insight,

2 that you may maintain discretion

and your lips may preserve knowledge.

3 For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey,

and her speech is smoother than oil;

4 but in the end she is bitter as gall,

sharp as a double-edged sword.

1 My son, attend unto my wisdom,

And bow thine ear to my understanding:

2 That thou mayest regard discretion,

And that thy lips may keep knowledge.

3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb,

And her mouth is smoother than oil:

4 But her end is bitter as wormwood,

Sharp as a twoedged sword.

1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;

listen carefully to my wise counsel.

2 Then you will show discernment,

and your lips will express what you’ve learned.

3 For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey,

and her mouth is smoother than oil.

4 But in the end she is as bitter as poison,

as dangerous as a double-edged sword.

1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;

Lend your ear to my understanding,

2 That you may preserve discretion,

And your lips may keep knowledge.

3 For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey,

And her mouth is smoother than oil;

4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood,

Sharp as a two-edged sword.

1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;

listen to my words of understanding.

2 Be careful to use good sense,

and watch what you say.

3 The words of another man’s wife may seem sweet as honey;

they may be as smooth as olive oil.

4 But in the end she will bring you sorrow,

causing you pain like a two-edged sword.

1 My son, attend unto my wisdom;

Incline thine ear to my understanding:

2 That thou mayest preserve discretion,

And that thy lips may keep knowledge.

3 For the lips of a strange woman drop honey,

And her mouth is smoother than oil:

4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood,

Sharp as a two-edged sword.

1 My son, attend unto my wisdom, incline thine ear to my understanding; 2 that thou mayest keep reflection, and that thy lips may preserve knowledge. 3 For the lips of the strange woman drop honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil; 4 but her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.

1 My son, 

pay attention to my wisdom. 

Open your ears to my understanding 

2 so that you may act with foresight 

and speak with insight. 

3 The lips of an adulterous woman drip with honey. 

Her kiss is smoother than oil, 

4 but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, 

as sharp as a two-edged sword. 

1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;

listen closely to my understanding

2 so that you may maintain discretion

and your lips safeguard knowledge.

3 Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey

and her words are smoother than oil,

4 in the end she’s as bitter as wormwood

and as sharp as a double-edged sword.

1 My child, be attentive to my wisdom;

incline your ear to my understanding,

2 so that you may hold on to prudence,

and your lips may guard knowledge.

3 For the lips of a loose woman drip honey,

and her speech is smoother than oil;

4 but in the end she is bitter as wormwood,

sharp as a two-edged sword.

1 My child, be attentive to my wisdom,

and to my understanding incline your ear;

2 in order to keep prudence,

and knowledge will guard your lips.

3 For the lips of the strange woman will drip honey,

and smoother than oil is her mouth.

4 But her end is bitter as the wormwood,

sharp as a two-edged sword.

1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom.

Listen carefully to my wise sayings.

2 Then you will continue to have good sense.

Your lips will keep on speaking words of knowledge.

3 A woman who commits adultery has lips that drip honey.

What she says is smoother than oil.

4 But in the end she is like bitter poison.

She cuts like a sword that has two edges.

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 an adulteress drip honey

And smoother than oil is her speech;

4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood,

Sharp as a two-edged sword.