Proverbs Chapter 6
1 My son, if you have become collateral for your neighbour, if you have struck your hands in pledge for a stranger,
2 you are trapped by the words of your mouth; you are ensnared with the words of your mouth.
3 Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself, since you have come into the hand of your neighbour. Go, humble yourself. Press your plea with your neighbour.
4 Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids.
5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways, and be wise;
7 which having no chief, overseer, or ruler,
8 provides her bread in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.
9 How long will you sleep, sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11 so your poverty will come as a robber, and your scarcity as an armed man.
12 A worthless person, a man of iniquity, is he who walks with a perverse mouth,
13 who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, who motions with his fingers,
14 in whose heart is perverseness, who devises evil continually, who always sows discord.
15 Therefore his calamity will come suddenly. He will be broken suddenly, and that without remedy.
16 There are six things which the LORD hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him:
17 arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift in running to mischief,
19 a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord amongst brothers.
20 My son, keep your father's commandment, and don't forsake your mother's teaching.
21 Bind them continually on your heart. Tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk, it will lead you. When you sleep, it will watch over you. When you awake, it will talk with you.
23 For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,
24 to keep you from the immoral woman, from the flattery of the wayward wife's tongue.
25 Don't lust after her beauty in your heart, neither let her captivate you with her eyelids.
26 For a prostitute reduces you to a piece of bread. The adulteress hunts for your precious life.
27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap, and his clothes not be burnt?
28 Or can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be scorched?
29 So is he who goes in to his neighbour's wife. Whoever touches her will not be unpunished.
30 Men don't despise a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry;
31 but if he is found, he shall restore seven times. He shall give all the wealth of his house.
32 He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding. He who does it destroys his own soul.
33 He will get wounds and dishonour. His reproach will not be wiped away.
34 For jealousy arouses the fury of the husband. He won't spare in the day of vengeance.
35 He won't regard any ransom, neither will he rest content, though you give many gifts.
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Proverbs Chapter 6 Guide
The parental exhortations are continued. In this section they are directed against suretyship, indolence, the evil man, and certain specific things which Jehovah hates. The warnings against becoming surety here and elsewhere must be interpreted in the light of the conditions obtaining when they were uttered. The sin of the sluggard is rebuked by the illustration of the ant, who, without the constraint of judge, ruler, or overseer, diligently toils to provide meat for herself.
The description of the worthless person is graphic in the extreme. His methods of communication are not straightforward, but such as suggest deceit and cunning. His influence is that of creating discord.
Then follows a list of things which Jehovah hates, They would seem to give a more detailed description of the "worthless person" already referred to. The "six" and "seven" of the opening statement have their explanation in the description. The six are first stated, and the seventh is that which results, namely, "he that soweth discord among brethren."
This is followed by a parental exhortation. It commences with tender and urgent entreaties to attend to parental counsels, because that counsel is for the good of the son to whom it is addressed. A warning is uttered against the first movement toward sin, desire. "Lust not after her beauty in thy heart." Then the consequences of wrong in social life are set forth. The man who is wronged will take no compensation. His fury will exact the utmost.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Proverbs Chapter 6 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Cautions against rash suretiship. -- (1-5)
- A rebuke to slothfulness. -- (6-11)
- Seven things hateful to God. -- (12-19)
- Exhortations to walk according to God's commandments. -- (20-35)
Verses 1-5
If we live as directed by the word of God, we shall find it profitable even in this present world. We are stewards of our worldly substance, and have to answer to the Lord for our disposal of it; to waste it in rash schemes, or such plans as may entangle us in difficulties and temptations, is wrong. A man ought never to be surety for more than he is able and willing to pay, and can afford to pay, without wronging his family; he ought to look upon every sum he is engaged for, as his own debt. If we must take all this care to get our debts to men forgiven, much more to obtain forgiveness with God. Humble thyself to him, make sure of Christ as thy Friend, to plead for thee; pray earnestly that thy sins may be pardoned, and that thou mayest be kept from going down to the pit.
Verses 6-11
Diligence in business is every man's wisdom and duty; not so much that he may attain worldly wealth, as that he may not be a burden to others, or a scandal to the church. The ants are more diligent than slothful men. We may learn wisdom from the meanest insects, and be shamed by them. Habits of indolence and indulgence grow upon people. Thus life runs to waste; and poverty, though at first at a distance, gradually draws near, like a traveller; and when it arrives, is like an armed man, too strong to be resisted. All this may be applied to the concerns of our souls. How many love their sleep of sin, and their dreams of worldly happiness! Shall we not seek to awaken such? Shall we not give diligence to secure our own salvation?
Verses 12-19
If the slothful are to be condemned, who do nothing, much more those that do all the ill they can. Observe how such a man is described. He says and does every thing artfully, and with design. His ruin shall come without warning, and without relief. Here is a list of things hateful to God. Those sins are in a special manner provoking to God, which are hurtful to the comfort of human life. These things which God hates, we must hate in ourselves; it is nothing to hate them in others. Let us shun all such practices, and watch and pray against them; and avoid, with marked disapproval, all who are guilty of them, whatever may be their rank.
Verses 20-35
The word of God has something to say to us upon all occasions. Let not faithful reproofs ever make us uneasy. When we consider how much this sin abounds, how heinous adultery is in its own nature, of what evil consequence it is, and how certainly it destroys the spiritual life in the soul, we shall not wonder that the cautions against it are so often repeated. Let us notice the subjects of this chapter. Let us remember Him who willingly became our Surety, when we were strangers and enemies. And shall Christians, who have such prospects, motives, and examples, be slothful and careless? Shall we neglect what is pleasing to God, and what he will graciously reward? May we closely watch every sense by which poison can enter our minds or affections.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.