Proverbs 6:20–35

Warning Against Adultery

^20aMy son, observe the commandment of your father

And do not abandon the ¹law of your mother;

^21aBind them continually on your heart;

Tie them around your neck.

²²When you ^awalk about, ¹they will lead you;

When you sleep, ²they will keep watch over you;

And when you awake, ³they will speak to you.

²³For ^athe commandment is a lamp and the ¹law is light;

And reproofs for discipline are the way of life

²⁴To ^akeep you from the evil woman,

From the smooth tongue of the foreign woman.

^25aDo not desire her beauty in your heart,

Nor let her capture you with her ^beyelids.

²⁶For ^aon account of ¹a harlot one is reduced to a loaf of bread,

And ²an adulteress ^bhunts for the precious ³life.

²⁷Can a man ¹take fire in his bosom

And his clothes not be burned?

²⁸Or can a man walk on hot coals

And his feet not be scorched?

²⁹So is the one who ^agoes in to his neighbor’s wife;

Whoever touches her ^bwill not ¹go unpunished.

³⁰¹Men do not despise a thief if he steals

To ^afill ²himself when he is hungry;

³¹But when he is found, he must ^arepay sevenfold;

He must give all the ¹substance of his house.

³²The one who commits adultery with a woman is ^alacking a heart of wisdom;

He who would ^bdestroy his soul does it.

³³Wounds and disgrace he will find,

And his reproach will not be blotted out.

³⁴For ^ajealousy ¹enrages a man,

And he will not spare in the ^bday of vengeance.

³⁵He will not ¹accept any ransom,

He will not be willing though you give many bribes.