New Living Translation NLT
Hebrew Names Version HNV
1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen carefully to my wise counsel.
1
My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding:
2 Then you will show discernment, and your lips will express what you’ve learned.
2
That you may maintain discretion, That your lips may preserve knowledge.
3 For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil.
3
For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,
4 But in the end she is as bitter as poison, as dangerous as a double-edged sword.
4
But in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, And as sharp as a two-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.
5
Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to She'ol.
6 For she cares nothing about the path to life. She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t realize it.
6
She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn't know it.
7 So now, my sons, listen to me. Never stray from what I am about to say:
7
Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don't depart from the words of my mouth.
8 Stay away from her! Don’t go near the door of her house!
8
Remove your way far from her. Don't come near the door of her house,
9 If you do, you will lose your honor and will lose to merciless people all you have achieved.
9
Lest you give your honor to others, And your years to the cruel one;
10 Strangers will consume your wealth, and someone else will enjoy the fruit of your labor.
10
Lest strangers feast on your wealth, And your labors enrich another man's house.
11 In the end you will groan in anguish when disease consumes your body.
11
You will groan at your latter end, When your flesh and your body are consumed,
12 You will say, “How I hated discipline! If only I had not ignored all the warnings!
12
And say, "How I have hated instruction, And my heart despised reproof;
13 Oh, why didn’t I listen to my teachers? Why didn’t I pay attention to my instructors?
13
Neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers, Nor turned my ear to those who instructed me!
14 I have come to the brink of utter ruin, and now I must face public disgrace.”
14
I have come to the brink of utter ruin, In the midst of the gathered assembly."
15 Drink water from your own well— share your love only with your wife.
15
Drink water out of your own cistern, Running water out of your own well.
16 Why spill the water of your springs in the streets, having sex with just anyone?
16
Should your springs overflow in the streets, Streams of water in the public squares?
17 You should reserve it for yourselves. Never share it with strangers.
17
Let them be for yourself alone, Not for strangers with you.
18 Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
18
Let 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.
19
A loving hind and a pleasant doe -- Let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.
20 Why be captivated, my son, by an immoral woman, or fondle the breasts of a promiscuous woman?
20
For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?
21 For the LORD sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes.
21
For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD. He examines all his paths.
22 An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him.
22
The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly.
23 He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness.
23
He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.