Berean Study Bible | Berean Study Bible |
1My son, pay attention to my wisdom; incline your ear to my insight, | 1My son, pay attention to my wisdom; incline your ear to my insight, |
2that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge. | 2that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge. |
3Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil, | 3Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil, |
4in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a double-edged sword. | 4in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a double-edged sword. |
5Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to Sheol. | 5Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to Sheol. |
6She does not consider the path of life; she does not know that her ways are unstable. | 6She does not consider the path of life; she does not know that her ways are unstable. |
7So now, my sons, listen to me, and do not turn aside from the words of my mouth. | 7So now, my sons, listen to me, and do not turn aside from the words of my mouth. |
8Keep your path far from her; do not go near the door of her house, | 8Keep your path far from her; do not go near the door of her house, |
9lest you concede your vigor to others, and your years to one who is cruel; | 9lest you concede your vigor to others, and your years to one who is cruel; |
10lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich the house of a foreigner. | 10lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich the house of a foreigner. |
11At the end of your life you will groan when your flesh and your body are spent, | 11At the end of your life you will groan when your flesh and your body are spent, |
12and you will say, “How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof! | 12and you will say, “How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof! |
13I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my mentors. | 13I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my mentors. |
14I am on the brink of utter ruin in the midst of the whole assembly.” | 14I am on the brink of utter ruin in the midst of the whole assembly.” |
15Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well. | 15Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well. |
16Why should your springs flow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? | 16Why should your springs flow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? |
17Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. | 17Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. |
18May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth: | 18May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth: |
19A loving doe, a graceful fawn—may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever. | 19A loving doe, a graceful fawn—may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever. |
20Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress, or embrace the bosom of a stranger? | 20Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress, or embrace the bosom of a stranger? |
21For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and the LORD examines all his paths. | 21For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and the LORD examines all his paths. |
22The iniquities of a wicked man entrap him; the cords of his sin entangle him. | 22The iniquities of a wicked man entrap him; the cords of his sin entangle him. |
23He dies for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly. | 23He dies for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly. |
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