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?

²¹ For your ways are in full view^(D) of the Lord,
    and he examines^(E) all your paths.^(F)
22 The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;^(G)
    the cords of their sins hold them fast.^(H)
23 For lack of discipline they will die,^(I)
    led astray by their own great folly.^(J)