Proverbs 5 - GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Avoid Adultery

5 My son,
pay attention to my wisdom.
Open your ears to my understanding
2 so that you may act with foresight
and speak with insight.

3 The lips of an adulterous woman drip with honey.
Her kiss is smoother than oil,
4 but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood,
as sharp as a two-edged sword.
5 Her feet descend to death.
Her steps lead straight to hell.
6 She doesn’t even think about the path of life.
Her steps wander, and she doesn’t realize it.

7 But now, sons,
listen to me,
and do not turn away from what I say to you.
8 Stay far away from her.
Do not even go near her door.
9 Either you will surrender your reputation to others
and ⌞the rest of⌟ your years to some cruel person,
10 or strangers will benefit from your strength
and you will have to work hard in a pagan’s house.
11 Then you will groan when your end comes,
when your body and flesh are consumed.
You will say,
12 “Oh, how I hated discipline!
How my heart despised correction!
13 I didn’t listen to what my teachers said to me,
nor did I keep my ear open to my instructors.
14 I almost reached total ruin
in the assembly and in the congregation.”

15 Drink water out of your own cistern
and running water from your own well.
16 Why should water flow out of your spring?
Why should your streams flow into the streets?
17 They should be yours alone,
so do not share them with strangers.
18 Let your own fountain be blessed,
and enjoy the girl you married when you were young,
19 a loving doe and a graceful deer.[a]
Always let her breasts satisfy you.
Always be intoxicated with her love.
20 Why should you, my son,
be intoxicated with an adulterous woman
and fondle a loose woman’s breast?

21 Each person’s ways are clearly seen by the Lord,
and he surveys all his actions.
22 A wicked person will be trapped by his own wrongs,
and he will be caught in the ropes of his own sin.
23 He will die for his lack of discipline
and stumble around because of his great stupidity.

Footnotes

  1. 5:19 Or “graceful goat.”

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5 My son! to my wisdom give attention, To mine understanding incline thine ear, 2 To observe thoughtfulness, And knowledge do thy lips keep. 3 For the lips of a strange woman drop honey, And smoother than oil [is] her mouth, 4 And her latter end [is] bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a sword [with] mouth...
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Proverbs 5 - World English Bible (WEB)

5 My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding,2 that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge.3 For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,4 but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged swor...
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Proverbs 5 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Beware Seduction5 My son, pay attention to my wisdom.Incline your ear to my insight,2 that you may maintain discretionand your lips may preserve knowledge.3 For a seducing woman’s lips drip honeyand her mouth is smoother than oil.4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood,sharp as a double-edged swo...
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Proverbs 5 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Warning against Impurity and Infidelity5 My son, be attentive to my wisdom,incline your ear to my understanding;2 that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge.3 For the lips of a loose woman drip honey, and her speech[a] is smoother than oil;4 but in the end she is bitter as wormw...
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Proverbs 5 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Warning against Impurity and Infidelity5 My son, be attentive to my wisdom,incline your ear to my understanding;2 that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge.3 For the lips of a loose woman drip honey, and her speech[a] is smoother than oil;4 but in the end she is bitter as wormw...
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Proverbs 5 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Warning against Impurity and Infidelity5 My child, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding,2 so that you may hold on to prudence, and your lips may guard knowledge.3 For the lips of a loose[a] woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil;4 but in the end she is bitte...
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Proverbs 5 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Warning against Impurity and Infidelity5 My child, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding,(A)2 so that you may hold on to prudence, and your lips may guard knowledge.3 For the lips of a loose woman[a] drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil,(B)4 but in the end she is...
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Proverbs 5 - New Living Translation (NLT)

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Proverbs 5 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Peril of Adultery5 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;[a]Lend your ear to my understanding,2 That you may [b]preserve discretion,And your lips (A)may keep knowledge.3 (B)For the lips of [c]an immoral woman drip honey,And her mouth is (C)smoother than oil;4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwoo...
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Proverbs 5 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

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A Warning Against Committing Adultery5 My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Listen carefully to my wise sayings.2 Then you will continue to have good sense. Your lips will keep on speaking words of knowledge.3 A woman who commits adultery has lips that drip honey. What she says is smoother than olive...
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Proverbs 5 - New English Translation (NET)

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