15 Drink (A)water from your own cistern,
    flowing water from your own well.
16 Should your (B)springs be scattered abroad,
    streams of water (C)in the streets?
17 (D)Let them be for yourself alone,
    and not for strangers with you.
18 Let your (E)fountain be blessed,
    and (F)rejoice in (G)the wife of your youth,
19     a lovely (H)deer, a graceful doe.
Let her breasts (I)fill you at all times with delight;
    be intoxicated[a] always in her love.
20 Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with (J)a forbidden woman
    and embrace the bosom of (K)an adulteress?[b]
21 For (L)a man's ways are (M)before the eyes of the Lord,
    and he (N)ponders[c] all his paths.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 5:19 Hebrew be led astray; also verse 20
  2. Proverbs 5:20 Hebrew a foreign woman
  3. Proverbs 5:21 Or makes level

Bible Gateway Recommends

Fire Bible ESV Version, Imitation Leather, Tan/Berry
Fire Bible ESV Version, Imitation Leather, Tan/Berry
Retail: $79.95
Our Price: $56.49
Save: $23.46 (29%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
ESV Church Bible (Value Pew Bible) Case of 24
ESV Church Bible (Value Pew Bible) Case of 24
Retail: $311.76
Our Price: $155.76
Save: $156.00 (50%)
ESV Illuminated Scripture Journal: 27-Volume Old Testament  Boxed Set
ESV Illuminated Scripture Journal: 27-Volume Old Testament Boxed Set
Retail: $199.99
Our Price: $111.99
Save: $88.00 (44%)
4.5 of 5.0 stars
ESV Study Bible, Personal Size, TruTone Imitation Leather, Brown
ESV Study Bible, Personal Size, TruTone Imitation Leather, Brown
Retail: $74.99
Our Price: $47.49
Save: $27.50 (37%)
4.0 of 5.0 stars