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.

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Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:26 Wife of another, lit. a man’s wife

24 keeping you from your neighbor’s wife,
    from the smooth talk of a wayward woman.(A)

25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty
    or let her captivate you with her eyes.

26 For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread,
    but another man’s wife preys on your very life.(B)
27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap
    without his clothes being burned?
28 Can a man walk on hot coals
    without his feet being scorched?
29 So is he who sleeps(C) with another man’s wife;(D)
    no one who touches her will go unpunished.

30 People do not despise a thief if he steals
    to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.
31 Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold,(E)
    though it costs him all the wealth of his house.
32 But a man who commits adultery(F) has no sense;(G)
    whoever does so destroys himself.
33 Blows and disgrace are his lot,
    and his shame will never(H) be wiped away.

34 For jealousy(I) arouses a husband’s fury,(J)
    and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.

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