1 M y son, listen to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding.

2 S o you may know what is good thinking, and your lips may keep much learning.

3 F or the lips of a strange woman are as sweet as honey. Her talk is as smooth as oil.

4 B ut in the end she is as bitter tasting as wormwood, and as sharp as a sword that cuts both ways.

5 H er feet go down to death. Her steps take hold of hell.

6 S he does not think about the path of life. Her ways go this way and that, and she does not know it.

7 N ow then, my sons, listen to me. Do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

8 K eep far away from her. Do not go near the door of her house.

9 I f you do, you would give your strength to others, and your years to those without loving-kindness.

10 S trangers would be filled with your strength, and the fruits of your work would go to a strange house.

11 Y ou would cry inside yourself when your end comes, when your flesh and body are wasted away.

12 Y ou would say, “How I have hated teaching! My heart hated strong words!

13 I have not listened to the voice of my teachers. I have not turned my ear to those who would teach me.

14 N ow I have a bad name in the meeting place of the people.”

15 D rink water from your own pool, flowing water from your own well.

16 S hould the waters from your well flow away, rivers of water in the streets?

17 L et them be yours alone, and not for strangers with you.

18 L et your well be honored, and be happy with the wife you married when you were young.

19 L et her be like a loving, female deer. Let her breasts please you at all times. Be filled with great joy always because of her love.

20 M y son, why should you be carried away with a sinful woman and fall into the arms of a strange woman?

21 F or the ways of a man are seen by the eyes of the Lord, and He watches all his paths.

22 H is own sins will trap the sinful. He will be held with the ropes of his sin.

23 H e will die for want of teaching, and will go the wrong way because of the greatness of his foolish ways.