HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY ON THE OLD TESTAMENT

PROVERBS 5

CHAPTER V.

Ver. 2. Thoughts. Or wisdom; and act with discretion. --- Mind, &c. is omitted in Heb. and S. Jer. C. --- By woman all concupiscence, or the inducement to sin, is commonly understood. We must not think of such things. W.

Ver. 4. Sword. "It is a crime even to hearken." S. Amb. de Abrah. ii. 11. She seeks thy ruin. v. 5. c. ii. 16.

Ver. 6. They. Heb. "if perhaps thou ponder the path of life." Pagn. H. --- Or "she ponders not," &c. She walks inconsiderately, and consults only her passions. c. vii. 10. C. --- No one can depend on her love. M.

Ver. 9. Strangers. The world, the flesh, and the devil are such; cruelly devising our ruin. W.

Ver. 10. Strength. Or children. v. 16. Gen. xlix. 3. C.

Ver. 11. Body. He alludes to a shameful disease, the just punishment of intemperance. Eccli. xix. 3.

Ver. 14. Evil. Infirm and worn out, having lost my reputation, &c. C. --- Though I lived among the faithful, I was under no restraint. M.

Ver. 15. Well. Live comfortably on your own property, (Cajet.) with your own wife. C.

Ver. 16. Waters. Mayst thou have a numerous offspring, (v. 10.) and be liberal. Many copies of the Sept. &c. have a negation, with Aquila, "let not thy," &c. (C.) though it my be read with and interrogation, "are the waters of thy fountain to be?" &c. De Dieu. --- By not means. Origen (in Num. xii.) acknowledges both readings. C. --- Good instructions must be given to those who are well disposed, but not to scoffers, or obstinate infidels. W. --- Husbands are exhorted to be content with their own wives, (v. 15. 20.) so that the negative particle seems to be here wanting, as it is, c. vi. 17. in MS. 60, (Kennicott) and c. xiv. 33. Sept. &c. Capellus.

Ver. 17. Thee. Stick to thy own wife. In a moral sense, let those who instruct others, take care not to neglect themselves.

Ver. 18. Vein. Thou shalt have a numerous progeny. Ps. lxvii. 28. Is. xlviii. 1. C.

Ver. 19. Love. This is spoken by way of permission, and to withdraw people from unlawful connections. Eccle. ii. 1. and 1 Cor. vii. 29. C.

Ver. 22. Ropes. "Evil habits unrestrained induce a necessity," (S. Aug. Conf. viii. 5.) though not absolute. H. --- The libertine thinks he can get free as soon as he pleases; not being aware of the chains which he is forging for himself. C. --- Sin requires punishment. M.