Thematic Bible

Proverbs 5:1

My son, be attentive to my wisdom [godly wisdom learned by costly experience],
Incline your ear to my understanding;

Proverbs 5:2


That you may exercise discrimination and discretion (good judgment),
And your lips may reserve knowledge and answer wisely [to temptation].

Proverbs 5:3


For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey [like a honeycomb]
And her speech is smoother than oil;

Proverbs 5:4


But in the end she is bitter like [the extract of] wormwood,
Sharp as a two-edged sword.

Proverbs 5:5


Her feet go down to death;
Her steps take hold of Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead),

Proverbs 5:6


So that she does not think [seriously] about the path of life;
Her ways are aimless and unstable; you cannot know where her path leads.

Proverbs 5:7


Now then, my sons, listen to me
And do not depart from (forget) the words of my mouth.

Proverbs 5:8


Let your way [in life] be far from her,
And do not go near the door of her house [avoid even being near the places of temptation],

Proverbs 5:9


Or you will give your honor to others,
And your years to the cruel one,

Proverbs 5:10


And strangers will be filled with your strength
And your hard-earned wealth will go to the house of a foreigner [who does not know God];

Proverbs 5:11


And you will groan when your life is ending,
When your flesh and your body are consumed;

Proverbs 5:12


And you say, “How I hated instruction and discipline,
And my heart despised correction and reproof!

Proverbs 5:13


“I have not listened to the voice of my teachers,
Nor have I inclined my ear to those who instructed me.

Proverbs 5:14


“I was almost in total ruin
In the midst of the assembly and congregation.”

Proverbs 5:15


Drink water from your own cistern [of a pure marriage relationship]
And fresh running water from your own well.

Proverbs 5:16


Should your springs (children) be dispersed,
As streams of water in the streets?

Proverbs 5:17


[Confine yourself to your own wife.] Let your children be yours alone,
And not the children of strangers with you.

Proverbs 5:18


Let your fountain (wife) be blessed [with the rewards of fidelity],
And rejoice in the wife of your youth.

Proverbs 5:19


Let her be as a loving hind and graceful doe,
Let her breasts refresh and satisfy you at all times;
Always be exhilarated and delight in her love.

Proverbs 5:20


Why should you, my son, be exhilarated with an immoral woman
And embrace the bosom of an outsider (pagan)?

Proverbs 5:21


For the ways of man are directly before the eyes of the Lord,
And He carefully watches all of his paths [all of his comings and goings].

Proverbs 5:22


The iniquities done by a wicked man will trap him,
And he will be held with the cords of his sin.

Proverbs 5:23


He will die for lack of instruction (discipline),
And in the greatness of his foolishness he will go astray and be lost.