“Ne transgrediaris terminos antiquos, quos posuerunt patres tui.”
“Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. landmark: or, bound”
“Do not move an ancient boundary stone which your fathers have placed.”
“Don’t move the ancient boundary stone, which your fathers have set up.”
“Remove not the ancient landmark, Which thy fathers have set.”
Set. The pagans made a god of Terminus, to prevent disputes. (Ovid, Fast. ii.) — If it be unlawful to disturb land-marks, how much more so is it to give way to novelty in religion? (Deuteronomy xix. 14.) (Calmet) — Solomon is addressing those who follow the true faith. Else the conduct of infidel ancestors should not deter any from embracing the truth. (Haydock)
This is designed to warn all young men against the lusts of uncleanness. As they regard the welfare of their souls, let them take heed of strange women, lewd women, whom they ought to be strange to, of the mouth of strange women, of the kisses of their lips (ch. 7 13), of the words of their lips, their charms and enticements. Dread them; have nothing to do with them; for, 1. Those who abandon themselves to that sin give proof that they are abandoned of God: it is a deep pit, which those fall into that are abhorred of the Lord, who leaves them to themselves to enter into that temptation, and takes off the bridle of his restraining grace, to punish them for other sins. Value not thyself upon thy being in favour with such women, when it proclaims thee under the wrath of God. 2. It is seldom that they recover themselves, for it is a deep pit; it will be hard getting out of it, it so besots the mind and debauches the conscience, by pleasing the flesh.