Proverbs 7:1–27

¹ My son, keep my words, And treasure my commands within you. ² Keep my commands and live, And my law as the apple of your eye. ³ Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart. ⁴ Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” And call understanding your nearest kin, ⁵ That they may keep you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words. ⁶ For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice, ⁷ And saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, A young man devoid of understanding, ⁸ Passing along the street near her corner; And he took the path to her house ⁹ In the twilight, in the evening, In the black and dark night. ¹⁰ And there a woman met him, With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart. ¹¹ She was loud and rebellious, Her feet would not stay at home. ¹² At times she was outside, at times in the open square, Lurking at every corner. ¹³ So she caught him and kissed him; With an impudent face she said to him: ¹⁴ “I have peace offerings with me; Today I have paid my vows. ¹⁵ So I came out to meet you, Diligently to seek your face, And I have found you. ¹⁶ I have spread my bed with tapestry, Colored coverings of Egyptian linen. ¹⁷ I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. ¹⁸ Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; Let us delight ourselves with love. ¹⁹ For my husband is not at home; He has gone on a long journey; ²⁰ He has taken a bag of money with him, And will come home on the appointed day.” ²¹ With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, With her flattering lips she seduced him. ²² Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks, ²³ Till an arrow struck his liver. As a bird hastens to the snare, He did not know it would cost his life. ²⁴ Now therefore, listen to me, my children; Pay attention to the words of my mouth: ²⁵ Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths; ²⁶ For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong men. ²⁷ Her house is the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death.

Commentary 

Vs. 1-5 ¹ My son, keep my words, And treasure my commands within you. ² Keep my commands and live, And my law as the apple of your eye. ³ Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart. ⁴ Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” And call understanding your nearest kin, ⁵ That they may keep you from the immoral woman, From the seductress who flatters with her words. 

Solomon continues his exhortation to his sons to keep his words and treasure his commands, and so through him we have an appeal from God in heaven appealing to all men to do the same, to keep His law as the apple of our eye (vs. 2), that is we are to keep it as our principal desire and focus, to bind them on our fingers, so that we have His Word always close at hand, and to write His commandments on the tablet of our heart, where they cannot be lost or be taken away by anyone (vs. 3). For just as the Ten Commandments were written on two tablets of stone by the finger of God so should we write His Word and its truths on our own hearts. In other words, memorize the Scriptures, verses, passages, proverbs etc., whenever His Word speaks to you commit it to your memory, or at the very least keep the intent or command of it in your heart, so that it will keep and guide you in your life. For by doing so you will be embracing wisdom as your beloved sister and calling understanding your nearest kin (vs. 4). For again Solomon knowing the vulnerabilities and naivety and susceptibility of young men to the immoral woman, to the seductress who flatters men with her words, he does not ant to see his sons, nor does God want to see us as His sons fall victim to her, and ruin our own lives, witness and faith as well. 

Vs. 6-20 ⁶ For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice, ⁷ And saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, A young man devoid of understanding, ⁸ Passing along the street near her corner; And he took the path to her house ⁹ In the twilight, in the evening, In the black and dark night. ¹⁰ And there a woman met him, With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart. ¹¹ She was loud and rebellious, Her feet would not stay at home. ¹² At times she was outside, at times in the open square, Lurking at every corner. ¹³ So she caught him and kissed him; With an impudent face she said to him: ¹⁴ “I have peace offerings with me; Today I have paid my vows. ¹⁵ So I came out to meet you, Diligently to seek your face, And I have found you. ¹⁶ I have spread my bed with tapestry, Colored coverings of Egyptian linen. ¹⁷ I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. ¹⁸ Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; Let us delight ourselves with love. ¹⁹ For my husband is not at home; He has gone on a long journey; ²⁰ He has taken a bag of money with him, And will come home on the appointed day.” 

Therefore, Solomon in making this appeal now recalls a pitiful sight that he himself had observed. And so, he begins by telling how he looked out his window and there he saw amongst the simple and perceived amongst the youths, a man he perceived as one who was devoid of understanding. For as he watched, he saw this young man slyly taking the pathway to a known immoral woman’s house (vs. 6-8). Now he was doing this in the twilight in the evening night when it is black and dark for the light is dim and streets are vacant and people cannot readily observe one another (vs. 9). And so this was not a first encounter with her for him, but he was following a well established pattern, foolishly thinking that no one knew what he was doing, when Solomon could clearly see and understand what he was doing, how much more than does God see and understand when foolish men likewise deceive themselves and follow the same path to their own ruin. And so, it was there met him on the street a woman, dressed with the attire of a harlot, who had a crafty heart, indicating that she knew how to lure men (vs. 10). 

Solomon then in describing her person and nature says that, “she was loud and rebellious, and her feet would not stay at home” (vs. 11). Thus, she is a boisterous and brazen woman who is unashamed of her words and her deeds, and so she will not receive instruction or correction from anyone. For she rejects a life of responsibility and civility, and instead chooses to live as a Godless and brazen seductress. Therefore, she boldly does whatever pleases her without regard for anyone but herself. Indeed, she is always somewhere, but never at home with her children rearing them, or managing the household while her husband works, or working at something honestly herself. No that’s to “mundane and boring” for her, instead she leaves her responsibilities, and worse her children to fend for themselves, while she herself “runs the streets”, looking for another illicit “lover”, as Solomon says, “At times she was outside, at times in the open square, Lurking at every corner.” ^{Vs. 12} And so, in verses thirteen to twenty Solomon gives us a clear picture of how she seduces the man who himself went out to meet her, saying when she met him at their appointed rendezvous, that she caught him (told hold of him) and kissed him, and with an impudent face she said to him, ¹⁴ “I have peace offerings with me; Today I have paid my vows. ¹⁵ So I came out to meet you, Diligently to seek your face, And I have found you.” ^{Vs. 14-15} 

And so first she makes him feel like he is all her desire, like he is so “loved” and desired by her. Then she seductively mentions that she has peace offerings with her, that she has paid her vows to God, which means she has both the means and the money so that they can now partake of a grand feast themselves before their night of “love.” Now peace offerings were to be a gift to God which the giver was to freely give to Him and then eat of the sacrifice after it had been offered. Obviously then she has no interest in honoring God with them, or with her vowed offering, instead they are just become another means by which she can seduce him. Consider then that seductresses' are not just in the world, but sadly they also seek out and find their victims in houses of worship. She continues on by seductively saying to him that she has spread her bed with tapestry, with “Colored coverings of Egyptian linen. ¹⁷ I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.” (vs. 16-17). How enticing it all seems to him. Having then set the hook, she now brazenly says to him, “Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; Let us delight ourselves with love. ¹⁹ For my husband is not at home; He has gone on a long journey; ²⁰ He has taken a bag of money with him, And will come home on the appointed day.” ^{Vs. 18-20} And so her last move is to promise him a night of grand indulgence and sexual pleasure without any consequences to them, for her husband has gone away, and he will not come home until the appointed day, and so he will ever know she tells him. But God will! 

Vs. 21-23 ²¹ With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, With her flattering lips she seduced him. ²² Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, Or as a fool to the correction of the stocks, ²³ Till an arrow struck his liver. As a bird hastens to the snare, He did not know it would cost his life. 

This then is the Scriptures sad commentary on that man, and every man who avails himself to her, saying that through her enticing speech she seduced him into her defiled bed of sin, and though the commentary is only on that, how many men have also been induced by her into doing all kinds of illegal or even violent or murderous deeds for her? That said he had a choice, and instead of rejecting her, and her lying overtures, he immediately went after her, just as the mindless ox goes to the slaughter, big and strong and confident in itself, before it too is taken down by its executioner. And so, such a man is also likened to the fool who goes to the correction of the stocks; that is the medieval device by which a man was bowed forward with his head and hands locked into it, which was a very painful and public humiliation is the point. “Till an arrow struck his liver” is again a very painful injury (as any blow to the liver is), and in this case with a lethal end. Finally, the Scripture says, “As a bird hastens to the snare, (not seeing the trap laid before it) so, he did not know it would cost his life!”

 Vs. 24-27 ²⁴ Now therefore, listen to me, my children; Pay attention to the words of my mouth: ²⁵ Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, Do not stray into her paths; ²⁶ For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong men. ²⁷ Her house is the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death. 

And so once again we are strongly exhorted to listen to God’s warnings and counsel given to us in His Word through His servant King Solomon, and not to go near her (vs. 24-25). “For she has cast down many wounded, And all who were slain by her were strong men. ²⁷ Her house is the way to hell, Descending to the chambers of death.” Think about those last words then before you ever entertain thoughts about her, because an eternity in hell is not worth a few fleeting moments of pleasure with her (Mark 9:42-48). 

Scripture Quotations 

New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson. 

Proverbs 6:1–35

  My son, if you become surety for your friend, If you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, ² You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth. ³ So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; For you have come into the hand of your friend: Go and humble yourself; Plead with your friend. ⁴ Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids. ⁵ Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, And like a bird from the hand of the fowler. ⁶ Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, ⁷ Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, ⁸ Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. ⁹ How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? ¹⁰ A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep— ¹¹ So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man. ¹² A worthless person, a wicked man, Walks with a perverse mouth; ¹³ He winks with his eyes, He shuffles his feet, He points with his fingers; ¹⁴ Perversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, He sows discord. ¹⁵ Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy. ¹⁶ These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: ¹⁷ A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸ A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, ¹⁹ A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. ²⁰ My son, keep your father’s command, And do not forsake the law of your mother. ²¹ Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around your neck. ²² When you roam, they will lead you; When you sleep, they will keep you; And when you awake, they will speak with you. ²³ For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life, ²⁴ To keep you from the evil woman, From the flattering tongue of a seductress. ²⁵ Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, Nor let her allure you with her eyelids. ²⁶ For by means of a harlot A man is reduced to a crust of bread; And an adulteress will prey upon his precious life. ²⁷ Can a man take fire to his bosom, And his clothes not be burned? ²⁸ Can one walk on hot coals, And his feet not be seared? ²⁹ So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; Whoever touches her shall not be innocent. ³⁰ People do not despise a thief If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving. ³¹ Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold; He may have to give up all the substance of his house. ³² Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul. ³³ Wounds and dishonor he will get, And his reproach will not be wiped away. ³⁴ For jealousy is a husband’s fury; Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. ³⁵ He will accept no recompense, Nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts.

Commentary 

Vs. 1-5 ¹ My son, if you become surety for your friend, If you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, ² You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth. ³ So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; For you have come into the hand of your friend: Go and humble yourself; Plead with your friend. ⁴ Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids. ⁵ Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, And like a bird from the hand of the fowler. 

Continuing on from chapter five here we are most wisely advised not to become surety for someone, that is become someone who guarantees to pay another’s debts if they default. For this is the classic case of friend, parent, or relative thinking they are helping someone out when all they might be doing is setting themselves up for a whole lotta of financial misery and possibly bankruptcy, if they themselves are not financially well established and more than able to easily cover the debt/s if the person defaults. Again, many a well meaning and loving parent has been taken advantage of by their children in this regard. Especially if the child has already proven themselves reckless and irresponsible in their own life, and or with their own finances etc. Same with friendships, even long-established friendships, and so even though you yourself are kind and honorable person with integrity, (and you want to stand by your friend in their time of need), this does not mean your close friend will be the same towards you when it comes to either you or their suffering financial hardship or ruin if they default on a loan! And even if the person you want to act as a guarantor for is a person with integrity, there are always economic forces at work that neither you, nor they have any control of, and they may just have to default even if they try their hardest not too! Therefore, do not act as a guarantor for anyone’s debts unless you are fully willing and more than able to take on the entire financial debt load yourself. For that is what is we are being warned about here in God’s Word, our not being, or becoming guarantors for other people’s debts, which if you already have, follow the prescription laid out in the Scripture and  do whatever it takes to get yourself out from under their, or anyone else’s financial burdens and load, because it is not your responsibility to do this for them, or for anyone you love, including one’s own children, its their responsibility to bear their own load! And if they cannot secure a loan without a guarantor then they should not be taking one in the first place! The banks know this, and so that is why they will not give them anything unless you will be the sucker who is going to be legally liable for their debts when they default! Therefore, don’t do it! Especially if they promise that the loan is only short term for something that they themselves will “flip” or turn a quick profit on, which should be a total red flag to you to stay clear of all such “deals” and “promises” and or “guarantees” of being quickly repaid, and or repaid with a profit. For more often than not these things will never work out well for you! 

Vs. 6-11 ⁶ Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, ⁷ Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, ⁸ Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. ⁹ How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? ¹⁰ A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep— ¹¹ So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man. 

Having warned of being guarantor for another’s debts, the Scripture now calls the sluggard, the lazy person, to get themselves some wisdom and try doing some honest work if they want to prosper and get a head in life. Therefore, in order to show the wisdom of diligence and duty, the Scripture calls the lazy person to look on and consider the little ant and be wise like it, “…Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, ⁸ Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest.” ^{Vs. 7-8} Thus, the ant doesn’t wait until their own needs overwhelm them, they get up early and go to work, and they work diligently at whatever they do, first during the planting season and then later at the harvest, so that they bring in their supplies when they can and suffer no lack or want during the winter months (consider Prov. 13:4; 20:4; 24:30-34). As Christians we too can also emulate this wisdom in living our lives down here with a passion and a purpose, both sowing and reaping the fruits of the Gospel, by living it out, and thus laying up for ourselves a good foundation for the time to come (consider Matt. 25:14-30; Acts 20:35; Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 6:17-19; Titus 3:8, 14; James 2:14-26; 1 John 3:17 etc.). Having then exhorted the lazy person to start making themselves useful to God and their fellow man (and even themselves) by doing something for them and for all (vs. 6-8). The Scripture now asks the lazy person how long will they slumber, and when will they rise from their sleep? Because as the Scripture warns, a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; which is not resting from one’s labors, it is lazily keeping one’s hands from the labor; therefore, their poverty will come upon them like a prowler, and their need like an armed man (vs. 11), that is suddenly and without warning or recourse they will find themselves in want (also consider Prov. 24:30-34; Matt. 25:26-30). 

Vs. 12-15 ¹² A worthless person, a wicked man, Walks with a perverse mouth; ¹³ He winks with his eyes, He shuffles his feet, He points with his fingers; ¹⁴ Perversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, He sows discord. ¹⁵ Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy. 

Having rebuked the sluggard, the Scripture now lays out some of the characteristics of the wicked man or women, calling them worthless, because what they do is worthless, for they only talk with a perverse mouth, which is more than just cursing and blasphemy, rather it is speech that comes from a perverse heart, and so nothing they say should be heeded, nor trusted. Indeed, all they say is only to mislead people through their own swindling and scheming ways. Maybe this is a hustle of some sort, or maybe it is their using someone in some way, whatever it is, its always for their own profit and gain, and never above board, therefore they cannot be trusted (vs. 12). Which is made clear in verse thirteen where it is said they wink with the eyes, (as a signal to their partner in crime), or as an act of their charm in trying to seduce someone through the same, or as an act of their own arrogance in delighting in someone’s downfall or plight (Pr. 10:10; 16:30; Psalm 35:19). Therefore their person and their gestures are to be abhorred! They shuffle their feet, that is they have no honest purpose in the steps they take; (kind of like the harlot who lazily shuffles her feet showing everyone that she is an easy catch for sinful and foolish men); so their bodily gestures will mislead you; they point with their fingers, maybe as a signal to someone to do something, or maybe as their pointing out someone whom they have targeted or slandered to others. Perversity is in their heart, that is no good thought or good will is in them towards anyone, instead they are always plotting something, always scheming something, against someone. He devises evil continually, again the plans of the wicked man never benefit God or mankind, but are only to satisfy his own evil purposes and desires. He sows discord, which is an abomination to the Lord (6:19), and so just like the devil who loves to set people against each other, to make them serve him, so do they. “Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.” ^{Vs. 15} For that is God’s verdict and judgment on them, and He will render it in His own time and through His own way! 

Vs. 16-19 ¹⁶ These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: ¹⁷ A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸ A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, ¹⁹ A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. 

Having revealed the nature of the wicked person, the Scripture now reveals seven things that the Lord Himself hates, indeed these traits in anyone are only an abomination to Him. First then is a proud look, now nothing is more of an affront to God than that a mortal man or women should so arrogantly consider themselves or conduct themselves as superior to others. A proud look then not only denies ones own Creator and Sustainer, but it by its very nature denies and lies about ones own weaknesses, vulnerabilities, and mortality (consider Prov. 8:13; also Ecc. 9:11-12). A lying tongue, is the essence of Satan’s person and character, therefore for a person who is created in the image of God to knowingly walk in that sin, which likely causes more harm than any other, is an abomination to the Lord. Therefore, a lying tongue is but for a moment, but a truthful lip shall be established forever (Prov. 12:19 also see Rev. 21:8). “Hands that shed innocent blood”, which is what the murder does, and that again is what Satan himself does, for he only kills, steals, and destroys (John 10:10). A heart that devises wicked plans, is the heart which plots and schemes wicked things against others. “Feet that are swift in running to evil,” can be seen in many ways not the least of which is someone running (i.e., going with a full sense of urgency or excitement) to their next sin. “A false witness who speaks lies”, which is the evil work of the slanderer (think devil here) who speaks lies about another to harm them. Jesus Himself had this done to Him at His trial before the Sanhedrin. “And one who sows discord among brethren.” In the church there is not a more harmful sin amongst brethren than this. Therefore, the one who knowingly seeks to sow discord amongst brethren, by always complaining about this or that, or this person or that, or secretly trying to set believers against each other, should be promptly and swiftly removed. That said one who justly stands for Biblical truth, as the Apostle Paul often did, should never be considered as one who is “sowing discord” if they are doing this in a Godly way (consider Acts 15; Gal. 1-2). 

Vs. 20-23 ²⁰ My son, keep your father’s command, And do not forsake the law of your mother. ²¹ Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around your neck. ²² When you roam, they will lead you; When you sleep, they will keep you; And when you awake, they will speak with you. ²³ For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life, 

Having giving us lots of insights about the way and nature of the wicked, Solomon once again admonished his children to listen to his command, and to not forsake the law of their mother, for this is one of the challenges for young people as they come out of childhood and into adolescence and they want to become their own individuals and be more and more independent of their parents, all which is good, but never entails disobeying their parents, nor forsaking the wisdom that their parents have learned through their own lives and experiences, including their mistakes. Therefore, Solomon admonishes his children to keep his command and their mothers’ law, to bind them to their heart and tie them around their neck (vs. 20-21), for when they do they will guide them in right steps, and keep them on the path of life. For young people today face many temptations and many evil influencers, as well as many situations they will encounter that will arose all kinds of mixed emotions within them as to what to do. And so having a good base of instruction will at times be their only defense. For again keeping sound commands will keep you, as Solomon says, “When you roam, they will lead you; When you sleep, they will keep you; And when you awake, they will speak with you. ²³ For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life” ^{vs. 22-23} 

Vs. 24-35 ²⁴ To keep you from the evil woman, From the flattering tongue of a seductress. ²⁵ Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, Nor let her allure you with her eyelids. ²⁶ For by means of a harlot A man is reduced to a crust of bread; And an adulteress will prey upon his precious life. ²⁷ Can a man take fire to his bosom, And his clothes not be burned? ²⁸ Can one walk on hot coals, And his feet not be seared? ²⁹ So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; Whoever touches her shall not be innocent. ³⁰ People do not despise a thief If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving. ³¹ Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold; He may have to give up all the substance of his house. ³² Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul. ³³ Wounds and dishonor he will get, And his reproach will not be wiped away. ³⁴ For jealousy is a husband’s fury; Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. ³⁵ He will accept no recompense, Nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts. 

Solomon now reiterates that his command was being given to his sons (and to us) to keep us from yielding to the evil woman. To keep us from yielding to flattering tongue of the seductress, who speaks flattery mixed with her sensuality to her victims (vs. 24). Therefore, Solomon says to us all, “Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, nor let her allure you with her eyelids, that is her enticing looks (vs. 25-26). “For by means of a harlot A man is reduced to a crust of bread; And an adulteress will prey upon his precious life.” ^{Vs. 26} For the consequences of going into the harlot, and or the adulteress are many, and they will have lasting negative effects on your person and life. For many a young man and strong man has been reduced to nothing more that crust of bread because they gave themselves to her. However, this is the end of their sin, not the beginning, and so this fact never becomes apparent to them until then. Therefore when faced with such a temptation do not to “rise up and play” as the ancient Israelites did, for they all perished in the wilderness for their sin and they never entered the Promised Land, and neither will you if you willingly forsake Christ for her (see 1 Cor 10:6-13, 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19-21). And so in verses 27-29 Solomon once again uses some creative imagery to demonstrate that committing adultery with another mans wife only leads to one’s own peril and harm (vs. 27-29). Likening embracing the immoral woman or wife to taking fire into ones bosom, or walking slowly on hot coals, all which means you will get burned if you get involved with her, not only by her, but also by the fury of her husband, and the reproach of people which you will have to face. Because as he says in verse 30-31, “People do not despise a thief If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving. ³¹ Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold; He may have to give up all the substance of his house.” 

For people can have empathy on the starving thief who steals to satisfy his hunger, but even then, he may be required to pay back what he has taken several fold! But no one (and certainly not the woman’s husband) will have mercy or pity on the man who commits adultery with his wife! And that is what Solomon makes clear in verses thirty-two through thirty-five. That, ³² Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul. ³³ Wounds and dishonor he will get, And his reproach will not be wiped away. ³⁴ For jealousy is a husband’s fury; Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. ³⁵ He will accept no recompense, Nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts. Therefore, spare yourself all that grief, and misery and ruin and don’t be one who lacks understanding, for there is no appeasing the husbands fury for committing adultery with his wife, for neither gifts, nor kind and humble gestures will soften or turn his wrath away from you. Not only that, but the reproach of having committed adultery with another mans wife will not be wiped away from you, for you will bear it wherever you go, as being an immoral and unprincipled man. 

Scripture Quotations 

New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.

 

 

Proverbs 5:1–23

 ¹ My son, pay attention to my wisdom; Lend your ear to my understanding, ² That you may preserve discretion, And your lips may keep knowledge. ³ For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil; ⁴ But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword. ⁵ Her feet go down to death, Her steps lay hold of hell. ⁶ Lest you ponder her path of life— Her ways are unstable; You do not know them. ⁷ Therefore hear me now, my children, And do not depart from the words of my mouth. ⁸ Remove your way far from her, And do not go near the door of her house, ⁹ Lest you give your honor to others, And your years to the cruel one; ¹⁰ Lest aliens be filled with your wealth, And your labors go to the house of a foreigner; ¹¹ And you mourn at last, When your flesh and your body are consumed, ¹² And say: “How I have hated instruction, And my heart despised correction! ¹³ I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me! ¹⁴ I was on the verge of total ruin, In the midst of the assembly and congregation.” ¹⁵ Drink water from your own cistern, And running water from your own well. ¹⁶ Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, Streams of water in the streets? ¹⁷ Let them be only your own, And not for strangers with you. ¹⁸ Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice with the wife of your youth. ¹⁹ As a loving deer and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; And always be enraptured with her love. ²⁰ For why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman, And be embraced in the arms of a seductress? ²¹ For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, And He ponders all his paths. ²² His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, And he is caught in the cords of his sin. ²³ He shall die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

Commentary 

Vs. 1-2 ¹ My son, pay attention to my wisdom; Lend your ear to my understanding, ² That you may preserve discretion, And your lips may keep knowledge. 

Once again, the Word of God bespeeches us to listen to it, to receive its wisdom and instruction, so that we may preserve discretion and our lips may keep knowledge, so that we do not go the way of this evil world that validates every sin of flesh, nor the way of apostasy, that is so terribly happening now. 

Vs. 3-5 ³ For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil; ⁴ But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword. ⁵ Her feet go down to death, Her steps lay hold of hell. 

Once again, the warning is about lusting after the immoral woman who knows no bounds or boundaries, but only seeks out another young man to be her next victim. Her appeal is her looks which she knows how to use, along with her flattering tongue, to seduce him or any man who entertains thoughts about her. And so, though her mouth may drip honey as she radiates her sensuality, and her lips oil, as she speaks to you with her smooth or enticing speech, in the end she is always as bitter as wormwood. That is, what seemed so desirable and enticing at first afterwards always leaves one in a very bad state, whether this is one’s body, soul, or mind, etc. one always regrets having gone to be with her when the consequences of having done so come home to roost. For she is sharp as a two-edged sword, meaning she will inflict deep and lasting and potentially lethal wounds on you. I wish I could cite to you every example of her, of men who ruined their own lives because of their going after her. Men who ruined their marriages, or ruined their own carriers and lost much of their own wealth in divorces and lawsuits because they went after her. Or who lost the respect of and their relationships with their children, family members and friends, who in the end only died alone and bitter and miserable after she used them for a season before abandoning them, to go onto her next victim. The real life miseries and the examples are endless! And so verse five also warns that her feet go down to death, literally she will shorten your life and ruin what’s left of your days if you embrace her. And in the end after the pleasure all there is waiting for you is an eternity in hell because for a mere moment of lustful pleasure with her so forsook the truth. Therefore, don’t do it!  Don't entertain thoughts about her and live a long and happy and prosperous and peaceful life. Now its not just young men who need to guard themselves from her, but men of any age (especially middle age men) for she is calculating, and she knows that your wealth is established and your days will be few, therefore she in her youthful beauty and sensuality will come to enticing you to first have her, then later to leave your wife and your relationships with your teenage or adult children for her, and then, little by little she'll take everything from you, for that is her person and nature, which is never satisfied with the one she then has or what he has to give her.

Vs. 6 “Lest you ponder her path of life— Her ways are unstable; You do not know them.” 

Therefore, we are all warned not to ponder (wonder about) her path of life, of living “lose and carefree”, as she does, as living without responsibilities or accountability to anyone or anything. For though on the surface their seems a sort of “freedom” in her person and life, her ways are only unstable, and there is much discord and distress in her own life, and she will be more than glad to share these with you! Crying on your shoulder about how badly she is being mistreated, she'll play on your hero or rescuer sensibilities. Therefore, don’t consider her path of life, because you do not know the inner workings, nor the troubles of her sinful life, nor do you want to know them! 

Vs. 7-14 ⁷ Therefore hear me now, my children, And do not depart from the words of my mouth. ⁸ Remove your way far from her, And do not go near the door of her house, ⁹ Lest you give your honor to others, And your years to the cruel one; ¹⁰ Lest aliens be filled with your wealth, And your labors go to the house of a foreigner; ¹¹ And you mourn at last, When your flesh and your body are consumed, ¹² And say: “How I have hated instruction, And my heart despised correction! ¹³ I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me! ¹⁴ I was on the verge of total ruin, In the midst of the assembly and congregation.” 

Therefore king Solomon who knew woman as know man has known them pleads with his children to listen to him. And yet as God endowed Solomon with wisdom and understanding this urgent and passionate appeal then is not just of Solomon speaking to his children, but of God speaking to us all through him as His children! Telling us all to remove ourselves far from her, and to stay away from the door of her house (Vs.7-8), to not seek to be with her: ⁹ Lest you give your honor to others, And your years to the cruel one; ¹⁰ Lest aliens be filled with your wealth, And your labors go to the house of a foreigner”, ^{vs. 9-10} For you will bring nothing but dishonor and misery to yourself if you get involved with her, and not only that, what should’ve been your golden years, or your years of prosperity and peace you’ll only give to the cruel one (a veiled reference to Satan and all of the troubles that God will now allow him to bring into your life because you forsook His way for her). Even your wealth which you worked so hard for, will only be turned over to aliens and your labors will find their end in the house of a foreigner. For that is what will happen to you, you will lose it all to a stranger whom you don’t know, who will take your place and your wealth when she is done with you (vs.9-10). And so in verses eleven to fourteen we now hear the cries of regret and sorrow of the man who lusted after her and went after her, now seeing himself weakened and wasted away, and all that he once had now gone away, now bemoans to himself the great folly of his way, recalling to himself how he hatred instruction; and so the choice that he made was not in ignorance; but in full knowledge of the truth, and yet when he heard it, he only hated it and despised it, because it was contrary to what he himself wanted to do, or was already doing. And so, he now recalls how from his youth he rejected the counsels of his parents, his teachers, his pastor, and all those who tried to instruct him and warn him about going after the immoral woman, who always avails herself to all those who do so, for she's not hard to catch if you have what she wants, but she's sure hard to get free of without deep loss and cost (Pr. 23:26-28). And so now he faces not only his own personal misery and loss, but also his own public shame and humiliation as he has ruined not only his own reputation and life, but also his own place in congregation! And let me tell you the last place you want to end up in your old age is in the assembly of the dead, where you will find no peace, nor care, nor concern, nor remembrance of your person anymore (Ecc. 8:10). 

Vs. 15 “Drink water from your own cistern, And running water from your own well.” 

Having then revealed the folly of the wayward man and life, Scripture now counsels us to keep one’s life pure. To drink water from one’s own cistern is analogous to saying satisfy you sexual thirst with your wife whom you have committed your person and life too. For this is good and right in the eyes of God who alone makes peace and who alone makes calamity, whose observes all of mans ways on earth and repays everyone according to their works and ways. Running water from your own well, is again analogous to saying by doing so, one drinks of a healthy and vibrant sexual life, (free of sexual sin, vernerial disease, and or illegitimate children) and thus does not partake of the stagnant and polluted waters of the immoral woman or wife. 

Vs. 16 “Should your fountains be dispersed abroad, Streams of water in the streets?” 

That is should your passions, your life, your strength, be for the immoral woman of the streets.

Vs. 17 “Let them be only your own, And not for strangers with you.” 

Therefore, keep your sexual passions for you and your wife to fully enjoy yourselves, and do not give them to strangers. Commit yourself then to cultivating, enjoying, and preserving a healthy sexual relationship with your wife. 

Vs. 18-19 ¹⁸ Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice with the wife of your youth. ¹⁹ As a loving deer and a graceful doe, Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; And always be enraptured with her love. 

Yes, God’s blessing is on those who keep their wives pure, whose love and sexual desire is for them alone! Therefore, rejoice with the wife of your youth and let her breasts satisfy you at all times, and always be enraptured with her love, because you’ll never have more deeply satisfying and fulfilling love, satisfying in every deep and intimate way, than with her. 

Vs. 20 “For why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman, And be embraced in the arms of a seductress?” 

The seductress on the other hand can give you nothing but sex, for she will not love you, nor be faithful to you, for her heart knows nothing of love, nor of loyalty, nor of true intimacies, for she only seeks after men to meet her own material wants and needs or to satisfy her own sexual lusts and desires. Therefore from here you’ll find nothing with her that will last or satisfy, for sure she will give you sex, but she will never give you genuine intimacy and love. For her “love” is always a lie, and when tires of you she moves on to another. Indeed, all she will give you is many hardships, pains, griefs and sorrows, so that when desire fails, as it always does, you yourself will soon want no more of her! 

Vs. 21-23 ²¹ For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, And He ponders all his paths. ²² His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, And he is caught in the cords of his sin. ²³ He shall die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray. 

And so though a man may keep a secret affair with her it is God who watches all the steps of a man, He considers all of our ways, and so when a man chooses to go after the immoral woman God Himself bears witness (Prov. 15:3), and He Himself will render His judgment on him (Heb. 4:13; Rev. 22:15). And yet there are the consequences of one’s sin right here and now that need no direct involvement of God, but carry with them their own judgment (vs. 22-23). Not only his person and life, but also his heart, mind, and potentially his faith and soul may all be ruined by his decision and choice to go into the harlot. Sadly, though these are never readily apparent to men, so that men never see the consequences coming upon them until they are well steeped in their own sins and ruin (Ecc. 8:11).

Scripture Quotations 

New King James (1982):Thomas Nelson.