Proverbs 5

1 My [beloved] son [descendant, child], pay attention [listen carefully, give heed] to my wisdom [insight, good judgment]; incline [stretch, turn] your ear [ability to hear, understanding] to my insight [understanding, intelligence, discretion], word study 2 that you may maintain [observe, regard] discretion [a wise purpose, plan] and your lips [language, words] may preserve [keep, watch over] knowledge [understanding, wisdom]. word study 3 Though the lips [edge of the mouth, language] of the forbidden [strange, adulteress] woman drip [flow, prophesy] honey [something sweet] and her speech [palate, mouth] is smoother [more soft, flattering] than oil [olive oil, richness], word study 4 in the end [her final outcome, last part] she is bitter [causing emotional pain, unpleasant] as wormwood [a poisonous plant], sharp [cutting, piercing] as a double-edged [two-edged, having two mouths] sword [a cutting instrument]. word study 5 Her feet [leading to destruction] go down [to a lower place, descending] to death [the end of life, separation from God]; her steps [path of life, regular stride] lead straight to Sheol [the underworld, place of no return, hell]. word study 6 She does not [give any thought to, ponder] consider the path [road, journey] of life [existence, being alive]; she does not [realize, have knowledge of] know that her ways [tracks, courses of action] are unstable [moveable, uncertain, shaken]. word study 7 So now [at this time, in this moment], my sons [children, descendants], listen to me [hear and obey], and do not [in no way, never] turn aside [depart, remove yourself] from the words [sayings, commands] of my mouth [lips, speech]. word study 8 Keep [remove, go far away from] your path [way of life, journey] far from her; do not [in no way, never] go near [approach, come close to] the door [entrance, gateway] of her house [dwelling place, home], word study 9 lest [beware that, be cautious] you concede [give, surrender] your vigor [strength, vitality] to others [strangers, different ones], and your years [period of life, time on earth] to one who is [describing someone as] cruel [harsh, unkind, fierce]; word study 10 lest [beware that, be cautious] strangers [foreigners, those outside the family] feast [be filled, satisfy their desires] on your wealth [strength, resources], and your labors [toil, painful work] enrich [benefit, bring profit to] the house [dwelling place, family] of a foreigner [stranger, one who is not a part of the community]. word study 11 At the [latter, final] end of your life [when your time on earth is complete] you will groan [mourn, be in distress] when your flesh [body, mortal frame] and your body [physical being, earthly temple] are spent [consumed, completely used up], word study 12 and you will say [declare, speak out], “How [in what way, to what extent] I hated [felt intense dislike, despised] discipline [instruction, correction], and my heart [inner being, feelings, will] despised [spurned, scorned] reproof [rebuke, correction]! word study 13 I did [not obey, failed to heed] not listen [to hear and obey] to the voice [sound or utterance] of my teachers [instructors, guides] or incline [to stretch, to bend] my ear [organ of hearing, attention] to my mentors [those who teach, instruct me, my directors]. word study 14 I am on the brink [verge, edge] of utter ruin [complete disgrace, total destruction] in the midst [center, middle] of the whole assembly [congregation, gathered community, crowd].” word study 15 Drink [refresh yourself with, feast on] water [a source of refreshment, spiritual nourishment] from your own cistern [pit, personal reservoir], and running [flowing, dripping] water [liquid refreshment, figurative satisfaction] from your own well [spring, fountain of life]. word study 16 Why should your springs [fountains, sources of satisfaction] flow [be dispersed abroad, overflow] in the streets [public squares, open places], your streams [rivulets, small channels] of water [refreshment, liquid] in the public squares [broad places, marketplaces]? word study 17 Let them be [exclusively, only] yours alone [to yourself, apart], never to be shared [given to, distributed among] with strangers [foreigners, those outside your covenant]. word study 18 May your fountain [spring of water, source of happiness] be blessed [praised, honored by God], and may you rejoice [be glad, delight] in the wife [woman, partner] of your youth [early years, young age]: word study 19 A loving [gentle, affectionate] doe, a graceful [pleasant, charming] fawn— may her breasts satisfy [quench, fulfill] you always [at all times, continually]; may you be captivated [ravished, delighted] by her love [affection, tender care] forever [continually, always]. word study 20 Why be captivated [seduced, ravished], my son [descendant, child], by an adulteress [immoral woman, stranger], or [why] embrace [clasp tightly, cherish] the bosom [chest area, intimate relationship] of a stranger [foreigner, unfamiliar woman]? word study 21 For a man’s [every individual’s, each person’s] ways [path, journey, manner of life] are before [in the presence of, under the gaze of] the eyes [source of knowledge] of the LORD [Yehovah, the self-existent God], and the LORD [Yehovah, the all-knowing Judge] examines [investigates, ponders, weighs] all [every aspect of] his paths [tracks, goings, life’s course]. word study 22 The iniquities [moral evil, sins] of a wicked [morally wrong, guilty] man entrap [capture, seize] him; the cords [ropes, bonds] of his sin [guilt, punishment] entangle [hold, grasp] him. word study 23 He [the foolish one] dies [perishes, comes to an end] for lack of [without, having no] discipline [instruction, correction], led astray [goes astray, wanders] by his own [personal] great folly [foolishness, silliness]. word study