Verses 18-20 say in literal and figurative language what verses 15-17 said in figurative language only.

“Let your fountain be blessed”: A “fountain” is not an artificial jet of water, as may be seen in city parks or gardens, but rather a spring of water flowing out of the ground. “Your fountain” refers to the man’s wife, who is here the source of his pleasure. The sense of “blessed” is seen in the parallel word in the second line “rejoice”. “Blessed” has the sense of joy or happiness. This happiness is to come from the man’s wife. Therefore Good News Translation has “be happy with your wife. . ..” If you find the imagery clear, you may follow a model like Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, “Blessed be your own fountain!” The meaning of this is made clear by the second line.

“Rejoice in the wife of your youth”: “Wife . . . youth” may call attention to the youthful age when the couple married. Good News Translation introduces verse 18 as a consequence of what is said in verses 15-17: “So be happy with. . ..” The happiness expressed here is satisfaction from the pleasure found in sexual relations with her. We may say, for example, “Enjoy relations with the woman you married when you both were young.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Proverbs. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2000. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .