Proverbs 6:20-35

^aMy son, observe the commandment of your father

And do not abandon the ¹law of your mother;

^aBind them continually on your heart;

Tie them around your neck.

When you ^awalk about, ¹they will lead you;

When you sleep, ¹they will keep watch over you;

And when you awake, ¹they will speak to you.

For ^athe commandment is a lamp and the ¹law is light;

And reproofs for discipline are the way of life

To ^akeep you from the evil woman,

From the smooth tongue of the foreign woman.

^aDo not desire her beauty in your heart,

Nor let her capture you with her ^beyelids.

For ^aon account of ¹a harlot one is reduced to a loaf of bread,

And ²an adulteress ^bhunts for the precious ³life.

Can a man ¹take fire in his bosom

And his clothes not be burned?

Or can a man walk on hot coals

And his feet not be scorched?

So is the one who ^agoes in to his neighbor’s wife;

Whoever touches her ^bwill not ¹go unpunished.

¹Men do not despise a thief if he steals

To ^afill ²himself when he is hungry;

But when he is found, he must ^arepay sevenfold;

He must give all the ¹substance of his house.

The one who commits adultery with a woman is ^alacking a heart of wisdom;

He who would ^bdestroy his soul does it.

Wounds and disgrace he will find,

And his reproach will not be blotted out.

For ^ajealousy ¹enrages a man,

And he will not spare in the ^bday of vengeance.

He will not ¹accept any ransom,

He will not be willing though you give many bribes.