Warning against Adultery

20 Keep, my son, the command of thy father, And leave not the law of thy mother. 21 Bind them on thy heart continually, Tie them on thy neck. 22 In thy going up and down, it leadeth thee, In thy lying down, it watcheth over thee, And thou hast awaked—it talketh 'with' thee. 23 For a lamp 'is' the command, And the law a light, And a way of life 'are' reproofs of instruction, 24 To preserve thee from an evil woman, From the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. 25 Desire not her beauty in thy heart, And let her not take thee with her eyelids. 26 For a harlot consumeth unto a cake of bread, And an adulteress the precious soul hunteth. 27 Doth a man take fire into his bosom, And are his garments not burnt? 28 Doth a man walk on the hot coals, And are his feet not scorched? 29 So 'is' he who hath gone in unto the wife of his neighbour, None who doth touch her is innocent. 30 They do not despise the thief, When he stealeth to fill his soul when he is hungry, 31 And being found he repayeth sevenfold, All the substance of his house he giveth. 32 He who committeth adultery 'with' a woman lacketh heart, He is destroying his soul who doth it. 33 A stroke and shame he doth find, And his reproach is not wiped away, 34 For jealousy 'is' the fury of a man, And he doth not spare in a day of vengeance. 35 He accepteth not the appearance of any atonement, Yea, he doth not consent, Though thou dost multiply bribes!

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Proverbs 6:20-35

Commentary on Proverbs 6:20-35

(Read Proverbs 6:20-35)

The word of God has something to say to us upon all occasions. Let not faithful reproofs ever make us uneasy. When we consider how much this sin abounds, how heinous adultery is in its own nature, of what evil consequence it is, and how certainly it destroys the spiritual life in the soul, we shall not wonder that the cautions against it are so often repeated. Let us notice the subjects of this chapter. Let us remember Him who willingly became our Surety, when we were strangers and enemies. And shall Christians, who have such prospects, motives, and examples, be slothful and careless? Shall we neglect what is pleasing to God, and what he will graciously reward? May we closely watch every sense by which poison can enter our minds or affections.