Historical chapter commentary
Verse 2. Thoughts. Or wisdom; and act with discretion.—Mind, and so forth is omitted in Hebrew and Saint Jerome Calmet.—By woman all concupiscence, or the inducement to sin, is commonly understood. We must not think of such things. Worthington.
Verse 4. Sword. “It is a crime even to hearken.” Saint Ambrose de Abrah. ii. 11. She seeks thy ruin. verse 5 chapter 2:16.
Verse 6. They. Hebrew “if perhaps thou ponder the path of life.” Pagn. Bible.—Or “she ponders not,” and so forth She walks inconsiderately, and consults only her passions. chapter 7:10. Calmet.—No one can depend on her love. Menochius.
Verse 9. Strangers. The world, the flesh, and the devil are such; cruelly devising our ruin. Worthington.
Verse 10. Strength. Or children. verse 16. Genesis 49:3. Calmet.
Verse 11. Body. He alludes to a shameful disease, the just punishment of intemperance. Sirach 19:3.
Verse 14. Evil. Infirm and worn out, having lost my reputation, and so forth Calmet.—Though I lived among the faithful, I was under no restraint. Menochius.
Verse 15. Well. Live comfortably on your own property, (Cajet.) with your own wife.
Verse 16. Waters. Mayst thou have a numerous offspring, (verse 10) and be liberal. Many copies of the Septuagint and so forth have a negation, with Aquila, “let not thy,” and so forth ( Calmet.) though it my be read with and interrogation, “are the waters of thy fountain to be?” and so forth De Dieu.—By not means. Origen (in Numbers 12) acknowledges both readings. Calmet.—Good instructions must be given to those who are well disposed, but not to scoffers, or obstinate infidels. Worthington.—Husbands are exhorted to be content with their own wives, (verse 15. 20) so that the negative particle seems to be here wanting, as it is, chapter 6:17 in MS. 60, (Kennicott) and chapter 14:33. Septuagint and so forth Capellus.
Verse 17. Thee. Stick to thy own wife. In a moral sense, let those who instruct others, take care not to neglect themselves.
Verse 18. Vein. Thou shalt have a numerous progeny. Psalms 67:28. Isaiah 48:1. Calmet.
Verse 19. Love. This is spoken by way of permission, and to withdraw people from unlawful connections. Eccle. 2:1 and 1 Corinthians 7:29. Calmet.
Verse 22. Ropes. “Evil habits unrestrained induce a necessity,” (Saint Augustine Conf. viii. 5.) though not absolute. Bible.—The libertine thinks he can get free as soon as he pleases; not being aware of the chains which he is forging for himself. Calmet.—Sin requires punishment. Menochius.
Sheol is the place of the dead.