rd

Proverbs 7

1 An exhortation to wisdom and to the word of God, 5 Which will preserve us from the harlot, 6 Whose manners are described.
1.My son, keep my words, and hide my commandments with thee.
2.Keep my commandments, and thou shalt live, and mine instruction as the aapple of thine eyes.
3.Bind them upon thy fingers, and write them upon the table of thine heart.
4.Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister: and call understanding thy kinswoman,
5.That they may keep thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger that is smooth in her words.
6.bAs I was in the window of mine house, I looked through my window,
7.And I saw among the fools, and considered among the children a young man destitute of understanding,
8.Who passed through the street by her corner, and went toward her house,
9.In the twilight in the evening, when the night began to be cblack and dark.
10.And behold, there met him a woman with an harlot’s ^behaviour, and ^subtle in heart.
11.(She is dbabling and loud: whose feet can not abide in her house.
12.Now she is 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,
14.I have epeace offerings: this fday have I paid my vows.
15.Therefore came I forth to meet thee, that I might seek thy face: and I have found thee.
16.I have decked my bed with ornaments, ^carpets and laces of Egypt.
17.I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18.Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us take our pleasure in dalliance.
19.For mine husband is not at home: he is gone a journey far off.
20.He hath taken ^with him a bag of silver, and will come home at the day appointed.
21.Thus with her great craft she caused him to yield, and with her flattering lips she enticed him.
22.He followed her straightways, as an gox that goeth to the slaughter, and has a fool to the stocks for correction,
23.Till a dart strike through his liver, as a birde hasteth to the snare, not knowing that ^he is in danger.
24.¶ Hear me now therefore, ô children, and hearken to the words of my mouth.
25.Let not thine heart decline to her ways: wander thou not in her paths.
26.For she hath caused many to fall down wounded, and the istrong men are all slain by her.
27.Her house is the way *unto the grave, which goeth down to the chambers of death.

Notes

2-a.
By this diversity of words he means that nothing ought to be so dear unto us, as the word of God, nor that we look on any thing more, nor mind any thing so much.
6-b.
Solomon uses this parable to declare their folly, that suffer themselves to be abused by harlots.
9-c.
He shows that there was almost none so impudent, but they were afraid to be seen, and also their own consciences did accuse them, which caused them to seek the night to cover their filthiness.
10-^.
Or, garment.
10-^-1.
Or, hid.
11-d.
He describes certain conditions, which are peculiar to harlots.
13-^.
Ebr., she strengthened her face.
14-e.
Because that in peace offerings a portion returned to them, that offered, she shows him that she has meat at home to make good cheer with: or else she would use some cloak of holiness, till she had gotten him in her snares.
14-f.
Which declares that harlots outwardly will seem holy and religious: both because they may the better deceive others, and also thinking by observing of ceremonies and offerings to make satisfaction for their sins.
16-^.
Or, carved work.
20-^.
Ebr., in his hand.
22-g.
Which thinking he goes to the pasture, goes willing to his own destruction.
22-h.
Which goes cheerfully, not knowing that he shall be chastised.
23-^.
Ebr., It is for his life.
26-i.
Neither wit nor strength can deliver them that fall into the hands of the harlot.
27-*.
Chap 2.18.