¹⁵ Drink ^(A)water from your own cistern,
    flowing water from your own well.
¹⁶ Should your ^(B)springs be scattered abroad,
    streams of water ^(C)in the streets?
^17 (D)Let them be for yourself alone,
    and not for strangers with you.
¹⁸ Let your ^(E)fountain be blessed,
    and ^(F)rejoice in ^(G)the wife of your youth,
¹⁹     a lovely ^(H)deer, a graceful doe.
Let her breasts ^(I)fill you at all times with delight;
    be intoxicated^[a] always in her love.
²⁰ Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with ^(J)a forbidden woman
    and embrace the bosom of ^(K)an adulteress?^[b]
21 For ^(L)a man's ways are ^(M)before the eyes of the Lord,
    and he ^(N)ponders^[c] all his paths.
²² The ^(O)iniquities of the wicked ^(P)ensnare him,
    and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.
^23 (Q)He dies for lack of discipline,
    and because of his great folly he is ^(R)led astray.