Proverbs 5:4-14

4 novissima autem illius amara quasi absinthium et acuta quasi gladius biceps

5 pedes eius descendunt in mortem et ad inferos gressus illius penetrant

6 per semitam vitae non ambulat vagi sunt gressus eius et investigabiles

7 nunc ergo fili audi me et ne recedas a verbis oris mei

8 longe fac ab ea viam tuam et ne adpropinques foribus domus eius

9 ne des alienis honorem tuum et annos tuos crudeli

10 ne forte impleantur extranei viribus tuis et labores tui sint in domo aliena

11 et gemas in novissimis quando consumpseris carnes et corpus tuum et dicas

12 cur detestatus sum disciplinam et increpationibus non adquievit cor meum

13 nec audivi vocem docentium me et magistris non inclinavi aurem meam

14 paene fui in omni malo in medio ecclesiae et synagogae

Proverbs 5:4-14 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.