Verses 1 and 2. When the Word of God enters the heart, it will banish all pollution from the tongue.--_Lawson._ Perhaps painful experience (1 Kings xi. 1-8, Eccles. vii. 26) had given the wise man _wisdom_ and _understanding._ Therefore let us attend to it with fear and trembling.--_Bridges._ God allows us to call that knowledge ours which originally is His. 1. Because God give it us, and that he gives a man land allows him to call it his. 2. Because it is given for our good as well as other men's. We are not like the builders of Noah's ark, that could not be preserved in it.--_Francis Taylor._ Verse 3. The "strange woman" occurs so often in this book, that it is not probably she is introduced simply to denounce licentiousness. Indeed, she so stands twin picture to wisdom, that we come to a firm belief that she is introduced as the picture of impenitence.--_Miller._ To hear her one would suppose that she was possessed of the most generous and disinterested spirit. Her tongue is taught by him who betrayed Eve to paint the vilest sin with the most beautiful colours.--_Lawson._ Verse 4. The wise counsel of the father puts those things together, in his words which the folly of sinners putteth far asunder in their thoughts, the beginning and end of lustful wantonness. He that by foresight shall taste the bitter end will never lick the honeycomb. He that by a wise consideration shall feel the sharp edges of the issues of it, will never delight to smooth himself with the flat sides of the sword.--_Jermin._ Verse 5. Possession of hell is taken by the wicked before they come into it; the devil giveth them that when he by wickedness possesseth their hearts. There is no more to be done than to set up their abode in it.--_Jermin._ Verse 6. The words, if taken to refer to the woman, describe with a terrible vividness the state of heart and soul which prostitution brings upon its victims; the reckless blindness that will not think, tottering on the abyss, yet loud in its defiant mirth, ignoring the dreadful future.--_Plumptre._ Verse 7. Let no one think what he will do when he is in danger, and how he will get from her, when once she hath got him to her, but hear _now_ what ye are to do to keep out of danger.--_Jermin._ Verse 8. The devil will tempt you enough without your own help. To tempt is his business. As you love your life and your own soul, give him no assistance in the work of destruction.--_Lawson._