Zhēnyán 5:15-20

15 Nǐ yào hē zìjǐ chí zhōng de shuǐ , yǐn zìjǐ jǐng lǐ de huó shuǐ .
16 Nǐde quányuán qǐ kĕ zhǎng yì zaì waì . nǐde hé shuǐ qǐ kĕ liú zaì jiē shang .
17 Wéidú guī nǐ yī rén , bùkĕ yǔ waìrén tóng yòng .
18 Yào shǐ nǐde quányuán méng fú . yào xǐyuè nǐ yòunián suǒ qǔ de qī .
19 Tā rú kĕaì de lù , kĕ xǐ de mǔ lù . yuàn tāde xiōnghuái , shǐ nǐ shí shí zhīzú . tāde aì qíng , shǐ nǐ chángcháng liànmù .
20 Wǒ ér , nǐ wèihé liànmù yín fù , wèihé bào waì nǚ de xiōnghuái .

Zhēnyán 5:15-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 5

The general instruction of this chapter is to avoid whoredom, and make use of lawful marriage, and keep to that. It is introduced with an exhortation to attend to wisdom and understanding, Pr 5:1,2; one part of which lies in shunning an adulterous woman; who is described by her flattery, with which she deceives; by the end she brings men to, which is destruction and death; and by the uncertainty of her ways, which cannot be known, Pr 5:3-6. Wherefore men are advised to keep at the utmost distance from her, Pr 5:7,8; lest their honour, strength, wealth, and labours, be given to others, Pr 5:9,10; and repentance and mourning follow, when too late, Pr 5:11-14. And, as a remedy against whoredom, entering into a marriage state is advised to, and a strict regard to that; allegorically expressed by a man's drinking water out of his fountain, and by his wife being as a loving hind and pleasant roe to him, the single object of his affections, Pr 5:15-19. As also the consideration of the divine omniscience is proposed, to deter him from the sin of adultery, Pr 5:20,21; as well as the inevitable ruin wicked men are brought into by it, Pr 5:22,23.

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