Why should your streams flow into the streets?

17 They should be yours alone, so do not share them with strangers.

18 Let your own fountain be blessed, and enjoy the girl you married when you were young, 19 a loving doe and a graceful deer.a Always let her breasts satisfy you.

Always be intoxicated with her love.

20 Why should you, my son, be intoxicated with an adulterous woman and fondle a loose woman's breast?

21 Each person's ways are clearly seen by Yahweh , and he surveys all his actions.

22 A wicked person will be trapped by his own wrongs, and he will be caught in the ropes of his own sin.

23 He will die for his lack of discipline and stumble around because of his great stupidity.

Avoid Disaster 6 1 My son, if you guarantee a loan for your neighbor or pledge yourself for a stranger with a handshake, 2 you are trapped by the words of your own mouth, caught by your own promise.

3 Do the following things, my son, so that you may free yourself, because you have fallen into your neighbor's hands: Humble yourself, and pester your neighbor.

4 Don't let your eyes rest or your eyelids close.

5 Free yourself like a gazelle from the hand of a hunter and like a bird from the hand of a hunter.

6 Consider the ant, you lazy bum.

Watch its ways, and become wise.

7 Although it has no overseer, officer, or ruler, 8 in summertime it stores its food supply.

At harvest time it gathers its food.

9 How long will you lie there, you lazy bum?

When will you get up from your sleep?

10 "Just a little sleep, just a little slumber, just a little nap."

11 Then your poverty will come to you like a drifter, and your need will come to you like a bandit.

12 A good-for-nothing scoundrel is a person who has a dishonest mouth.

13 He winks his eye, makes a signal with his foot, and points with his fingers.

14 He devises evil all the time with a twisted mind.

He spreads conflict.

15 That is why disaster will come on him suddenly.

In a moment he will be crushed beyond recovery.

16 There are six things that Yahweh hates, even seven that are disgusting to him: 17 arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill innocent people, 18 a mind devising wicked plans, feet that are quick to do wrong, 19 a dishonest witness spitting out lies, and a person who spreads conflict among relatives.

More Advice about Avoiding Adultery 20 My son, obey the command of your father, and do not disregard the teachings of your mother.

21 Fasten them on your heart forever.

Hang them around your neck.

22 When you walk around, they will lead you.

When you lie down, they will watch over you.

When you wake up, they will talk to you 23 because the command is a lamp, the teachings are a light, and the warnings from discipline are the path of life 24 to keep you from an evil woman and from the smooth talk of a loose woman.

25 Do not desire her beauty in your heart.

Do not let her catch you with her eyes.

26 A prostitute's price is only a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts for your life itself.

27 Can a man carry fire in his lap without burning his clothes?

28 Can anyone walk on red-hot coals without burning his feet?

29 So it is with a man who has sex with his neighbor's wife.

None who touch her will escape punishment.

30 People do not despise a thief who is hungry when he steals to satisfy his appetite, 31 but when he is caught, he has to repay it seven times.

He must give up all the possessions in his house.

32 Whoever commits adultery with a woman has no sense.

Whoever does this destroys himself.

33 An adulterous man will find diseasea and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be blotted out, 34 because jealousy arouses a husband's fury.

The husband will show no mercy when he takes revenge.

35 No amount of money will change his mind.

The largest bribe will not satisfy him.

7 1 My son, pay attention to my words.

Treasure my commands that are within you.

2 Obey my commands so that you may live.

Follow my teachings just as you protect the pupil of your eye.

3 Tie them on your fingers.

Write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 Say to wisdom, "You are my sister."

Give the name "my relative" to understanding 5 in order to guard yourself from an adulterous woman, from a loose woman with her smooth talk.

6 From a window in my house I looked through my screen.

7 I was looking at gullible people when I saw a young man without much sense among youths.

8 He was crossing a street near her corner and walking toward her house 9 in the twilight, in the evening, in the dark hours of the night.

10 A woman with an ulterior motive meets him.

She is dressed as a prostitute.

11 She is loud and rebellious.

Her feet will not stay at home.

12 One moment she is out on the street, the next she is at the curb, on the prowl at every corner.

13 She grabs him and kisses him and brazenly says to him, 14 "I have some sacrificial meat.

Today I kept my vows.

15 That's why I came to meet you.

Eagerly, I looked for you, and I've found you.

16 I've made my bed, with colored sheets of Egyptian linen.

17 I've sprinkled my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

18 Come, let's drink our fill of love until morning.

Let's enjoy making love, 19 because my husband's not home.

He has gone on a long trip.

20 He took lots of money with him.

He won't be home for a couple of weeks."

21 With all her seductive charms, she persuades him.

With her smooth lips, she makes him give in.

22 He immediately follows her like a steer on its way to be slaughtered, like a ram hobbling into captivitya 23 until an arrow pierces his heart, like a bird darting into a trap.

He does not realize that it will cost him his life.

24 Now, sons, listen to me.

Pay attention to the words from my mouth.

25 Do not let your heart be turned to her ways.

Do not wander onto her paths, 26 because she has brought down many victims, and she has killed all too many.

27 Her home is the way to hell and leads to the darkest vaults of death.

Wisdom's Announcement 8 1 Does not wisdom call out?

Does not understanding raise its voice?

2 Wisdom takes its stand on high ground, by the wayside where the roads meet, 3 near the gates to the city.

At the entrance wisdom sings its song, 4 "I am calling to all of you, and my appeal is to all people.

You gullible people, learn how to be sensible.

You fools, get a heart that has understanding.b 6 Listen! I am speaking about noble things, and my lips will say what is right.

7 My mouth expresses the truth, and wickedness is disgusting to my lips.

8 Everything I say is fair, and there is nothing twisted or crooked in it.

All of it is clear to a person who has understanding and right to those who have acquired knowledge.

10 Take my discipline, not silver, and my knowledge rather than fine gold, 11 because wisdom is better than jewels.

Nothing you desire can equal it.

Wisdom's Authority 12 "I, Wisdom, live with insight, and I acquire knowledge and foresight.

13 To fear Yahweh is to hate evil.

I hate pride, arrogance, evil behavior, and twisted speech.

14 Advice and priceless wisdom are mine.

I, Understanding, have strength.