Warning against Unchastity

51 My son, pay attention to my wisdom.
Turn your ear to my understanding: 2 that you may maintain discretion,
that your lips may preserve knowledge. 3 For the lips of an adulteress drip honey.
Her mouth is smoother than oil, 4 But in the end she is as bitter as wormwood,
and as sharp as a two-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death.
Her steps lead straight to Sheol. 6 She gives no thought to the way of life.
Her ways are crooked, and she doesn’t know it. 7 Now therefore, my sons, listen to me.
Don’t depart from the words of my mouth. 8 Remove your way far from her.
Don’t come near the door of her house, 9 lest you give your honor to others,
and your years to the cruel one; 10 lest strangers feast on your wealth,
and your labors enrich another man’s house. 11 You will groan at your latter end,
when your flesh and your body are consumed, 12 and say, “How I have hated instruction,
and my heart despised reproof; 13 neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers,
nor turned my ear to those who instructed me! 14 I have come to the brink of utter ruin,
in the midst of the gathered assembly.”

15 Drink water out of your own cistern,
running water out of your own well. 16 Should your springs overflow in the streets,
streams of water in the public squares? 17 Let them be for yourself alone,
not for strangers with you. 18 Let your spring be blessed.
Rejoice in the wife of your youth. 19 A loving doe and a graceful deer—
let her breasts satisfy you at all times.
Be captivated always with her love. 20 For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress?
Why embrace the bosom of another? 21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of Yahweh.
He examines all his paths. 22 The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him.
The cords of his sin hold him firmly. 23 He will die for lack of instruction.
In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.

Exhortations to Obedience

31 My son, don’t forget my teaching;
but let your heart keep my commandments: 2 for length of days, and years of life,
and peace, will they add to you. 3 Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you.
Bind them around your neck.
Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor,
and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in Yahweh with all your heart,
and don’t lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

7 Don’t be wise in your own eyes.
Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil. 8 It will be health to your body,
and nourishment to your bones. 9 Honor Yahweh with your substance,
with the first fruits of all your increase: 10 so your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will overflow with new wine. 11 My son, don’t despise Yahweh’s discipline,
neither be weary of his reproof: 12 for whom Yahweh loves, he reproves;
even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.

13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gets understanding. 14 For her good profit is better than getting silver,
and her return is better than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies.
None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand.
In her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness.
All her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her.
Happy is everyone who retains her. 19 By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth.
By understanding, he established the heavens. 20 By his knowledge, the depths were broken up,
and the skies drop down the dew.

21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes.
Keep sound wisdom and discretion: 22 so they will be life to your soul,
and grace for your neck. 23 Then you shall walk in your way securely.
Your foot won’t stumble. 24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid.
Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet. 25 Don’t be afraid of sudden fear,
neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes: 26 for Yahweh will be your confidence,
and will keep your foot from being taken.

27 Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in the power of your hand to do it. 28 Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again;
tomorrow I will give it to you,”
when you have it by you. 29 Don’t devise evil against your neighbor,
seeing he dwells securely by you. 30 Don’t strive with a man without cause,
if he has done you no harm. 31 Don’t envy the man of violence.
Choose none of his ways. 32 For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh,
but his friendship is with the upright. 33 Yahweh’s curse is in the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the habitation of the righteous. 34 Surely he mocks the mockers,
but he gives grace to the humble. 35 The wise will inherit glory,
but shame will be the promotion of fools.