There is always a way that seems right in the sight of every man but its end leads to destruction and death. The school of wisdom (The Word of God) teaches that whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; he who does so destroys his own soul. Wounds and dishonor, will he get, and his reproach will not be wiped away. The school of fools teaches that stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But few realize that many have died out of the act of “drinking stolen waters” and “eating the pleasant bread”. Those who have been entangled with her have gone to Sheol (hell).
"[17]Stolen waters (pleasures) are sweet [because they are forbidden]; and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." Proverbs 9:17
Meaning of “stolen waters”
The phrase, “stolen waters” is symbolic, it represents adultery or fornication. The pleasant bread represents the same act being done in a hidden place, like a guest house, thinking they will never be caught. For a time, sexual sin seems to be the ideal thing to do. It is indeed enjoyable to drink stolen waters, to meddle where we ought not to, but the consequences are beyond what we can think, we end up losing our soul.
This is because sex is not only physical, but it’s a spiritual act, and an altar is raised out of the act that units the parties involved through the covenant of sex, that’s why it destroys the soul and those involved are destined to Sheol.[Proverbs 6:33]
Solomon warns us of the loose woman, whose lips drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil. With much seductive speech she persuades him that is foolish (lustful and does not fear the LORD), with her smooth talk, she compels him, saying, “Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love.
For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.” And like a fool, he follows her, but little does he know that it will cost him his life. This is how sin ensnares us by its craftiness. This young man doesn’t know that she has a track record of the many might men she has laid low and slain and that her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death. [Proverbs 9:18]
A wise man should not desire her beauty (the seduction of sin) in his heart nor let her capture him with her eyelashes, for her motive is to stalk a man’s very life, and she has no mercy. Therefore, every man should drink water from his own cistern and flee and hate stolen waters. Like a gold ring in a pig’s nose, so is this beautiful seductive woman who lacks discipline. This is therefore a call to keep our hearts with all diligence, for out it flows issues of life.
She is like the queen of Babylon who seduces all the nations of the earth to fornicate with her, leading them astray. She is beautiful indeed, dressed in purple and glittering gold and precious stones. With this, she drags the simple to Sheol. Many lusts after her and follow her foolishly as sheep led to the slaughter. She lurks in secret that she may seize the simple. She seizes him when she draws him into her net.
“Stolen waters” defined as adultery
With her, [fornication or adultery personified] seductive speech she persuades many, and with her smooth talk, she compels them to do her bidding. They have no restraint before her, for the simple have no power to resist her charms. The simple are ensnared by the female demon Onoskelis described in the testament of Solomon[4:1-7], whose agenda is to lure men and lead them astray. She perverts them from their true natures.
In the darkness, crickets sing the songs of the night as honey drips in the illicit act of love, deep into darkness in the secret place.[Proverbs 7:18] God looks from heaven and pities them, for they are doomed for destruction. Sheol opens her hands [Isaiah 5:14] to receive the soul of the simple [foolish, wicked] who wastes their lives in adultery and fornication [Proverbs 6:32-33]. She hounds the soul of men and knows no mercy. She ensnares both great [wise] and simple [fools].
He who fears The LORD will be delivered from her, but the sinner has been taken by her.[Ecclesiastes 7:26]. Guard your heart therefore for out of it flows the issues of life [Proverbs 4:23].
"Drink waters out of your own cistern [of a pure marriage relationship], and fresh running waters out of your own well Should your offspring be dispersed abroad as water-brooks in the streets? [confine yourself to your own wife] Allow your children to be for yours alone and not the children of strangers with you. Let your fountain [of human life] be blessed [with the rewards of fidelity], and rejoice in the wife of your youth. let her be as the loving hind and pleasant doe [tender, gentle, attractive]–let her bosom satisfy you at all times, and always be transported with delight in her love. Why should you, my son, be infatuated with a loose woman, embrace the bosom of an outsider, and go astray?" Proverbs 5:15-20
