Proverbs

¹ My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight,

² and your lips may preserve knowledge.

³ and her speech is smoother than oil;

⁴ sharp as a double-edged sword.

⁵ her steps lead straight to the grave.

⁶ her paths are crooked, but she knows it not.

⁷ do not turn aside from what I say.

⁸ do not go near the door of her house,

⁹ and your years to one who is cruel,

¹⁰ and your toil enrich another man’s house.

¹¹ when your flesh and body are spent.

¹² How my heart spurned correction!

¹³ or listen to my instructors.

¹⁴ in the midst of the whole assembly.”

¹⁵ running water from your own well.

¹⁶ your streams of water in the public squares?

¹⁷ never to be shared with strangers.

¹⁸ and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.

¹⁹ may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love.

²⁰ Why embrace the bosom of another man’s wife?

²¹ and he examines all his paths.

²² the cords of his sin hold him fast.

²³ led astray by his own great folly.