What does Proverbs 7:25 mean?

Solomon understood that obedience or disobedience is a matter of the heart. If his sons loved his teachings, they would obey them and not go astray. He mentions specifically the sins of turning aside to the prostitute's ways and straying into her paths. The foolish young man he had described earlier had done both. He turned aside from the street near her corner and took the road to her house (Proverbs 7:7–8). After succumbing to her smooth, flattering words and appealing looks (Proverbs 7:10–20), he went astray, and followed her to her boudoir (Proverbs 7:21–23), resulting in all the disasters which accompany adultery. While adultery is the thematic element of this passage, the general concept of sin—whether it's greed, anger, or idolatry—comes with the same dangers.

If we receive Jesus' words into our hearts, we will follow Him wherever He leads. Christ referred to His sheep in John 10:3 as hearing His voice. In verse 4 He declared that He goes before His sheep, and His sheep follow Him. The Lord, the Good Shepherd, never leads His people astray. He always leads them by the still waters, in the paths of righteousness; and even when they walk through the valley of the shadow of death, He is with them (Psalm 23:2–5).