Proverbs 5:4

4 novissima autem illius amara quasi absinthium et acuta quasi gladius biceps

Proverbs 5:4 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 5:4

But her end is bitter as wormwood
Which is opposed to the honeycomb her lips are said to drop; so that, as Juvenal says F7, "plus aloes quam mellis habet": the end which she brings persons to, or the issue of complying with her, is bitterness; such as loss of credit, substance, and health, remorse of conscience, and fear of death, corporeal and eternal; see ( Ecclesiastes 7:26 ) ; sharp as a twoedged sword;
which cuts every way; as committing sin with an harlot hurts both soul and body; and the reflection upon it is very cutting and distressing, and destroys all comfort and happiness. This is the reverse of her soothing and softening speech, which is as oil. Such also will be the sad case of the worshippers of the beast, or whore of Rome; who will gnaw their tongues for pain, and be killed with the twoedged sword that proceedeth out of the mouth of Christ, ( Revelation 16:10 ) ( Revelation 19:15 Revelation 19:21 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F7 Satyr. 6. v. 180. "Lingua dicta dulcia dabis, corde amara facilis", Plauti Truculentus, Act. 1. Sc. 1. v. 77. Cistellaria, Act. 1. Sc. 1. v. 70, 71, 72.

Proverbs 5:4 In-Context

2 ut custodias cogitationes et disciplinam labia tua conservent
3 favus enim stillans labia meretricis et nitidius oleo guttur eius
4 novissima autem illius amara quasi absinthium et acuta quasi gladius biceps
5 pedes eius descendunt in mortem et ad inferos gressus illius penetrant
6 per semitam vitae non ambulat vagi sunt gressus eius et investigabiles
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.