Proverbs 2:16-20
Modern English Version
16 to deliver you from the immoral woman,
even from the seductress who flatters with her words,
17 who forsakes the guide of her youth,
and forgets the covenant of her God.
18 For her house leads down to death,
and her paths to the departed spirits;
19 none who go to her return again,
nor do they take hold of the paths of life.
20 So you may walk in the way of good men
and keep the paths of the righteous.
Proverbs 2:16-20
New King James Version
16 To deliver you from (A)the immoral woman,
(B)From the seductress who flatters with her words,
17 Who forsakes the companion of her youth,
And forgets the covenant of her God.
18 For (C)her house [a]leads down to death,
And her paths to the dead;
19 None who go to her return,
Nor do they [b]regain the paths of life—
20 So you may walk in the way of goodness,
And keep to the paths of righteousness.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 2:18 sinks
- Proverbs 2:19 Lit. reach
Proverbs 5
Modern English Version
Warning Against Adultery
5 My son, attend to my wisdom,
and bow your ear to my understanding,
2 that you may regard discretion,
and that your lips may keep knowledge.
3 For the lips of an immoral woman drip as a honeycomb,
and her mouth is smoother than oil.
4 But her end is bitter as wormwood,
sharp as a two-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death,
her steps take hold of Sheol.
6 She does not ponder the path of life;
her ways are unstable, and she does not know it.
7 Hear me now therefore, O children,
and do not depart from the words of my mouth.
8 Remove your way far from her,
and do not go near the door of her house,
9 lest you give your honor to others,
and your years to the cruel;
10 lest strangers be filled with your wealth,
and your labors go to the house of a stranger;
11 and you mourn at the last,
when your flesh and your body are consumed,
12 and say, “How I have hated instruction,
and my heart despised reproof!
13 And I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers,
nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me!
14 I was almost in utter ruin
in the midst of the congregation and assembly.”
15 Drink waters out of your own cistern,
and running waters out of your own well.
16 Should your fountains be dispersed abroad,
streams of water in the streets?
17 Let them be only your own,
and not for strangers with you.
18 Let your fountain be blessed,
and rejoice with the wife of your youth.
19 Let her be as the loving deer and pleasant doe;
let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
and always be enraptured with her love.
20 Why should you, my son, be intoxicated by an immoral woman,
and embrace the bosom of a seductress?
21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord,
and He ponders all his goings.
22 His own iniquities entrap the wicked himself,
and he is snared in the cords of his sins.
23 He will die for lack of instruction,
and in the greatness of his folly he will go astray.
Proverbs 5
New King James Version
The Peril of Adultery
5 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
[a]Lend your ear to my understanding,
2 That you may [b]preserve discretion,
And your lips (A)may keep knowledge.
3 (B)For the lips of [c]an immoral woman drip honey,
And her mouth is (C)smoother than oil;
4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
Sharp as a two-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death,
(D)Her steps lay hold of [d]hell.
6 Lest you ponder her path of life—
Her ways are unstable;
You do not know them.
7 Therefore hear me now, my children,
And do not depart from the words of my mouth.
8 Remove your way far from her,
And do not go near the door of her house,
9 Lest you give your [e]honor to others,
And your years to the cruel one;
10 Lest aliens be filled with your [f]wealth,
And your labors go to the house of a foreigner;
11 And you mourn at last,
When your flesh and your body are consumed,
12 And say:
“How I have hated instruction,
And my heart despised correction!
13 I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers,
Nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me!
14 I was on the verge of total ruin,
In the midst of the assembly and congregation.”
15 Drink water from your own cistern,
And running water from your own well.
16 Should your fountains be dispersed abroad,
[g]Streams of water in the streets?
17 Let them be only your own,
And not for strangers with you.
18 Let your fountain be blessed,
And rejoice with (E)the wife of your youth.
19 (F)As a loving deer and a graceful doe,
Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
And always be [h]enraptured with her love.
20 For why should you, my son, be enraptured by (G)an immoral woman,
And be embraced in the arms of a seductress?
21 (H)For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord,
And He [i]ponders all his paths.
22 (I)His own iniquities entrap the wicked man,
And he is caught in the cords of his sin.
23 (J)He shall die for lack of instruction,
And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 5:1 Lit. Bow
- Proverbs 5:2 appreciate good judgment
- Proverbs 5:3 Lit. a strange
- Proverbs 5:5 Or Sheol
- Proverbs 5:9 vigor
- Proverbs 5:10 Lit. strength
- Proverbs 5:16 Channels
- Proverbs 5:19 Lit. intoxicated
- Proverbs 5:21 observes, lit. weighs
Proverbs 6:24-35
Modern English Version
24 to keep you from the evil woman,
from the flattery of the tongue of a seductress.
25 Do not lust after her beauty in your heart,
nor let her allure you with her eyelids.
26 For by means of a harlot a man is reduced to a piece of bread,
and the adulteress will prey upon his precious life.
27 Can a man take fire in his bosom,
and his clothes not be burned?
28 Can one walk upon hot coals,
and his feet not be burned?
29 So he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife;
whoever touches her will not be innocent.
30 Men do not despise a thief if he steals
to satisfy himself when he is hungry.
31 But if he is found, he will restore sevenfold;
he will give all the substance of his house.
32 But whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding;
he who does it destroys his own soul.
33 A wound and dishonor will he get,
and his reproach will not be wiped away.
34 For jealousy is the rage of a man;
therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
35 He will not regard any ransom,
nor will he rest content, though you give many gifts.
Proverbs 6:24-35
New King James Version
24 (A)To keep you from the evil woman,
From the flattering tongue of a seductress.
25 (B)Do not lust after her beauty in your heart,
Nor let her allure you with her eyelids.
26 For (C)by means of a harlot
A man is reduced to a crust of bread;
(D)And [a]an adulteress will (E)prey upon his precious life.
27 Can a man take fire to his bosom,
And his clothes not be burned?
28 Can one walk on hot coals,
And his feet not be seared?
29 So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife;
Whoever touches her shall not be innocent.
30 People do not despise a thief
If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving.
31 Yet when he is found, (F)he must restore sevenfold;
He may have to give up all the substance of his house.
32 Whoever commits adultery with a woman (G)lacks understanding;
He who does so destroys his own soul.
33 Wounds and dishonor he will get,
And his reproach will not be wiped away.
34 For (H)jealousy is a husband’s fury;
Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
35 He will [b]accept no recompense,
Nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 6:26 Wife of another, lit. a man’s wife
- Proverbs 6:35 Lit. lift up the face of any
Proverbs 7
Modern English Version
Beware of the Adulteress
7 My son, keep my words,
and lay up my commandments within you.
2 Keep my commandments and live,
and my teaching as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and call understanding your kinswoman,
5 that they may keep you from the immoral woman,
from the seductress who flatters with her words.
6 For at the window of my house
I looked through my casement,
7 and saw among the simple ones,
I discerned among the youths,
a young man void of understanding,
8 passing through the street near her corner;
and he went the way to her house
9 in the twilight, in the evening,
in the black and dark night.
10 And there a woman met him,
with the attire of a harlot, and subtle of heart.
11 She is loud and stubborn;
her feet do not abide in her house.
12 Now she is without, now in the streets,
and lies in wait at every corner.
13 So she caught him, and kissed him;
and with an impudent face said to him:
14 “I have peace offerings with me;
this day have I paid my vows.
15 Therefore I came out to meet you,
diligently to seek your face, and I have found you.
16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry,
with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning;
let us solace ourselves with love.
19 For my husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey;
20 he has taken a bag of money with him,
and will come home at the day appointed.”
21 With her enticing speech she caused him to yield,
with the flattering of her lips she seduced him.
22 He went after her straightway,
as an ox goes to the slaughter,
or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,
23 until a dart struck through his liver.
As a bird hastens to the snare,
he did not know that it would cost him his life.
24 Listen to me now therefore, O children,
and attend to the words of my mouth:
25 do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
do not go astray in her paths;
26 for she has cast down many wounded,
and many strong men have been slain by her.
27 Her house is the way to Sheol,
going down to the chambers of death.
Proverbs 7
New King James Version
The Wiles of a Harlot
7 My son, keep my words,
And (A)treasure my commands within you.
2 (B)Keep my commands and live,
(C)And my law as the apple of your eye.
3 (D)Bind them on your fingers;
Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
And call understanding your nearest kin,
5 (E)That they may keep you from the immoral woman,
From the seductress who flatters with her words.
The Crafty Harlot
6 For at the window of my house
I looked through my lattice,
7 And saw among the simple,
I perceived among the [a]youths,
A young man (F)devoid[b] of understanding,
8 Passing along the street near her corner;
And he took the path to her house
9 (G)In the twilight, in the evening,
In the black and dark night.
10 And there a woman met him,
With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart.
11 (H)She was loud and rebellious,
(I)Her feet would not stay at home.
12 At times she was outside, at times in the open square,
Lurking at every corner.
13 So she caught him and kissed him;
With an [c]impudent face she said to him:
14 “I have peace offerings with me;
Today I have paid my vows.
15 So I came out to meet you,
Diligently to seek your face,
And I have found you.
16 I have spread my bed with tapestry,
Colored coverings of (J)Egyptian linen.
17 I have perfumed my bed
With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until morning;
Let us delight ourselves with love.
19 For [d]my husband is not at home;
He has gone on a long journey;
20 He has taken a bag of money [e]with him,
And will come home [f]on the appointed day.”
21 [g]With (K)her enticing speech she caused him to yield,
(L)With her flattering lips she [h]seduced him.
22 Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter,
Or [i]as a fool to the correction of the [j]stocks,
23 Till an arrow struck his liver.
(M)As a bird hastens to the snare,
He did not know it [k]would cost his life.
24 Now therefore, listen to me, my children;
Pay attention to the words of my mouth:
25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
Do not stray into her paths;
26 For she has cast down many wounded,
And (N)all who were slain by her were strong men.
27 (O)Her house is the way to [l]hell,
Descending to the chambers of death.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 7:7 Lit. sons
- Proverbs 7:7 lacking
- Proverbs 7:13 shameless
- Proverbs 7:19 Lit. the man
- Proverbs 7:20 Lit. in his hand
- Proverbs 7:20 at the full moon
- Proverbs 7:21 By the greatness of her words
- Proverbs 7:21 compelled
- Proverbs 7:22 LXX, Syr., Tg. as a dog to bonds; Vg. as a lamb . . . to bonds
- Proverbs 7:22 shackles
- Proverbs 7:23 Lit. is for
- Proverbs 7:27 Or Sheol
Proverbs 9:13-18
Modern English Version
The Way of Foolishness
13 A foolish woman is clamorous;
she is simple, and knows nothing.
14 For she sits at the door of her house,
on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 to call those who pass by
who go right on their way:
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.”
And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
17 “Stolen waters are sweet,
and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that the dead are there,
and that her guests are in the depths of the grave.
Proverbs 9:13-18
New King James Version
The Way of Folly
13 (A)A foolish woman is [a]clamorous;
She is simple, and knows nothing.
14 For she sits at the door of her house,
On a seat (B)by the highest places of the city,
15 To call to those who pass by,
Who go straight on their way:
16 “Whoever(C) is [b]simple, let him turn in here”;
And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
17 “Stolen(D) water is sweet,
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that (E)the dead are there,
That her guests are in the depths of [c]hell.
Footnotes
- Proverbs 9:13 boisterous
- Proverbs 9:16 naive
- Proverbs 9:18 Or Sheol
Proverbs 22:14
Modern English Version
14 The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit;
he who is detested by the Lord will fall therein.
Proverbs 22:14
New King James Version
14 (A)The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit;
(B)He who is abhorred by the Lord will fall there.
Proverbs 23:26-28
Modern English Version
Saying Eighteen
26 My son, give me your heart,
and let your eyes observe my ways.
27 For a prostitute is a deep ditch,
and a seductress is a narrow pit.
28 She also lies in wait as for a prey,
and increases the transgressors among men.
Proverbs 23:26-28
New King James Version
26 My son, give me your heart,
And let your eyes observe my ways.
27 (A)For a harlot is a deep pit,
And a seductress is a narrow well.
28 (B)She also lies in wait as for a victim,
And increases the unfaithful among men.
Proverbs 29:3
Modern English Version
3 Whoever loves wisdom rejoices his father,
but he who keeps company with harlots spends his substance.
Proverbs 29:3
New King James Version
3 Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice,
But a companion of harlots wastes his wealth.
Proverbs 30:20
Modern English Version
20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman;
she eats and wipes her mouth,
and says, “I have done no wickedness.”
Proverbs 30:20
New King James Version
20 This is the way of an adulterous woman:
She eats and wipes her mouth,
And says, “I have done no wickedness.”
Proverbs 31:2-3
Modern English Version
2 What, my son? And what, the son of my womb?
And what, the son of my vows?
3 Do not give your strength to women,
nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
Proverbs 31:2-3
New King James Version
2 What, my son?
And what, son of my womb?
And what, (A)son of my vows?
3 (B)Do not give your strength to women,
Nor your ways (C)to that which destroys kings.
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
