Proverbs 7

Salomon exhorteth to familiar, intimate, and strong society with wisdom, verse 1, &c. To be preserved from dangers of unchaste women, 5. Whereof he propoundeth a notably example, representing most lively the cunning practises of an adulterous woman, and the stupid and senseless seducing of a young man, with an earnest dehortation, to beware of such kind of lewdness, 6.&c.

1. My son, keep my sayings; and lay up my Commandments with thee. [See Job 23.on verse 12.]

2. Keep my commandments, and live; [That is, thou shalt surely live. That which is uttered in a commanding way, comprehendeth often in it a strong promise. See above chap.3. on verse 25. And chap.4.on verse 4. Also Lev.18.5.] and my law, [or, doctrine, see above chap.1.on verse 8.] as the apple of thine eyes. [to wit, which for its tenderness, must be very narrowly kept. See Deut.32.on verse 10.]

3. Bind them to thy fingers, [That is, have them continually before thine eyes, for to remember them; and at hand, for to put them in practice. Compare Deut.6.on verse 8. And 11.18.] write them upon the table of thine heart. [see above chap.3.on verse 3.]

4. Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinsman. [That is, love wisdom, and honour her, as if she were thy sister, or thy near kin, &c. The Hebrew word rendered here kinsman, is so taken, Ruth 2:1. Compare also Ruth 3:2. and the annot.]

5. That they may keep thee from the strange woman; [See above chapter 2.on verse 16.] from the unknown (woman) (which) flattereth with her sayings. [see above chap.2.on verse 16. Before mentioned.]

6. For through the window of mine house, I looked through my lattice,

7. And I saw among the simple ones, [See above chapter 1.on verse 4.] I perceived [see of the Hebrew word thus taken, Job 18:2. and the annotations] among the youths [Hebrew sons: that is, young men, or batchelors, as among us the word daughter is often taken for a maid or damsel] a young man void of understanding. [Hebr. Heartiless. See above chap.6.on verse 32.]

8. Passing by in the street, near her corner, [To wit, the adulteresses corner. Meaning near the corner of her house, where she dwelt] and she went on the way of her house. [That is, on the way that led to her house. Although it may be that Salomon saw this with his own eyes; yet it seemeth that he propoundeth it by way of example, as a thing often happeneth, and that for instruction and admonition unto youth: as our Saviour likewise in the Gospel often alledgeth and produceth such examples and parables as this is.]

9. In the glimmering, [To wit, of the evening. See of the Heb. Word, 2 Kin.7.on verse 5.] in the evening of the day, in the black night, and he darkness: [Hebrew blackness of the night; that is, when the night grew black by reason of darkness. So below chap.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 consequence of this dealing or course of life.]

10. And behold, (there) met him a woman in the attire. [The Hebrew word signifieth properly an habit, apparel, dressing, or ornament, that is well fitted to the body, and fitted neat and handsome on it. Compare Psalms 73:6.] of an harlot, and with the heart on her guard: [Hebrew, 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 subtil wiliness to deceive, and not to be deceived.]

11. This (women) was stirring [That is, unquiet in mind, loose or dissolute into tongue, light in behaviour or gesture, very busy in vain and idle actions: or, prattling. So bel.chap.9.13.] and stubborn: [or, declining, to wit, from all good manners, and from obedience to her husband] her feet abode not [Hebr. Dwelt not; so is the Hebrew word taken, Exod.40.35. Judges 5:16.] in her house.

12. Now being without, anon in the streets, [Hebrew by turn, by turn; that is, at one time without, at another time in the streets. Understand by without, the place, and room, or space, which is before door; by the streets, the common passages, and lanes, that run through the City, and without it] and lurking at all corners.

13. And she caught him, and kissed him; strengthened [Or, stiffened] her face, [that is, she laid aside all shame and grace, was bold and impudent, and (as we use to say) put on a braze face. Compare Deut.28. the annot.on verse 50. Oth. Gathered together] and said unto him:

14. Thank-offerings [See of these, Lev.3.on verse 1.whereof those, that brought them unto the Lord, had their share; wherewith they then made merry with their friends] are with me; [or, thank-offerings are upon me; that is, the vow or promise to offer thank-offerings] this day have I paid my vows. [that is, performed that which I promised: see Psalms 50:14. and 61.9. and 65.2. Nahum.1.15. Of vows, see Lev.7.on verse 16.]

15. Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, [The Hebrew word signifieth properly to seek a thing betimes in the morning: but it is generally taken for all kind of diligent seeking: see Job 7.on ver.21. for here it is not spoken of the morning, but of the evening-tide] and I have found thee.

16. I have fitted my bed-stead with tapestry-ornament, [The Hebrew word, which is onely found here, and below chap.31.19. seemeth to signify any kind of bed-ornament, as costly tapestries, and curiously wrought blankets, or coverleds, wherewith the beds were not onely covered, but in a singular manner adorned and set out] with carved works, [meaning engravings, and cuttings in, which for ornaments sake were curiously carved and hollowed out in the bed-stead, whereon the bed lay] with fine linen [Hebr. Tape, or thread, whereby some understand very fine white, and costly linen, that was made of such kind of threads, and belonged to the bed. Compare Gen. Chap.41,42. 1 Kings chap.10.28. and below chap.31.22. some conceive that those threads or wines, which were very fine and costly, ran between the tapestries, or hangings, to mark a difference between the pictures that might be wrought or woven upon them. Others conceive that the bed-stead was for ornaments sake twisted about with these costly threds or ribbons] of Egypt.

17. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cynamom.

18. Come, let us be drunk with loves [Compare above cha.5.19. and the annot. Thereon] until morning; let us solace our selves with great love. [Hebr. Loves, in the plural number.]

19. For the man [She speaketh this in contempt of her husband, as if he were her husband no more: as she also for that cause straightway faith, in this house, for at home] is not in his house; he is gone a far way. [Hebr. Away from far; that is, a far way: so Jeremiah 31:10. Iles from, or, afar off; that is, that lie afar off.]

20. He hath taken a bundle of money in his hand; [That is, with him: see 2 Samuel 8.on verse 10. And 2 Kings 15.on verse 5. She speaketh this, to signify that he would tarry a long while away] he will come to his house at the time appointed. [that is, at the time that hath set me, and which will be long yet ere it be expired. See of the Hebrew word, Psalms 81:4. and the Annot.]

21. She moved him [Hebr. Caused him to revolt, or, inclined him] by the multitude of her instruction: [the Hebrew word signifieth for the most part a good instruction, or doctrine, whereby a man is taught and instructed for the obtaining of wisdom and virtue, above chapter 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] she forced him by the flattering of her lips. [Otherwise also called lips of flattery, Psalms 12:3,4. Hebrew smoothness, or, slipperiness of her lips.]

22. He went after her straightway, as an oxe goeth to the slaughter, and as a fool to the correction of the stocks: [in the Hebrew the words are inverted, thus: as the stocks to the correction of the fool; that is, as the fool, to wit, goeth to the correction or chastisement of the stocks, that is, to be punished and chastised with the stocks, or with irons. Oth. As the fool with the stocks, or, irons of correction. The Hebrew word rendered here correction, signifieth not onely the instruction, which is done by words, as above chap.1,2. And below chapter 16.22, &c. But also the chastisement, which is done by actual punishment, as below chap.22.15. and 23.13. Jer.30.ver.14. Ezek.5.15.]

23. Until the dart [That is, a cruel, sharp, and very deep entering, and piercing through plague, or punishment. See Deuteronomy 32. On verse 23. And Job 6.on verse 4.] cut him through his liver, [that is, inflamed his lust with unhappy delight, spoiled his bossy with unsoundness, and rottenness, and disquieted his spirit with the sense and apprehension of Gods wrath] as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is against his life. [to wit, hung up, laid, or spread abroad, to take away his life, (Hebr. Soul.)]

24. Now then, children, [See above chap.1.on verse 8.] hearken unto me: and attend to the sayings of my mouth.

25. Let not thine heart decline to her ways: [That is, course of life, doing and omitting, dealing and conversation: see Gen.6.on verse 12. Take in the same sense the following word paths] go not astray in her paths.

26. For she hath cast down many wounded, and all her slain [That is, those whom he hath killed and slain] are mighty many. [Oth. Strong; that is, courageous, valiant; according to the body in power, or according to the spirit in wisdom, or according to both, as Samson, David, Salomon, &c. The Hebrew word is taken for many in number, Psalms 139:17. Jer.5.6. and 15.8. for mighty, or strong, Genesis 18:18. Exodus 1:7,9. Deuteronomy 7:1.]

27. Her house are the ways of the grave, [That is, which lead to the grave. Oth. To hell: for the Hebrew word signifieth both. See Genesis 37.on verse 35. Both significations may here take place] going down to the inner chambers of death. [not onely of corporal, but also of spiritual, and eternal death.]