9. Either you will surrender your reputation to othersand ⌊the rest of⌋ your years to some cruel person,
10. or strangers will benefit from your strengthand you will have to work hard in a pagan’s house.
11. Then you will groan when your end comes,when your body and flesh are consumed.You will say,
12. “Oh, how I hated discipline!How my heart despised correction!
13. I didn’t listen to what my teachers said to me,nor did I keep my ear open to my instructors.
14. I almost reached total ruinin the assembly and in the congregation.”
15. Drink water out of your own cisternand running water from your own well.
16. Why should water flow out of your spring?Why should your streams flow into the streets?
17. They should be yours alone,so do not share them with strangers.
18. Let your own fountain be blessed,and enjoy the girl you married when you were young,
19. a loving doe and a graceful deer.Always let her breasts satisfy you.Always be intoxicated with her love.
20. Why should you, my son,be intoxicated with an adulterous womanand fondle a loose woman’s breast?
21. Each person’s ways are clearly seen by the Lord,and he surveys all his actions.
22. A wicked person will be trapped by his own wrongs,and he will be caught in the ropes of his own sin.
23. He will die for his lack of disciplineand stumble around because of his great stupidity.