New English Translation

Proverbs 5:1-6

1 1My child, be attentive to my wisdom, pay close attention to my understanding,

2in order to safeguard discretion, and that your lips may guard knowledge.

3For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her seductive words are smoother than olive oil,

4but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.

5Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.

6Lest she should make level the path leading to life, her paths are unstable but she does not know it.

Notes

1. Proverbs 5:1 In this chapter the sage/father exhorts discretion (1, 2) then explains how to avoid seduction (3-6); this is followed by a second exhortation to prevention (7, 8) and an explanation that obedience will avoid ruin and regret (9-14); finally, he warns against sharing love with strangers (15-17) but to find it at home (18-23). For an analysis of the chapter, see J. E. Goldingay, “Proverbs V and IX,” RB 84 (1977): 80-93. ↩