5:8

Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning. The first command tells the son what he should do. The parallel command tells him what he should not do.

8a
Keep your path far from her;

8b
do not go near the door of her house,

5:8a–b

Keep your path far from her; do not go near the door of her house: The meaning of both of these parallel commands is to stay as far away from an immoral woman as possible. As is common in Hebrew parallelism, the first line speaks in general about staying on a path that is far from the woman. The second line gives a specific location that the son should avoid—the door of her house.

5:8a

Keep your path far from her: In Hebrew, this command is more literally “Make far away from her your way.” Some versions keep the figure of traveling on a “path” or “way.” For example:

set your course as far from her as possible (New Jerusalem Bible)

Other versions translate the meaning without the figure of speech. For example:

Stay away from such a woman. (New Century Version)

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