Proverbs 5:9
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
Lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel:
American King James Version (AKJV)
Lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel:
American Standard Version (ASV)
Lest thou give thine honor unto others, And thy years unto the cruel;
Basic English Translation (BBE)
For fear that you may give your honour to others, and your wealth to strange men:
Webster's Revision
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;
English Revised Version (ERV)
Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:
Clarke's Proverbs 5:9 Bible Commentary
Lest thou give thine honor - The character of a debauchee is universally detested: by this, even those of noble blood lose their honor and respect.
Thy years unto the cruel - Though all the blandishments of love dwell on the tongue, and the excess of fondness appear in the whole demeanor of the harlot and the prostitute; yet cruelty has its throne in their hearts; and they will rob and murder (when it appears to answer their ends) those who give their strength, their wealth, and their years to them. The unfaithful wife has often murdered her own husband for the sake of her paramour, and has given him over to justice in order to save herself. Murders have often taken place in brothels, as well as robberies; for the vice of prostitution is one of the parents of cruelty.
Barnes's Proverbs 5:9 Bible Commentary
Thine honor - i. e., "The grace and freshness of thy youth" (compare Hosea 14:6; Daniel 10:8). The thought of this is to guard the young man against the sins that stain and mar it. The slave of lust sacrifices "years" that might have been peaceful and happy to one who is merciless.
Wesley's Proverbs 5:9 Bible Commentary
5:9 Honour - Thy dignity and reputation, the strength of thy body and mind. Years - The flower of thine age. The cruel - To the harlot, who though she pretends love, yet in truth is one of the most cruel creatures in the world, wasting thy estate and body without pity, and damming thy soul for ever.