Proverbs 5: 1-14

Proverbs 5: 1-14 (ESV)

My son, be attentive to my wisdom;
incline your ear to my understanding,
that you may keep discretion,
and your lips may guard knowledge.
For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey,
and her speech is smoother than oil,

but in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death;
her steps follow the path to Sheol;
she does not ponder the path of life;
her ways wander, and she does not know it.

And now, O sons, listen to me,
and do not depart from the words of my mouth.
Keep your way far from her,
and do not go near the door of her house,
lest you give your honour to others
and your years to the merciless,
lest strangers take their fill of your strength,
and your labours go to the house of a foreigner,
and at the end of your life you groan,
when your flesh and body are consumed,
and you say, “How I hated discipline,
and my heart despised reproof!
I did not listen to the voice of my teachers
or incline my ear to my instructors.
I am at the brink of utter ruin
in the assembled congregation.”

Comment:

Sons again! No advice for the daughters? Well that is possibly a wrong assessment. Brothels are usually staffed by ladies, who advertise something which to a man is as sweet as honey. This advice is for those who will hear the advertising and because of the urges of sex the sons are likely to be those listening.

But Solomon’s claim is that the call pleasant to the ear, comparable with sweetness of honey in the mouth, is very different in its outworking. Hidden in the flavouring is stuff which is nasty plus; honey exchanged for a sharp sword thrust and even death!

Consider – honour lost; potentially financial loss and business ruined; and maybe a bit later the groaning associated with the consequences of contracted sexually transmitted disease. Such diseases have occurred as far back as records go. Then follows the agonizing accusations of a conscience which can only blame itself for its horrific problems.

Prayer: Help me to see beyond today into the distance, please.