Proverbs 5:1-6 “My child, be attentive to my wisdom, pay close attention to my understanding, in order to safeguard discretion, and that your lips may guard knowledge. For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her seductive words are smoother than olive oil, but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. Lest she should make level the path leading to life, her paths have wandered, but she is not able to discern it.”

We are again reminded of the parental aspect of any kind of teaching. It’s not just a job to pass on wisdom. It should be done out of care and concern, not only duty.

When we have understanding we’ll be able to control ourselves. A paraphrase of the first part of verse 2 could read, “to watch over your plans.” Wisdom gives us what we need to know to live properly, and we should make sure that’s what’s in our minds and on our lips! And speaking of lips, the lips of adulterous woman are seductive. But the words here are not just for young men. Anyone can have a problem with sexual immorality. Sex is seductive and destructive. No matter how strong we think we are, we can be pulled in. That’s why Paul’s instruction is so important: “flee sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18).