Sprueche 5

1 Mein Sohn, merke auf meine Weisheit, neige dein Ohr zu meiner Einsicht,

2 um Besonnenheit zu beobachten, und damit deine Lippen Erkenntnis bewahren.

3 Denn Honigseim träufeln die Lippen der Fremden, und glatter als Öl ist ihr Gaumen;

4 aber ihr Letztes ist bitter wie Wermut, scharf wie ein zweischneidiges Schwert.

5 Ihre Füße steigen hinab zum Tode, an dem Scheol haften ihre Schritte.

6 Damit sie nicht den Weg des Lebens einschlage, schweifen ihre Bahnen, ohne daß sie es weiß.

7 Nun denn, ihr Söhne, höret auf mich, und weichet nicht ab von den Worten meines Mundes!

8 Halte fern von ihr deinen Weg, und nahe nicht zu der Tür ihres Hauses:

9 damit du nicht anderen deine Blüte gebest, und deine Jahre dem Grausamen;

10 damit nicht Fremde sich sättigen an deinem Vermögen, und dein mühsam Erworbenes nicht komme in eines Ausländers Haus;

11 und du nicht stöhnest bei deinem Ende, wenn dein Fleisch und dein Leib dahinschwinden, und sagest:

12 Wie habe ich die Unterweisung gehaßt, und mein Herz hat die Zucht verschmäht!

13 Und ich habe nicht gehört auf die Stimme meiner Unterweiser, und mein Ohr nicht zugeneigt meinen Lehrern.

14 Wenig fehlte, so wäre ich in allem Bösen gewesen, inmitten der Versammlung und der Gemeinde.

15 Trinke Wasser aus deiner Zisterne und Fließendes aus deinem Brunnen.

16 Mögen nach außen sich ergießen deine Quellen, deine Wasserbäche auf die Straßen.

17 Dir allein sollen sie gehören, und nicht Fremden mit dir.

18 Deine Quelle sei gesegnet, und erfreue dich an dem Weibe deiner Jugend;

19 die liebliche Hindin und anmutige Gemse, ihre Brüste mögen dich berauschen zu aller Zeit, taumle stets in ihrer Liebe.

20 Und warum solltest du, mein Sohn, an einer Fremden taumeln, und den Busen einer Fremden umarmen? -

21 Denn vor den Augen Jehovas sind eines jeden Wege, und alle seine Geleise wägt er ab.

22 Die eigenen Missetaten werden ihn, den Gesetzlosen, fangen, und in seiner Sünde Banden wird er festgehalten werden.

23 Sterben wird er, weil ihm Zucht mangelt, und in der Größe seiner Torheit wird er dahintaumeln.

Sprueche 5 Commentary

Chapter 5

Exhortations to wisdom. The evils of licentiousness. (1-14) Remedies against licentiousness, The miserable end of the wicked. (15-23)

Verses 1-14 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!

Verses 15-23 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.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 5

The general instruction of this chapter is to avoid whoredom, and make use of lawful marriage, and keep to that. It is introduced with an exhortation to attend to wisdom and understanding, Pr 5:1,2; one part of which lies in shunning an adulterous woman; who is described by her flattery, with which she deceives; by the end she brings men to, which is destruction and death; and by the uncertainty of her ways, which cannot be known, Pr 5:3-6. Wherefore men are advised to keep at the utmost distance from her, Pr 5:7,8; lest their honour, strength, wealth, and labours, be given to others, Pr 5:9,10; and repentance and mourning follow, when too late, Pr 5:11-14. And, as a remedy against whoredom, entering into a marriage state is advised to, and a strict regard to that; allegorically expressed by a man's drinking water out of his fountain, and by his wife being as a loving hind and pleasant roe to him, the single object of his affections, Pr 5:15-19. As also the consideration of the divine omniscience is proposed, to deter him from the sin of adultery, Pr 5:20,21; as well as the inevitable ruin wicked men are brought into by it, Pr 5:22,23.