Proverbs 5 — WEBBE

5Verse 1My son, pay attention to my wisdom.Turn your ear to my understanding,^{Verse 2}that you may maintain discretion,that your lips may preserve knowledge.^{Verse 3}For the lips of an adulteress drip honey.Her mouth is smoother than oil,^{Verse 4}but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood,and as sharp as a two-edged sword.^{Verse 5}Her feet go down to death.Her steps lead straight to Sheol.^{+Verse 6}She gives no thought to the way of life.Her ways are crooked, and she doesn’t know it.^{Verse 7}Now therefore, my sons, listen to me.Don’t depart from the words of my mouth.^{Verse 8}Remove your way far from her.Don’t come near the door of her house,^{Verse 9}lest you give your honour to others,and your years to the cruel one;^{Verse 10}lest strangers feast on your wealth,and your labours enrich another man’s house.^{Verse 11}You will groan at your latter end,when your flesh and your body are consumed,^{Verse 12}and say, “How I have hated instruction,and my heart despised reproof.^{Verse 13}I haven’t obeyed the voice of my teachers,nor turned my ear to those who instructed me!^{Verse 14}I have come to the brink of utter ruin,amongst the gathered assembly.”^{Verse 15}Drink water out of your own cistern,running water out of your own well.^{Verse 16}Should your springs overflow in the streets,streams of water in the public squares?^{Verse 17}Let them be for yourself alone,not for strangers with you.^{Verse 18}Let your spring be blessed.Rejoice in the wife of your youth.^{Verse 19}A loving doe and a graceful deer—let her breasts satisfy you at all times.
Be captivated always with her love.^{Verse 20}For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress?Why embrace the bosom of another?^{Verse 21}For the ways of man are before the LORD’s eyes.He examines all his paths.^{Verse 22}The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him.The cords of his sin hold him firmly.^{Verse 23}He will die for lack of instruction.In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.