Proverbs 5:5-15

5 She's dancing down the primrose path to Death; she's headed straight for Hell and taking you with her.
6 She hasn't a clue about Real Life, about who she is or where she's going.
7 So, my friend, listen closely; don't treat my words casually.
8 Keep your distance from such a woman; absolutely stay out of her neighborhood.
9 You don't want to squander your wonderful life, to waste your precious life among the hardhearted.
10 Why should you allow strangers to take advantage of you? Why be exploited by those who care nothing for you?
11 You don't want to end your life full of regrets, nothing but sin and bones,
12 Saying, "Oh, why didn't I do what they told me? Why did I reject a disciplined life?
13 Why didn't I listen to my mentors, or take my teachers seriously?
14 My life is ruined! I haven't one blessed thing to show for my life!" Never Take Love for Granted
15 Do you know the saying, "Drink from your own rain barrel, draw water from your own spring-fed well"?

Proverbs 5:5-15 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.

Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.