Proverb for the Day 7:24-25 — Think It So You Can Do It!

24 Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say. 25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. 

The final four verses of chapter 7 are best viewed together and represent the father’s final words to his sons about immoral women. Written in typical Hebrew poetry, they’re a series of complimentary parallel statements.

Verses 24 and 25 give two sets of commands. It begins by addressing “my sons,” a familiar refrain earlier in this and previous chapters.

Father’s first set of command are “listen to me; pay attention to what I say” (:24). Dad has some experience in life and has something of value to say to his boys – especially in the context of immoral women. 

In verse 25, his advice is crystal clear. “Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths.” He doesn’t tell his son what to do…but tells him how to think – “your heart.”

If we’re ever going to do right things on a continuous basis, it’ll have to start in our hearts – our minds, our thinking. It’s so easy to get off track in our thinking and it’s so important that we keep focus on what’s important.

Dad’s message is straightforward – if you pay attention to what I’m saying, it will help you to make good choices to not engage with those women.

But we can change the focus from immoral women and apply it to anything else that keeps us from being the person we’re supposed to be. Right actions always begin with right thinking!