Proverbs 5:18

18 Be happy with the wife you married when you were young. She gives you joy, as your fountain gives you water.

Proverbs 5:18 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 5:18

Let thy fountain be blessed
Thy wife; make her happy by keeping to her and from others; by behaving in a loving, affable, and respectful manner to her; by living comfortably with her, and providing well for her and her children: or reckon her a happiness, a blessing that God has bestowed; or

``thy fountain shall be blessed,''
as the Targum; that is, with a numerous offspring, which was always reckoned a blessedness, and was generally the happiness of virtuous women, when harlots were barren; and rejoice with the wife of thy youth;
taken to be a wife in youth, and lived with ever since; do not despise her, nor divorce her, even in old age, but delight in her company now as ever; carry it not morosely and churlishly to her, but express a joy and pleasure in her; see ( Ecclesiastes 9:9 ) ( Malachi 2:14 Malachi 2:15 ) . Jarchi interprets this of the law learned in youth; but it might be much better interpreted of the pure apostolic church of Christ, "the beulah", to whom her sons are married, ( Isaiah 62:4 Isaiah 62:5 ) ; to whom they should cleave with delight and pleasure, and not follow the antichristian harlot.

Proverbs 5:18 In-Context

16 Don't pour your water in the streets; don't give your love to just any woman.
17 These things are yours alone and shouldn't be shared with strangers.
18 Be happy with the wife you married when you were young. She gives you joy, as your fountain gives you water.
19 She is as lovely and graceful as a deer. Let her love always make you happy; let her love always hold you captive.
20 My son, don't be held captive by a woman who takes part in adultery. Don't hug another man's wife.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.