←Proverbs 5→BSB

In This Chapter 49 terms 1 theme

Key Terms

Wisdom 3 Understanding (Awareness) 3 Strength 3 Love 3 Sin 3 Majesty 2 Transgression 2 Ability (Skill) Ability (Power) World Universe Miracle Ability (Spiritual) Lordship Spiritually Understanding Discretion Knowledge Intention (Evil) Bless (Approval) Blessing (Act) Bless (Favor) Blessing (Content) Blessed Bless (Request Favor) To Love Love (Appreciation) To Sin Guilt (State) Sin (Act) Sin (Incur Guilt) Guilty (Responsible) Guilt (Consequence) Guiltiness Trespass (Sin) Sinful Sin (Offense) To Stand Guilty Sin (Guilty) Sin (Wrongdoing) Guilty Considered Guilty Guilty Of Sin Previously Sin Against Foolishness Foolish Foolish Actions Foolish Talk

Themes

Marriage and Sexuality

Avoiding Immorality

(Leviticus 20:10–21; 1 Corinthians 5:1–8)

ⓘ These instructions on loving one's wife and avoiding...

These instructions on loving one's wife and avoiding immoral women were originally for young men starting their careers (see also Proverbs 2:16–22; 7:1–27). This topic is also common in ancient Egyptian wisdom writings.
ⓘ Following instructions helps you make good choices. This...

Following instructions helps you make good choices. This is especially important when dealing with a woman who behaves immorally.
1My son, pay attention to my wisdom;incline your ear to my insight,2that you may maintain discretionand your lips may preserve knowledge.
ⓘ The lips of an immoral woman may seem...

The lips of an immoral woman may seem sweet and tempting, but they are actually bitter and dangerous. Sexual activity often starts with a kiss, and flattering words can lure someone in.
3Though the lips of the forbidden woman† drip honeyand her speech† is smoother than oil,4in the end she is bitter as wormwood,sharp as a double-edged sword.
ⓘ A relationship with an immoral woman leads to...

A relationship with an immoral woman leads to death, just like a relationship with the woman named Folly (see Proverbs 9:13–18).
5Her feet go down to death;her steps lead straight to Sheol.†6She does not consider the path of life;she does not know that her ways are unstable.
7So now, my sons, listen to me,and do not turn aside from the words of my mouth.8Keep your path far from her;do not go near the door of her house,
ⓘ An illicit relationship may seem tempting, but it...

An illicit relationship may seem tempting, but it eventually causes shame. If the woman is a prostitute, the young man will have to pay her, losing income. If the woman is another man's wife, he might have to pay her husband (see Leviticus 20:10).
9lest you concede your vigor to others,and your years to one who is cruel;10lest strangers feast on your wealth,and your labors enrich the house of a foreigner.11At the end of your life you will groanwhen your flesh and your body are spent,12and you will say, “How I hated discipline,and my heart despised reproof!13I did not listen to the voice of my teachersor incline my ear to my mentors.14I am on the brink of utter ruinin the midst of the whole assembly.”
ⓘ To drink from one's own well (see also...

To drink from one's own well (see also Song 4:12, 15) means to enjoy sexual relations within marriage. Instead of spending sexual energy on immoral women, a man should build a healthy sexual relationship with his wife. Sex should not be shared with strangers. This honors marriage (Genesis 2:22–25) and follows the seventh commandment (Exodus 20:14 and Deuteronomy 5:18).
15Drink water from your own cistern,and running water from your own well.16Why should your springs flow in the streets,your streams of water in the public squares?17Let them be yours alone,never to be shared with strangers.18May your fountain be blessed,and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth:19A loving doe, a graceful fawn—may her breasts satisfy you always;may you be captivated† by her love forever.20Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress,or embrace the bosom of a stranger?†
ⓘ Even if a man hides an illicit relationship...

Even if a man hides an illicit relationship from his family and society, the Lord knows. Adultery is a sin against God (Genesis 39:8–9).
21For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD,and the LORD examines† all his paths.22The iniquities of a wicked man entrap him;the cords of his sin entangle him.23He dies for lack of discipline,led astray by his own great folly.