Proverbs 5:3-14
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
3 Indeed, the lips of the stranger drip honey,[a]
and her mouth is smoother than oil;(A)
4 But in the end she is as bitter as wormwood,
as sharp as a two-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death,
her steps reach Sheol;(B)
6 Her paths ramble, you know not where,
lest you see before you the road to life.
7 So now, children, listen to me,
do not stray from the words of my mouth.
8 Keep your way far from her,(C)
do not go near the door of her house,
9 Lest you give your honor[b] to others,(D)
and your years to a merciless one;
10 Lest outsiders take their fill of your wealth,
and your hard-won earnings go to another’s house;
11 And you groan in the end,
when your flesh and your body are consumed;
12 And you say, “Oh, why did I hate instruction,
and my heart spurn reproof!
13 Why did I not listen to the voice of my teachers,
incline my ear to my instructors!
14 I am all but ruined,
in the midst of the public assembly!”
Footnotes
- 5:3 A metaphorical level is established in the opening description of the forbidden woman: her lips drip honey and her feet lead to death. By her lies, she leads people away from the wisdom that gives life.
- 5:9 Honor: the words “life” and “wealth” have also been read in this place. A merciless one: the offended husband; cf. 6:34–35.
Proverbs 5:3-14
New International Version
3 For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey,
and her speech is smoother than oil;(A)
4 but in the end she is bitter as gall,(B)
sharp as a double-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death;
her steps lead straight to the grave.(C)
6 She gives no thought to the way of life;
her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.(D)
7 Now then, my sons, listen(E) to me;
do not turn aside from what I say.
8 Keep to a path far from her,(F)
do not go near the door of her house,
9 lest you lose your honor to others
and your dignity[a] to one who is cruel,
10 lest strangers feast on your wealth
and your toil enrich the house of another.(G)
11 At the end of your life you will groan,
when your flesh and body are spent.
12 You will say, “How I hated discipline!
How my heart spurned correction!(H)
13 I would not obey my teachers
or turn my ear to my instructors.
14 And I was soon in serious trouble(I)
in the assembly of God’s people.”(J)
Footnotes
- Proverbs 5:9 Or years
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