A father’s discourse on keeping away from strange (forbidden/promiscuous) women and loving your wife. This is the first of many such passages in Proverbs (e.g. Prv 6:20-35, 7:1-27).
v.1-6 The father admonishes his son to pay attention to his wisdom. The strange woman may be appealing but she is headed for death and destruction.
v.7-14 The father continues, keep far from her (and her house):
- lest you give your honor to others
- lest you give your years to the merciless
- lest strangers take their fill of your strength
- lest your labors go to the house of a foreigner
- and at the end of your life you groan (why did I not listen to wisdom?)
v.15-23 Here the father encourages and blesses proper behavior with the son’s wife. He warns that God’s eyes are on his paths and that the wicked will die in their stupidity.
The best defense against falling prey to a strange woman (man) is a proper and satisfying relationship with your wife (husband). Remember that God knows all of your ways.