Proverbs 5:3-22

3Do not listen to the words of an adulteress. She promises something as sweet as honey and as beautiful as olive oil.

4But in the end, she gives you bitter food, like poison. She gives you pain like a sharp sword.

5She will lead you down to the place of death. You will follow her to your grave!

6She does not think about the way that leads to true life. She has lost the right road but she does not understand what she is doing.

7So listen to me, my children. Never forget what I am telling you.

8Keep far away from a woman like that! Do not even go near the door of her house.

9If you go with her, you will lose your honour. A cruel person will rob you of the best years of your life.

10Strangers will take all your money. The good things that you have worked for will belong to someone else.

11At the end of your life, you will weep with pain. Your body will be sick and weak.

12You will say, ‘I should have listened when people warned me that I was doing bad things.

13I did not listen to my teachers. I refused to obey them.

14Now I will be completely ashamed when I meet together with all the people.’

15You should enjoy your own wife, as you enjoy clean water to drink.

16You would not pour your good water onto the streets. So do not waste your love on other women.

17Keep it for you and your wife. Do not share it with other women.

18Enjoy sex with your own wife. May the wife that you married when you were young continue to give you joy.

19May she be as pretty and beautiful as a young deer. May her breasts always make you happy. May she love you in a way that gives you joy.

20So my son, do not let an adulteress deceive you. Do not enjoy the body of another man's wife.

21The Lord sees everything that a person does. He knows every path that you go along.

22The sins of a wicked person will be the trap that catches him. They will hold him like strong ropes.