Section 5:1–23
Eighth lesson: Avoid the temptation to commit adultery
A summary of this lesson is: Stay away from a woman who commits adultery, or you will bitterly regret it (5:1–14). Instead, be delighted with your own wife (5:15–20), because the LORD sees everything you do and will punish wickedness (5:21–23).
Some other headings for this section are:
Advice to stay away from a woman who commits adultery
-or-
Warning About Adultery (New Century Version)
-or-
Avoid Adultery (God’s Word)
-or-
Be Faithful to Your Wife (Contemporary English Version)
Paragraph 5:1–6
In this paragraph, the father urges the son to pay attention to his wise words (5:1) so that he will always be cautious and sensible in what he does and says (5:2). The reason for this caution is that it will enable him to resist the tempting invitation of the adulteress whose path leads straight to death (5:3–6).
5:1
Notice the parallel parts that are similar in meaning:
1a My son, pay attention to my wisdom;
1b
incline your ear to my insight,
5:1a–b
My son: See the note at 1:8a.
pay attention…incline your ear: These two parallel commands are identical to the commands used in 4:20.
my wisdom…my insight: The phrases my wisdom and my insight are parallel. Together, both phrases refer to the father’s words, which express or contain his wisdom and good sense. Another way to translate these phrases is:
my wise words…my insightful words
-or-
my words that contain my wisdom…my advice that makes known my good sense
Other ways to translate these two commands are:
1a My son, I am wise, so listen carefully to my advice.
1b I have good sense, so pay attention to what I teach you.
wisdom: The word wisdom indicates a person’s skill/ability to make good decisions, to act properly, and to do what is right in any situation.
insight: In this context, the Hebrew word tǝbunah, which the Berean Standard Bible translates as insight, refers to “competence” or “good sense” to handle the situations that a person faces in life. Both the Berean Standard Bible and the New Revised Standard Version usually translate this word as “understanding.” It is not the same word that the New Revised Standard Version usually translates as “insight.”
General Comment on 5:1a–b
In some languages, it may be more natural to combine and/or reorder the parallel parts. For example:
My child, pay attention and listen to my words of wisdom and good sense.
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