7 I saw among the simple ones. I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding,
He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding. He who does it destroys his own soul.
"How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, And fools hate knowledge?
For those who are such don't serve our Lord, Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech, they deceive the hearts of the innocent. For your obedience has become known to all. I rejoice therefore over you. But I desire to have you wise in that which is good, but innocent in that which is evil.
"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!" As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
For my people are foolish, they don't know me; they are foolish children, and they have no understanding; they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
I went by the field of the sluggard, By the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
A prudent man sees danger, and hides himself; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge; Nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way.
The simple inherit folly, But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
He who tills his land shall have plenty of bread, But he who chases fantasies is void of understanding.
Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has discernment, But a rod is for the back of him who is void of understanding.
You simple, understand prudence. You fools, be of an understanding heart.
For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Proverbs 7
Commentary on Proverbs 7 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 7
The scope of this chapter is, as of several before, to warn young men against the lusts of the flesh. Solomon remembered of what ill consequence it was to his father, perhaps found himself, and perceived his son, addicted to it, or at least had observed how many hopeful young men among his subjects had been ruined by those lusts; and therefore he thought he could never say enough to dissuade men from them, that "every one may possess his vessel in sanctification and honour, and not in the lusts of uncleanness.' In this chapter we have,
We should all pray, "Lord, lead us not into this temptation.'
Pro 7:1-5
These verses are an introduction to his warning against fleshly lusts, much the same with that, ch. 6:20, etc., and ending (v. 5) as that did (v. 24), To keep thee from the strange woman; that is it he aims at; only there he had said, Keep thy father's commandment, here (which comes all to one), Keep my commandments, for he speaks to us as unto sons. He speaks in God's name; for it is God's commandments that we are to keep, his words, his law. The word of God must be to us,
Pro 7:6-23
Solomon here, to enforce the caution he had given against the sin of whoredom, tells a story of a young man that was ruined to all intents and purposes by the enticements of an adulterous woman. Such a story as this would serve the lewd profane poets of our age to make a play of, and the harlot with them would be a heroine; nothing would be so entertaining to the audience, nor give them so much diversion, as her arts of beguiling the young gentleman and drawing in the country squire; her conquests would be celebrated as the triumphs of wit and love, and the comedy would conclude very pleasantly; and every young man that saw it acted would covet to be so picked up. Thus fools make a mock at sin. But Solomon here relates it, and all wise and good men read it, as a very melancholy story. The impudence of the adulterous woman is very justly looked upon, by all that have any sparks of virtue in them, with the highest indignation, and the easiness of the young man with the tenderest compassion; and the story concludes with sad reflections, enough to make all that read and hear it afraid of the snares of fleshly lusts and careful to keep at the utmost distance from them. It is supposed to be a parable, or imagined case, but I doubt it was too true, and, which is worse, that notwithstanding the warning it gives of the fatal consequences of such wicked courses it is still too often true, and the agents for hell are still playing the same game and with similar success.
Solomon was a magistrate, and, as such, inspected the manners of his subjects, looked often through his casement, that he might see with his own eyes, and made remarks upon those who little thought his eye was upon them, that he might know the better how to make the sword he bore a terror to evil-doers. But here he writes as a minister, a prophet, who is by office a watchman, to give warning of the approach of the enemies, and especially where they lie in ambush, that we may not be ignorant of Satan's devices, but may know where to double our guard. This Solomon does here, where we may observe the account he gives,
Pro 7:24-27
We have here the application of the foregoing story: "Hearken to me therefore, and not to such seducers (v. 24); give ear to a father, and not to an enemy.'