New Living Translation NLT
Common English Bible CEB
1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen carefully to my wise counsel.
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My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Bend your ear to what I know,
2 Then you will show discernment, and your lips will express what you’ve learned.
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so you might remain discreet, and your lips might guard knowledge.
3 For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil.
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The lips of a mysterious woman drip honey, and her tongue is smoother than oil,
4 But in the end she is as bitter as poison, as dangerous as a double-edged sword.
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but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.
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Her feet go down to death; her steps lead to the grave.
6 For she cares nothing about the path to life. She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t realize it.
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She doesn't stay on the way of life. Her paths wander, but she doesn't know it.
7 So now, my sons, listen to me. Never stray from what I am about to say:
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Now children, listen to me, and don't deviate from the words of my mouth.
8 Stay away from her! Don’t go near the door of her house!
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Stay on a path that is far from her; don't approach the entrance to her house.
9 If you do, you will lose your honor and will lose to merciless people all you have achieved.
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Otherwise, you will give your strength to others, your years to a cruel person.
10 Strangers will consume your wealth, and someone else will enjoy the fruit of your labor.
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Otherwise, strangers will sap your strength, and your hard work will end up in a foreigner's house.
11 In the end you will groan in anguish when disease consumes your body.
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You will groan at the end when your body and flesh are exhausted,
12 You will say, “How I hated discipline! If only I had not ignored all the warnings!
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and you say, "How I hated instruction! How my heart despised correction!
13 Oh, why didn’t I listen to my teachers? Why didn’t I pay attention to my instructors?
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I didn't listen to the voice of my instructor. I didn't obey my teacher.
14 I have come to the brink of utter ruin, and now I must face public disgrace.”
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I'm on the brink of utter ruin in the assembled community."
15 Drink water from your own well— share your love only with your wife.
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Drink water from your own cistern, gushing water from your own well.
16 Why spill the water of your springs in the streets, having sex with just anyone?
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Should your fountains flood outside, streams of water in the public squares?
17 You should reserve it for yourselves. Never share it with strangers.
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They are yours alone, not for you as well as strangers.
18 Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
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May your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 She is a loving deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love.
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She is a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts intoxicate you all the time; always be drunk on her love.
20 Why be captivated, my son, by an immoral woman, or fondle the breasts of a promiscuous woman?
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Why, my son, should you lose your senses with a mysterious woman and embrace the breasts of a foreign female?
21 For the LORD sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes.
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The LORD's eyes watch over every person's path, observing all their ways.
22 An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him.
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The wicked will be caught by their own evil acts, grabbed by the ropes of their own sin.
23 He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness.
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Those without instruction will die, misled by their own stupidity.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by
Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible