3 For the lips of a strange woman drop honey, And smoother than oil 'is' her mouth, 4 And her latter end 'is' bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a sword 'with' mouths. 5 Her feet are going down to death, Sheol do her steps take hold of. 6 The path of life—lest thou ponder, Moved have her paths—thou knowest not. 7 And now, ye sons, hearken to me, And turn not from sayings of my mouth. 8 Keep far from off her thy way, And come not near unto the opening of her house, 9 Lest thou give to others thy honour, And thy years to the fierce, 10 Lest strangers be filled 'with' thy power, And thy labours in the house of a stranger, 11 And thou hast howled in thy latter end, In the consumption of thy flesh and thy food, 12 And hast said, 'How have I hated instruction, And reproof hath my heart despised, 13 And I have not hearkened to the voice of my directors, And to my teachers have not inclined mine ear. 14 As a little thing I have been all evil, In the midst of an assembly and a company.
15 Drink waters out of thine own cistern, Even flowing ones out of thine own well. 16 Let thy fountains be scattered abroad, In broad places rivulets of waters. 17 Let them be to thee for thyself, And not to strangers with thee. 18 Let thy fountain be blessed, And rejoice because of the wife of thy youth, 19 A hind of loves, and a roe of grace! Let her loves satisfy thee at all times, In her love magnify thyself continually. 20 And why dost thou magnify thyself, My son, with a stranger? And embrace the bosom of a strange woman?
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 5:3-20
Commentary on Proverbs 5:1-14
(Read Proverbs 5:1-14)
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!
Commentary on Proverbs 5:15-23
(Read Proverbs 5:15-23)
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.