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Verse 1

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and a hide my commandments with thee;

(a) That is, keep them in your heart.

Verse 2

So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, [and] apply b thine heart to understanding;

(b) If you give yourself to the true knowledge of God without hypocrisy.

Verse 3

Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, [and] c liftest up thy voice for understanding;

Verse 4

If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as [for] hid d treasures;

(d) Showing that no labour must be spared.

Verse 5

Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the e knowledge of God.

(e) This (he says) is the true wisdom to know and fear God.

Verse 11

f Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

(f) The word of God will guide you, and teach you how to govern yourself.

Verse 13

Who leave the g paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

(g) That is, the word of God, which is the only light, to follow their own fantasies which are darkness.

Verse 14

Who rejoice to do evil, [and] delight h in the frowardness of the wicked;

(h) When they see any given to evil as they are.

Verse 16

To deliver thee from the strange i woman, [even] from the stranger [which] flattereth with her words;

(i) Meaning, the wisdom which is the word of God, will preserve us from all vices: naming this vice of whoredom to which man is most prone.

Verse 17

Which forsaketh the k guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.

(k) That is, her husband, who is her head and guide to govern her, from whom she ought not to depart, but remain in his subjection.

Verse 18

For her m house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto n the dead.

(m) Her acquaintance with her spirits and they that haunt her.

(n) To them who are dead in body and soul.

Verse 21

For the upright shall dwell in the o land, and the perfect shall remain in it.

(o) They will enjoy the temporal and spiritual promises of God, as the wicked will be void of them.