This chapter warns of the dangers of associating with an adulterous woman, portrayed as foolish living, and encourages associating with Wisdom instead. It uses a word picture of a young man seduced by a woman's smooth speech but unaware that her paths lead aimlessly. Forsaking Wisdom to indulge in waywardness leads to lost honor, wealth given to strangers, and a depleted body. In contrast, containing oneself and cherishing one's wife leads to thriving. The next chapters will further develop these themes of temptation and wisdom using other word pictures and warnings.

2. THE ADULTEROUS WOMAN –
SYMBOL OF FOOLISH LIVING
CHAPTER FIVE
The Mentoring Continues – The entire tone is WARNING
Up until now, The Father-figure/Mentor has been appealing
to the Son/Mentoree to grow his attraction to the beauty
of Wisdom (also personified as a woman)
In this chapter, the tone changes to “watch out”, “danger
ahead”!

3. “SHE GIVES NO THOUGHT TO THE WAY OF LIFE”
The Mentor contrasts association with the Adulteress with an
association with Wisdom, previously noted
He paints a picture of foolish living in this mini-drama of the young
man who gives in to the temptations of the Adulteress
She is appealing – her speech is smooth
But she is deadly in ways she does not even understand:
“her paths wander aimlessly but she does not know it” (v. 6)
So it is with foolish living and a self-centered and undisciplined
lifestyle that is not shaped in “the Fear of the LORD”

4. DON’T SET YOURSELF UP FOR REGRETS
Vss. 7 – 14 : Word Picture
In “committing adultery” by forsaking the beauty of Wisdom to indulge
in the waywardness of The Adulteress a person sets themselves up
for long term regrets:
•
Your honor and dignity: gone
•
Your wealth: given to strangers
•
Your flesh and body: depleted
“I hated discipline. My heart spurned correction. I ignored my
teachers. I was in serious trouble in the midst of God’s people”

5. CONTAIN YOURSELF – AND THRIVE!
Vss. 15 – 20
The contrasting word picture here is full of thriving and
satisfaction
Images of water, fountain, the gracefulness of a deer,
“intoxication” of loving the “wife of your youth”
AND WATCHING ALL THE TIME – THE ALMIGHTY
(HE KNOWS YOUR WAYS)

6. COMING UP IN CHAPTERS SIX AND SEVEN
In the next section, these contrasting themes will
be further developed with other word pictures,
finally ending up in 6: 20 – 35 with another
description of the Snares of The Adulteress
This will continue through Chapter Seven, which
is a one act play complete with dialogue and
warnings and a sharp series of warnings.