A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, To call passengers who go right on their ways: Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
We have in these verses the contrast to what was given in the former part of the chapter. Under the figure of a foolish woman, meaning ignorance altogether, is set forth the rival of Christ, the god of this world, blending the human mind with the delusions of his several temptations. 2 Corinthians 4:4. The similitude of sitting at the door of her house to call passengers, who are going the right way, to turn aside, and the proposals she makes of stolen waters and bread in secret; these are most apt representations of the devices of Satan. For I would have the Reader observe that the call here given, is given to such as are going the right way. Yes! Satan never gives any interruption to his servants, while going the wrong way in his drudgery. While the strong man armed keepeth the palace, the goods are in peace. Luke 11:21. But if wisdom's call be heard among the household of Satan, where the Lord Jesus causeth it to be heard, for we all, (saith an apostle), had our conversation in times past with the children of disobedience. Ephesians 2:2-3. No sooner doth a poor sinner attempt to run out of his kingdom, than all hell is up in arms to bring him back. And what a correspondence is here made of stolen waters and bread in secret, rendered pleasant to the lusts of the flesh and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. 1 John 2:16. And how surely are the wages of sin death. Romans 6:23.