Her feet go down to death - She first, like a serpent, infuses her poison, by which the whole constitution of her paramour is infected, which soon or late brings on death. Her steps take hold on hell - First, the death of the body; and then the damnation of the soul. These are the tendencies of connections with such women. read more
Lest thou shouldest ponder - To prevent thee from reflecting on thy present conduct, and its consequences, her ways are moveable - she continually varies her allurements. Thou canst not know them - It is impossible to conceive all her tricks and wiles: to learn these in all their varieties, is a part of the science first taught in that infernal trade. read more
Hear me - O ye children - בנים banim , sons, young men in general: for these are the most likely to be deceived and led astray. read more
Come not nigh the door of her house - Where there are generally such exhibitions as have a natural tendency to excite impure thoughts, and irregular passions. read more
Lest thou give thine honor - The character of a debauchee is universally detested: by this, even those of noble blood lose their honor and respect. Thy years unto the cruel - Though all the blandishments of love dwell on the tongue, and the excess of fondness appear in the whole demeanor of the harlot and the prostitute; yet cruelty has its throne in their hearts; and they will rob and murder (when it appears to answer their ends) those who give their strength, their wealth, and their... read more
When thy flesh and thy body are consumed - The word שאר shear , which we render body, signifies properly the remains, residue, or remnant of a thing: and is applied here to denote the breathing carcass, putrid with the concomitant disease of debauchery: a public reproach which the justice of God entails on this species of iniquity. The mourning here spoken of is of the most excessive kind: the word נהם naham is often applied to the growling of a lion, and the hoarse incessant... read more
I was almost in all evil - This vice, like a whirlpool, sweeps all others into its vortex. In the midst of the congregation and assembly - In the mydel of the Curche and of the Synagoge - Old MS. Bible. Such persons, however sacred the place, carry about with them eyes full of adultery, which cannot cease from sin. read more
Drink waters out of thine own cistern - Be satisfied with thy own wife; and let the wife see that she reverence her husband; and not tempt him by inattention or unkindness to seek elsewhere what he has a right to expect, but cannot find, at home. read more
Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad - Let thy children lawfully begotten be numerous. read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 5:4
Bitter as wormwood - כלענה Kelanah , like the detestable herb wormwood, or something analogous to it: something as excessive in its bitterness, as honey is in its sweetness. read more