Keep Your Way Far From Her Lest You Give Your Vigor To Strangers

(Proverbs 5:7): "And now, children, listen to me" — what is the listening? (Proverbs 5:8): "Keep your way far from her." And why? (Proverbs 5:9): "Lest you give your vigor to others" — for she causes your splendor and the splendor of the Divine Presence to be taken from you. "And your years to a cruel one" — for you are handed over to a cruel angel. (Proverbs 5:10): "Lest strangers be filled with your strength" — for cruel angels are destined to take their fill of you in Gehinnom. "And your toils be in the house of a foreigner" — for you are regarded by them as a foreign man. And not only that, but you are destined to groan at your end over what you did, as it is said: (Proverbs 5:11): "And you will groan at your end," and what will you say? (Proverbs 5:12): "And you will say, How I hated discipline," and so forth, (Proverbs 5:13): "and I did not listen to the voice of my teachers," (Proverbs 5:14): "I was well-nigh in every evil in the midst of the assembly and congregation." Who caused this for you? The evil upbringing in which you were raised.