---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible"
author: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Commentaries"
section: 254 of 927
url: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/254/
cite: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, section 254. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/254/"
---

# Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

*Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown*

The Victorian standard commentary, critical and practical, from Genesis to Revelation.

## 254. Proverbs · 4 of 27

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/254/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/254/#p-N

[¶0] lips--or, "words."

[¶1] 25. Let ... before thee--that is, pursue a sincere and direct purpose, avoiding temptations.

[¶2] 26. Ponder--Consider well; a wise course results from wise forethought.

[¶3] 27. (Compare [Pr 4:25]). Avoid all by-paths of evil ([De 2:27]; 17:11). A life of integrity requires attention to heart, speech, eyes, and conduct.

### Chapter 5

### Pr 5:1-23. A warning against the seductive arts of wicked women, enforced by considering the advantages of chastity, and the miserable end of the wicked

[¶6] 1. This connection of wisdom and understanding is frequent ([Pr 2:2]; ); the first denotes the use of wise means for wise ends; the other, the exercise of a proper discrimination in their discovery.

[¶7] 2. regard--or, "observe."

[¶8] keep--preserve constantly.

[¶9] 3. (Compare [Pr 2:16]). Her enticing promises are deceitful.

[¶10] 4. her end--literally, "her future," in sense of reward, what follows (compare [Psa 37:37]; ). Its nature is evinced by the use of figures, opposite those of [Pr 5:3]. The physical and moral suffering of the deluded profligate are notoriously terrible.

[¶11] 5. feet ... , steps--that is, course of life ends in death.

[¶12] 6. her ways ... know--Some prefer, "that she may not ponder the path of life," &c.; but perhaps a better sense is, "her ways are varied, so as to prevent your knowledge of her true character, and so of true happiness."

[¶13] 8-9. Avoid the slightest temptation.

[¶14] 10. wealth--literally, "strength," or the result of it.

[¶15] labours--the fruit of thy painful exertions ([Psa 127:2]). There may be a reference to slavery, a commuted punishment for death due the adulterer ([De 22:22]).

[¶16] 11. at the last--the end, or reward (compare [Pr 5:4]).

[¶17] mourn--roar in pain.

[¶18] flesh and ... body--the whole person under incurable disease.

[¶19] 12-14. The ruined sinner vainly laments his neglect of warning and his sad fate in being brought to public disgrace.

[¶20] 15-20. By figures, in which well, cistern, and fountain [Pr 5:15, 18] represent the wife, and rivers of waters [Pr 5:16] the children, men are exhorted to constancy and satisfaction in lawful conjugal enjoyments. In [Pr 5:16], fountains (in the plural) rather denote the produce or waters of a spring, literally, "what is from a spring," and corresponds with "rivers of waters."

[¶21] 21. The reason, God's eye is on you,

[¶22] 22-23. and He will cause sin to bring its punishment.

### Chapter 6

### Pr 6:1-35. After admonitions against suretyship and sloth (compare Pr 6:6-8), the character and fate of the wicked generally are set forth, and the writer (Pr 6:20-35) resumes the warnings against incontinence, pointing out its certain and terrible results. This train of thought seems to intimate the kindred of these vices

[¶25] 1-2. if--The condition extends through both verses.

[¶26] be surety--art pledged.

[¶27] stricken ... hand--bargained (compare [Job 17:3]).

[¶28] with a stranger--that is, for a friend (compare [Pr 11:15]; ).

[¶29] 3. come ... friend--in his power.

[¶30] humble ... sure thy friend--urge as a suppliant; that is, induce the friend to provide otherwise for his debt, or secure the surety.

[¶31] 4-5. The danger requires promptness.

[¶32] 6-8. The improvident sluggards usually want sureties. Hence, such are advised to industry by the ant's example.

[¶33] 9-10. Their conduct graphically described;

[¶34] 11. and the fruits of their self-indulgence and indolence presented.

[¶35] as ... travelleth--literally, "one who walks backwards and forwards," that is, a highwayman.

[¶36] armed man--that is, one prepared to destroy.

[¶37] 12. A naughty person--literally, "A man of Belial," or of worthlessness, that is, for good, and so depraved, or wicked (compare [1Sa 25:25]; , &c.). Idleness and vice are allied. Though indolent in acts, he actively and habitually (walketh) is ill-natured in speech ([Pr 4:24]).

[¶38] 13-14. If, for fear of detection, he does not speak, he uses signs to carry on his intrigues. These signs are still so used in the East.

[¶39] 15. Suddenness aggravates evil (compare [Pr 6:11]; ).

[¶40] calamity--literally, "a crushing weight."

[¶41] broken--shivered as a potter's vessel; utterly destroyed ([Psa 2:9]).

[¶42] 16-19. six ... seven--a mode of speaking to arrest attention ([Pr 30:15], ; [Job 5:19]).

[¶43] 20-23. (Compare [Pr 1:8]; , &c.).

[¶44] 24. A specimen of its benefit. By appreciating truth, men are not affected by lying flattery.