Verse 2

Thoughts. Or wisdom; and act with discretion. --- Mind, &c., is omitted in Hebrew and St. 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." (St. Ambrose, de Abrah. ii. 11.) She seeks thy ruin, ver. 5., and chap. ii. 16.

Verse 6

They. Hebrew, "if perhaps thou ponder the path of life." (Pagnin) (Haydock) --- Or "she ponders not," &c. She walks inconsiderately, and consults only her passions, chap. vii. 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, ver. 16., and Genesis xlix. 3. (Calmet)

Verse 11

Body. He alludes to a shameful disease, the just punishment of intemperance, Ecclesiasticus xix. 3.

Verse 14

Evil. Infirm and worn out, having lost my reputation, &c. (Calmet) --- Though I lived among the faithful, I was under no restraint. (Menochius)

Verse 15

Well. Live comfortably on your own property, (Cajetan) with your own wife. (Calmet)

Verse 16

Waters. Mayst thou have a numerous offspring, (ver. 10.) and be liberal. Many copies of the Septuagint, &c., have a negation, with Aquila, "let not thy," &c., (Calmet) though it my be read with and interrogation, "are the waters of thy fountain to be?" &c. (De Dieu) --- By not means. Origen (in Numbers xii.) 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, (ver. 15, 20.) so that the negative particle seems to be here wanting, as it is, chap. vi. 17., in Manuscript 60, (Kennicott) and chap. xiv. 33. (Septuagint, &c.) (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, Psalm lxvii. 28., and Isaias xlviii. 1. (Calmet)

Verse 19

Love. This is spoken by way of permission, and to withdraw people from unlawful connections, Ecclesiastes ii. 1., and 1 Corinthians vii. 29. (Calmet)

Verse 22

Ropes. "Evil habits unrestrained induce a necessity," (St. Augustine, Confessions viii. 5.) though not absolute. (Haydock) --- 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)

Verse 27

CHAPTER V.