Catena Fidei

Proverbs 9:17 (WEB)
“Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant.”

Fathers and councils · 6

Augustine of Hippo, Confessions III.6Book III
“I came upon that bold woman, who “is simple, and knoweth nothing,” the enigma of Solomon, sitting “at the door of the house on a seat,” and saying, “Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”” — editor's note: Prov. ix. 14, 17.
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Augustine of Hippo, Tractates on the Gospel of John Tractate 97
“Beware, with fear and prayer, of rushing into that mystery of Solomon’s, where “the woman that is foolish and brazen-faced, and become destitute of bread,” invites the passers-by with the words, “Come and make a pleasant feast on hidden bread, and the sweetness of stolen waters.”” — editor's note: Prov. ix. 13–17, according to the Septuagint, where, in verse 13, פתיות is rendered ἐνδεὴς ψωμοῦ, “in want of a morsel of bread,” as if from פת or פתות, a…
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Athanasius of Alexandria, Festal and Personal Letters Festal Letters.7Festal Letters
“For sin has her own special bread, of her death, and calling to those who are lovers of pleasure and lack understanding, she saith, ‘Touch with delight secret bread, and sweet waters which are stolen;’ for he who merely touches them knows not that that which is born from the earth perishes with her.” — editor's note: Prov. ix. 17.
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Athanasius of Alexandria, Festal and Personal Letters Festal Letters.16Festal Letters
“Having first drunk of these things, they go on to say those things which the whore saith in the Proverbs, ‘Lay hold with delight on hidden bread, and sweet stolen waters.’” — editor's note: Prov. ix. 17.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Instructor III.11Book III
“But says the Instructor: “Hie away, and tarry not in the place; nor fix thine eye on her: for thus shalt thou pass over a strange water, and cross to Acheron.”” — editor's note: Prov. ix. 13–18.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata, or Miscellanies I.19Book I
“…destitute of prudence, that is, those involved in heresies, “I enjoin,” remarks Wisdom, saying, “Touch sweetly stolen bread and the sweet water of theft;” the Scripture manifestly applying the terms bread and water to nothing else but to those heresies, which employ bread and water in the oblation, not according…” — editor's note: Prov. ix. 17.
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