Proverbs 5:2–20

²That you may ^aobserve discretion

And your ^blips may reserve knowledge.

³For the lips of an ^1aadulteress ^bdrip honey

And ^csmoother than oil is her ²speech;

⁴But in the end she is ^abitter as wormwood,

^bSharp as a two-edged sword.

⁵Her feet ^ago down to death,

Her steps take hold of Sheol.

⁶¹She does not ponder the ^apath of life;

Her ways are ^bunstable, she ^cdoes not know it.

^7aNow then, my sons, listen to me

And ^bdo not depart from the words of my mouth.

^8aKeep your way far from her

And do not go near the ^bdoor of her house,

⁹Or you will give your vigor to others

And your years to the cruel one;

¹⁰And strangers will be filled with your strength

And your hard-earned goods will go to the house of an alien;

¹¹And you groan at your ¹final end,

When your flesh and your body are consumed;

¹²And you say, “How I have ^ahated instruction!

And my heart ^bspurned reproof!

¹³“I have not listened to the voice of my ^ateachers,

Nor inclined my ear to my instructors!

¹⁴“I was almost in utter ruin

In the midst of the assembly and congregation.”

¹⁵Drink water from your own cistern

And ¹fresh water from your own well.

¹⁶Should your ^asprings be dispersed abroad,

Streams of water in the streets?

¹⁷Let them be yours alone

And not for strangers with you.

¹⁸Let your ^afountain be blessed,

And ^brejoice in the ^cwife of your youth.

¹⁹As a loving ^ahind and a graceful doe,

Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;

Be ¹exhilarated always with her love.

²⁰For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an ^1aadulteress

And embrace the bosom of a ^bforeigner?