“How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

“And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!” (12, 13).

He came to his senses too late to avoid the terrible consequences of his immorality.

(If I read the passage literally.)

Or of his closed-to-wisdom heart.

(If I read it figuratively.)

In whatever sense I read this passage, I must have my ear attentive to truth and wisdom.

I want to stay far away from evil, lest it seduce me:

“Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house” (8).

Rather, I purpose to give careful, consistent heed to verse 7:

“Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.”

I say, “Yes!”

from Proverbs 5:2

A little bit more from Proverbs 5: Bow Your Ear