Summary
The chapter opens with a paternal exhortation to heed wisdom and understanding, emphasizing the value of discretion and the safeguarding of one’s words. The prophet warns of the deceptive charm of a foreign woman, describing her sweetness and beauty that masks a bitter and deadly end. He admonishes the young man to keep clear distance from such a woman, to avoid the doors of her house and to resist the temptation to give honor to strangers. The narrative then shifts to a reflection on the dangers of neglecting instruction, lamenting the consequences of ignoring reproof and failing to obey teachers. Finally, the passage contrasts the virtuous relationship with a beloved wife—symbolized by a loving hind and pleasant roe—with the peril of an illicit affair, concluding that all human paths are seen by the Lord, and misdeeds lead to bondage and death.