51 My son, pay attention to my wisdom.
Turn your ear to my understanding: 2 that you may maintain discretion,
that your lips may preserve knowledge. 3 For the lips of an adulteress drip honey.
Her mouth is smoother than oil, 4 But in the end she is as bitter as wormwood,
and as sharp as a two-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death.
Her steps lead straight to Sheol. 6 She gives no thought to the way of life.
Her ways are crooked, and she doesn’t know it. 7 Now therefore, my sons, listen to me.
Don’t depart from the words of my mouth. 8 Remove your way far from her.
Don’t come near the door of her house, 9 lest you give your honor to others,
and your years to the cruel one; 10 lest strangers feast on your wealth,
and your labors enrich another man’s house. 11 You will groan at your latter end,
when your flesh and your body are consumed, 12 and say, “How I have hated instruction,
and my heart despised reproof; 13 neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers,
nor turned my ear to those who instructed me! 14 I have come to the brink of utter ruin,
in the midst of the gathered assembly.”
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 5:1-14
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!