Proverbs 22:14

The book of Proverbs gives us a lot of instruction on a lot of different subjects. One subject that can keep us in God’s wisdom is Godly Follower-ship. Who we follow; where we follow; how we follow are all spoken about in Proverbs. Here is one of them about God’s protection and/or discipline:

Proverbs 22:14 (NASV)

The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit;

He who is cursed of the Lord will fall into it.

Proverbs 22:14 (NIV)

The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit;

he who is under the Lord’s wrath will fall into it.

Proverbs 22:14 (ESV Strong's)

The mouth of forbidden women is a deep pit;

he with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.

We have listed the above proverb in three different versions of the Bible.  Each gives us just a little different English word from the original Hebrew.   God uses those who are evil in this world to punish others who are evil.   In this proverb Solomon tells us that God actually uses evil women to punish others.  He previously told us He will keep believers safe from her evil charms.  Proverbs 2:16; 5:3; 7:5; 23:27 all tell us how God protects us from evil women.   But, when God has decided to curse someone (who fails to obey Him and put their trust in Him) God can and will use an evil women as a way to discipline and/or punish them.   Note what Solomon says of this same truth in his book Ecclesiastes:

Ecclesiastes 7:26  "And I find something more bitter than death: the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her."

When we trust God we can escape from her evil ways.   When someone fails to trust God, He will use the evilness about her to punish them and to give them what they have "earned."   We must realize that her evil ways are on every corner (Proverbs 7).   She waits to ensnare us.   She waits to tempt us.  If we follow God we are protected by Him.  If we don't follow God we may be delivered over to her by God.