Bridges on Proverbs 5:20-23
 
 
Charles Bridges on Proverbs 5:20-23
 
 1-14 
 15-19 
 20-23 
 
20. And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger? 21. For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings. 22. His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. {sins: Heb. sin} 23. ¶ He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
 
With such a view as we have had of the deadly enticement of sin on the one hand (Verses 9-11), and the calm happiness provided on the other by the ordinance of God (Verses 15-19), surely none but the infatuated would leave the wholesome fountain for the poisoned and forbidden spring. If he were not stupified, would he slight the “honourable” state of marriage (Hebrews 13:4), to embrace the bosom of a stranger, ‘loveless, joyless, unendeared’? Would not the thought that the ways of man are before the LORD, arrest him in his course?† But no. Practical atheism is the root of human depravity. (Psalm 14:1-3.) The eye of man, even of a child, is a check upon him (Job 24:15. Isaiah 29:15); but the thought of an all-seeing God, even if it enters his mind (Psalm 10:4), inspires no alarm, conviction, or restraint. Oh! if men would but read — would but believe — their Bibles, how would this solemn truth — he pondereth all his goings — flash upon their consciences! Not only does he see and mark them as the Omniscient God (Job 31:4. Psalm 139:1-4); but he ponders them as the just Judge. (Chapter 16:2. 1 Samuel 2:3. Daniel 5:27.) Not one is hidden from his piercing eye. (Hebrews 4:13.) “He will bring every secret thing to judgment.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14.) He “will be a swift witness against the adulterers. No unclean person shall enter into his kingdom.” (Malachi 3:2. Ephesians 5:5.)
But if no regard to reason, or to the all-seeing Eye, will restrain the sinner, let him think of the trouble that he is bringing upon himself. God needs no chains or prison to bring him under his hand. Wherever he goes, his sins go with him, as cords to hold him for judgment. (Chapter 11:3, 5-6; 29:6. 1 Samuel 28:5-10.) Does he think that he can give them up when he pleases? Repetition forms the habit. The habit becomes a ruling principle. ‘Every lust deals with him, as Delilah with Samson — not only robs him of his strength, but leaves him fast bound.’† Shutting his eyes against the light, he dies without instruction (Verse 12. Chapter 1:29; 10:21. Job 4:21; 36:12. Hosea 4:14, 17) — The greatness of his folly leads him astray — to perdition. (2 Peter 2:14-15.)
But is there no remedy for this deadly curse? Thanks be to God! cleansing is provided for the impure (Zechariah 13:1. 1 Corinthians 6:11); “deliverance is proclaimed to the captive.” (Isaiah 61:1.) Blessed Savior! cleanse the leper in thy precious fountain. Perform thy mighty commission. Set the captive free.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 5:9-11
9 Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel: 10 Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger; {thy wealth: Heb. thy strength} 11 And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 5:15-19
15 ¶ Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. 16 Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. 17 Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee. 18 Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. 19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love. {satisfy...: Heb. water thee} {be thou...: Heb. err thou always in her love}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hebrews 13:4
4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Job 34:21, 22. Psalm 94:6-9. Jeremiah 13:25-27; 16:17; 29:23. Hosea 7:2. See some striking thoughts in Mede's Sermon on 4:23.
 
 
Job 34:21, 22
21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. 22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
 
Psalm 94:6-9
6 They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless. 7 Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. 8 Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? 9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?
 
Jeremiah 13:25-27
25 This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the LORD; because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood. 26 Therefore will I discover thy skirts upon thy face, that thy shame may appear. 27 I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be? {when...: Heb. after when yet?}
 
Jeremiah 16:17
17 For mine eyes are upon all their ways: they are not hid from my face, neither is their iniquity hid from mine eyes.
 
Jeremiah 29:23.
23 Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours' wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the LORD.
 
Hosea 7:2
2 And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face. {consider...: Heb. say not to}
 
Proverbs 4:23
23 Keep thy heart {1} with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life. {1) Or above all that thou guardest}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Psalm 14:1-3
1 ¶ {To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.} The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. 2 The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. 3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one. {filthy: Heb. stinking}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Job 24:15
15 The eye also of the adulterer waiteth for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me: and disguiseth his face. {disguiseth...: Heb. setteth his face in secret}
 
Isaiah 29:15
15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Psalm 10:4
4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. {God is...: or, all his thoughts are, There is no God}
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Job 31:4
4 Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?
 
Psalm 139:1-4
1 ¶ {To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.} O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. {compassest: or, winnowest} 4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 16:2
2 ¶ All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
 
1 Samuel 2:3
3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. {arrogancy: Heb. hard}
 
Daniel 5:27
27 TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Hebrews 4:13
13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ecclesiastes 12:14
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Malachi 3:2
2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
 
Ephesians 5:5
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 11:3, 5, 6
3 ¶ The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. 5 ¶ The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. {direct: Heb. rectify} 6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
 
Proverbs 29:6
6 ¶ In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.
 
1 Samuel 28:5-10
5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. 6 And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. 7 ¶ Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. 8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee. 9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? 10 And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Footnote:
Archbishop Tillotson quoted in Nicholl's Commentary. Judges 16:19-21. ‘Thus I,’ — said Augustine — adverting to this hateful sin — ‘delighted with the disease of the flesh, and with the deadly sweetness of it, drew my shackles along with me, much afraid to have them knocked off; and, as if my wound had been too hard rubbed by it, I put back my friends’ good persuasions, as it were the hand of one that would unchain me.’ — Confess. b. vi. c. 12. Compare chapter 23:29-35.
 
 
Judges 16:19-21
19 And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to afflict him, and his strength went from him. 20 And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him. 21 But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house. {put out: Heb. bored out}
 
Proverbs 16:10
29 ¶ Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proverbs 5:12
12 And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;
 
Proverbs 1:29
29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
 
Proverbs 10:21
21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom. {of wisdom: Heb. of heart}
 
Job 4:21
21 Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.
 
Job 36:12
12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. {perish: Heb. pass away}
 
Hosea 4:14, 17
14 I will not punish your daughters when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit adultery: for themselves are separated with whores, and they sacrifice with harlots: therefore the people that doth not understand shall fall. {I will not: or, Shall I not} {fall: or, be punished} 17 Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2 Peter 2:14, 15
14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: {adultery: Gr. an adulteress} 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Zechariah 13:1
1 ¶ In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. {uncleanness: Heb. separation for uncleanness}
 
1 Corinthians 6:11
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Isaiah 61:1
1 ¶ The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;