Amsal 5:9

5:9 lest you give your vigor ¹  to others

and your years to a cruel person,

Amsal 8:29

8:29 when he gave the sea his decree

that the waters should not pass over his command, ² 

when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

Amsal 26:4

26:4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, ³ 

lest you yourself also be like him. ⁴ 

[5:9]  ¹ sn The term הוֹד (hod, “vigor; splendor; majesty”) in this context means the best time of one’s life (cf. NIV “your best strength”), the full manly vigor that will be wasted with licentiousness. Here it is paralleled by “years,” which refers to the best years of that vigor, the prime of life. Life would be ruined by living this way, or the revenge of the woman’s husband would cut it short.

[8:29]  ² tn Heb “his mouth.”

[26:4]  ³ sn One should not answer a fool’s foolish questions in line with the fool’s mode of reasoning (J. H. Greenstone, Proverbs, 274).

[26:4]  ⁴ sn The person who descends to the level of a fool to argue with him only looks like a fool as well.