Proverbs 5:14-23
New American Standard Bible
Chapter 5
14I was almost in total ruin In the midst of the assembly and congregation.' 15Drink water from your own cistern, And fresh water from your own well. 16Should your springs overflow into the street, Streams of water in the public squares? 17Let them be yours alone, And not for strangers with you. 18Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice in the wife of your youth. 19 Like a loving doe and a graceful mountain goat, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; Be exhilarated always with her love. 20For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an adulteress, And embrace the breasts of a foreigner? 21For the ways of everyone are before the eyes of the Lord, And He observes all his paths. 22His own wrongdoings will trap the wicked, And he will be held by the ropes of his sin. 23He will die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his foolishness he will go astray.King James Version
Christian Standard Bible
Chapter 5
14I am on the verge of complete ruin before the entire community." 15Drink water from your own cistern, water flowing from your own well. 16Should your springs flow in the streets, streams in the public squares? 17They should be for you alone and not for you to share with strangers. 18Let your fountain be blessed, and take pleasure in the wife of your youth. 19A loving deer, a graceful doe — let her breasts always satisfy you; be lost in her love forever. 20Why, my son, would you lose yourself with a forbidden woman or embrace a wayward woman? 21For a man’s ways are before the Lord’s eyes, and he considers all his paths. 22A wicked man’s iniquities will trap him; he will become tangled in the ropes of his own sin. 23He will die because there is no discipline, and be lost because of his great stupidity.New Living Translation
15Drink water from your own well — share your love only with your wife.
16Why spill the water of your springs in the streets, having sex with just anyone?
17You should reserve it for yourselves. Never share it with strangers.
English Standard Version
Chapter 5
14 I am at the brink of utter ruin in the assembled congregation." 15Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. 16Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? 17 Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you. 18Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, 19a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love. 20Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress? 21For a man 's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths. 22The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. 23 He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray.New International Version
Chapter 5
14And I was soon in serious trouble in the assembly of God’s people." 15Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. 16Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? 17Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. 18May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. 19A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love.
20Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife? Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?
21For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all your paths.
22The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast.
23For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly.
New King James Version
