Warning Against the Adulteress
Proverbs 5
The father warns his son against a harlot whose flattering words end in bitterness and ruin, urging him to keep far from her house lest he waste his strength and substance on strangers. He instructs the son instead to find joy in the wife of his youth, warning that the ways of the unfaithful man are before the eyes of God.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonMY son, attend to my wisdom, and incline thine ear to my words, that thou mayst keep a good understanding.
BrentonMy son, attend to my wisdom, and apply thine ear to my words;
GreekΥἱὲ, ἐμῇ σοφίᾳ πρόσεχε, ἐμοῖς δὲ λόγοις παράβαλλε σὸν οὖς,
KJVMy son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:
JPSMy son, attend unto my wisdom; Incline thine ear to my understanding;
2
Thomson—
Brentonthat thou mayest keep good understanding, and the discretion of my lips gives thee a charge. Give no heed to a worthless woman;
Greekἵνα φυλάξῃς ἔννοιαν ἀγαθήν· αἴσθησις δὲ ἐμῶν χειλέων ἐντέλλεταί σοι·
KJVThat thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
JPSThat thou mayest preserve discretion, And that thy lips may keep knowledge.
3
Thomsonfor honey droppeth from the lips of a harlot, which for a while pleaseth thy palate;
Brentonfor honey drops from the lips of a harlot, who for a season pleases thy palate:
GreekΜὴ πρόσεχε φαύλῃ γυναικί. Μέλι γὰρ ἀποστάζει ἀπὸ χειλέων γυναικὸς πόρνης, ἣ πρὸς καιρὸν λιπαίνει σὸν φάρυγγα,
KJV—
JPS—
4
Thomsonbut in the end thou wilt find it bitterer than gall,* and sharper than a two-edged sword.
Brentonbut afterwards thou wilt find her more bitter than gall, and sharper than a two-edged sword.
Greekὕστερον μέντοι πικρότερον χολῆς εὑρήσεις, καὶ ἠκονημένον μᾶλλον μαχαίρας διστόμου.
KJVBut her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.
JPSBut her end is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword.
5
ThomsonFor the feet of folly lead them, who indulge themselves with her, down with death to the mansion of the dead.
BrentonFor the feet of folly lead those who deal with her down to the grave with death; and her steps are not established.
GreekΤῆς γὰρ ἀφροσύνης οἱ πόδες κατάγουσι τοὺς χρωμένους αὐτῇ μετὰ θανάτου εἰς τὸν ᾅδην, τὰ δὲ ἴχνη αὐτῆς οὐκ ἐρείδεται.
KJVHer feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.
JPSHer feet go down to death; Her steps take hold on the nether-world;
6
ThomsonHer steps indeed are not established, for she walketh not in the ways of life. Her paths are slippery and not easily known.
BrentonFor she goes not upon the paths of life; but her ways are slippery, and not easily known.
GreekὉδοὺς γὰρ ζωῆς οὐκ ἐπέρχεται, σφαλεραὶ δὲ αἱ τροχιαὶ αὐτῆς, καὶ οὐκ εὔγνωστοι.
KJVLest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.
JPS—
7
ThomsonNow therefore, my son, hearken to me and slight not my words.
BrentonNow then, my son, hear me, and make not my words of none effect.
GreekΝῦν οὖν υἱὲ ἄκουέ μου, καὶ μὴ ἀκύρους ποιήσεις ἐμοὺς λόγους.
KJVHear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.
JPS—
8
ThomsonRemove thy way far from her, go not near the doors of her house;
BrentonRemove thy way far from her; draw not near to the doors of her house:
GreekΜακρὰν ποίησον ἀπʼ αὐτῆς σὴν ὁδόν· μὴ ἐγγίσῃς πρὸς θύραις οἴκων αὐτῆς,
KJVRemove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:
JPSRemove thy way far from her, And come not nigh the door of her house;
9
ThomsonThat thou mayst not give thy life to others, and thy substance to the cruel:
Brentonlest thou give away thy life to others, and thy substance to the merciless:
Greekἵνα μὴ πρόῃ ἄλλοις ζωήν σου, καὶ σὸν βίον ἀνελεήμοσιν·
KJVLest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:
JPSLest thou give thy vigour unto others, And thy years unto the cruel;
10
Thomsonthat strangers may not be filled with thy wealth, and thy labours go into the houses of strangers,
Brentonlest strangers be filled with thy strength, and thy labours come into the houses of strangers;
GreekἽνα μὴ πλησθῶσιν ἀλλότριοι σῆς ἰσχύος, οἱ δὲ σοὶ πόνοι εἰς οἴκους ἀλλοτρίων ἔλθεσι·
KJVLest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;
JPSLest strangers be filled with thy strength, And thy labours be in the house of an alien;
11
Thomsonand thou at last be grieved. When the flesh of thy body is consumed,
Brentonand thou repent at last, when the flesh of thy body is consumed,
GreekΚαὶ μεταμεληθήσῃ ἐπʼ ἐσχάτων, ἡνίκα ἂν κατατριβῶσι σάρκες σώματός σου,
KJVAnd thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,
JPSAnd thou moan, when thine end cometh, When thy flesh and thy body are consumed,
12
Thomsonthen thou wilt say: How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof!
Brentonand thou shalt say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart avoided reproofs!
Greekκαὶ ἐρεῖς, πῶς ἐμίσησα παιδείαν, καὶ ἐλέγχους ἐξέκλινεν ἡ καρδία μου;
KJVAnd say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;
JPSAnd say: ‘How have I hated instruction, And my heart despised reproof;
13
ThomsonI hearkened not to the voice of him who instructed me and taught me; nor have I inclined mine ear.
BrentonI heard not the voice of him that instructed me, and taught me, neither did I apply mine ear.
GreekΟὐκ ἤκουον φωνὴν παιδεύοντός με καὶ διδάσκοντός με, οὐδὲ παρέβαλλον τὸ οὖς μου.
KJVAnd have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!
JPSNeither have I hearkened to the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!
14
ThomsonI have been almost in all evil, in the midst of the assembly and congregation.
BrentonI was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.
GreekΠαρʼ ὀλίγον ἐγενόμην ἐν παντὶ κακῷ, ἐν μέσῳ ἐκκλησίας καὶ συναγωγῆς.
KJVI was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.
JPSI was well nigh in all evil In the midst of the congregation and assembly.’
15
ThomsonDrink water from thine own vessels, and from the wells of thine own fountain.
BrentonDrink waters out of thine own vessels, and out of thine own springing wells.
GreekΠίνε ὕδατα ἀπὸ σῶν ἀγγείων, καὶ ἀπὸ σῶν φρεάτων πηγῆς.
KJVDrink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.
JPSDrink waters out of thine own cistern, And running waters out of thine own well.
16
ThomsonLet not the waters from thy fountain overflow for thee; but let thy waters run in thine own streets.
BrentonLet not waters out of thy fountain be spilt by thee, but let thy waters go into thy streets.
GreekΜὴ ὑπερεκχείσθω σοι ὕδατα ἐκ τῆς σῆς πηγῆς, εἰς δὲ σὰς πλατείας διαπορευέσθω τὰ σὰ ὕδατα.
KJVLet thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.
JPS—
17
ThomsonLet them be for thyself only, and let no stranger partake with thee.
BrentonLet them be only thine own, and let no stranger partake with thee.
GreekἜστω σοι μόνῳ ὑπάρχοντα, καὶ μηδεὶς ἀλλότριος μετασχέτω σοι.
KJVLet them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee.
JPSLet them be only thine own, And not strangers’with thee.
18
ThomsonLet thy fountain of water be appropriate to thyself; and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
BrentonLet thy fountain of water be truly thine own; and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
GreekἩ πηγή σου τοῦ ὕδατος ἔστω σοι ἰδία, καὶ συνευφραίνου μετὰ γυναικὸς τῆς ἐκ νεότητός σου.
KJVLet thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
JPSLet thy fountain be blessed; And have joy of the wife of thy youth.
19
ThomsonLet thy loving hind and graceful fawn converse with thee; and let her be accounted peculiarly thine, and be with thee on all occasions. For, ravished with her love, thou wilt become a numerous family.
BrentonLet thy loving hart and thy graceful colt company with thee, and let her be considered thine own, and be with thee at all times; for ravished with her love thou shalt be greatly increased.
GreekἜλαφος φιλίας καὶ πῶλος σῶν χαρίτων ὁμιλείτω σοι, ἡ δὲ ἰδία ἡγείσθω σου καὶ συνέστω σοι ἐν παντὶ καιρῷ· ἐν γὰρ τῇ ταύτης φιλίᾳ συμπεριφερόμενος, πολλοστὸς ἔσῃ.
KJVLet her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.
JPSA lovely hind and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; With her love be thou ravished always.
20
ThomsonBe not devoted to a strange woman, nor embraced in the arms of one not thine own.
BrentonBe not intimate with a strange woman, neither fold thyself in the arms of a woman not thine own.
GreekΜὴ πολὺς ἴσθι πρὸς ἀλλοτρίαν, μηδὲ συνέχου ἀγκάλαις τῆς μὴ ἰδίας.
KJV—
JPS—
21
ThomsonFor the ways of a husband are before the eyes of God, and he examineth narrowly all his paths.
BrentonFor the ways of a man are before the eyes of God, and he looks on all his paths.
GreekἘνώπιον γάρ εἰσι τῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ ὀφθαλμῶν ὁδοὶ ἀνδρὸς, εἰς δὲ πάσας τὰς τροχιὰς αὐτοῦ σκοπεύει.
KJVFor the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.
JPSFor the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, And He maketh even all his paths.
22
ThomsonIniquities hunt a man; but everyone is caught by the cords of his own sins.
BrentonIniquities ensnare a man, and every one is bound in the chains of his own sins.
GreekΠαρανομίαι ἄνδρα ἀγρεύουσι, σειραῖς δὲ τῶν ἑαυτοῦ ἁμαρτιῶν ἕκαστος σφίγγεται.
KJVHis own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
JPSHis own iniquities shall ensnare the wicked, And he shall be holden with the cords of his sin.
23
ThomsonSuch a one dieth with the uninstructed, and from his plentiful means of living he was cast out, and perished by reason of folly.
BrentonSuch a man dies with the uninstructed; and he is cast forth from the abundance of his own substance, and has perished through folly.
GreekΟὗτος τελευτᾷ μετὰ ἀπαιδεύτων, ἐκ δὲ πλήθους τῆς ἑαυτοῦ βιότητος ἐξεῤῥίφη, καὶ ἀπώλετο διʼ ἀφροσύνην.
KJV—
JPS—