5
Pitfalls of Immorality
1 My son, AProv 4:20give attention to my wisdom,
BProv 22:17Incline your ear to my understanding;
2 That you may AProv 3:21observe discretion
And your BMal 2:7lips may reserve knowledge.
3 For the lips of an 1Lit strange womanAProv 2:16; 5:20; 7:5; 22:14adulteress BSong 4:11drip honey
And CPs 55:21smoother than oil is her 2Lit palatespeech;
4 But in the end she is AEccl 7:26bitter as wormwood,
BPs 57:4; Heb 4:12Sharp as a two-edged sword.
5 Her feet AProv 7:27go down to death,
Her steps take hold of Sheol.
6 1Lit That she not watchShe does not ponder the AProv 4:26; 5:21path of life;
Her ways are B2 Pet 2:14unstable, she CProv 30:20does not know it.
 
7 AProv 7:24Now then, my sons, listen to me
And BPs 119:102do not depart from the words of my mouth.
8 AProv 7:25Keep your way far from her
And do not go near the BProv 9:14door of her house,
9 Or you will give your vigor to others
And your years to the cruel one;
10 And strangers will be filled with your strength
And your hard-earned goods will go to the house of an alien;
11 And you groan at your 1Or latterfinal end,
When your flesh and your body are consumed;
12 And you say, “How I have AProv 1:7, 22, 29hated instruction!
And my heart BProv 1:25; 12:1spurned reproof!
13 “I have not listened to the voice of my AProv 1:8teachers,
Nor inclined my ear to my instructors!
14 “I was almost in utter ruin
In the midst of the assembly and congregation.”
 
15 Drink water from your own cistern
And 1Lit flowingfresh water from your own well.
16 Should your AProv 5:18; 9:17; Song 4:12, 15springs be dispersed abroad,
Streams of water in the streets?
17 Let them be yours alone
And not for strangers with you.
18 Let your AProv 9:17; Song 4:12, 15fountain be blessed,
And BEccl 9:9rejoice in the CMal 2:14wife of your youth.
19 As a loving ASong 2:9, 17; 4:5; 7:3hind and a graceful doe,
Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
Be 1Lit intoxicatedexhilarated always with her love.
20 For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an 1Lit strange womanAProv 5:3adulteress
And embrace the bosom of a BProv 2:16; 6:24; 7:5; 23:27foreigner?
21 For the AJob 14:16; 31:4; 34:21; Ps 119:168; Prov 15:3; Jer 16:17; 32:19; Hos 7:2; Heb 4:13ways of a man are before the eyes of the Loʀᴅ,
And He BProv 4:26watches all his paths.
22 His ANum 32:23; Ps 7:15; 9:15; 40:12; Prov 1:31, 32own iniquities will capture the wicked,
And he will be held with the cords of his sin.
23 He will AJob 4:21; 36:12die for lack of instruction,
And in the greatness of his folly he will go astray.

A5:1 Prov 4:20

B5:1 Prov 22:17

A5:2 Prov 3:21

B5:2 Mal 2:7

15:3 Lit strange woman

A5:3 Prov 2:16; 5:20; 7:5; 22:14

B5:3 Song 4:11

C5:3 Ps 55:21

25:3 Lit palate

A5:4 Eccl 7:26

B5:4 Ps 57:4; Heb 4:12

A5:5 Prov 7:27

15:6 Lit That she not watch

A5:6 Prov 4:26; 5:21

B5:6 2 Pet 2:14

C5:6 Prov 30:20

A5:7 Prov 7:24

B5:7 Ps 119:102

A5:8 Prov 7:25

B5:8 Prov 9:14

15:11 Or latter

A5:12 Prov 1:7, 22, 29

B5:12 Prov 1:25; 12:1

A5:13 Prov 1:8

15:15 Lit flowing

A5:16 Prov 5:18; 9:17; Song 4:12, 15

A5:18 Prov 9:17; Song 4:12, 15

B5:18 Eccl 9:9

C5:18 Mal 2:14

A5:19 Song 2:9, 17; 4:5; 7:3

15:19 Lit intoxicated

15:20 Lit strange woman

A5:20 Prov 5:3

B5:20 Prov 2:16; 6:24; 7:5; 23:27

A5:21 Job 14:16; 31:4; 34:21; Ps 119:168; Prov 15:3; Jer 16:17; 32:19; Hos 7:2; Heb 4:13

B5:21 Prov 4:26

A5:22 Num 32:23; Ps 7:15; 9:15; 40:12; Prov 1:31, 32

A5:23 Job 4:21; 36:12

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