From the way of the evil man; from following his counsel or example, which others for want of wisdom commonly do. That speaketh froward things; with design to corrupt thy mind, and entice thee to evil principles or practices. read more
The paths of uprightness; the way of God’s precepts. Of darkness, i.e. of sin, which is oft called darkness, as Romans 13:12, &c.; Ephesians 5:11, because it comes from darkness, ignorance, and error, and loves darkness and hates light, and leads to utter darkness. read more
Who rejoice to do evil; seeking and embracing occasions of sin with diligence and greediness, and pleasing themselves both in the practice and remembrance of sin; whereas upright men abhor and watch against all occasions of sin beforehand, and mourn bitterly for it afterwards. Delight in the frowardness of the wicked; not only in their own sins, but in the sins of other wicked men, which shows a greater malignity of mind and love to sin. See Romans 1:32. read more
Whose ways are crooked, or, who make their ways crooked, i.e. whose course of life swerves from the right and straight way of God’s law. read more
From the strange woman; from the adulteress or whore; called strange, partly because such persons were commonly heathens, or are supposed to be such by reason of that severe law against these practices in Israelitish women, Deuteronomy 23:17, or are justly reputed heathens, as being degenerate Israelites, which are oft called strangers, as hath been noted in the Book of the Psalms; and partly because conversation with such persons is forbidden to men; as those Israelites which were not Levites... read more
The guide of her youth, to wit, her husband, whom she took to be her guide and governor, and that in her youth: which circumstance is added to aggravate her sin and shame, because love is commonly most sincere and fervent between a husband and wife of youth, as they are for that reason emphatically called, Proverbs 5:18; Isaiah 54:6; Joel 1:8; Malachi 2:14,Malachi 2:15. Forgetteth, i.e. violateth or breaketh, as that word is commonly used in a practical sense. The covenant of her God; the... read more
Her house inclineth unto death, conversation with her (which was most free and usual in her own house) is the ready and certain way to death, which it brings many ways; by wasting a man’s vital spirits, and shortening his life; by exposing him to many and dangerous diseases, which physicians have declared and proved to be the effects of inordinate lust; as also to the fury of jealous husbands or friends, and sometimes to the sword of civil justice, and undoubtedly, without repentance, to God’s... read more
None; few or none; an hyperbolical expression, used Isaiah 64:7. That go unto her; that go to her house, or that lie with her, as this phrase is used, Genesis 16:4; Genesis 30:4; Joshua 2:13. Return again, from her and from this wickedness, unto God. Adulterers and whoremongers are very rarely brought to repentance, but are generally hardened by the power and deceitfulness of that lust, and by God’s just judgment, peculiarly inflicted upon such persons, Hebrews 13:4. He alludes to the nature of... read more
This depends upon Proverbs 2:11, and is mentioned as another happy fruit of wisdom, the former being declared from Proverbs 2:12 to this verse. Walk in the way of good men; follow the counsels and examples of the godly; whereby he intimates that it is not sufficient to abstain from evil company and practices, but that we must choose the conversation of good men. read more
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Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible - Proverbs 2:11
From wicked courses, and the mischiefs which attend upon them; as is particularly expressed in the following verses. read more