1Solomon recommendeth obedience to his precepts, and such a familiarity with wisdom as may prove a guard to chastity. 6In a recital of what had passed under his own eye he sheweth the cunning and impudence of a lewd woman, and the desperate folly of a youth seduced by her: 24he dissuadeth from such dangerous courses.
1MY son, keep my words, and 1lay up my commandments with thee.
1 See Job 23 on verse 12.
2Keepa my commandments, and 2live; and my 3law as 4the apple of thine eye.b
a Lev. 18:5; Prov. 4:4.
2 That is, thou shalt surely live. That which is uttered in a commanding way, often comprehends in it a certain promise. See Prov. 3 on verse 25; Prov. 4 on verse 4.
3 Or, doctrine. See Prov. 1 on verse 8.
4 Namely, which for its tenderness must be very narrowly kept. See Deut. 32 on verse 10.
b pupil of the eye
35Bindc them upon thy fingers, 6write them upon the table of thine heart.
5 That is, have them continually before your eyes to remember them, and at hand to put them in practice. Compare Deut. 6 on verse 8; 11:18.
c Deut. 6:8; 11:18.
6 See Prov. 3 on verse 3.
47Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy 8kinswoman:
7 That is, love wisdom, and honor her, as if she were your sister, or your next of kin, etc.
8 The Hebrew word rendered here kinswoman is so taken in Ruth 2:1. Compare also Ruth 3:2 and the annotation.
5Thatd they may keep thee from the 9strange woman, from the stranger 10which flattereth with her words.
d Prov. 5:3.
9 See Prov. 2 on verse 16.
10 See Prov. 2 on verse 16, before mentioned.
6¶11For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
11 Although it may be that Solomon has seen this with his own eyes, nevertheless it appears that he portrays it in an exemplary manner as if this matter happens often, and this unto instruction and warning for the youth; as Christ likewise brings forth often such examples and similitudes in the Gospel.
7And beheld among the 12simple ones, I 13discerned among the 14youths, a young man 15void of understanding,
12 See Prov. 1 on verse 4.
13 See of the Hebrew word thus taken, Job 18:2 and the annotation.
14 Hebr. sons, that is, young men or bachelors, as among us the word daughter is often taken for a maid or damsel.
15 Hebr. heartless. See Prov. 6 on verse 32.
8Passing through the street near 16her corner; and he went the way 17to her house,
16 Namely, the corner of the adulteress. Understand, near the corner of her house where she dwelled.
17 That is, which led to her house.
918In the twilight, in the evening, in the 19black and dark night:
18 Namely, of the evening. See of the Hebrew word, 2 Kings 7 on verse 5.
19 Hebr. blackness of the night, that is, when the night grew black by reason of darkness. Also Prov. 20:20 in the blackness of darkness, that is, when it is black by reason of great darkness. And understand this verse both of the beginning and of the continuation of this action.
10And, behold, there met him a woman with the 20attire of an harlot, and 21subtil of heart.
20 The Hebrew word signifies properly an habit, apparel, dressing or ornament which is well suited and fitted to the body. Compare Psalm 73:6.
21 Hebr. kept, or, guarded in heart, or, furnished with wit or senses, that is, double, cunning, crafty and exceedingly furnished and provided with all manner of subtle craftiness to deceive and not to be deceived.
11(Sheeis 22loud and 23stubborn; her feet 24abide not in her house:
e Prov. 9:13.
22 That is, unquiet in mind, lose or dissolute in tongue, light in behavior or gesture, very busy in vain and idle actions, or, prattling. Also Prov. 9:13.
23 Or, wandering, namely, from all good manners and from obedience to her husband.
24 Hebr. dwelled not, so is the Hebrew word taken, Exod. 40:35; Judges 5:16.
1225Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
25 Hebr. by turn, by turn, that is, at one time without, at another time in the streets. Understand without, the place and room or space, which is before the door; by the streets, the common passages and lanes that run through the city and outside of it. This annotation also applies to the next word – now.
13So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an 26impudent face said unto him,
26 Or. stiffened, that is, she laid aside all shame and grace, was bold and impudent, and (as we usually say) put on a brazen face. Compare the annotation at Deut. 28 on verse 50. Other, gathered together.
14I have 27peace offerings with me; this day have I 28payed my 29vows.
27 See of these Lev. 3 on verse 1, whereof those, which brought them unto the Lord, had their share; wherewith they then made merry with their friends. Or, thank offerings are upon me, that is, the vow or promise to offer thank offerings.
28 That is, performed what I promised. See Psalm 50:14; 61:8; 65:1; Nahum 1:15.
29 See Lev. 7 on verse 16.
15Therefore came I forth to meet thee, 30diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
30 The Hebrew word signifies properly to seek a thing betimes in the morning, but it is generally taken for all kinds of diligent seeking. See Job 7 on verse 21; for, here it is not spoken of the morning, but of the time in the evening.
16I have decked my bed with coverings of 31tapestry, 32with carved works, 33with fine linen of Egypt.
31 The Hebrew word, which is only found here and in Prov. 31:19, seems to signify any kind of bed ornament, as costly tapestry, and curiously wrought blankets, wherewith the beds were not only covered, but in a singular manner adorned.
32 Understand engravings and incisions, which for ornaments’ sake were curiously carved and hollowed out in the bed-stead, where on the bed was laid.
33 Hebr. lace, or thread twisted, whereby some understand very fine white and costly linen, which was made of such kind of threads and belonged to the bed. Compare Gen. 41:42; 1 Kings 10:28; Prov. 31:22. Some think that those threads or twines, which were very fine and costly, ran between the tapestries or hangings, to make a difference between the pictures that might be wrought or woven upon them. Others perceive that the bed-stead was for ornaments’ sake twisted about with these costly threads or ribbons.
17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18Come, let us take our 34fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with 35loves.
34 Compare Prov. 5:19 and the annotation thereon.
35 Or, in much love. Hebr. loves, in the plural number.
19For 36the goodmanfis not at home, he is gone 37a long journey:
36 She speaks this in contempt of her husband, as if he was her husband no more.
f master of the house*
37 Hebr. away from far, that is, a far way; also Jer. 31:10 the isle afar off, that is, which lie afar off.
20He hath taken 38a bag of money 39with him, and will come home 40at the day appointed.
38 This she says to signify that he would stay away a long time.
39 Hebr. in his hand, that is, with him. See 2 Sam. 8 on verse 10; 2 Kings 5 on verse 5.
40 That is, at the time that he has set me and which will be long yet ere it be expired. See of the Hebrew word, Psalm 81:3 and the annotation.
21With her much fair 41speech she 42caused him to yield, with 43the flattering of her lips she forced him.
41 The Hebrew word signifies for the most part a good instruction, or doctrine, whereby a man is taught and instructed for the obtaining of wisdom and virtue, Prov. 1:5, but here, being taken in a bad sense, it is as much as a deceitful and alluring persuasion by fair and smooth words, whereby a man is seduced to his own hurt and damage.
42 Hebr. caused him to revolt, or, inclined him.
43 Otherwise also called lips of flattery, Psalm 12:2, 3. Hebr. smoothness, or, slipperiness of her lips.
22He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or 44as a fool to 45the correction of the stocks;g
44 In the Hebrew the words are inverted, thus: as the stocks to the correction of the fool, that is, as the fool, namely, goes to the correction or chastisement of the stocks, that is, to be punished and chastised with the stocks or with irons. Other, as the fool with the stocks, or, irons of correction.
45 The Hebrew word rendered here correction signifies not only the instruction, which is done by words, as Prov. 1:2; 16:22, etc., but also the chastisement, which is done by actual punishment, as Prov. 22:15; 23:13; Jer. 30:14; Ezek. 5:15.
g wooden block or log*
23Till 46a dart strike through 47his liver; ash a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is 48for his life.
46 That is, a fierce, sharp, a very profound and penetrable vexation or punishment. See Deut. 32 on verse 23; Job 6 on verse 4.
47 That is, inflamed his desire with fatal lusts, spoiled his body with unsoundness and rottenness, and disquieted his spirit with the sense and apprehension of God’s wrath.
h Prov. 1:17.
48 Namely, hung up, laid or spread abroad, to take away his life, (Hebr. soul).
24¶Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye 49children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
49 See Prov. 1 on verse 8.
25Let not thine heart decline to her 50ways, go not astray in her paths.
50 That is, manner of life, in doing and not doing, in actions and deportments. See Gen. 6 on verse 12. Take in the same sense the following word paths.
26For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, 51many strong men have been 52slain by her.
51 Other, many mighty, that is, courageous, valiant according to the body in power or according to the spirit in wisdom, or according to both, as Samson, David, Solomon, etc. The Hebrew word is taken for many in number, Psalm 139:17; Jer. 5:6; 15:8; for mighty or strong, Gen. 18:18; Exod. 1:7, 9; Deut. 7:1.
52 That is, those whom she has killed and destroyed.
27Heri house is the way 53to hell, going down to the chambers 54of death.
i Prov. 2:18; 5:5.
53 That is, which lead to the grave. Other, to hell; for, the Hebrew word signifies both. See Gen. 37 on verse 35. Both significations may here take place.
54 Not only of physical, but also of spiritual and eternal death.