5:18

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:

18a May your fountain be blessed,

18b and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.

5:18a

May your fountain be blessed: The word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fountain literally means a “spring” or “source of flowing water.” In this verse, your fountain clearly refers figuratively to the person’s wife, but scholars disagree on the way that the wife is similar to a fountain. A fountain/spring is a source of water. In the same way:

(1) The wife is a source of sexual enjoyment. For example:

she gives you joy as your fountain gives you water (New Century Version)

(2) The wife is a source of children.

It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1), because the preceding and following verses, as well as the parallel clause, are mainly about sexual enjoyment in a faithful marriage relationship.

blessed: The word blessed indicates here that the LORD shows the wife his favor and enables her to be successful. The wife is blessed when her husband delights in her. She is also blessed when the LORD gives her children. If possible, translate blessed in such a way that either interpretation can be understood. If your language requires that the person who does the blessing be made explicit, make the LORD explicit, since he is the source of both kinds of blessing. For example:

May the LORD show his kindness/favor to the one who is like your spring of water.

5:18b

and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth: Here is another way to translate this:

Be happy with the wife you married when you were young. (New Century Version)

Be careful that your translation does not imply that the man had more than one wife, one of whom he married when he was young. In some languages, it may be possible to leave the phrase of your youth implied. This should be done only if it is clear from the context that the writer is addressing a young man. For example:

find your joy with the woman you married (Good News Translation)

General Comment on 5:18a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parts of this verse. See the Display for 5:18a–b (combined/reordered).

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