Every Man's Bible - Proverbs - Flipbook - Page 12
Proverbs 6 | page 838
+ + + Men, Women, & God
Straight Talk about Adultery
Proverbs 5
TALK ABOUT BLUNT! This chapter definitely doesn’t beat around the bush. The consequences of cheating on
your wife are enough to scare any man: “You will lose your honor and will lose to merciless people all you
have achieved. Strangers will consume your wealth, and someone else will enjoy the fruit of your labor. In
the end you will groan in anguish when disease consumes your body” (Proverbs 5:9-11).
Maybe you know guys who have strayed, and none of this happened to them. Many people today think
that marriages come and go, with little damage to show for it.
But behind closed doors, adultery causes tremendous damage to a relationship. The betrayal also filters
down and hurts the children of that union.
The advice in this passage to the man tempted by a woman other than his wife is simple: “Stay away
from her!” (5:8). We are given a way to escape; don’t ignore it. This is clear advice on how to get out of a
bad situation before it even starts.
Is it okay to have lunch with a female coworker? What about working together on a project past quitting
time? Be honest as you evaluate what is going on in your mind and heart. If temptation lurks around the
corner . . . run!
Instead, go flirt with your wife. That’s exactly what verses 15-19 are describing—in fairly explicit language.
When you’re tempted by sex outside of marriage, remember that “the LORD sees clearly what a man does,
examining every path he takes” (5:21).
For the LORD sees clearly what a man does,
examining every path he takes.
22 An evil man is held captive by his own
sins;
they are ropes that catch and hold him.
23 He will die for lack of self-control;
he will be lost because of his great
foolishness.
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Lessons for Daily Life
My child,* if you have put up security
for a friend’s debt
or agreed to guarantee the debt of
a stranger—
if you have trapped yourself by your
agreement
and are caught by what you said—
follow my advice and save yourself,
for you have placed yourself at your
friend’s mercy.
Now swallow your pride;
go and beg to have your name erased.
Don’t put it off; do it now!
Don’t rest until you do.
Save yourself like a gazelle escaping from
a hunter,
like a bird fleeing from a net.
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6:1 Hebrew My son.
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Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.
Learn from their ways and become wise!
Though they have no prince
or governor or ruler to make them work,
they labor hard all summer,
gathering food for the winter.
But you, lazybones, how long will you
sleep?
When will you wake up?
A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—
then poverty will pounce on you like
a bandit;
scarcity will attack you like an armed
robber.
What are worthless and wicked people
like?
They are constant liars,
signaling their deceit with a wink of
the eye,
a nudge of the foot, or the wiggle
of fingers.
Their perverted hearts plot evil,
and they constantly stir up trouble.
But they will be destroyed suddenly,
broken in an instant beyond all hope
of healing.
