The Book of Proverbs Paraphrased, Part 1 · Chapter 7
CHAP. VII.
ARGUMENT.
Chaſtity is a vertue of that conſequence, and Impurity ſuch a pernicious bane of Youth; that the Wiſe Man thought he could not too oft make mention of the danger of the one, to move men carefully to preſerve the other. And therefore is not contented with what he had already ſaid about this matter, in the latter end of the ſecond Chapter, and in the whole fifth Chapter, and now in the latter part of the ſixth: but again repeats it with renewed importunities; deſiring to be heard attentively, eſpecially in the cautions he gives againſt Adultery; the avoiding of which he repreſents as a high point of Wiſedom, v. 1, 2, 3, 4.
And the better to ſecure thoſe that deſire to be happy from this ſnare, he repreſents, together with the ſillineſs of young Men, the cunning and crafty devices of an impudent Adultereſs. Which is admirably ſet forth from v. 6. to v. 21. Where he begins to ſhew the effects of her courtſhip, and its lamentable concluſion. And thereupon v. 24. renews his intreaties to beware of ſuch Women; who have undone many and great perſons; and to ſtop at the very firſt motion or inclination towards her.
The ſum of all is, that it is a ſingular benefit a man hath by true Wiſedom, to be preſerved from ſuch ſins and ſuch miſeries: And therefore we ſhould ſtudy Wiſedom; which alone can ſecure us from being deceived by ſuch flatteries, as bewitch ſilly and incautious Souls to their ruin. And herein the vigilance of Magiſtrates is required to watch and obſerve (as Solomon did v. 6. 7.) the manners of their Subjects; that they may the better obviate and correct their vices: but eſpecially every man's diligent conſideration is neceſſary, of ſuch things as Solomon here ſets before him to divert him from ſuch wicked courſes. Particularly the character of theſe leud women is to be ſtudied; who are then moſt abominable, when they put on the mask of piety and devotion. As this ſtrumpet doth (v. 14.) in her ſpeech which ſhe makes to the young Man. Where there are two things in my Paraphraſe, of which I owe ſome account to the Reader.
[a] The one is in the beginning of it, v. 14. Where I have taken Schelamin peace-offerings, of which there were three ſorts (VII. Lev. 11, 12. 16.) for the laſt of them, offerings of thankſgiving for bleſſings already obtained; not of prayer for the impetration of bleſſings from God (as Grotius and others underſtand the word) not yet received. My reaſon is, becauſe ſhe was ſo ſolicitous to have company at her feaſt upon this Sacrifice, that very day. Every body knows that ſuch Sacrifices were to be of the beſt, either of Bullocks, or Sheep or Goats (III. Lev. 1, 6, 12.) and that the greateſt part of them fell to the ſhare of the perſon who offered them, that he might feaſt with God: that is, all except the fat upon the kidneys, and rump of the Sheep, and the breaſt and right ſhoulder; which was ſufficient to make a liberal entertainment for his Friends. But this is not ſo commonly obſerved, that though they might keep this fleſh two days, before it was all ſpent, becauſe there was ſuch plenty of it, yet that is to be underſtood onelyonly of the two firſt ſorts of Peace-offerings, for obtaining bleſſings; not of the euchariſtical, or Thank-offerings: which as Philo obſerves, were to be eaten the very ſame day they were offered; that they who had readily received favours from God, might as readily, and without delay, communicate to others. Which is the account Abarbinel alſo gives of this matter: and it is obſervable, that all ſorts of bread were to be joyned with this Sacrifice, that every thing might be ready for the Feaſt.
[b] The other thing is at the latter end of her ſpeech, v. 20. where by the word Haccéſe I underſtand the Full Moon, as the Vulgar Latin doth. With which Tranſlation Interpreters find fault, becauſe it looks like a contradiction, they ſay, to call that day by a name, which ſignifies the Moon to be covered: and therefore they tranſlate it rather the New Moon, as we do in the margin of our Bibles. But they that can conſult Lud. de Dieu upon LXXXI. Pſal. 3. will find good reaſon to take it quite otherwiſe; for the Full Moon: which giving light then all the night, made it a fit time for a journey, either in Winter (as by the darkneſs of the night, v. 9. I ſuppoſe it might now be) when the days are ſhort; or in Summer when the heat made them unfit for travel.
The Proverbial Sayings in this Chapter, ſome make three, others four: all contained in two verſes 22, and 23. With which I ſhall not trouble the Reader; becauſe I have made them plain enough in the Paraphraſe; and intend not to fill this Book, with like ſayings out of other Authours.
[c] I ſhould onelyonly add that Rabbim in the laſt verſe, but one, ſignifying great men as well as many, I have expreſſed both: and Solomon himſelf as well as Sampſon became an example of the mighty men there mentioned who were undone by leud Women.
1. MY ſon, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
1. THere is great reaſon then, My Son, (II. Prov. 1.) to repeat the caution I have often given thee, againſt this and other vices: and to beſeech thee, to obſerve my Inſtructions, and to lay up my Commandments in ſuch faithfull remembrance; that they may not fail to produce the fruit of obedience.
2. Keep my commandments, and live: and my law as the apple of thine eye.
2. For if thou wilt be ruled by them, aſſure thy ſelf (as I have ſaid before IV. 4.) thou ſhalt enjoy long happineſs: therefore obſerve them carefully with a tender affection to them; and, looking upon them as thy ſafeſt guide and directour, conſent as ſoon to wound the apple of thine Eye, as in the leaſt to violate any of My Laws.
3. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
3. Do not merely reade what I write, imagining thou canſt have continual recourſe to them here in this Book; but be ſo well acquainted with them, as to have them (as we ſpeak) at thy fingers ends: or rather, let them be tranſcribed from hence, into thy very heart.
4. Say unto Wiſdom, Thou art my ſiſter; and call underſtanding thy Kinſwoman:
4. There embrace them with ardent love; and ſet ſuch an high eſteem on Wiſedom, that thou mayſt invite it more and more unto thee: till it be as familiar with thee as an onelyonly Siſter, born at the ſame time with thee; and thou underſtand and delight in all her Precepts, as ſo near a kin to thee, that thou find them to be the very reaſon and ſenſe of thy own mind.
5. That they may keep thee from the ſtrange woman, from the ſtranger which flattereth with her words.
5. Which will be a powerfull preſervative to thee from the ſnares of the naughty Woman: who, though her company be ſo pernitious that God would have thee perfectly eſtranged from her, as if ſhe were not of the Commonwealth of Iſrael, yet hath powerfull charms about her, to flatter thoſe into her embraces, who are not heartily in love with Wiſedom.
6. ¶ For at the window of my houſe I looked through my caſement,
6. ¶ Of which a memorable inſtance comes now into my mind; for looking one day from my Chamber, through the lattices of the Window of my Palace;
7. And beheld among the ſimple ones, I diſcerned among the youths, a young man void of underſtanding,
7. I obſerved, among the undiſciplin'd and unexperienced Striplings of the City, one that was as childiſh and void of conſideration, as he was youthfull and eager in his deſires:
8. Paſſing through the ſtreet near her corner, and he went the way to her houſe,
8. Who, as if he had a mind to be undone, paſſed idlely through the Street, till he came to a Corner, where naughty Women uſe to haunt: walking in as ſtately a manner, as he could deviſe, directly towards one of their Houſes.
9. In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
9. It was in the twilight, while he might ſee his way and yet hope to be concealed: in the cloſe of the day; which was followed by a night as dark as pitch, and fit for ſuch works of darkneſs.
10. And behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and ſubtil of heart.
10. There, on a ſuddain, I was ſurpriſed with the ſight of a Woman ſtarting forth; who did not ſtay till he came up to her, but went to meet him, in a gaudy laſcivious dreſs, apt to allure a weak young Man: who thought preſently ſhe was in love with him; when her heart, as full of ſubtilty as his was of folly, is reſerved onelyonly to her ſelf.
11. (She is loud and ſtubborn, her feet abide not in her houſe.
11. This is her character: She is full of talk, and of bold unſeemly courtſhip; unruly and not to be controuled or broke of her will; idle alſo and always gadding abroad, as if ſhe had no buſineſs (but with her fooliſh Lovers) at home.
12. Now is ſhe without, now in the ſtreets, and lieth in wait at every corner)
12. Sometime ſhe ſtands before her door; and, if that will not do, ſhe goes further into the ſtreets and places of greateſt concourſe: and, more eſpecially, waits at every corner (where ſhe may look into two ſtreets at once) to inſnare ſuch as are apt, like ſilly birds, to be taken by her.
13. So ſhe caught him and kiſſed him, and with an impudent face ſaid unto him,
13. At one of thoſe corners (as I ſaid) ſhe met this young fool; and, contrary to all the rules of modeſty, caught him hard about the neck and kiſſed him: and after theſe amorous careſſes put on ſtill a bolder face, and, without any bluſhing, made this following ſpeech to him;
14. I have peace-offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
14. I am a happy Woman, in many bleſſings that God hath beſtowed upon me, for which I have given Him ſolemn thanks this very day: and, as Religion and Cuſtom binds me, I have provided as good a Feaſt as thoſe Sacrifices would afford, which I formerly vowed and now have paid; having no want of any thing but of ſome good company at home to rejoice with me. See Arg. [a]
15. Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to ſeek thy face, and I have found thee.
15. Which made me go abroad to try if I could meet with thee (who art the very perſon whom I came to ſeek) that I might invite and earneſtly beſeech thee to be ſo kind as to bear me company: And, to my great joy, this is added to all my other happineſs, that I have found thee ſpeedily and moſt opportunely.
16. I have deckt my bed with coverings of tapeſtry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
16. There ſhall no other pleaſures be wanting when our Feaſt is done; but from the Table we will remove to my Bed: which I have richly adorned with every thing that may pleaſe the eye; and made it as ſoft alſo as heart can wiſh.
17. I have perfumed my bed with myrrhe, aloes, and cinnamon.
17. Where thou ſhalt be entertained likewiſe with the ſweeteſt perfumes, that ours or the neighbouring countries could furniſh me withall; ſuch as Myrrh, Aloes, and Cinnamon: wherewith I have ſprinkled my Bed, to render it more gratefull to all thy ſenſes,
18. Come, let us take our fill of love untill the morning, let us ſolace our ſelves with loves.
18. Why do we waſte our time then here in the ſtreet? Come along with me, and let us go thither; and there ſatisfie our deſires to the full with love: we will ſolace our ſelves with the ſweeteſt pleaſures; which ſhall not end till the morning light.
19. For the good-man is not at home, he is gone a long journey;
19. For there is no fear they ſhould be interrupted or diſturbed; the Man (whom they call my Husband) being from home, and not likely to return in haſte: For he is gone to a place a great way off;
20. He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
20. Where he hath much buſineſs to diſpatch; which will detein him ſo long, that I am ſure it will be full moon (and now the new doth ſcarce yet appear, v. 9.) before he can be at home again. See Arg. [b]
21. With much fair ſpeech ſhe cauſed him to yield, with the flattering of her lips ſhe forced him.
21. In the repreſenting of theſe, and many other like ſpecious pretences (of great affection to him, of all ſorts of pleaſure, of ſecrecy, and ſafety in their enjoyments) ſhe ſhewed her ſelf ſuch a miſtreſs of her art, that ſhe bowed the heart of the young Man to become her diſciple: and, having wrought upon his inclinations, ſhe purſued her advantage with ſo much cunning; that ſhe rather compelled than attracted him, by her charming voice, and her ſoft alluring language.
22. He goeth after her ſtraitway, as an ox goeth to the ſlaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the ſtocks:
22. For he made not the leaſt Objection, but away he went immediately, and followed her like a great Calf (as we ſpeak in our language) or a ſtupid Ox; that fancies he is led to the paſture, when he is going to be killed: or like a fool, who takes it for an ornament, when the ſtocks are brought for his correction, to be clapt upon his leggs.
23. Till a dart ſtrike through his liver, as a bird haſteth to the ſnare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
23. Juſt ſo he haſtily threw himſelf into her embraces, and dream't of nothing but pleaſure; till, like a raſh Souldier that falls unexpectedly into an ambuſh, he received a mortal wound by that, which he fancied would be his higheſt ſatisfaction; or like a ſilly bird that greedy of the food which is laid to intice it, never minds the ſnare that is laid together with it: So he eagerly longing to taſte of her Feaſt and the following delights, had not ſo much as a thought, that this was a deſign upon his life; and would not end, but in miſeries infinitely greater than all his joys.
24. ¶ Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
24. ¶ This is a true repreſentation, my dear children (whom I love unfeignedly, not deceitfully like thoſe harlots) of the folly and danger of theſe lewd courſes, in which youth is prone to be engaged: and therefore do not look upon it as an idle ſpeculation; but give diligent heed unto it, and be ruled by my Advice.
25. Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not aſtray in her paths.
25. Let not one of you ſo much as entertain a thought of going to ſuch a woman; much leſs of conſenting to her enticements: or if any of you have been ſo unhappy as to be engaged in her company, let him think it is too much that he hath adventured to turn aſide out of the right way, and not wander till he hath utterly loſt himſelf in thoſe ſtrange paths, and cannot find his way back again.
26. For ſhe hath caſt down many wounded: yea, many ſtrong men have been ſlain by her.
26. Do not preſume of being ſafe in ſuch courſes, and of making a good retreat at laſt: For many have been the examples of no mean perſons, who have faln in their reputation, their eſtates, their healths, their comforts of life, and in truth have utterly periſhed by her: innumerable are the mighty men, both for valour and for wiſedom, whom ſhe hath brought to ruin. See Arg. [c]
27. Her houſe is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
27. In ſhort, to follow her unto her houſe, as this young man did, is the direct way to hell: every ſtep that is taken to her Bed (unto which ſhe invited him to aſcend) is in truth a going down to the diſmall chambers of death, and to the moſt horrid miſeries.