Proverbs 5:20

For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?

World English Bible

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Other translations

WEBBE

For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?

BSB

Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress, or embrace the bosom of a stranger?

KJV

And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

ASV

For why shouldest thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, And embrace the bosom of a foreigner?

BBE

Why let yourself, my son, go out of the way with a strange woman, and take another woman in your arms?

Original Hebrew

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וְלָמָּה ve·la·mah and (to) why H4100 תִשְׁגֶּה tish·geh will you go astray H7686 בְנִי ve·ni O son my H1121 בְזָרָה ve·za·rah with a strange [woman] H2114 וּתְחַבֵּק u·te·cha·bek (so) may you embrace H2263 חֵק chek [the] bosom of H2436 נָכְרִיָּה na·khe·ri·yah a foreign [woman] H5237

Commentary

Matthew Henry · Verses 15–23

Lawful marriage is a means God has appointed to keep from these destructive vices. But we are not properly united, except as we attend to God's word, seeking his direction and blessing, and acting with affection. Ever remember, that though secret sins may escape the eyes of our fellow-creatures, yet a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, who not only sees, but ponders all his goings. Those who are so foolish as to choose the way of sin, are justly left of God to themselves, to go on in the way to destruction.

Read Matthew Henry on Proverbs 5 →

Cross-references

Cross-references: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. Hebrew and Greek data from STEPBible.org (Tyndale House, Cambridge), CC BY 4.0. Library: sources.