Proverbs 5

Pr 5:1-23.

A warning against the seductive arts of wicked women, enforced by

considering the advantages of chastity, and the miserable end of the

wicked.

1. This connection of wisdom and understanding is frequent

(Pr 2:2; 3:7);

the first denotes the use of wise means for wise ends; the other, the

exercise of a proper discrimination in their discovery.

2. regard--or, "observe."

keep--preserve constantly.

3. (Compare

Pr 2:16).

Her enticing promises are deceitful.

4. her end--literally, "her future," in sense of reward, what follows

(compare

Ps 37:37; 73:17).

Its nature is evinced by the use of figures, opposite those of

Pr 5:3.

The physical and moral suffering of the deluded profligate are

notoriously terrible.

5. feet . . . , steps--that is, course of life ends in death.

6. her ways . . . know--Some prefer, "that she may not ponder the path

of life," &c.; but perhaps a better sense is, "her ways are varied, so

as to prevent your knowledge of her true character, and so of true

happiness."

8, 9. Avoid the slightest temptation.

9. thine honour--in whatever consisting, strength

(Pr 3:13)

or wealth.

thy years--by cutting them off in dissipation.

unto the cruel--for such the sensual are apt to become.

10. wealth--literally, "strength," or the result of it.

labours--the fruit of thy painful exertions

(Ps 127:2).

There may be a reference to slavery, a commuted punishment for death

due the adulterer

(De 22:22).

11. at the last--the end, or reward (compare

Pr 5:4).

mourn--roar in pain.

flesh and . . . body--the whole person under incurable disease.

12-14. The ruined sinner vainly laments his neglect of warning and his

sad fate in being brought to public disgrace.

14. evil--for affliction, as in

Ge 19:20; 49:15.

15-20. By figures, in which well, cistern, and fountain

[Pr 5:15, 18]

represent the wife, and rivers of waters

[Pr 5:16]

the children, men are exhorted to constancy and satisfaction in lawful

conjugal enjoyments. In

Pr 5:16,

fountains (in the plural) rather denote the produce or waters of

a spring, literally, "what is from a spring," and corresponds with

"rivers of waters."

17. only thine own--harlots' children have no known father.

18. wife . . . youth--married in youth.

19. loving . . . roe--other figures for a wife from the well-known

beauty of these animals.

breasts--(Compare

So 1:13;

Eze 23:3, 8).

ravished--literally, "intoxicated," that is, fully satisfied.

21. The reason, God's eye is on you,

22, 23. and He will cause sin to bring its punishment.

23. without instruction--literally, "in want of instruction," having

refused it (compare

Job 13:18;

Heb 11:24).

go astray--literally, "be drunken." The word "ravished"

(Pr 5:19)

here denotes fulness of punishment.