Proverbs 6

¹My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,

²Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

Pr 6:1-35. After admonitions against suretyship and sloth (compare Pr 6:6-8), the character and fate of the wicked generally are set forth, and the writer (Pr 6:20-35) resumes the warnings against incontinence, pointing out its certain and terrible results. This train of thought seems to intimate the kindred of these vices. 1-2. if--The condition extends through both verses. be surety--art pledged. stricken ... hand--bargained (compare Job 17:3). with a stranger--that is, for a friend (compare Pr 11:15; 17:18).

³Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

3. come ... friend--in his power. humble ... sure thy friend--urge as a suppliant; that is, induce the friend to provide otherwise for his debt, or secure the surety.

⁴Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

⁵Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

4-5. The danger requires promptness.

⁶Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

⁷Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

⁸Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

6-8. The improvident sluggards usually want sureties. Hence, such are advised to industry by the ant’s example.

⁹How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

¹⁰Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

9-10. Their conduct graphically described;

¹¹So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

11. and the fruits of their self-indulgence and indolence presented. as ... travelleth--literally, “one who walks backwards and forwards,” that is, a highwayman. armed man--that is, one prepared to destroy.

¹²A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.

12. A naughty person--literally, “A man of Belial,” or of worthlessness, that is, for good, and so depraved, or wicked (compare 1Sa 25:25; 30:22, &c.). Idleness and vice are allied. Though indolent in acts, he actively and habitually (walketh) is ill-natured in speech (Pr 4:24).

¹³He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;

¹⁴Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

13-14. If, for fear of detection, he does not speak, he uses signs to carry on his intrigues. These signs are still so used in the East.

¹⁵Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

15. Suddenness aggravates evil (compare Pr 6:11; 29:1). calamity--literally, “a crushing weight.” broken--shivered as a potter’s vessel; utterly destroyed (Psa 2:9).

¹⁶These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

¹⁷A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

¹⁸An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

¹⁹A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

16-19. six ... seven--a mode of speaking to arrest attention (Pr 30:15, 18; Job 5:19).

²⁰My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

²¹Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

²²When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

²³For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

20-23. (Compare Pr 1:8; 3:3, &c.).

²⁴To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

24. A specimen of its benefit. By appreciating truth, men are not affected by lying flattery.

²⁵Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

25. One of the cautions of this instruction, avoid alluring beauty. take--or, “ensnare.” eyelids--By painting the lashes, women enhanced beauty.

²⁶For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.

26. The supplied words give a better sense than the old version: “The price of a whore is a piece of bread.” adulteress--(Compare Margin), which the parallel and context (Pr 6:29-35) sustain. Of similar results of this sin, compare Pr 5:9-12. will hunt--alluding to the snares spread by harlots (compare Pr 7:6-8). precious life--more valuable than all else.

²⁷Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

²⁸Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?

²⁹So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.

27-29. The guilt and danger most obvious.

³⁰Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;

³¹But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

30-31. Such a thief is pitied, though heavily punished.

³²But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.

32. lacketh understanding--or, “heart”; destitute of moral principle and prudence.

³³A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.

33. dishonour--or, “shame,” as well as hurt of body (Pr 3:35). reproach ... away--No restitution will suffice;

³⁴For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

³⁵He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.

34-35. nor any terms of reconciliation be admitted. regard--or, “accept” any ransom.