“My son, pay attention to my wisdom,
Incline your ear to my understanding,
So that you may maintain discretion
And your lips may comply with knowledge.”

“For the lips of an adulteress drip honey,
And her speech is smoother than oil;
But in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
Sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death,
Her steps take hold of Sheol;
She does not ponder the path of life;
Her ways are unstable, but she does not know it.”

“Now then, my sons, listen to me
And do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
Keep your way far from her
And do not go near the door of her house,
Otherwise you will give your vigor to others
And your years to the cruel one;
And strangers will be filled with your strength,
And your hard-earned goods will go to the house of a foreigner;
And you will groan at your final end,
When your flesh and your body are consumed;
And you say, ‘How I hated instruction!
And my heart disdainfully rejected rebuke!
I did not listen to the voice of my teachers,
Nor incline my ear to my instructors!
I was almost in total ruin
In the midst of the assembly and congregation.’”

“Drink water from your own cistern,
And fresh water from your own well.
Should your springs be dispersed outside,
Your streams of water in the public squares?
Let them be yours alone,
And not for strangers with you.
Let your fountain be blessed,
And rejoice in the wife of your youth.
Like a loving doe and a graceful mountain goat,
Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
Be exhilarated always with her love.
For why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an adulteress
And embrace the breasts of a foreigner?”

“For the ways of everyone are before the eyes of the Lord,
And He observes all his paths.
His own wrongdoings will trap the wicked,
And he will be held by the cords of his sin.
He will die for lack of instruction,
And in the greatness of his foolishness he will go astray.”

---

Context and Meaning

Proverbs 5 delivers one of the Bible’s most direct and passionate warnings about sexual temptation and unfaithfulness.
Solomon, who knew both the beauty of love and the dangers of lust, pleads with his listener to keep far from temptation and cherish covenant faithfulness.

This is not merely moral instruction—it is spiritual protection.
The wisdom here teaches that impurity doesn’t just wound relationships; it destroys lives, reputations, and the soul itself.

At the same time, the chapter celebrates the joy and blessing of marital faithfulness—a love that is pure, private, and deeply fulfilling under God’s design.

Key Themes:

1. The Seduction of Sin: Temptation often looks sweet but ends bitterly (v. 3–5).
2. The Deception of the Adulteress: Sin blinds and leads to instability (v. 6).
3. The Call to Distance: Stay far from temptation, not close to it (v. 8).
4. The Cost of Unfaithfulness: Sin drains strength, reputation, and joy (v. 9–14).
5. The Blessing of Faithfulness: Rejoice in the spouse of your youth; delight in God’s good design (v. 15–19).
6. The Accountability of God: Nothing is hidden from His sight (v. 21–23).

Reflection and Impact

Proverbs 5 is not just about avoiding sexual sin—it’s about valuing covenant faithfulness and living in reverent awareness of God’s gaze:

• Temptation is deceptive – “Her lips drip honey… but in the end she is bitter” (v. 3–4) mirrors James 1:14–15: desire gives birth to sin, and sin brings death.
• Distance protects purity – “Keep your way far from her” (v. 8) reflects 2 Timothy 2:22: flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness.
• Sin has lasting consequences – “You will groan at your final end” (v. 11) echoes Galatians 6:7: whatever one sows, that he will also reap.
• Faithfulness is joyful and sacred – “Rejoice in the wife of your youth” (v. 18) aligns with Hebrews 13:4: marriage is to be held in honor among all.
• God sees all things – “The ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord” (v. 21) parallels Psalm 139:1–3: You know my sitting down and my rising up.
• Sin enslaves the sinner – “He will be held by the cords of his sin” (v. 22) reflects John 8:34: whoever commits sin is a slave to sin.

Application

• Guard Your Eyes and Heart: Avoid the first step toward temptation—don’t even approach the door.
• Pursue Faithful Love: Honor God by cherishing your spouse or waiting in purity for His timing.
• Remember God Sees: Live with integrity, knowing every path is before His eyes.
• Consider the Cost: Sin promises pleasure but pays with pain.
• Seek Forgiveness and Restoration: God’s grace can cleanse and renew any heart that turns back to Him (1 John 1:9).

Closing Thought

Temptation whispers promises of sweetness but hides the sting of death.
Wisdom teaches us to flee sin, embrace purity, and find joy in God’s covenant design.
The faithful heart—anchored in reverence and love—walks securely before the Lord.

“Drink water from your own cistern…
Let your fountain be blessed,
And rejoice in the wife of your youth.”