Avoiding Immorality
(Leviticus 20:10–21; 1 Corinthians 5:1–8)

1My sonne geue heede vnto my wisdome, and bowe thyne eare vnto my prudence:

2That thou mayest regarde good counsell, and that thy lippes may kepe knowledge.

3For the lippes of a straunge woman are a dropping hony combe, and her throte is more glistering then oyle:

4But at the laste she is as bitter as wormewood, and as sharpe as a two edged sworde.

5Her feete go downe vnto death, and her steppes pearce thorowe vnto hell.

6Perchaunce thou wylt ponder the path of her lyfe: so vnstedfast are her wayes that thou canst not know them.

7Heare me nowe therefore O ye chyldren, and depart not from the wordes of my mouth.

8Kepe thy way farre from her, & come not nigh the doores of her house.

9That thou geue not thy honour vnto other, and thy yeres to the cruell:

10That other men be not filled with thy vertues, and that thy labours come not in a straunge house.

11Yea, that thou mourne not at the last, when thou hast spent thy bodye and lustie youth, and then say:

12Alas, why hated I nurture? why did my heart dispise correction?

13Wherefore was not I obedient vnto the voyce of my teachers, and hearkened not vnto them that enfourmed me?

14I was come almost into all misfortune, in the middest of the multitude and congregation.

15Drinke of the water of thyne owne well, and of the riuers that runne out of thyne owne spring.

16Let thy welles flowe out abrode, that there may be riuers of waters in the streates:

17But let them be onlye thyne owne, and not straungers with thee.

18Let thy well be blessed, and be glad with the wyfe of thy youth.

19Let her be as the louyng Hinde and pleasaunt Roe: let her breastes alway satisfie thee, and holde thee euer content with her loue.

20Why wylt thou my sonne haue pleasure in a straunge woman, and embrace the bosome of a straunger?

21For euery mans wayes are open in the sight of the Lord, and he pondereth all their goynges.

22The wickednes of the vngodly shall catche him selfe, and with the snares of his owne sinne shall he be trapped.

23He shall dye without amendement, and for his great foolishnes he shall go astray.