¹ My son, pay attention to my wisdom. ² that you may maintain discretion, ³ For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. ⁴ but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, ⁵ Her feet go down to death. ⁶ She gives no thought to the way of life. ⁷ Now therefore, my sons, listen to me.
Don’t depart from the words of my mouth. ⁸ Remove your way far from her.
Don’t come near the door of her house, ⁹ lest you give your honor to others, ¹⁰ lest strangers feast on your wealth, ¹¹ You will groan at your latter end, ¹² and say, “How I have hated instruction, ¹³ I haven’t obeyed the voice of my teachers, ¹⁴ I have come to the brink of utter ruin, ¹⁵ Drink water out of your own cistern,
running water out of your own well. ¹⁶ Should your springs overflow in the streets, ¹⁷ Let them be for yourself alone, ¹⁸ Let your spring be blessed. ¹⁹ A loving doe and a graceful deer— ²⁰ For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? ²¹ For the ways of man are before the LORD’s eyes. ²² The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. ²³ He will die for lack of instruction.