Bible Commentaries

Farther exhortations to acquire wisdom, Proverbs 5:1, Proverbs 5:2. The character of a loose woman, and the ruinous consequences of attachment to such, Proverbs 5:3-14. Exhortations to chastity and moderation, Proverbs 5:15-21. The miserable end of the wicked, Proverbs 5:22, Proverbs 5:23.

Attend unto my wisdom - Take the following lessons from my own experience.

The lips of a strange woman - One that is not thy own, whether Jewess or heathen.

Drop as a honey-comb - She uses the most deceitful, flattering, and alluring speeches: as the droppings of the honey out of the comb are the sweetest of all.

Bitter as wormwood - כלענה Kelanah, like the detestable herb wormwood, or something analogous to it: something as excessive in its bitterness, as honey is in its sweetness.

Her feet go down to death - She first, like a serpent, infuses her poison, by which the whole constitution of her paramour is infected, which soon or late brings on death.

Her steps take hold on hell - First, the death of the body; and then the damnation of the soul. These are the tendencies of connections with such women.

Lest thou shouldest ponder - To prevent thee from reflecting on thy present conduct, and its consequences, her ways are moveable - she continually varies her allurements.

Thou canst not know them - It is impossible to conceive all her tricks and wiles: to learn these in all their varieties, is a part of the science first taught in that infernal trade.

Hear me - O ye children - בנים banim, sons, young men in general: for these are the most likely to be deceived and led astray.

Come not nigh the door of her house - Where there are generally such exhibitions as have a natural tendency to excite impure thoughts, and irregular passions.