New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Proverbs 5
2
Then you will continue to have good sense. Your lips will keep on speaking words of knowledge.
Reference
3
A woman who commits adultery has lips that drip honey. What she says is smoother than oil.
Reference
5
Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to the grave.
Reference
Parallel theme
Proverbs 7:27
6
She doesn't give any thought to her way of life. Her paths are crooked, but she doesn't realize it.
Reference
7
My sons, listen to me. Don't turn away from what I say.
Reference
Parallel theme
Proverbs 4:1
9
If you do, you will give your best strength to others. You will give the best years of your life to someone who is mean.
Reference
Parallel theme
Nehemiah 13:26
14
I was almost totally destroyed. It happened right in front of the whole community."
Reference
Parallel theme
Proverbs 13:20
15
Drink water from your own well. Drink running water from your own spring.
Reference
Parallel theme
Hebrews 13:4
16
Should your springs pour out into the streets? Should your streams of water pour out in public places?
Reference
17
No! Let them belong to you alone. Never share them with strangers.
18
May your fountain be blessed. May the wife you married when you were young make you happy.
Reference
Parallel theme
Ecclesiastes 9:9
19
She is like a loving doe, a graceful deer. May her breasts always satisfy you. May you always be captured by her love.
Reference
20
My son, why be captured by a woman who commits adultery? Why hug the wife of another man?
Reference
21
The Lord watches a man's ways. He studies all of his paths.
Reference
Parallel theme
Hebrews 4:13
Job 34:21
Jeremiah 32:19
Job 31:4
Psalm 119:168
Jeremiah 16:17
Hosea 7:2
References Lord
Proverbs 15:3
Psalm 11:4
Jeremiah 23:24
Summary of Proverbs 5
Proverbs 5 is a direct and practical warning about sexual temptation, adultery, self-control, and faithfulness in marriage. The chapter is written as a father speaking to his son, but its principles apply broadly to anyone facing temptation or trying to protect an important relationship.
The chapter begins with another call to listen carefully to wisdom. This is important because the subject is one where emotions and desires can easily overpower judgment. The father wants his son to think about consequences before he finds himself in a tempting situation.
The first major warning concerns the speech of an immoral woman. Her words are described as sweet like honey and smooth like oil. The picture is intentionally attractive. Temptation often does not present itself as something obviously dangerous. It can sound exciting, flattering, romantic, or pleasurable.
But the chapter immediately reveals the other side.
What begins as sweetness eventually becomes bitterness.
The lesson is that a person should not judge temptation by how it feels in the moment. He should consider where it will lead.
The father describes the path of sexual immorality as leading toward suffering, destruction, regret, and death. The word "path" is important because the chapter is not simply warning about one isolated decision. It is warning about a direction of life.
One decision can lead to another.
One compromise can make the next compromise easier.
Eventually, a person can find himself much farther down the road than he ever intended to go.
That is why the father gives an especially practical instruction: stay far away from the temptation.
He does not tell his son to approach the woman's house and see whether he can resist. He tells him not even to go near the entrance.
This teaches an important principle of self-control:
Do not deliberately place yourself in situations where you know you are likely to make a destructive choice.
The chapter then describes the consequences that may follow. A person can lose honor, years of his life, money, health, relationships, and reputation. Eventually he may look back and realize that he had been warned but refused to listen.
The most painful part is the regret.
The person asks why he hated correction and why he refused to listen to his teachers. The tragedy is that wisdom was available before the damage happened.
The chapter therefore encourages people to listen before consequences force them to learn.
After this strong warning, the chapter changes direction and gives a positive picture of marriage.
The husband is told to drink from his own cistern and rejoice with the wife of his youth. These images communicate exclusive marital intimacy and satisfaction.
The chapter does not treat sexual desire as something inherently evil. Instead, it teaches that sexual intimacy belongs within a faithful marriage relationship.
This is an important distinction.
The problem is not that a husband experiences attraction, affection, or sexual desire. The problem is allowing those desires to lead him outside the boundaries of faithfulness.
The wife is described with beautiful and affectionate imagery. She is compared to a graceful deer and gazelle, and the husband is encouraged to remain satisfied with her love.
This positive description is important because the chapter is not merely saying:
"Do not commit adultery."
It is also saying:
Value and enjoy the relationship you already have.
A strong marriage is not built only by avoiding wrong relationships. It is strengthened by appreciating, loving, and investing in the right relationship.
The chapter then returns to God's perspective.
God sees every person's path.
This means that sexual wrongdoing may sometimes be hidden from other people, but it is never hidden from God. The chapter therefore moves beyond social consequences and addresses the spiritual dimension of faithfulness.
The final verses describe sin as something that can trap the person who commits it.
This is one of the most important ideas in the chapter.
The central message of Proverbs 5 is that wisdom looks beyond the immediate attraction of temptation and considers where that temptation will eventually lead.
The chapter does not deny that temptation can be powerful. Instead, it teaches that wisdom recognizes the danger early and chooses a different path.
It also gives a positive alternative. Rather than seeking excitement outside a committed relationship, a married person should invest in the marriage he already has. Faithfulness is not presented merely as avoiding punishment; it can bring genuine joy, intimacy, stability, and satisfaction.
The final lesson is particularly important: people can become trapped by their own choices.
What seems like a small compromise can become a repeated habit. What begins as a private decision can eventually affect an entire family and future.
In simple terms, Proverbs 5 teaches:
Do not let temporary attraction control permanent decisions. Stay away from situations that can lead you into sexual wrongdoing, listen to correction before you suffer the consequences, treasure your marriage, remain faithful to your spouse, and remember that God sees every path you take. Wisdom protects your future by teaching you to think beyond today's temptation.
A person may initially believe that he is controlling his behavior. But repeated choices can eventually control him. A secret can become a habit. A habit can become an addiction. An addiction can become a destructive pattern that damages relationships, finances, reputation, and spiritual life.
The person becomes trapped by the very behavior he once believed he could control.
The chapter ends by saying that the wicked person lacks discipline and is led astray by his own foolishness.
The problem is therefore not simply that temptation exists. Temptation is part of human life. The deeper problem is refusing wisdom, rejecting correction, and failing to exercise self-control.
The chapter begins with another call to listen carefully to wisdom. This is important because the subject is one where emotions and desires can easily overpower judgment. The father wants his son to think about consequences before he finds himself in a tempting situation.
The first major warning concerns the speech of an immoral woman. Her words are described as sweet like honey and smooth like oil. The picture is intentionally attractive. Temptation often does not present itself as something obviously dangerous. It can sound exciting, flattering, romantic, or pleasurable.
But the chapter immediately reveals the other side.
What begins as sweetness eventually becomes bitterness.
The lesson is that a person should not judge temptation by how it feels in the moment. He should consider where it will lead.
The father describes the path of sexual immorality as leading toward suffering, destruction, regret, and death. The word "path" is important because the chapter is not simply warning about one isolated decision. It is warning about a direction of life.
One decision can lead to another.
One compromise can make the next compromise easier.
Eventually, a person can find himself much farther down the road than he ever intended to go.
That is why the father gives an especially practical instruction: stay far away from the temptation.
He does not tell his son to approach the woman's house and see whether he can resist. He tells him not even to go near the entrance.
This teaches an important principle of self-control:
Do not deliberately place yourself in situations where you know you are likely to make a destructive choice.
The chapter then describes the consequences that may follow. A person can lose honor, years of his life, money, health, relationships, and reputation. Eventually he may look back and realize that he had been warned but refused to listen.
The most painful part is the regret.
The person asks why he hated correction and why he refused to listen to his teachers. The tragedy is that wisdom was available before the damage happened.
The chapter therefore encourages people to listen before consequences force them to learn.
After this strong warning, the chapter changes direction and gives a positive picture of marriage.
The husband is told to drink from his own cistern and rejoice with the wife of his youth. These images communicate exclusive marital intimacy and satisfaction.
The chapter does not treat sexual desire as something inherently evil. Instead, it teaches that sexual intimacy belongs within a faithful marriage relationship.
This is an important distinction.
The problem is not that a husband experiences attraction, affection, or sexual desire. The problem is allowing those desires to lead him outside the boundaries of faithfulness.
The wife is described with beautiful and affectionate imagery. She is compared to a graceful deer and gazelle, and the husband is encouraged to remain satisfied with her love.
This positive description is important because the chapter is not merely saying:
"Do not commit adultery."
It is also saying:
Value and enjoy the relationship you already have.
A strong marriage is not built only by avoiding wrong relationships. It is strengthened by appreciating, loving, and investing in the right relationship.
The chapter then returns to God's perspective.
God sees every person's path.
This means that sexual wrongdoing may sometimes be hidden from other people, but it is never hidden from God. The chapter therefore moves beyond social consequences and addresses the spiritual dimension of faithfulness.
The final verses describe sin as something that can trap the person who commits it.
This is one of the most important ideas in the chapter.
The central message of Proverbs 5 is that wisdom looks beyond the immediate attraction of temptation and considers where that temptation will eventually lead.
The chapter does not deny that temptation can be powerful. Instead, it teaches that wisdom recognizes the danger early and chooses a different path.
It also gives a positive alternative. Rather than seeking excitement outside a committed relationship, a married person should invest in the marriage he already has. Faithfulness is not presented merely as avoiding punishment; it can bring genuine joy, intimacy, stability, and satisfaction.
The final lesson is particularly important: people can become trapped by their own choices.
What seems like a small compromise can become a repeated habit. What begins as a private decision can eventually affect an entire family and future.
In simple terms, Proverbs 5 teaches:
Do not let temporary attraction control permanent decisions. Stay away from situations that can lead you into sexual wrongdoing, listen to correction before you suffer the consequences, treasure your marriage, remain faithful to your spouse, and remember that God sees every path you take. Wisdom protects your future by teaching you to think beyond today's temptation.
A person may initially believe that he is controlling his behavior. But repeated choices can eventually control him. A secret can become a habit. A habit can become an addiction. An addiction can become a destructive pattern that damages relationships, finances, reputation, and spiritual life.
The person becomes trapped by the very behavior he once believed he could control.
The chapter ends by saying that the wicked person lacks discipline and is led astray by his own foolishness.
The problem is therefore not simply that temptation exists. Temptation is part of human life. The deeper problem is refusing wisdom, rejecting correction, and failing to exercise self-control.