Proverbs 5
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Holman Christian Standard BibleEnglish Standard Version
1My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen closely to my understanding 1My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding,
2so that you may maintain discretion and your lips safeguard knowledge. 2that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge.
3Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her words are smoother than oil, 3For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil,
4in the end she's as bitter as wormwood and as sharp as a double-edged sword. 4but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.
5Her feet go down to death; her steps head straight for Sheol. 5Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol;
6She doesn't consider the path of life; she doesn't know that her ways are unstable. 6she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it.
7So now, my sons, listen to me, and don't turn away from the words of my mouth. 7And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth.
8Keep your way far from her. Don't go near the door of her house. 8Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house,
9Otherwise, you will give up your vitality to others and your years to someone cruel; 9lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless,
10strangers will drain your resources, and your earnings will end up in a foreigner's house. 10lest strangers take their fill of your strength, and your labors go to the house of a foreigner,
11At the end of your life, you will lament when your physical body has been consumed, 11and at the end of your life you groan, when your flesh and body are consumed,
12and you will say, "How I hated discipline, and how my heart despised correction. 12and you say, “How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof!
13I didn't obey my teachers or listen closely to my mentors. 13I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors.
14I am on the verge of complete ruin before the entire community." 14I am at the brink of utter ruin in the assembled congregation.”
15Drink water from your own cistern, water flowing from your own well. 15Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well.
16Should your springs flow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares? 16Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets?
17They should be for you alone and not for you to share with strangers. 17Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you.
18Let your fountain be blessed, and take pleasure in the wife of your youth. 18Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth,
19A loving doe, a graceful fawn-- let her breasts always satisfy you; be lost in her love forever. 19a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.
20Why, my son, would you be infatuated with a forbidden woman or embrace the breast of a stranger? 20Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress?
21For a man's ways are before the LORD's eyes, and He considers all his paths. 21For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths.
22A wicked man's iniquities entrap him; he is entangled in the ropes of his own sin. 22The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.
23He will die because there is no discipline, and be lost because of his great stupidity. 23He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray.
Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 4
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