1 My sonne, hearken vnto my wisedome, and incline thine eare vnto my knowledge. 2 That thou maiest regarde counsell, and thy lippes obserue knowledge. 3 For the lippes of a strange woman drop as an honie combe, and her mouth is more soft then oyle. 4 But the end of her is bitter as wormewood, and sharpe as a two edged sworde. 5 Her feete goe downe to death, and her steps take holde on hell. 6 She weigheth not the way of life: her paths are moueable: thou canst not knowe them. 7 Heare yee me nowe therefore, O children, and depart not from the wordes of my mouth. 8 Keepe thy way farre from her, and come not neere the doore of her house, 9 Least thou giue thine honor vnto others, and thy yeeres to the cruell: 10 Least the stranger should be silled with thy strength, and thy labours bee in the house of a stranger, 11 And thou mourne at thine end, (when thou hast consumed thy flesh and thy bodie) 12 And say, How haue I hated instruction, and mine heart despised correction! 13 And haue not obeied the voyce of them that taught mee, nor enclined mine eare to them that instructed me! 14 I was almost brought into all euil in ye mids of the Congregation and assemblie. 15 Drinke the water of thy cisterne, and of the riuers out of the middes of thine owne well. 16 Let thy fountaines flow foorth, and the riuers of waters in the streetes. 17 But let them bee thine, euen thine onely, and not the strangers with thee. 18 Let thy fountaine be blessed, and reioyce with the wife of thy youth. 19 Let her be as the louing hinde and pleasant roe: let her brests satisfie thee at all times, and delite in her loue continually. 20 For why shouldest thou delite, my sonne, in a strange woman, or embrace the bosome of a stranger? 21 For the waies of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his pathes. 22 His owne iniquities shall take the wicked himselfe, and he shall be holden with the cordes of his owne sinne. 23 Hee shall die for fault of instruction, and shall goe astray through his great follie.
1 My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: 2 That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
3 ¶ For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: 4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. 6 Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them . 7 Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth. 8 Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house: 9 Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel: 10 Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger; 11 And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed, 12 And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; 13 And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me! 14 I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.
15 ¶ Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. 16 Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. 17 Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee. 18 Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. 19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. 20 And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? 21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.
22 ¶ His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. 23 He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.