Proverbs 5

In verse 16, the writer asks a rhetorical question: Should your springs overflow in the streets? Here again the word “springs” refers to one’s wife: should she be encouraged to offer her sexual favors in the public streets? Of course not! She is never to be shared with strangers (verse 17). Likewise, a husband should never share himself with other women.

In verse 20, the writer asks a second rhetorical question: Why be captivated . . . by an adulteress? Since one’s own wife brings joy and an adulterous woman brings utter ruin (verse 14), why would anyone choose to be captivated by an adulteress!³⁰

21–23 The writer concludes by reminding us that we may be able to hide our sins from our spouses and from others, but we can never hide them from God (see Psalm 11:4); they are in full view of the LORD (verse 21). The wicked man will be ensnared by his own evil deeds and die for lack of discipline (verses 22–23); he will die because he rejected wisdom and followed the way of folly (see Proverbs 1:29–32).