Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well. Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you. Let your fountain be blessed,
and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love.
Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress? For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths. The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray.
Comment: There are two paragraphs in this passage which I have separated by making the second in italics. As a doctor this is how I would have possibly spoken this proverb to a young man or group of teenagers. “God has given you a strong sexual urge. Find a good wife and then enjoy your relation with her. Intercourse is not meant to be used as a ‘play around thing’ with others apart from your wife. Learn abstinence before you find the right wife! I mean this, in spite of temptations, social pressures and even some educational advice in the opposite direction! Your wife is to be precious and beautiful to you. Have a bit of pre-intercourse play. Even Solomon advised a bit of fondling and let her fondle you as well. It is meant to be a pleasurable experience!” And for the second paragraph I would say “If you don’t heed me, remember God knows what is going on and these actions are pleasurable but foolhardy! And not only foolhardy but are certainly have effects in your life, and remember life doesn’t stop at death!”
Solomon, if you’re down looking down from above please forgive me if you disapprove of my attempt at a translation!
Prayer: Thank you Father for Your gift of sex. Please forgive us for misbehaving in thought or actions if/when they are against Your intended purpose.
As I read it! 