Proverbs 5:2-12

2 so that you may act with foresight and speak with insight.
3 The lips of an adulterous woman drip with honey. Her kiss is smoother than oil,
4 but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, as sharp as a two-edged sword.
5 Her feet descend to death. Her steps lead straight to hell.
6 She doesn't even think about the path of life. Her steps wander, and she doesn't realize it.
7 But now, sons, listen to me, and do not turn away from what I say to you.
8 Stay far away from her. Do not even go near her door.
9 Either you will surrender your reputation to others and [the rest of] your years to some cruel person,
10 or strangers will benefit from your strength and you will have to work hard in a pagan's house.
11 Then you will groan when your end comes, when your body and flesh are consumed. You will say,
12 "Oh, how I hated discipline! How my heart despised correction!

Proverbs 5:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

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.

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