[1] Son, listen to this piece of wisdom from me. Pay attention to what I know to be true. [2] Remember to live wisely, and what you learn will keep your lips from saying the wrong thing. [3] Now, another man's wife might be very charming, and the words from her lips so sweet and inviting. [4] But in the end, she will bring only bitterness and pain. It will be like bitter poison and a sharp sword. [5] She is on a path leading to death, and she will lead you straight to the grave. [6] Don't follow her. She has lost her way and does not even know it. Be careful. Stay on the road that leads to life. [7] Now, my sons, listen to me. Don't forget the words I say. [8] Stay away from the woman who commits adultery. Don't even go near her house. [9] If you do, others will get the honor you should have had. Some stranger will get everything you worked years to get. [10] People you don't know will take all your wealth. Others will get what you worked for. [11] At the end of your life, you will be sad that you ruined your health and lost everything you had. [12] Then you will say, "Why didn't I listen to my parents? Why didn't I pay attention to my teachers? I didn't want to be disciplined. I refused to be corrected. [14] So now I have suffered through just about every kind of trouble anyone can have, and everyone knows it." [15] Now, about sex and marriage: Drink only the water that comes from your own well, [16] and don't let your water flow out into the streets. [17] Keep it for yourself, and don't share it with strangers. [18] Be happy with your own wife. Enjoy the woman you married while you were young. [19] She is like a beautiful deer, a lovely fawn. Let her love satisfy you completely. Stay drunk on her love, [20] and don't go stumbling into the arms of another woman. [21] The LORD clearly sees everything you do. He watches where you go. [22] The sins of the wicked will trap them. Those sins will be like ropes holding them back. [23] Evil people will die because they refuse to be disciplined. They will be trapped by their own desires.
