What does Proverbs 7:23 mean?

Even those who believe in God are not immune from the earthly consequences of their sinful choices. Falling to temptation is like an animal who fails to recognize a trap until it is too late. Once caught, both the stag and the bird will die. An arrow will pierce the stag's liver and bring about a quick death.

In his first letter to the Corinthians Paul writes that some of that congregation had died because of their sin. He writes: "Anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died" (1 Corinthians 11:29–30). The apostle John warns that a believer who purposely lives in sin may meet an untimely death (1 John 5:16).

When faced with temptation, a believer can choose to obey the promptings of his sinful nature or the promptings of the Holy Spirit. He should follow the counsel the apostle Paul gives in Romans 6:12–13: "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness."