14 A deep pit `is' the mouth of strange women, The abhorred of Jehovah falleth there.
For a harlot `is' a deep ditch, And a strange woman `is' a strait pit.
And I am finding more bitter than death, the woman whose heart `is' nets and snares, her hands `are' bands; the good before God escapeth from her, but the sinner is captured by her.
To preserve thee from an evil woman, From the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Desire not her beauty in thy heart, And let her not take thee with her eyelids. For a harlot consumeth unto a cake of bread, And an adulteress the precious soul hunteth. Doth a man take fire into his bosom, And are his garments not burnt? Doth a man walk on the hot coals, And are his feet not scorched? So `is' he who hath gone in unto the wife of his neighbour, None who doth touch her is innocent.
And Jehovah seeth and despiseth -- For the provocation of His sons and His daughters.
and she saith, `Philistines `are' upon thee, Samson;' and he awaketh out of his sleep, and saith, `I go out as time by time, and shake myself;' and he hath not known that Jehovah hath turned aside from off him. And the Philistines seize him, and pick out his eyes, and bring him down to Gaza, and bind him with two brazen fetters; and he is grinding in the prison-house.
And I send them away in the enmity of their heart, They walk in their own counsels.
To deliver thee from the strange woman, From the stranger who hath made smooth her sayings, Who is forsaking the guide of her youth, And the covenant of her God hath forgotten. For her house hath inclined unto death, And unto Rephaim her paths. None going in unto her turn back, Nor do they reach the paths of life.
For the lips of a strange woman drop honey, And smoother than oil `is' her mouth, And her latter end `is' bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a sword `with' mouths. Her feet are going down to death, Sheol do her steps take hold of. The path of life -- lest thou ponder, Moved have her paths -- thou knowest not. And now, ye sons, hearken to me, And turn not from sayings of my mouth. Keep far from off her thy way, And come not near unto the opening of her house, Lest thou give to others thy honour, And thy years to the fierce, Lest strangers be filled `with' thy power, And thy labours in the house of a stranger, And thou hast howled in thy latter end, In the consumption of thy flesh and thy food, And hast said, `How have I hated instruction, And reproof hath my heart despised, And I have not hearkened to the voice of my directors, And to my teachers have not inclined mine ear. As a little thing I have been all evil, In the midst of an assembly and a company. Drink waters out of thine own cistern, Even flowing ones out of thine own well. Let thy fountains be scattered abroad, In broad places rivulets of waters. Let them be to thee for thyself, And not to strangers with thee. Let thy fountain be blessed, And rejoice because of the wife of thy youth, A hind of loves, and a roe of grace! Let her loves satisfy thee at all times, In her love magnify thyself continually. And why dost thou magnify thyself, My son, with a stranger? And embrace the bosom of a strange woman? For over-against the eyes of Jehovah are the ways of each, And all his paths He is pondering. His own iniquities do capture the wicked, And with the ropes of his sin he is holden. He dieth without instruction, And in the abundance of his folly magnifieth himself!
To preserve thee from a strange woman, From a stranger who hath made smooth her sayings. For, at a window of my house, Through my casement I have looked out, And I do see among the simple ones, I discern among the sons, A young man lacking understanding, Passing on in the street, near her corner, And the way `to' her house he doth step, In the twilight -- in the evening of day, In the darkness of night and blackness. And, lo, a woman to meet him -- (A harlot's dress, and watchful of heart, Noisy she `is', and stubborn, In her house her feet rest not. Now in an out-place, now in broad places, And near every corner she lieth in wait) -- And she laid hold on him, and kissed him, She hath hardened her face, and saith to him, `Sacrifices of peace-offerings `are' by me, To-day I have completed my vows. Therefore I have come forth to meet thee, To seek earnestly thy face, and I find thee. `With' ornamental coverings I decked my couch, Carved works -- cotton of Egypt. I sprinkled my bed -- myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, we are filled `with' loves till the morning, We delight ourselves in loves. For the man is not in his house, He hath gone on a long journey. A bag of money he hath taken in his hand, At the day of the new moon he cometh to his house.' She turneth him aside with the abundance of her speech, With the flattery of her lips she forceth him. He is going after her straightway, As an ox unto the slaughter he cometh, And as a fetter unto the chastisement of a fool, Till an arrow doth split his liver, As a bird hath hastened unto a snare, And hath not known that it `is' for its life. And now, ye sons, hearken to me, And give attention to sayings of my mouth. Let not thy heart turn unto her ways, Do not wander in her paths, For many `are' the wounded she caused to fall, And mighty `are' all her slain ones. The ways of Sheol -- her house, Going down unto inner chambers of death!
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 22
Commentary on Proverbs 22 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 22
Pr 22:1-29.
1. A good name—(Job 30:8, Hebrew); "good" is supplied here from Ec 7:1.
loving favour—kind regard, that is, of the wise and good.
2. Before God all are on the same footing (Pr 14:31; 17:5).
3. are punished—that is, for their temerity; for the evil is not necessarily punitive, as the prudent might otherwise be its objects.
4. humility and the fear of the Lord—are in apposition; one produces the other. On the results, compare Pr 3:16; 8:18.
5. he that … them—Those who properly watch over their own souls are thus preserved from the dangers which attend the way of perverse men (Pr 16:17).
6. Train—initiate, or early instruct.
the way—literally, "his way," that selected for him in which he should go; for early training secures habitual walking in it.
7. The influence of wealth sets aside moral distinctions is implied, and, of course, disapproved (compare Pr 19:6; 21:14, &c.).
8. (Compare Pr 11:18; Ps 109:16-20; Ga 6:7, 8).
the rod … fail—His power to do evil will be destroyed.
9. a bountiful eye—that is, a beneficent disposition.
for he giveth … poor—His acts prove it.
10. Cast out—or drive away. Scorners foster strife by taunts and revilings.
11. (Compare Margin).
pureness of heart—and gentle, kind words win favor, even from kings.
12. preserve—or guard.
knowledge—its principles and possessors.
overthroweth—utterly confounds and destroys the wicked.
13. Frivolous excuses satisfy the indolent man's conscience.
14. The mouth—or flattering speeches (Pr 5:3; 7:5) ensnare man, as pits, beasts. God makes their own sin their punishment.
15. is bound—or firmly fixed. Chastisement deters from crime and so leads to reformation of principle.
16. These two vices pertain to the same selfish feeling. Both are deservedly odious to God and incur punishment.
17. Here begins another division of the book, marked by those encouragements to the pursuit of wisdom, which are found in the earlier chapters. It will be observed that at Pr 22:22-24:12, the proverbs are generally expressed in two verses instead of one (see Introduction).
18. These lessons must be laid up in the mind, and
fitted—or better, "fixed" in the lips so as to be ever ready.
19. That … Lord—This is the design of the instruction.
20. excellent things—or probably of former times.
counsels and knowledge—both advice and instruction.
21. Specially he desires to secure accuracy, so that his pupil may teach others.
22, 23. Here follow ten precepts of two verses each. Though men fail to defend the poor, God will (Pr 17:5; Ps 12:5).
in the gate—place of public gathering (Job 5:4; Ps 69:12).
24, 25. (Compare Pr 2:12-15; 4:14).
25. a snare … soul—The unsuspecting are often misled by bad company.
26, 27. (Compare Pr 6:1; 17:18).
27. should he take, &c.—that is, the creditor.
28. (Compare Pr 23:10). Do not entrench on others (De 19:14; 27:17).
29. Success rewards diligence (Pr 10:4; 21:5).