Proverbs 5:9

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

lest you concede your vigor to others, and your years to one who is cruel;

American Standard Version (1901)

Lest thou give thine honor unto others, And thy years unto the cruel;

Bible in Basic English

For fear that you may give your honour to others, and your wealth to strange men:

Douay-Rheims 1899

Give not thy honour to strangers, and thy years to the cruel.

Free Bible Version

Otherwise you'll surrender your honor to others, and your character to cruel people.

Geneva Bible 1599

Least thou giue thine honor vnto others, and thy yeeres to the cruell:

King James (Authorized) Version

Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:

One Unity Resource Bible

lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one;

Translation for Translators

If you enter the home of one of them, you will lose your ◄self-respect/good reputation► and that woman’s husband will not act mercifully toward you; he will kill you and take everything that you have acquired during your life!

Unlocked Literal Bible

In that way you will not give away your honor to others or years of your life to a cruel person;

Noah Webster Bible

Lest thou give thy honor to others, and thy years to the cruel:

World English Bible

lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one;

Young's Literal Translation

Lest thou give to others thy honour, And thy years to the fierce,

Context

Avoiding Immorality

⁸Keep your path far from her; do not go near the door of her house, ⁹lest you concede your vigor to others, and your years to one who is cruel; ¹⁰lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich the house of a foreigner.

Summary

This verse warns against the dangers of giving one's honor to others and one's years to the merciless. It cautions against the consequences of seeking pleasure and fulfillment in sinful ways that ultimately lead to regret and loss. The verse encourages wisdom in guarding one's heart and making choices that honor God and preserve one's integrity. It serves as a reminder to prioritize righteousness and faithfulness in relationships, avoiding paths that lead to destruction and sorrow.

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

thine honour--in whatever consisting, strength (Pro 3:13) or wealth. thy years--by cutting them off in dissipation. unto the cruel--for such the sensual are apt to become.

John Gill Bible Commentary

Lest thou give thine honour unto others,.... To strumpets, their children, attendants, servants, and friends; that is, either wealth or riches, which make men honourable; or their three, credit, and reputation, which are lost by keeping company with such persons; or the outward comeliness of the body, and inward rigour of the mind, which are impaired by adulterous practices. The Targum renders it, "thy strength"; and so the Syriac version, "thy strength of body", which is enervated by such impurities; see Pro 31:3; compare with this the kings of the earth that commit fornication with the whore of Rome, giving their power and strength to the beast, Rev 17:2. Jarchi's note is, "lest thine heart has respect to other gods, to give them the glory of thine honour and praise;'' and so understands it not of corporeal but of spiritual adultery or idolatry: the Septuagint and Arabic versions are, "thy life"; which agrees with what follows; and thy years unto the cruel; youthful years, the flower of age, consumed by the cruel lust of uncleanness, which preys upon and wastes both body and substance, and cuts them off in the prime of days; and deprives of years which otherwise, according to the course of nature, and in all probability, might be arrived unto: so harlots, in Plautus (o), are said to sup the blood of men, and to deprive of goods, light, honour, and friends (p). And the harlot herself may be here meant; who, when she has got what she can, has no pity on the man she has ruined, and even will not stick to take away his life upon occasion; as well as is the cause and means of the damnation of his soul: or the jealous husband of the adulterous woman, who will not spare the adulterer when taken by him; or her brethren, her relations and friends; or her other gallants and co-rivals, who, when they have opportunity, will avenge themselves; or the civil magistrate, who executes judgment without mercy on such delinquents, this being a sin punished with death. Jarchi interprets the "cruel" of the prince of hell, the devil; and so the Midrash of the angel of death. The character well agrees with the antichristian beast, the whore of Rome; who, by her sorceries and fornications, has destroyed millions of souls. (o) Bacchides, Act. 3. Sc. 1. v. 5. & Sc. 3. v. 67. (p) Truculentus, Act. 2. Sc. 7. v. 20.

Proverbs 5:9

Avoiding Immorality

Scripture
Sermons
Commentary

Berean Standard Bible

lest you concede your vigor to others, and your years to one who is cruel;

American Standard Version (1901)

Lest thou give thine honor unto others, And thy years unto the cruel;

Bible in Basic English

For fear that you may give your honour to others, and your wealth to strange men:

Douay-Rheims 1899

Give not thy honour to strangers, and thy years to the cruel.

Free Bible Version

Otherwise you'll surrender your honor to others, and your character to cruel people.

Geneva Bible 1599

Least thou giue thine honor vnto others, and thy yeeres to the cruell:

King James (Authorized) Version

Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:

One Unity Resource Bible

lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one;

Translation for Translators

Unlocked Literal Bible

In that way you will not give away your honor to others or years of your life to a cruel person;

Noah Webster Bible

Lest thou give thy honor to others, and thy years to the cruel:

World English Bible

lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one;

Young's Literal Translation

Lest thou give to others thy honour, And thy years to the fierce,

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

thine honour--in whatever consisting, strength (Pro 3:13) or wealth. thy years--by cutting them off in dissipation. unto the cruel--for such the sensual are apt to become.

John Gill Bible Commentary

Proverbs 5:9

Verse

Context

Avoiding Immorality

Summary

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes

Proverbs 5:9

Avoiding Immorality

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

John Gill Bible Commentary

Tyndale Open Study Notes