Proverbs 5
Proverbs 5 serves as a warning from a father to his son about the dangers of immorality, especially sexual immorality. The chapter highlights the consequences of giving in to temptation and emphasizes the importance of wisdom, self-control, and faithfulness in marriage.
Proverbs 5:1-2 (NKJV)
1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom; lend your ear to my understanding,
2 That you may preserve discretion, and your lips may keep knowledge.
The father urges his son to listen carefully to his wisdom and understanding. The purpose is to help the son make sound decisions and speak with knowledge. Discretion and knowledge are seen as protective forces against the allure of temptation and folly.
Proverbs 5:3-6 (NKJV)
3 For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil;
4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death, her steps lay hold of hell.
6 Lest you ponder her path of life—her ways are unstable; you do not know them.
The seductive nature of an immoral woman is likened to honey and smooth oil—sweet and tempting. However, the outcome is bitter and deadly, leading to destruction. Her path leads to death, both spiritually and physically, and is filled with instability. What seems appealing at first can lead to serious consequences.
Proverbs 5:7-10 (NKJV)
7 Therefore hear me now, my children, and do not depart from the words of my mouth.
8 Remove your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house,
9 Lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one;
10 Lest aliens be filled with your wealth, and your labors go to the house of a foreigner.
The father calls for immediate obedience, urging his children to stay far away from the immoral woman. The consequences of ignoring this warning include losing honor, wasting time and energy on fruitless pursuits, and having one’s wealth taken by strangers. The allure of sin may lead to a lifetime of regret and loss.
Proverbs 5:11-14 (NKJV)
11 And you mourn at last, when your flesh and your body are consumed,
12 And say: “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised correction!
13 I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me!
14 I was on the verge of total ruin, in the midst of the assembly and congregation.”
The consequences of sin are vividly described. At the end of a sinful life, a person may experience physical decay and deep regret for rejecting instruction and correction. Ignoring wisdom leads to the brink of ruin, not only in private life but also in public disgrace.
Proverbs 5:15-19 (NKJV)
15 Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well.
16 Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, streams of water in the streets?
17 Let them be only your own, and not for strangers with you.
18 Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth.
19 As a loving deer and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy you at all times; and always be enraptured with her love.
These verses encourage faithfulness in marriage, using the imagery of drinking water from one’s own well. Just as one’s water source is personal and private, so should be one’s intimacy in marriage. The husband is urged to take delight in his wife, being continuously satisfied and joyful in their love, rather than seeking fulfillment elsewhere.
Proverbs 5:20-23 (NKJV)
20 For why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman, and be embraced in the arms of a seductress?
21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He ponders all his paths.
22 His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin.
23 He shall die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
The father questions why his son would ever be drawn to an immoral woman when God sees everything and examines every path. Sin becomes a trap that entangles the wicked. Ultimately, a person who rejects instruction and follows folly will face death, both spiritual and physical, as a result of their own choices.