KJV ORIGINAL
Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
Otherwise, you'll give away your reputation to others, and waste your life serving those who will be harsh to you.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse is warning that poor choices can cause you to lose your good name and spend your years under the control of cruel people.
📚 Historical Context
This verse is part of a father's warning to his son about the dangers of adultery and sexual immorality in ancient Israel. In that culture, honor and reputation were extremely valuable social currencies that, once lost, were very difficult to restore. The 'cruel' ones likely refers to the consequences of such behavior - whether angry husbands, social ostracism, or the destructive nature of the immoral lifestyle itself.
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