Sprueche 5

1 Mein Kind, merke auf meine Weisheit; neige dein Ohr zu meiner Lehre,

2 daß du bewahrest guten Rat und dein Mund wisse Unterschied zu halten.

3 Denn die Lippen der Hure sind süß wie Honigseim, und ihre Kehle ist glätter als Öl,

4 aber hernach bitter wie Wermut und scharf wie ein zweischneidiges Schwert.

5 Ihre Füße laufen zum Tod hinunter; ihre Gänge führen ins Grab.

6 Sie geht nicht stracks auf dem Wege des Lebens; unstet sind ihre Tritte, daß sie nicht weiß, wo sie geht.

7 So gehorchet mir nun, meine Kinder, und weichet nicht von der Rede meines Mundes.

8 Laß deine Wege ferne von ihr sein, und nahe nicht zur Tür ihres Hauses,

9 daß du nicht den Fremden gebest deine Ehre und deine Jahre dem Grausamen;

10 daß sich nicht Fremde von deinem Vermögen sättigen und deine Arbeit nicht sei in eines andern Haus,

11 und müssest hernach seufzen, wenn du Leib und Gut verzehrt hast,

12 und sprechen: "Ach, wie habe ich die Zucht gehaßt und wie hat mein Herz die Strafe verschmäht!

13 wie habe ich nicht gehorcht der Stimme meiner Lehrer und mein Ohr nicht geneigt zu denen, die mich lehrten!

14 Ich bin schier in alles Unglück gekommen vor allen Leuten und allem Volk."

15 Trink Wasser aus deiner Grube und Flüsse aus deinem Brunnen.

16 Laß deine Brunnen herausfließen und die Wasserbäche auf die Gassen.

17 Habe du aber sie allein, und kein Fremder mit dir.

18 Dein Born sei gesegnet, und freue dich des Weibes deiner Jugend.

19 Sie ist lieblich wie die Hinde und holdselig wie ein Reh. Laß dich ihre Liebe allezeit sättigen und ergötze dich allewege in ihrer Liebe.

20 Mein Kind, warum willst du dich an der Fremden ergötzen und herzest eine andere?

21 Denn jedermanns Wege sind offen vor dem HERRN, und er mißt alle ihre Gänge.

22 Die Missetat des Gottlosen wird ihn fangen, und er wird mit dem Strick seiner Sünde gehalten werden.

23 Er wird sterben, darum daß er sich nicht will ziehen lassen; und um seiner großen Torheit willen wird's ihm nicht wohl gehen.

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.