1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
3 Bind them upon thy fingers, 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, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.
6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
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,
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.
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 solace ourselves with loves.
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.
21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
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.
27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
1 My son, H1121 keep H8104 my words, H561 and lay up H6845 my commandments H4687 with thee.
2 Keep H8104 my commandments, H4687 and live; H2421 and my law H8451 as the apple H380 of thine eye. H5869
3 Bind H7194 them upon thy fingers, H676 write H3789 them upon the table H3871 of thine heart. H3820
4 Say H559 unto wisdom, H2451 Thou art my sister; H269 and call H7121 understanding H998 thy kinswoman: H4129
5 That they may keep H8104 thee from the strange H2114 woman, H802 from the stranger H5237 which flattereth H2505 with her words. H561
6 For at the window H2474 of my house H1004 I looked H8259 through my casement, H822
7 And beheld H7200 among the simple ones, H6612 I discerned H995 among the youths, H1121 a young man H5288 void H2638 of understanding, H3820
8 Passing through H5674 the street H7784 near H681 her corner; H6434 and he went H6805 the way H1870 to her house, H1004
9 In the twilight, H5399 in the evening, H3117 H6153 in the black H380 and dark H653 night: H3915
10 And, behold, there met H7125 him a woman H802 with the attire H7897 of an harlot, H2181 and subtil H5341 of heart. H3820
11 (She is loud H1993 and stubborn; H5637 her feet H7272 abide H7931 not in her house: H1004
12 Now H6471 is she without, H2351 now H6471 in the streets, H7339 and lieth in wait H693 at H681 every corner.) H6438
13 So she caught H2388 him, and kissed H5401 him, and with an impudent H5810 face H6440 said H559 unto him,
14 I have peace H8002 offerings H2077 with me; this day H3117 have I payed H7999 my vows. H5088
15 Therefore came I forth H3318 to meet H7125 thee, diligently to seek H7836 thy face, H6440 and I have found H4672 thee.
16 I have decked H7234 my bed H6210 with coverings H4765 of tapestry, with carved H2405 works, with fine linen H330 of Egypt. H4714
17 I have perfumed H5130 my bed H4904 with myrrh, H4753 aloes, H174 and cinnamon. H7076
18 Come, H3212 let us take our fill H7301 of love H1730 until the morning: H1242 let us solace H5965 ourselves with loves. H159
19 For the goodman H376 is not at home, H1004 he is gone H1980 a long H7350 journey: H1870
20 He hath taken H3947 a bag H6872 of money H3701 with him, H3027 and will come H935 home H1004 at the day H3117 appointed. H3677
21 With her much H7230 fair speech H3948 she caused him to yield, H5186 with the flattering H2506 of her lips H8193 she forced H5080 him.
22 He goeth H1980 after H310 her straightway, H6597 as an ox H7794 goeth H935 to the slaughter, H2874 or as a fool H191 to the correction H4148 of the stocks; H5914
23 Till a dart H2671 strike H6398 through his liver; H3516 as a bird H6833 hasteth H4116 to the snare, H6341 and knoweth H3045 not that it is for his life. H5315
24 Hearken H8085 unto me now therefore, O ye children, H1121 and attend H7181 to the words H561 of my mouth. H6310
25 Let not thine heart H3820 decline H7847 to her ways, H1870 go not astray H8582 in her paths. H5410
26 For she hath cast down H5307 many H7227 wounded: H2491 yea, many strong H6099 men have been slain H2026 by her.
27 Her house H1004 is the way H1870 to hell, H7585 going down H3381 to the chambers H2315 of death. H4194
1 My son, keep my words, And lay up my commandments with thee.
2 Keep my commandments and live; And my law as the apple of thine eye.
3 Bind them upon thy fingers; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart.
4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; And call understanding `thy' kinswoman:
5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, From the foreigner that flattereth with her words.
6 For at the window of my house I looked forth through my lattice;
7 And I beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, A young man void of understanding,
8 Passing through the street near her corner; And he went the way to her house,
9 In the twilight, in the evening of the day, In the middle of the night and in the darkness.
10 And, behold, there met him a woman With the attire of a harlot, and wily of heart.
11 She is clamorous and wilful; Her feet abide not in her house:
12 Now she is in the streets, now in the broad places, And lieth in wait at every corner.
13 So she caught him, and kissed him, `And' with an impudent face she said unto him:
14 Sacrifices of peace-offerings are with me; This day have I paid my vows.
15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, Diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
16 I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, With striped cloths of the yarn 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 solace ourselves with loves.
19 For the man is not at home; He is gone a long journey:
20 He hath taken a bag of money with him; He will come home at the full moon.
21 With her much fair speech she causeth him to yield; With the flattering of her lips she forceth him along.
22 He goeth after her straightway, As an ox goeth to the slaughter, Or as `one in' fetters to the correction of the fool;
23 Till an arrow strike through his liver; As a bird hasteth to the snare, And knoweth not that it is for his life.
24 Now therefore, `my' sons, hearken unto me, And attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not thy heart decline to her ways; Go not astray in her paths.
26 For she hath cast down many wounded: Yea, all her slain are a mighty host.
27 Her house is the way to Sheol, Going down to the chambers of death.
1 My son! keep my sayings, And my commands lay up with thee.
2 Keep my commands, and live, And my law as the pupil of thine eye.
3 Bind them on thy fingers, Write them on the tablet of thy heart.
4 Say to wisdom, `My sister Thou `art'.' And cry to understanding, `Kinswoman!'
5 To preserve thee from a strange woman, From a stranger who hath made smooth her sayings.
6 For, at a window of my house, Through my casement I have looked out,
7 And I do see among the simple ones, I discern among the sons, A young man lacking understanding,
8 Passing on in the street, near her corner, And the way `to' her house he doth step,
9 In the twilight -- in the evening of day, In the darkness of night and blackness.
10 And, lo, a woman to meet him -- (A harlot's dress, and watchful of heart,
11 Noisy she `is', and stubborn, In her house her feet rest not.
12 Now in an out-place, now in broad places, And near every corner she lieth in wait) --
13 And she laid hold on him, and kissed him, She hath hardened her face, and saith to him,
14 `Sacrifices of peace-offerings `are' by me, To-day I have completed my vows.
15 Therefore I have come forth to meet thee, To seek earnestly thy face, and I find thee.
16 `With' ornamental coverings I decked my couch, Carved works -- cotton of Egypt.
17 I sprinkled my bed -- myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, we are filled `with' loves till the morning, We delight ourselves in loves.
19 For the man is not in his house, He hath gone on a long journey.
20 A bag of money he hath taken in his hand, At the day of the new moon he cometh to his house.'
21 She turneth him aside with the abundance of her speech, With the flattery of her lips she forceth him.
22 He is going after her straightway, As an ox unto the slaughter he cometh, And as a fetter unto the chastisement of a fool,
23 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.
24 And now, ye sons, hearken to me, And give attention to sayings of my mouth.
25 Let not thy heart turn unto her ways, Do not wander in her paths,
26 For many `are' the wounded she caused to fall, And mighty `are' all her slain ones.
27 The ways of Sheol -- her house, Going down unto inner chambers of death!
1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my teaching, as the apple of thine eye.
3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the tablet of thy heart.
4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister, and call intelligence [thy] kinswoman:
5 that they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger who flattereth with her words.
6 For at the window of my house, I looked forth through my lattice,
7 and I beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the sons, a young man void of understanding,
8 passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
9 in the twilight, in the evening of the day, in the blackness of night and the darkness.
10 And behold, there met him a woman in the attire of a harlot, and subtle of heart.
11 She is clamorous and unmanageable; her feet abide not in her house:
12 now without, now in the broadways, -- and she lieth in wait at every corner.
13 And she caught him and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
14 I have peace-offerings with me; this day have I paid my vows:
15 therefore came I forth to meet thee, to seek earnestly thy face, and I have found thee.
16 I have decked my bed with tapestry coverlets of variegated linen from Egypt;
17 I have perfumed my couch with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us revel in love until the morning, let us delight ourselves with loves.
19 For the husband is not at home, he is gone a long journey;
20 he hath taken the money-bag with him, he will come home on the day of the full moon.
21 With her much enticement she beguiled him; with the smoothness of her lips she constrained him.
22 He went after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, and as stocks [serve] for the correction of the fool;
23 till an arrow strike through his liver: as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for its life.
24 And now, ye sons, hearken unto me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Let not thy heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths:
26 for she hath cast down many wounded, and all slain by her were strong.
27 Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death.
1 My son, keep my words. Lay up my commandments within you.
2 Keep my commandments and live; Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Tell wisdom, "You are my sister." Call understanding your relative,
5 That they may keep you from the strange woman, From the foreigner who flatters with her words.
6 For at the window of my house, I looked out through my lattice.
7 I saw among the simple ones. I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding,
8 Passing through the street near her corner, He went the way to her house,
9 In the twilight, in the evening of the day, In the middle of the night and in the darkness.
10 Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, And with crafty intent.
11 She is loud and defiant. Her feet don't stay in her house.
12 Now she is in the streets, now in the squares, And lurking at every corner.
13 So she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him:
14 "Sacrifices of peace-offerings are with me. This day I have paid my vows.
15 Therefore I came out to meet you, To diligently seek your face, And I have found you.
16 I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, With striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let's take our fill of loving until the morning. Let's solace ourselves with loving.
19 For my husband isn't at home. He has gone on a long journey.
20 He has taken a bag of money with him. He will come home at the full moon."
21 With persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him.
22 He followed her immediately, As an ox goes to the slaughter, As a fool stepping into a noose.
23 Until an arrow strikes through his liver, As a bird hurries to the snare, And doesn't know that it will cost his life.
24 Now therefore, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to the words of my mouth.
25 Don't let your heart turn to her ways. Don't go astray in her paths,
26 For she has thrown down many wounded. Yes, all her slain are a mighty host.
27 Her house is the way to Sheol, Going down to the chambers of death.
1 My son, keep my sayings, and let my rules be stored up with you.
2 Keep my rules and you will have life; let my teaching be to you as the light of your eyes;
3 Let them be fixed to your fingers, and recorded in your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, You are my sister; let knowledge be named your special friend:
5 So that they may keep you from the strange woman, even from her whose words are smooth.
6 Looking out from my house, and watching through the window,
7 I saw among the young men one without sense,
8 Walking in the street near the turn of her road, going on the way to her house,
9 At nightfall, in the evening of the day, in the black dark of the night.
10 And the woman came out to him, in the dress of a loose woman, with a designing heart;
11 She is full of noise and uncontrolled; her feet keep not in her house.
12 Now she is in the street, now in the open spaces, waiting at every turning of the road.
13 So she took him by his hand, kissing him, and without a sign of shame she said to him:
14 I have a feast of peace-offerings, for today my oaths have been effected.
15 So I came out in the hope of meeting you, looking for you with care, and now I have you.
16 My bed is covered with cushions of needlework, with coloured cloths of the cotton thread of Egypt;
17 I have made my bed sweet with perfumes and spices.
18 Come, let us take our pleasure in love till the morning, having joy in love's delights.
19 For the master of the house is away on a long journey:
20 He has taken a bag of money with him; he is coming back at the full moon.
21 With her fair words she overcame him, forcing him with her smooth lips.
22 The simple man goes after her, like an ox going to its death, like a roe pulled by a cord;
23 Like a bird falling into a net; with no thought that his life is in danger, till an arrow goes into his side.
24 So now, my sons, give ear to me; give attention to the sayings of my mouth;
25 Let not your heart be turned to her ways, do not go wandering in her footsteps.
26 For those wounded and made low by her are great in number; and all those who have come to their death through her are a great army.
27 Her house is the way to the underworld, going down to the rooms of death.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 7
Commentary on Proverbs 7 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 7
Pr 7:1-27. The subject continued, by a delineation of the arts of strange women, as a caution to the unwary.
1-4. Similar calls (Pr 3:1-3; 4:10, &c.).
2. apple … eye—pupil of eye, a custody (Pr 4:23) of special value.
3. Bind … fingers—as inscriptions on rings.
5. The design of the teaching (compare Pr 2:16; 6:24).
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" (Jud 5:28).
casement—or, "lattice."
7. simple—as in Pr 1:4.
void of, &c.—(Compare Pr 6:32).
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. The time, twilight, ending in darkness.
black … night—literally, "pupil," or, "eye," that is, middle of night.
10. attire—that of harlots was sometimes peculiar.
subtile—or, "wary," "cunning."
11, 12. loud—or, "noisy," "bustling."
stubborn—not submissive.
without … streets, … corner—(Compare 1Ti 5:13; Tit 2:5).
13-15. The preparations for a feast do not necessarily imply peculiar religious professions. The offerer retained part of the victim for a feast (Le 3:9, &c.). This feast she professes was prepared for him whom she boldly addresses as one sought specially to partake of it.
16, 17. my bed—or, "couch," adorned in the costliest manner.
17. bed—a place for sleeping.
18-20. There is no fear of discovery.
20. the day appointed—perhaps, literally, "a full moon," that is, a fortnight's time (compare Pr 7:19).
21. caused … yield—or, "inclines."
flattering—(Compare Pr 5:3).
forced him—by persuasion overcoming his scruples.
22. straightway—quickly, either as ignorant of danger, or incapable of resistance.
23. Till—He is now caught (Pr 6:26).
24. The inferential admonition is followed (Pr 7:26, 27), by a more general allegation of the evils of this vice.
26, 27. Even the mightiest fail to resist her deathly allurements.