CLV(i)
1 My son, do attend to my wisdom; To my comprehension, stretch out your ear,
2 In order to guard foresight, That your lips may preserve knowledge."
3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as the honeycomb, And the words of her palate are slicker than oil."
4 Yet the aftereffect from her is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword."
5 Her feet are descending to death; To the unseen her steps hold firm.
6 Lest you should ponder the path of life, Her routes rove about, yet you know not where."
7 So now, my sons, hearken to me, And do not withdraw from the sayings of my mouth."
8 Keep your way far from her; Do not go near to the portal of her house,
9 Lest you should give your splendor to others And your years to the cruel one,
10 Lest aliens should surfeit themselves on your vigor And on your grievous labors in the house of a foreigner,
11 And you have anguish in your latter days When your flesh and your brawn are exhausted,
12 And you say, How I have hated discipline, And my heart has spurned correction!"
13 I have not hearkened to the voice of those directing my instruction, And to those teaching me I have not stretched out my ear;"
14 Soon I came to be in entire peril In the midst of the assembly and the congregation.
15 Drink water from your own cistern, And the flowings from the midst of your own well;"
16 Should your springs scatter forth in the streets, Your rillets of water in the public squares?
17 Let them be yours, for you alone, And not for aliens along with you."
18 May your fountain become blessed; Rejoice in the wife of your youth,
19 A loving hind and a graceful ibex; May her affections satisfy you in every season; May you be intoxicated by her love continually.
20 Why should you be intoxicated, my son, by a strange woman And embrace the bosom of a foreigner?
21 For the ways of a man are before the eyes of Yahweh, Who ponders all his routes."
22 Concerning the wicked man, his depravities, they shall seize him, And by the cables of his sin shall he be held firm."
23 He himself shall die in his lack of discipline, And in his great folly he shall expire."