Be faithful to your wife
1My son, if you listen closely
to my wisdom and good sense,
2you will have sound judgment,
and you will always know
the right thing to say.
3The words of an immoral woman
may be as sweet as honey
and as smooth as olive oil.
4But all that you really get
from being with her
is bitter poison and pain.
5If you follow her,
she will lead you down
to the world of the dead.
6She has missed the path
that leads to life
and doesn't even know it.
7My son, listen to me
and do everything I say.
8Stay away from a bad woman!
Don't even go near the door
of her house.
9You will lose your self-respect
and end up in debt
to some cruel person
for the rest of your life.
10Strangers will get your money
and everything else
you have worked for.
11When it's all over,
your body will waste away,
as you groan 12and shout,
“I hated advice and correction!
13I paid no attention
to my teachers,
14and now I am disgraced
in front of everyone.”
15You should be faithful
to your wife,
just as you take water
from your own well.
16And don't be like a stream
from which just any woman
may take a drink.
17Save yourself for your wife
and don't have sex
with other women.
18Be happy with the wife
you married
when you were young.
19She is beautiful and graceful,
just like a deer;
you should be attracted to her
and stay deeply in love.
20Don't go mad over a woman
who is unfaithful
to her own husband!
21The LORD sees everything,
and he watches us closely.
22Sinners are trapped and caught
by their own evil deeds.
23They get lost and die
because of their foolishness
and lack of self-control.
