Proverbs 5:18
New International Version
May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.

New Living Translation
Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.

English Standard Version
Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth,

Berean Standard Bible
May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth:

Berean Literal Bible
Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth.

King James Bible
Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

New King James Version
Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice with the wife of your youth.

New American Standard Bible
Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice in the wife of your youth.

NASB 1995
Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice in the wife of your youth.

NASB 1977
Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice in the wife of your youth.

Legacy Standard Bible
Let your fountain be blessed, And be glad in the wife of your youth.

Amplified Bible
Let your fountain (wife) be blessed [with the rewards of fidelity], And rejoice in the wife of your youth.

Berean Annotated Bible
May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth:

Christian Standard Bible
Let your fountain be blessed, and take pleasure in the wife of your youth.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Let your fountain be blessed, and take pleasure in the wife of your youth.

American Standard Version
Let thy fountain be blessed; And rejoice in the wife of thy youth.

Contemporary English Version
Be happy with the wife you married when you were young.

English Revised Version
Let thy fountain be blessed; and rejoice in the wife of thy youth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Let your own fountain be blessed, and enjoy the girl you married when you were young,

Good News Translation
So be happy with your wife and find your joy with the woman you married--

International Standard Version
Let your fountain be blessed and enjoy the wife of your youth.

NET Bible
May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in your young wife--

New Heart English Bible
Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.

Webster's Bible Translation
Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth:

World English Bible
Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Let your fountain be blessed, "" And rejoice because of the wife of your youth,

Berean Literal Bible
Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth.

Young's Literal Translation
Let thy fountain be blessed, And rejoice because of the wife of thy youth,

Smith's Literal Translation
Thy fountain shall be blessed: and rejoice from the wife of thy youth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Let thy vein be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of thy youth:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Let your spring be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth:

New American Bible
Let your fountain be blessed and have joy of the wife of your youth,

New Revised Standard Version
Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Let your fountain be blessed: and rejoice in the wife of your youth.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And your fountain shall be blessed and rejoice with the wife of your youth
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Let thy fountain be blessed; And have joy of the wife of thy youth.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Let thy fountain of water be truly thine own; and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

Additional Translations ...



Context
Avoiding Immorality
17Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. 18May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth: 19A loving doe, a graceful fawn—may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever.…

Cross References
May your fountain be blessed,

Psalm 128:3
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine flourishing within your house, your sons like olive shoots sitting around your table.

Psalm 127:3-5
Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward. / Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are children born in one’s youth. / Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. He will not be put to shame when he confronts the enemies at the gate.

Malachi 2:15
Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion of the Spirit? And why one? Because He seeks godly offspring. So guard yourselves in your spirit and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth:

Malachi 2:14
Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have broken faith, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.

Isaiah 54:6
For the LORD has called you back, like a wife deserted and wounded in spirit, like the rejected wife of one’s youth,” says your God.

Ecclesiastes 9:9
Enjoy life with your beloved wife all the days of the fleeting life that God has given you under the sun—all your fleeting days. For this is your portion in life and in your labor under the sun.
Genesis 2:24
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

Ephesians 5:25-33
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her / to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, / and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. …

Song of Solomon 4:9-10
You have captured my heart, my sister, my bride; you have stolen my heart with one glance of your eyes, with one jewel of your neck. / How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! Your love is much better than wine, and the fragrance of your perfume than all spices.

1 Corinthians 7:3-5
The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. / The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife. / Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control.

Hebrews 13:4
Marriage should be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

Song of Solomon 2:16
My beloved is mine and I am his; he pastures his flock among the lilies.

1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, in the same way, treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and with honor as fellow heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.

Colossians 3:19
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

Song of Solomon 7:6-9
How fair and pleasant you are, O love, with your delights! / Your stature is like a palm tree; your breasts are clusters of fruit. / I said, “I will climb the palm tree; I will take hold of its fruit.” May your breasts be like clusters of the vine, the fragrance of your breath like apples, …

Matthew 19:4-6
Jesus answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ / and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? / So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”


Treasury of Scripture

Let your fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of your youth.

rejoice

Ecclesiastes 9:9
Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity, which he hath given thee under the sun, all the days of thy vanity: for that is thy portion in this life, and in thy labour which thou takest under the sun.

Malachi 2:14,15
Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant…

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Blessed Blessing Early Fountain Joy Rejoice Spring Wife Youth
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Blessed Blessing Early Fountain Joy Rejoice Spring Wife Youth
Proverbs 5
1. Solomon exhorts to wisdom
3. He shows the mischief of unfaithfulness and riot
15. He exhorts to contentedness, generosity, and chastity
22. The wicked are overtaken with their own sins












May your fountain be blessed,

The fountain pictures the fruitfulness of a man’s household, including the children and family life that flow from marriage. In a land where reliable water meant life, provision, and prosperity, a blessed fountain represents God’s favor upon a faithful home and its future generations.

Psa 128:3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine, flourishing…
Psa 127:3-5 Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD…
Mal 2:15 Has not the LORD made them one, having a portion…

and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth:

A husband is to cherish the woman he married in his youth rather than seek pleasure outside the marriage covenant. Marriage is presented as a lifelong union marked by faithfulness, contentment, and shared joy.

Mal 2:14 Yet you ask, “Why?” It is because the LORD has been a witness…
Isa 54:6 For the LORD has called you back, like a wife deserted…
Ecc 9:9 Enjoy life with your beloved wife all the days…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Solomon
Traditionally considered the author of Proverbs, Solomon was the son of King David and known for his wisdom. He wrote Proverbs to impart wisdom and understanding.

2. The Wife of Your Youth
This phrase refers to the spouse one marries in their younger years, emphasizing the importance of cherishing and remaining faithful to one's lifelong partner.

3. The Fountain
Symbolically represents the source of life and vitality, often used in biblical literature to denote blessings and prosperity.
Teaching Points
The Sanctity of Marriage
Marriage is a sacred covenant designed by God. Proverbs 5:18 encourages us to honor and cherish this relationship, recognizing it as a source of blessing.

Faithfulness and Commitment
The verse calls for rejoicing in the wife of one's youth, highlighting the importance of lifelong commitment and fidelity in marriage.

Joy in Marriage
Finding joy in one's spouse is a biblical principle. This joy is not just emotional but a deliberate choice to appreciate and celebrate the partner God has given.

Blessings in Obedience
The "fountain" being blessed suggests that obedience to God's design for marriage brings about divine blessings and fulfillment.

Cultivating Love and Respect
Actively nurturing love and respect within marriage aligns with the biblical call to rejoice in one's spouse, fostering a healthy and thriving relationship.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Proverbs 5:18?

2. How can you "rejoice in the wife of your youth" daily?

3. What steps ensure faithfulness in marriage as Proverbs 5:18 advises?

4. How does Proverbs 5:18 connect with Ephesians 5:25 on marital love?

5. Why is delighting in your spouse important for a godly marriage?

6. How can Proverbs 5:18 guide your prayers for your marriage?

7. How does Proverbs 5:18 define the concept of marital joy and fidelity?

8. What historical context influenced the writing of Proverbs 5:18?

9. How does Proverbs 5:18 relate to the broader theme of wisdom in Proverbs?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Proverbs 5?


(18) Let thy fountain . . .--As a reward for purity of life, the blessing of a numerous offspring is invoked. (Comp. Psalm 128:3, where the wife is a "fruitful vine," and the children numerous and flourishing like olive-branches.)

Verse 18. - Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. The employment of the ordinary term "wife" in the second hemistich shows in what sense the figure which is used has to be understood. The terms "fountain" and "wife" denote the same person. The wife is here called "thy fountain" (Hebrew, m'kor'ka), just as she has been previously "thine own cistern" (b'or) and "thine own well" (b'er) in ver. 15. The Hebrew makor, "fountain," is derived from the root kur, "to dig." The figure seems to determine that the blessing here spoken of consists in the with being a fruitful mother of children; and hence the phrase means, "Let thy with be blessed," i.e. rendered happy in being the mother of thy children. This is quite consistent with the Hebrew mode of thought. Every Israelitish wife regarded herself, and was regarded by ethers as "blessed," if she bore children, and unhappy if the reverse were the case. Blessed; Hebrew, baruk (Vulgate, benedicta), is the kal participle passive of barak, "to bless." Instead of this, the LXX. reads ἴδια, "Let thy fountain be thine own" - a variation which in no sense conveys the meaning of the original. And rejoice with; rather, rejoice in, the wife being regarded as the sphere within which the husband is to find his pleasure and joy. Umbreit explains, "Let thy wife be extolled." The same construction of the imperative s'makh, from samakh," to be glad, or joyful," with min, occurs in Judges 9:19; Zephaniah 3:14, etc. The Authorized rendering is, however, favoured by the Vulgate, laetare cum, and the LXX., συνευφραίνω μετὰ Compare the exhortation in Ecclesiastes 9:9, "Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest." The wife of thy youth (Hebrew, ishshah n'ureyka) may mean either

(1) the wife to whom thou hast given the fair bloom of thy youth (Umbreit);

(2) the wife chosen in thy youth (Delitzsch); or

(3) thy youthful wife. The former seems the more probable meaning. Compare the expression, "companion of thy youth," in Proverbs 2:17.

Proverbs 5:18 calls husbands to guard and enjoy the God-given spring of marital intimacy. When that fountain is kept within the covenant boundaries, God blesses it; when the husband continually delights in the wife he married in his youth, both partners taste lasting joy and protection. Fidelity, affection, and shared faith turn marriage into a channel of divine favor that refreshes the couple and honors the Lord.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
May your fountain
מְקוֹרְךָ֥ (mə·qō·wr·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4726: Something dug, a, source, of happiness, wisdom, progeny)

be
יְהִֽי־ (yə·hî-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

blessed,
בָר֑וּךְ (ḇā·rūḵ)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse

and may you rejoice
וּ֝שְׂמַ֗ח (ū·śə·maḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 8055: To brighten up, be, blithe, gleesome

in the wife
מֵאֵ֥שֶׁת (mê·’ê·šeṯ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

of your youth:
נְעוּרֶֽךָ׃ (nə·‘ū·re·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5271: Youth, the state, the persons


Additonal Resources
Proverbs 5:18 Blue Letter Bible
Proverbs 5:18 Bible Gateway
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OT Poetry: Proverbs 5:18 Let your spring be blessed (Prov. Pro Pr)

Proverbs 5:17
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