46 Heb “the commandment” (so , , ).
47 The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor; it is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.
48 The terms “lamp,” “light,” and “way” are all metaphors. The positive teachings and commandments will illumine or reveal to the disciple the way to life; the disciplinary correctives will provide guidance into fullness of life.
49 The comparative “like” does not appear in the Hebrew text, but is implied by the metaphor; it is supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity.
50 Heb “the way of life” (so , , ); , “the way to life.” The noun “life” is a genitive following the construct “way.” It could be an attributive genitive modifying the kind of way/course of life that instruction provides, but it could also be objective in that the course of life followed would produce and lead to life.
51 The infinitive construct is epexegetical here, explaining how these teachings function as lights: “by keeping you.” This verse is the transition from the general admonition about heeding the teachings to the practical application.
52 The word translated “woman” is modified by רַע (ra’, “evil”) in the sense of violating the codes of the community and inflicting harm on others. The editors propose changing it to read “strange woman” as before, but there is not support for that. Some commentaries follow the and read רַע as “wife of a neighbor” (cf. ; also “the wife of another”; “someone else’s wife”) but that seems to be only a clarification.
53 The word “tongue” is not in construct; the word “foreign woman” is in apposition to “smooth of tongue,” specifying whose it is. The word “smooth” then is the object of the preposition, “tongue” is the genitive of specification, and “foreign woman” in apposition.
54 The description of the woman as a “strange woman” and now a “loose [Heb “foreign”] woman” is within the context of the people of Israel. She is a “foreigner” in the sense that she is a nonconformist, wayward, and loose. It does not necessarily mean that she is not ethnically an Israelite.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,

and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

to preserve you from the evil woman,

from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

For this command is a lamp,

this teaching is a light,

and correction and instruction

are the way to life,

keeping you from your neighbor’s wife,

from the smooth talk of a wayward woman.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

For a command is a lamp, teaching is a light,

and corrective discipline is the way to life.

They will protect you from an evil woman,

from the flattering tongue of a wayward woman.

NLTNew Living Translation

For their command is a lamp

and their instruction a light;

their corrective discipline

is the way to life.

It will keep you from the immoral woman,

from the smooth tongue of a promiscuous woman.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

For like a lamp is a commandment, and instruction is light,

and the way of life is the reproof of discipline,

in order to preserve you from an evil woman,

from the smoothness of the tongue of an adulteress.

KJV 1900King James Version

For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light;

And reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

To keep thee from the evil woman,

From the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

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