Proverbs5
New Living Translation
1My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen carefully to my wise counsel.
2Then you will show discernment, and your lips will express what you’ve learned.
3For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil.
4But in the end she is as bitter as poison, as dangerous as a double-edged sword.
5Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.
6For she cares nothing about the path to life. She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t realize it.
7So now, my sons, listen to me. Never stray from what I am about to say:
8Stay away from her! Don’t go near the door of her house!
9If you do, you will lose your honor and will lose to merciless people all you have achieved.
10Strangers will consume your wealth, and someone else will enjoy the fruit of your labor.
11In the end you will groan in anguish when disease consumes your body.
12You will say, “How I hated discipline! If only I had not ignored all the warnings!
13Oh, why didn’t I listen to my teachers? Why didn’t I pay attention to my instructors?
14I have come to the brink of utter ruin, and now I must face public disgrace.”
15Drink water from your own well— share your love only with your wife.
16Why spill the water of your springs in the streets, having sex with just anyone?
17You should reserve it for yourselves. Never share it with strangers.
18Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19She is a loving deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you always. May you always be captivated by her love.
20Why be captivated, my son, by an immoral woman, or fondle the breasts of a promiscuous woman?
21For the Lord sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes.
22An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him.
23He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his great foolishness.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Proverbs 5.
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