Summary: We are reminded again and again about abiding to Wisdom and Understanding. We are warned against immoral, loose, adulterous woman. Wise men must avoid immorality, fornication, adultery and fleshly lust. There are many dangers to sins of immorality. If one does not shun immorality, he will eventually regret.
Warning against Impurity and Infidelity (RSV).
Warning against Adultery (NIV).
The Peril of Adultery (NKJV).
1 My son, be attentive to my wisdom,
incline your ear to my understanding;
2 2 that you may keep discretion,
and your lips may guard knowledge.
3 3 For the lips of a loose woman drip honey,
and her speech[a] is smoother than oil;
4 4 but in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
sharp as a two-edged sword.
5 5 Her feet go down to death;
her steps follow the path to[b] Sheol;
6 6 she does not take heed to[c] the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it. (RSV)
We are again instructed to be guided by Wisdom and Understanding. With multiple times of such instruction, we know for certain that Wisdom and Understanding are very important in many aspects of our lives.
3 3 For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey,
and her speech is smoother than oil;
4 4 but in the end she is bitter as gall,
sharp as a double-edged sword.
5 5 Her feet go down to death;
her steps lead straight to the grave.
6 6 She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it. (NIV)
3 3 For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey,
And her mouth issmoother than oil;
4 4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
Sharp as a two-edged sword.
5 5 Her feet go down to death,
Her steps lay hold of hell.[a]
6 Lest you ponder her path of life—
6 Her ways are unstable;
You do not know them. (NKJV)
There can literary interpretation as well as figurative interpretation.
We are warned against the loose, adulterous, immoral woman. Probably, a hooker or an adulteress or a seductive woman. We are told to be careful with the seductive words and her sinful ways.
We are warned against a life of fornication, adultery, and fleshly lust. If we apply this figuratively, we are also warned against idolatry, false doctrine, and other evils.
Fleshly lust could be very tempting, much like the sweet honey. Smooth seductive speech can also ensnare many men. Fleshly lust may be satisfying to the carnal body, but will have bitter end results, and wounds and injures the self and others like a sword.
7 7 Now then, my sons, listento me;
do not turn aside from what I say.
8 8 Keep to a path far from her,
do not go near the door of her house,
9 99 lest you lose your honor to others
and your dignity[a] to one who is cruel,
10 10 lest strangers feast on your wealth
and your toil enrich the house of another.
11 11 At the end of your life you will groan,
when your flesh and body are spent.
12 12 You will say, “How I hated discipline!
How my heart spurned correction!
13 13 I would not obey my teachers
or turn my ear to my instructors.
14 14 And I was soon in serious trouble
in the assembly of God’s people.” (NIV)
We are again reminded to listen to words of wisdom, and not turning away from wisdom.
We are told the dangers of turning away from wisdom, messing around with the "loose/adulterous/immoral woman" and entertaining our fleshly lust. We told not to go near the places of immorality. Stay far away from immorality and fleshly lust.
Dangers of fleshly lust and immorality are:
1) Losing honor and dignity. May bring shame and disgrace.
2) Wasting our money because spending money on women and lust.
3) Wasting our energy and time doing something unbeneficial.
4) Wasting the precious years. May wear out the body faster due to excessive sex.
If one does not abide by wisdom and avoid immorality and fleshly lust, he will eventually regret as he gets older. He will end up in trouble, in difficulties, in poor health, wasted his hard-earned money, etc. He will regret for being disobedient to the wise teachings.
(( To be continued the next day. ))
Thursday, Jan 9, 2014.
Michael Yeap.
NIV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%205&version=NIV
RSV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%205&version=RSV
NKJV: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=proverbs%205&version=NKJV
Commentaries:
1) http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/matthew-henry/Prov.5.1-Prov.5.14
2)
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