¹⁵ Drink water from your own cistern,
    running water from your own well.
¹⁶ Should your springs overflow in the streets,
    your streams of water in the public squares?
¹⁷ Let them be yours alone,
    never to be shared with strangers.
¹⁸ May your fountain^(A) be blessed,
    and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.^(B)
19 A loving doe, a graceful deer^(C)—
    may her breasts satisfy you always,
    may you ever be intoxicated with her love.
²⁰ Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife?
    Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?

⁴ A wife of noble character^(A) is her husband’s crown,
    but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.^(B)

²⁴ Whoever spares the rod^(A) hates their children,
    but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline^(B) them.^(C)

14 The wise woman builds her house,^(A)
    but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

⁶ Children’s children^(A) are a crown to the aged,
    and parents are the pride of their children.

²² He who finds a wife finds what is good^(A)
    and receives favor from the Lord.^(B)

⁶ Start^(A) children off on the way they should go,^(B)
    and even when they are old they will not turn from it.^(C)