¹⁵ Drink water from your own cistern
And ^[a]fresh water from your own well.
¹⁶ Should your ^(A)springs be dispersed abroad,
Streams of water in the streets?
¹⁷ Let them be for you alone,
And not for strangers with you.
¹⁸ Let your ^(B)fountain be blessed,
And ^(C)be glad in the ^(D)wife of your youth.
¹⁹ As a loving ^(E)hind and a graceful doe,
Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
Be ^[b]intoxicated always with her love.

¹⁶ A ^(A)gracious woman holds fast to glory,
But ruthless men hold fast to riches.

²² As a ^(A)ring of gold in a swine’s snout
So is a beautiful woman who turns away from ^[a]discretion.

^4 [a]An ^(A)excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who causes shame is like ^(B)rottenness in his bones.