Proverbs 5:11

"lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich another man’s house."

Key Reflection

Proverbs 5:11 warns against reckless behavior that could lead to the loss of one's hard-earned possessions. This verse draws a vivid picture of someone who squanders their wealth, only to see it benefit others—specifically strangers—who would then feast and live comfortably off the labor and resources that should have stayed within the original owner’s family or community. The cultural context here underscores the importance of prudence and diligence in managing one's possessions, as failure to do so could result in those very resources enriching someone else's household at your expense.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Yet one more curse is attendant on impurity. Then, as now, disease was the penalty of this sin.

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