Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:
Lest thou give {H5414} thine honour {H1935} unto others {H312}, and thy years {H8141} unto the cruel {H394}:
so that you won't give your vigor to others and your years to someone who is cruel,
lest you concede your vigor to others, and your years to one who is cruel;
Lest thou give thine honor unto others, And thy years unto the cruel;
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Nehemiah 13:26
Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin. -
Hosea 4:13
They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the shadow thereof [is] good: therefore your daughters shall commit whoredom, and your spouses shall commit adultery. -
Hosea 4:14
I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people [that] doth not understand shall fall. -
Judges 16:19
And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. -
Judges 16:21
But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house. -
Genesis 38:23
And Judah said, Let her take [it] to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her. -
Genesis 38:26
And Judah acknowledged [them], and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.
Proverbs 5:9 serves as a stark warning within a larger discourse on the dangers of sexual immorality. It underscores the profound and irreversible losses that result from succumbing to illicit desires, specifically the erosion of one’s reputation and the squandering of precious time.
Context
This verse is part of a father’s urgent admonition to his son in Proverbs chapter 5, cautioning him against the seductive allure and ultimate destruction brought by the "strange woman" or adulteress. The preceding verses vividly describe her deceptive charm and the bitter end of her path, which leads to death and the grave (Proverbs 5:5). Verse 9 presents a direct consequence of ignoring this counsel, detailing the specific forms of ruin that await.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The Hebrew word for "honour" is hod (הוֹד), which can mean majesty, splendor, dignity, or reputation. Its loss implies a complete stripping away of one's esteemed position. The term "cruel" comes from the Hebrew akhzariy (אַכְזְרִי), meaning merciless, fierce, or ruthless. This vividly portrays the unforgiving nature of the consequences that await those who stray from the path of wisdom, emphasizing the harsh reality of sin's grip.
Practical Application
Proverbs 5:9 remains profoundly relevant today. It urges believers to exercise discernment and self-control, especially concerning temptations that promise fleeting pleasure but deliver lasting pain. It serves as a timeless reminder to: