Proverbs 5:7-17

7 Now, my sons, listen to me, and don't ignore what I say.
8 Stay away from such a woman. Don't even go near the door of her house,
9 or you will give your riches to others, and the best years of your life will be given to someone cruel.
10 Strangers will enjoy your wealth, and what you worked so hard for will go to someone else.
11 You will groan at the end of your life when your health is gone.
12 Then you will say, "I hated being told what to do! I would not listen to correction!
13 I would not listen to my teachers or pay attention to my instructors.
14 I came close to being completely ruined in front of a whole group of people."
15 Be faithful to your own wife, just as you drink water from your own well.
16 Don't pour your water in the streets; don't give your love to just any woman.
17 These things are yours alone and shouldn't be shared with strangers.

Proverbs 5:7-17 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.

Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.