1.
My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
1-4. Similar calls (Proverbs 3:1-3;
Proverbs 4:10, &c.).
2.
Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
2. apple . . . eye—pupil of
eye, a custody (Proverbs 4:23) of
special value.
3.
Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
3. Bind . . . fingers—as
inscriptions on rings.
4.
Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:
1-4. Similar calls (Proverbs 3:1-3;
Proverbs 4:10, &c.).
5.
That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.
5. The design of the teaching
(compare Proverbs 2:16; Proverbs 6:24).
6.
For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
6. For—or, "Since,"
introducing an example to illustrate the warning, which, whether a
narrative or a parable, is equally pertinent.
window—or, "opening"
looked—literally,
"watched earnestly" ().
casement—or, "lattice."
7.
And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
7. simple—as in .
void of, &c.—(Compare
Proverbs 6:32).
8.
Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
8. her corner—where she was
usually found.
went . . . house—implying,
perhaps, confidence in himself by his manner, as denoted in the word
went—literally, "tread
pompously."
9.
In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
9. The time, twilight, ending in
darkness.
black . . . night—literally,
"pupil," or, "eye," that is, middle of night.
10.
And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
10. attire—that of harlots was
sometimes peculiar.
subtile—or, "wary,"
"cunning."
11.
(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
11, 12. loud—or, "noisy,"
"bustling."
stubborn—not
submissive.
without . . . streets, . . .
corner—(Compare 1 Timothy 5:13;
Titus 2:5).
12.
Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
13.
So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
13-15. The preparations for a
feast do not necessarily imply peculiar religious professions. The
offerer retained part of the victim for a feast (, &c.). This feast she professes was prepared for him whom
she boldly addresses as one sought specially to partake of it.
14.
I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
15.
Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
16.
I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
16, 17. my bed—or, "couch,"
adorned in the costliest manner.
17.
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
17. bed—a place for sleeping.
18.
Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
18-20. There is no fear of
discovery.
19.
For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
20.
He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
20. the day appointed—perhaps,
literally, "a full moon," that is, a fortnight's time
(compare Proverbs 7:19).
21.
With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
21. caused . . . yield—or,
"inclines."
flattering—(Compare ).
forced him—by
persuasion overcoming his scruples.
22.
He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
22. straightway—quickly,
either as ignorant of danger, or incapable of resistance.
23.
Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
23. Till—He is now caught ().
24.
Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
24. The inferential admonition
is followed (Proverbs 7:26; Proverbs 7:27),
by a more general allegation of the evils of this vice.
25.
Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
26.
For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
26, 27. Even the mightiest fail
to resist her deathly allurements.
27.
Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.