Proverbs 5:6

Amplified Bible

So that she does not think [seriously] about the path of life; Her ways are aimless and unstable; you cannot know where her path leads.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
She doesn’t consider the path of life;she doesn’t know that her ways are unstable.

Hebrew Names Version
She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn't know it.

King James Version
Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.

English Standard Version
she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it.

New Century Version
She gives little thought to life. She doesn't even know that her ways are wrong.

New English Translation
Lest she should make level the path leading to life, her paths are unstable but she does not know it.

New American Standard Bible
She does not ponder the path of life; Her ways are unstable, she does not know it.

World English Bible
She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn't know it.

Geneva Bible (1587)
She weigheth not the way of life: her paths are moueable: thou canst not knowe them.

Legacy Standard Bible
Lest she watch the path of life;Her tracks are unstable, she does not know it.

Berean Standard Bible
She does not consider the path of life; she does not know that her ways are unstable.

Contemporary English Version
She has missed the path that leads to life and doesn't even know it.

Complete Jewish Bible
she doesn't walk the level path of life — her course wanders all over, but she doesn't know it.

Darby Translation
Lest she should ponder the path of life, her ways wander, she knoweth not [whither].

Easy-to-Read Version
Don't follow her. She has lost her way and does not even know it. Be careful. Stay on the road that leads to life.

George Lamsa Translation
She does not tread upon the land of the living, her paths are devious, and are unknown.

Good News Translation
She does not stay on the road to life; but wanders off, and does not realize what is happening.

Lexham English Bible
She does not observe the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it.

Literal Translation
lest you should meditate on the path of life, her tracks are movable, you cannot know them.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
She regardeth not the path of life, so vnstedfast are hir wayes, that thou canst not knowe them.

American Standard Version
So that she findeth not the level path of life: Her ways are unstable, and she knoweth it not.

Bible in Basic English
She never keeps her mind on the road of life; her ways are uncertain, she has no knowledge.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
Lest she should walk the even path of life, her ways wander, but she knoweth it not.

King James Version (1611)
Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her wayes are moueable, that thou canst not know them.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Perchaunce thou wylt ponder the path of her lyfe: so vnstedfast are her wayes that thou canst not know them.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
For she goes not upon the paths of life; but her ways are slippery, and not easily known.

English Revised Version
So that she findeth not the level path of life: her ways are unstable and she knoweth it not.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Tho goon not bi the path of lijf; hir steppis ben vncerteyn, and moun not be souyt out.

Update Bible Version
If she does not find the level path of life: Her ways are unstable, [and] she will not know.

Webster's Bible Translation
Lest thou shouldst ponder the path of life, her ways are movable, [that] thou canst not know [them].

New King James Version
Lest you ponder her path of life-- Her ways are unstable; You do not know them.

New Living Translation
For she cares nothing about the path to life. She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn't realize it.

New Life Bible
She does not think about the path of life. Her ways go this way and that, and she does not know it.

New Revised Standard
She does not keep straight to the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Lest, the path of life, she should ponder, her tracks have wandered she knoweth not whither .

Douay-Rheims Bible
They walk not by the path of life, her steps are wandering, and unaccountable.

Revised Standard Version
she does not take heed to the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it.

Young's Literal Translation
The path of life -- lest thou ponder, Moved have her paths -- thou knowest not.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
She does not ponder the path of life; Her ways are unstable, she does not know it.

Contextual Overview

¹My son, be attentive to my wisdom [godly wisdom learned by costly experience], Incline your ear to my understanding; ²That you may exercise discrimination and discretion (good judgment), And your lips may reserve knowledge and answer wisely [to temptation]. ³For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey [like a honeycomb] And her speech is smoother than oil; ⁴But in the end she is bitter like [the extract of] wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword. ⁵Her feet go down to death; Her steps take hold of Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead), ⁶So that she does not think [seriously] about the path of life; Her ways are aimless and unstable; you cannot know where her path leads.⁷Now then, my sons, listen to me And do not depart from (forget) the words of my mouth. ⁸Let your way [in life] be far from her, And do not go near the door of her house [avoid even being near the places of temptation], ⁹Or you will give your honor to others, And your years to the cruel one, ¹⁰And strangers will be filled with your strength And your hard-earned wealth will go to the house of a foreigner [who does not know God];

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

ponder: Proverbs 4:26, Psalms 119:59

the path: Proverbs 11:19, Psalms 16:11

her: Proverbs 6:12, Proverbs 6:13, Proverbs 7:10-21, 2 Thessalonians 2:9, 2 Thessalonians 2:10

Cross-References

Genesis 4:26
To Seth, also, a son was born, whom he named Enosh (mortal man, mankind). At that [same] time men began to call on the name of the LORD [in worship through prayer, praise, and thanksgiving].

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life,.... Consider and meditate which is the way to get out of her hands and ways, and escape death, and obtain eternal life; lest those she has drawn into her wicked course of life should be religiously inclined, and think of quitting such a course, and inquire after the way of life and salvation; and be weighing in their minds which is most eligible, to continue with her whose feet lead to death, or to take the path of life: to prevent all this, if possible,

her ways are movable: she appears in different shapes; changes her dress and habitation; makes use of a thousand arts to ensnare men, to entangle their affections, and retain them in her nets; she first puts them upon one thing, and then on another; she leads them into various mazes and labyrinths of sin, till they have lost all sense of religion, and sight of the path of life;

[that] thou canst not know [them]; her ways, arts, and devices. Or, "thou canst not know" k; that is, the way of life, or how to get out of her ways into that. Or, "thou knowest not"; where she goes, whither she leads thee, and what will be the end and issue of such a course of life. The Targum understands it, and so some other interpreters, of the harlot herself, paraphrasing the whole thus;

"in the way of life she walks not; her ways are unstable, and she knows not''

the way of life, nor where her ways will end; or, "cares not" l what becomes of her. And so, in like manner, the former part of the verse is understood and interpreted, "lest she ponder the path of life" m; or as others, "she does not ponder the path of life" n; The ways of the antichristian harlot are with all deceivableness of unrighteousness; and her chief care is to keep persons in ignorance, and from pondering the path of life or true religion, and to retain them in her idolatry, 2 Thessalonians 2:9.

k לא תדע "non scires", Cocceius; "non cognosces", Baynus. l "Haud curat", Schultens. m ארח חיים פן תפלס "iter vitae ne forte libraverit", Schultens. n "Viam vitae non appendit, vel ponderat", Gejerus; so Luther; "iter vitae non expandit", Noldius, p. 249. No. 2008.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Or (with the Septuagint and Vulgate), Lest she should ponder (or “She ponders not”) the way of life, her paths move to and fro (unsteady as an earthquake); she knows not. The words describe with a terrible vividness the state of heart and soul which prostitution brings upon its victims; the reckless blindness that will not think, tottering on the abyss, yet loud in its defiant mirth, ignoring the dreadful future.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Proverbs 5:6. Lest thou shouldest ponder — To prevent thee from reflecting on thy present conduct, and its consequences, her ways are moveable - she continually varies her allurements.

Thou canst not know them. — It is impossible to conceive all her tricks and wiles: to learn these in all their varieties, is a part of the science first taught in that infernal trade.