Proverbs 5:3
V. (3) HER MOUTH IS SMOOTHER THAN OIL. — The experience of David also with Ahitophel (Psalms 55:21).... [ Continue Reading ]
V. (3) HER MOUTH IS SMOOTHER THAN OIL. — The experience of David also with Ahitophel (Psalms 55:21).... [ Continue Reading ]
BITTER AS WORMWOOD. — The _absinthium_ of Revelation 8:11, where, apparently, it is considered as a poison. So God’s message to St. John (Revelation 10:10) was in his mouth sweet as honey (comp. Psalms 19:10), but made his belly bitter: that is, he met with much sorrow and trouble in making it known... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE HOLD ON HELL. — They lead straight to it.... [ Continue Reading ]
LEST THOU SHOULDEST PONDER... — The meaning of the English version appears to be, “To prevent thy choosing the path of life, she leads thee by devious paths that thou knowest not where thou art.” It may also be rendered, “Far from smoothing for herself the path of life, her steps wander without her... [ Continue Reading ]
(h)_. Eighth Discourse:_ — _Against Adultery, and in Praise of Marriage_ (Proverbs 5:7). (7) HEAR ME NOW THEREFORE, O YE CHILDREN. — In this verse Solomon apparently ceases to report the words of his father, and resumes his speech in his own person.... [ Continue Reading ]
REMOVE THY WAY... — The great safeguard in such temptations, as all moralists with one mouth advise, is flight.... [ Continue Reading ]
THINE HONOUR. — Rather, _freshness, vigour._ THY YEARS. — The best years of thy life. UNTO THE CRUEL. — That is the temptress herself, or her hangers-on and associates, whose sole idea is plunder.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THY FLESH AND THY BODY ARE CONSUMED. — Ruin of health has followed ruin of property.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW HAVE I HATED INSTRUCTION. — The last stage of misery is the remorse which comes too late. (Comp. Matthew 25:30.)... [ Continue Reading ]
I WAS ALMOST IN ALL EVIL... — Rather, _I had almost fallen into every sin: I was so infatuated that I might have committed any sin, and that openly before all._ Or, _I might have been visited with extremest punishment at the hands of the congregation, death by stoning_ (Leviticus 20:10; John 8:5). T... [ Continue Reading ]
(15-20) DRINK WATERS OUT OF THINE OWN CISTERN... — In these verses Solomon urges his disciples to follow after purity in the married life; he pictures in vivid terms the delights which it affords as compared with the pleasures of sin. OUT OF THINE OWN CISTERN. — The “strange woman,” on the other han... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THEM BE ONLY THINE OWN. — The deepest joys and sorrows of each heart are sacred, and cannot be shared with others (Proverbs 14:10), and so it is with the various relations of family life also, strangers have no part in them.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THY FOUNTAIN... — As a reward for purity of life, the blessing of a numerous offspring is invoked. (Comp. Psalms 128:3, where the wife is a “fruitful vine,” and the children numerous and flourishing like olive-branches.)... [ Continue Reading ]
LOVING HIND AND PLEASANT ROE. — The deer and chamois, from their grace and speed and lustrous eyes, have always been chosen by the Oriental poets as figures of human strength and beauty. (Comp. Song of Solomon 2:9; Song of Solomon 2:17; Song of Solomon 7:3; Song of Solomon 8:14; Psalms 18:33.) Both... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE WAYS OF MAN... — Another reason for avoiding sin is the certainty of detection by the Judge, whose “eyes run to and fro through the whole earth” (2 Chronicles 16:9), comp. Psalms 11:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS OWN INIQUITIES... — The final scene in the life of the profligate is here described. He has sinned so long that he is “tied and bound,” hand and foot, with the “chain of his sins,” and cannot get free even had he the wish to do so.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL DIE WITHOUT INSTRUCTION. — Rather, _for want of discipline,_ because he would not control himself, “he shall die,” and “for the greatness of his folly (self-will) he shall go astray,” and “wander where there is no way” (Job 12:24).... [ Continue Reading ]