Proverbs 5:11 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and at the end of your life you groan, when your flesh and body are consumed,

NIV: At the end of your life you will groan, when your flesh and body are spent.

NASB: And you will groan in the end, When your flesh and your body are consumed;

CSB: At the end of your life, you will lament when your physical body has been consumed,

NLT: In the end you will groan in anguish when disease consumes your body.

KJV: And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

NKJV: And you mourn at last, When your flesh and your body are consumed,

The specific sin Solomon warns about in this passage is adultery. In a general sense, the entire book of Proverbs cautions that following sin means risking dire consequences. Sexual immorality poses those risks to the body in a very direct way. As phrased here in this verse, yielding to adultery ruins one's health so that the flesh and body are emaciated at the end of one's life. In keeping with that same idea, later statements indicate the person who "commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself" (Proverbs 6:32). Proverbs 6:33 says the adulterer "will get wounds."

Earlier verses explained the damage to one's reputation and spirit that can come with adultery (Proverbs 5:9–10). This verse graphically presents the dangers which sexual sin poses to a person's physical health and well-being.

Spiritually, adultery destroys a person's relationship with the Lord. Psalm 66:18 states: "If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened." When he committed adultery with Bathsheba, King David suffered physically and spiritually. His bones ached, and he lost the joy of salvation. However, he confessed his sin, recognizing that it was primarily a sin against God. He wrote n Psalm 51:4, "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight." He prayed, "Let the bones that you have broken rejoice" (Psalm 51:8), and "restore to me the joy of your salvation" (Psalm 51:12).

Proverbs 5:7–14 comes after Solomon has warned his son about the allurement of a seductress. Here, Solomon lists a number of catastrophes that result from committing adultery. This list precedes his advice to stay faithful to one's spouse and enjoy the blessings of marriage—this is advice suitable for people of either sex.

Solomon approaches the subject of adultery by describing a prototype seducer: a smooth talker who leads the victim down a dangerous road. Sin promises pleasure, but it is ultimately brief and destructive consequences are long lasting. The destructive consequences include a loss of strength, respect, money, and longevity. The person who disregards godly counsel about adultery experiences ruin and disgrace. Faithfulness in marriage brings a person exuberance and joy. No sin, including adultery, is hidden from God. Sin ensnares the adulterer and shows that he is foolish, undisciplined, and far from the Lord.

This chapter continues the wise sayings Solomon addresses to his children and / or students. Solomon warns about the temptation to succumb to adultery. He points out the calamities of yielding to sexual sin, and of violating one's marriage. This warning is similar the one given in Proverbs 1:8–10. After cautioning about the risks of adultery, he cites the joys and advantages of monogamous marriage.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.