Proverbs5
New International Version
1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom, turn your ear to my words of insight,
2 that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.
3 For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil;
4 but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.
6 She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.
7 Now then, my sons, listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say.
8 Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house,
9 lest you lose your honor to others and your dignity to one who is cruel,
10 lest strangers feast on your wealth and your toil enrich the house of another.
11 At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent.
12 You will say, “How I hated discipline! How my heart spurned correction!
13 I would not obey my teachers or turn my ear to my instructors.
14 And I was soon in serious trouble in the assembly of God’s people.”
15 Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well.
16 Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares?
17 Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers.
18 May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love.
20 Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife? Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?
21 For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all your paths.
22 The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast.
23 For lack of discipline they will die, led astray by their own great folly.
Study
Proverbs 5Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Proverbs 5. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: Exhortations to wisdom. The evils of licentiousness. (1–14). Remedies against licentiousness, The miserable end of the wicked. (15–23).
vv1-14
Solomon cautions all young men, as his children, to abstain from fleshly lusts. Some, by the adulterous woman, here understand idolatry, false doctrine, which tends to lead astray men's minds and manners; but the direct view is to warn against seventh-commandment sins. Often these have been, and still are, Satan's method of drawing men from the worship of God into false religion. Consider how fatal the consequences; how bitter the fruit! Take it any way, it wounds. It leads to the torments of hell. The direct tendency of this sin is to the destruction of body and soul. We must carefully avoid every thing which may be a step towards it. Those who would be kept from harm, must keep out of harm's way. If we thrust ourselves into temptation we mock God when we pray, Lead us not into temptation. How many mischiefs attend this sin! It blasts the reputation; it wastes time; it ruins the estate; it is destructive to health; it will fill the mind with horror. Though thou art merry now, yet sooner or later it will bring sorrow. The convinced sinner reproaches himself, and makes no excuse for his folly. By the frequent acts of sin, the habits of it become rooted and confirmed. By a miracle of mercy true repentance may prevent the dreadful consequences of such sins; but this is not often; far more die as they have lived. What can express the case of the self-ruined sinner in the eternal world, enduring the remorse of his conscience!
vv15-23
Lawful marriage is a means God has appointed to keep from these destructive vices. But we are not properly united, except as we attend to God's word, seeking his direction and blessing, and acting with affection. Ever remember, that though secret sins may escape the eyes of our fellow-creatures, yet a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, who not only sees, but ponders all his goings. Those who are so foolish as to choose the way of sin, are justly left of God to themselves, to go on in the way to destruction.
Key Words
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
קָשַׁב: to prick up the ears, i.e. hearken
חׇכְמָה: wisdom (in a good sense)
נָטָה: to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used in a great variety of application
אֹזֶן: broadness. i.e. (concrete) the ear (from its form in man)
תָּבוּן: intelligence; by implication, an argument; by extension, caprice
שָׁמַר: properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.
מְזִמָּה: a plan, usually evil (machination), sometimes good (sagacity)
שָׂפָה: the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)
נָצַר: to guard, in a good sense (to protect, maintain, obey, etc.) or a bad one (to conceal, etc.)
Cross References
Proverbs 5Parallels the warning against the flattering words of the strange, adulterous woman.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct thematic connection where the path of the loose woman leads down to death.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The house of the strange woman as the direct way to hell/sheol.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Affirms that God sees all of man's secret ways and counts all his steps.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Illustrates the flattering, smooth, and enticing speech of the adulterous woman.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Elaborates on losing honor, meeting the cruel, and the relentless rage of the husband.
Supported by Matthew Poole
New Testament command honoring the marriage bed as the undefiled alternative to whoremongering.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Contrasts the 'wife of thy youth' with the strange woman who forgets her covenant.
Supported by JFB
Condemns dealing treacherously against the wife of one's youth, the companion of covenant.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Underlines the self-destructive nature and lack of understanding in committing adultery.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Confirms the bitter end of the woman whose heart is snares and nets.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Practical warning to avoid and pass far from the path of temptation.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
Classic passage on God's absolute omniscience regarding all of man's paths.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Reflects the tragic regret of having set at nought counsel and despised reproof.
Supported by Matthew Poole