Proverbs 5

¹My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding,†⇄ (14 connections)

²that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge.† (2 connections)

³For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,† (7 connections)

⁴but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword.† (3 connections)

⁵Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol.† (2 connections)

⁶She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn’t know it.† (1 connection)

⁷Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don’t depart from the words of my mouth.

⁸Remove your way far from her. Don’t come near the door of her house,† (1 connection)

⁹lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one;† (2 connections)

¹⁰lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich another man’s house.

¹¹You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed,† (1 connection)

¹²and say, “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof.

¹³I haven’t obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me!

¹⁴I have come to the brink of utter ruin, among the gathered assembly.”

¹⁵Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well.†⇄ (32 connections)

¹⁶Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares?†⇄ (30 connections)

¹⁷Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you.†⇄ (25 connections)

¹⁸Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.†⇄ (2 connections)

¹⁹A loving doe and a graceful deer— let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.† (2 connections)

²⁰For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?† (1 connection)

²¹For the ways of man are before the LORD’s eyes. He examines all his paths.

²²The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly.†⇄ (35 connections)

²³He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.