Online Bible

My son, ^agive attention to my wisdom,^bIncline your ear to my understanding;2 That you may ^aobserve discretionAnd your ^blips may reserve knowledge.3 For the lips of an ¹^aadulteress ^bdrip honeyAnd ^csmoother than oil is her ²speech;4 But in the end she is ^abitter as wormwood,^bSharp as a two-edged sword.5 Her feet ^ago down to death,Her steps take hold of Sheol.6 ¹She does not ponder the ^apath of life;Her ways are ^bunstable, she ^cdoes not know it.

7 ^aNow then, my sons, listen to meAnd ^bdo not depart from the words of my mouth.8 ^aKeep your way far from herAnd do not go near the ^bdoor of her house,9 Or you will give your vigor to othersAnd your years to the cruel one;10 And strangers will be filled with your strengthAnd your hard-earned goods will go to the house of an alien;11 And you groan at your ¹final end,When your flesh and your body are consumed;12 And you say, “How I have ^ahated instruction!And my heart ^bspurned reproof!13 “I have not listened to the voice of my ^ateachers,Nor inclined my ear to my instructors!14 “I was almost in utter ruinIn the midst of the assembly and congregation.”

15 Drink water from your own cisternAnd ¹fresh water from your own well.16 Should your ^asprings be dispersed abroad,Streams of water in the streets?17 Let them be yours aloneAnd not for strangers with you.18 Let your ^afountain be blessed,And ^brejoice in the ^cwife of your youth.19 As a loving ^ahind and a graceful doe,Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;Be ¹exhilarated always with her love.20 For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an ¹^aadulteressAnd embrace the bosom of a ^bforeigner?21 For the ^aways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD,And He ^bwatches all his paths.22 His ^aown iniquities will capture the wicked,And he will be held with the cords of his sin.23 He will ^adie for lack of instruction,And in the greatness of his folly he will go astray.