The bitter taste of Wormwood

When trying to teach a young person some pearls of wisdom it is always good to use 'word-pictures' that hopefully stick in their minds. Solomon is a master at this and in today's unique lesson, on the pit-falls of adultery, he uses two very clear, contrasting images to bring his point across.

"For the lips of an immoral woman drip honey,
And her mouth is smoother than oil;
⁴ But in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
Sharp as a two-edged sword.
⁵ Her feet go down to death,Her steps lay hold of hell." - Proverbs 5:3-5

He tells the young men that chasing after pleasures (he uses women as an example in this passage as often it was just the men who were taught in religious schools) is going to end up being a bitter experience. 

In fact, if we look at these verses again we will see that the words he chooses bring this great contrast to light:

Honey (sweet to taste) versus Wormwood (which is a bitter herb)
Smooth versus Sharp 

These wise words are here to teach all of us that in pursuing things that 'look good', we may fall into a trap of disappointment and hurt in the long run.

"Educating the mind, without educating the heart is no wisdom at all." - Aristotle

Living in Grace
D3LM3