1
My son[H1121], attend[H7181] unto my wisdom[H2451], and bow[H5186] thine ear[H241] to my understanding[H8394]:
2
That thou mayest regard[H8104]discretion[H4209], and that thy lips[H8193] may keep[H5341]knowledge[H1847].
3
For the lips[H8193] of a strange woman[H2114]drop[H5197] as an honeycomb[H5317], and her mouth[H2441] is smoother[H2509] than oil[H8081]:
4
But her end[H319] is bitter[H4751] as wormwood[H3939], sharp[H2299] as a twoedged[H6310]sword[H2719].
5
Her feet[H7272] go down[H3381] to death[H4194]; her steps[H6806] take hold[H8551] on hell[H7585].
6
Lest thou shouldest ponder[H6424] the path[H734] of life[H2416], her ways[H4570] are moveable[H5128], that thou canst not know[H3045] them.
7Hear[H8085] me now therefore, O ye children[H1121], and depart[H5493] not from the words[H561] of my mouth[H6310].
8Remove[H7368] thy way[H1870]far[H7368] from her, and come not nigh[H7126] the door[H6607] of her house[H1004]:
9
Lest thou give[H5414] thine honour[H1935] unto others[H312], and thy years[H8141] unto the cruel[H394]:
10
Lest strangers[H2114] be filled[H7646] with thy wealth[H3581]; and thy labours[H6089] be in the house[H1004] of a stranger[H5237];
11
And thou mourn[H5098] at the last[H319], when thy flesh[H1320] and thy body[H7607] are consumed[H3615],
12
And say[H559], How have I hated[H8130]instruction[H4148], and my heart[H3820]despised[H5006]reproof[H8433];
13
And have not obeyed[H8085] the voice[H6963] of my teachers[H3384], nor inclined[H5186] mine ear[H241] to them that instructed[H3925] me!
14
I was almost[H4592] in all evil[H7451] in the midst[H8432] of the congregation[H6951] and assembly[H5712].
15Drink[H8354]waters[H4325] out of[H8432] thine own cistern[H953], and running waters[H5140] out of[H8432] thine own well[H875].
16
Let thy fountains[H4599] be dispersed[H6327]abroad[H2351], and rivers[H6388] of waters[H4325] in the streets[H7339].
17
Let them be only thine own, and not strangers[H2114]' with thee.
18
Let thy fountain[H4726] be blessed[H1288]: and rejoice[H8055] with the wife[H802] of thy youth[H5271].
19
Let her be as the loving[H158]hind[H365] and pleasant[H2580]roe[H3280]; let her breasts[H1717]satisfy[H7301] thee at all times[H6256]; and be thou ravished[H7686]always[H8548] with her love[H160].
20
And why wilt thou, my son[H1121], be ravished[H7686] with a strange woman[H2114], and embrace[H2263] the bosom[H2436] of a stranger?[H5237]
21
For the ways[H1870] of man[H376] are before[H5227] the eyes[H5869] of the LORD[H3068], and he pondereth[H6424] all his goings[H4570].
22
His own iniquities[H5771] shall take[H3920] the wicked[H7563] himself, and he shall be holden[H8551] with the cords[H2256] of his sins[H2403].
23
He shall die[H4191] without instruction[H4148]; and in the greatness[H7230] of his folly[H200] he shall go astray[H7686].