If they say—“Come with us!
Let’s set an ambush and kill someone.
Let’s attack some innocent person just for fun!

Let’s swallow them alive, like Sheol,
still healthy as they go down to the Pit.

My son, don’t forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commands;

Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.
Tie them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.

Hold on to instruction; don’t let go.
Guard it, for it is your life.

Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly,
and don’t let your lips talk deviously.

Let your eyes look forward;
fix your gaze straight ahead.

Let your fountain be blessed,
and take pleasure in the wife of your youth.

A loving doe, a graceful fawn—
let her breasts always satisfy you;
be lost in her love forever.

Don’t lust in your heart for her beauty
or let her captivate you with her eyelashes.

Come, let’s drink deeply of lovemaking until morning.
Let’s feast on each other’s love!

Don’t let your heart turn aside to her ways;
don’t stray onto her paths.

The Lord will not let the righteous go hungry,
but He denies the wicked what they crave.

Let your father and mother have joy,
and let her who gave birth to you rejoice.

My son, give me your heart,
and let your eyes observe my ways.

Don’t gloat when your enemy falls,
and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—
a stranger, and not your own lips.

A man burdened by bloodguilt
will be a fugitive until death.
Let no one help him.

Let him drink so that he can forget his poverty
and remember his trouble no more.

Give her the reward of her labor,
and let her works praise her at the city gates.