Proverbs 7:18-27

18 Come, let's take our fill of loving until the morning. Let's solace ourselves with loving.
19 For my husband isn't at home. He has gone on a long journey.
20 He has taken a bag of money with him. He will come home at the full moon."
21 With persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him.
22 He followed her immediately, As an ox goes to the slaughter, As a fool stepping into a noose.
23 Until an arrow strikes through his liver, As a bird hurries to the snare, And doesn't know that it will cost his life.
24 Now therefore, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to the words of my mouth.
25 Don't let your heart turn to her ways. Don't go astray in her paths,
26 For she has thrown down many wounded. Yes, all her slain are a mighty host.
27 Her house is the way to Sheol, Going down to the chambers of death.

Proverbs 7:18-27 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 7

The sum of this chapter is to exhort men to attend to the doctrines and precepts of Wisdom, in order to avoid the adulterous woman; the exhortation to keep them with care, affection, and delight, in order to answer the end, is in Pr 7:1-5. A story is told, of Solomon's own knowledge, of a young man ensnared and ruined by a lewd woman; it begins Pr 7:6. The young man is described as foolish, and as throwing himself in the way of temptation, Pr 7:7-9; the harlot that met him is described by her attire, her subtlety, her voice, her inconstancy, her impudence, and pretensions to piety, Pr 7:10-14. The arguments she made use of to prevail upon him to go with her are taken partly from the elegance of her bed, the softness of it, and its sweet perfume, and satiety of love to be enjoyed in it, Pr 7:15-18; and partly from the absence of her husband, who was gone a long journey, and had made provision for it for a certain time, Pr 7:19,20. By which arguments she prevailed upon him to his utter ruin: which is illustrated by the similes of an ox going to the slaughter, a fool to the stocks, and a bird to the snare, Pr 7:21-23. And the chapter is concluded with an exhortation to hearken to the words of Wisdom, and to avoid the ways and paths of the harlot, by which many and mighty persons have been ruined; they being the direct road to hell and death, Pr 7:24-27.

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