1 My son, H1121 if thou be surety H6148 for thy friend, H7453 if thou hast stricken H8628 thy hand H3709 with a stranger, H2114
2 Thou art snared H3369 with the words H561 of thy mouth, H6310 thou art taken H3920 with the words H561 of thy mouth. H6310
3 Do H6213 this now, H645 my son, H1121 and deliver H5337 thyself, when thou art come H935 into the hand H3709 of thy friend; H7453 go, H3212 humble H7511 thyself, and make sure H7292 thy friend. H7453
4 Give H5414 not sleep H8142 to thine eyes, H5869 nor slumber H8572 to thine eyelids. H6079
5 Deliver H5337 thyself as a roe H6643 from the hand H3027 of the hunter, and as a bird H6833 from the hand H3027 of the fowler. H3353
6 Go H3212 to the ant, H5244 thou sluggard; H6102 consider H7200 her ways, H1870 and be wise: H2449
7 Which having no guide, H7101 overseer, H7860 or ruler, H4910
8 Provideth H3559 her meat H3899 in the summer, H7019 and gathereth H103 her food H3978 in the harvest. H7105
9 How long wilt thou sleep, H7901 O sluggard? H6102 when wilt thou arise H6965 out of thy sleep? H8142
10 Yet a little H4592 sleep, H8142 a little H4592 slumber, H8572 a little H4592 folding H2264 of the hands H3027 to sleep: H7901
11 So shall thy poverty H7389 come H935 as one that travelleth, H1980 and thy want H4270 as an armed H4043 man. H376
12 A naughty H1100 person, H120 a wicked H205 man, H376 walketh H1980 with a froward H6143 mouth. H6310
13 He winketh H7169 with his eyes, H5869 he speaketh H4448 with his feet, H7272 he teacheth H3384 with his fingers; H676
14 Frowardness H8419 is in his heart, H3820 he deviseth H2790 mischief H7451 continually; H6256 he soweth H7971 discord. H4066 H4090
15 Therefore shall his calamity H343 come H935 suddenly; H6597 suddenly H6621 shall he be broken H7665 without remedy. H4832
16 These six H8337 things doth the LORD H3068 hate: H8130 yea, seven H7651 are an abomination H8441 unto him: H5315
17 A proud H7311 look, H5869 a lying H8267 tongue, H3956 and hands H3027 that shed H8210 innocent H5355 blood, H1818
18 An heart H3820 that deviseth H2790 wicked H205 imaginations, H4284 feet H7272 that be swift H4116 in running H7323 to mischief, H7451
19 A false H8267 witness H5707 that speaketh H6315 lies, H3577 and he that soweth H7971 discord H4090 among brethren. H251
20 My son, H1121 keep H5341 thy father's H1 commandment, H4687 and forsake H5203 not the law H8451 of thy mother: H517
21 Bind H7194 them continually H8548 upon thine heart, H3820 and tie H6029 them about thy neck. H1621
22 When thou goest, H1980 it shall lead H5148 thee; when thou sleepest, H7901 it shall keep H8104 thee; and when thou awakest, H6974 it shall talk H7878 with thee.
23 For the commandment H4687 is a lamp; H5216 and the law H8451 is light; H216 and reproofs H8433 of instruction H4148 are the way H1870 of life: H2416
24 To keep H8104 thee from the evil H7451 woman, H802 from the flattery H2513 of the tongue H3956 of a strange woman. H5237
25 Lust H2530 not after her beauty H3308 in thine heart; H3824 neither let her take H3947 thee with her eyelids. H6079
26 For by means of H1157 a whorish H2181 woman H802 a man is brought to a piece H3603 of bread: H3899 and the adulteress H802 H376 will hunt H6679 for the precious H3368 life. H5315
27 Can a man H376 take H2846 fire H784 in his bosom, H2436 and his clothes H899 not be burned? H8313
28 Can one H376 go H1980 upon hot coals, H1513 and his feet H7272 not be burned? H3554
29 So he that goeth in H935 to his neighbour's H7453 wife; H802 whosoever toucheth H5060 her shall not be innocent. H5352
30 Men do not despise H936 a thief, H1590 if he steal H1589 to satisfy H4390 his soul H5315 when he is hungry; H7456
31 But if he be found, H4672 he shall restore H7999 sevenfold; H7659 he shall give H5414 all the substance H1952 of his house. H1004
32 But whoso committeth adultery H5003 with a woman H802 lacketh H2638 understanding: H3820 he that doeth H6213 it destroyeth H7843 his own soul. H5315
33 A wound H5061 and dishonour H7036 shall he get; H4672 and his reproach H2781 shall not be wiped away. H4229
34 For jealousy H7068 is the rage H2534 of a man: H1397 therefore he will not spare H2550 in the day H3117 of vengeance. H5359
35 He will not regard H5375 H6440 any ransom; H3724 neither will he rest content, H14 though thou givest many H7235 gifts. H7810
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Proverbs 6
Commentary on Proverbs 6 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 6
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).
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.
4, 5. The danger requires promptness.
6-8. The improvident sluggards usually want sureties. Hence, such are advised to industry by the ant's example.
9, 10. Their conduct graphically described;
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.
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).
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.
14. Frowardness—as in Pr 2:14.
deviseth—literally, "constructs, as an artisan."
mischief—evil to others.
discord—especially litigation. Cunning is the talent of the weak and lazy.
15. Suddenness aggravates evil (compare Pr 6:11; 29:1).
calamity—literally, "a crushing weight."
broken—shivered as a potter's vessel; utterly destroyed (Ps 2:9).
16-19. six … seven—a mode of speaking to arrest attention (Pr 30:15, 18; Job 5:19).
17. proud look—literally, "eyes of loftiness" (Ps 131:1). Eyes, tongue, &c., for persons.
19. speaketh—literally, "breathes out," habitually speaks (Ps 27:12; Ac 9:1).
20-23. (Compare Pr 1:8; 3:3, &c.).
22. it—(compare Pr 6:23); denotes the instruction of parents (Pr 6:20), to which all the qualities of a safe guide and guard and ready teacher are ascribed. It prevents the ingress of evil by supplying good thoughts, even in dreams (Pr 3:21-23; Ps 19:9; 2Pe 1:19).
23. reproofs—(Pr 1:23) the convictions of error produced by instruction.
24. A specimen of its benefit. By appreciating truth, men are not affected by lying flattery.
25. One of the cautions of this instruction, avoid alluring beauty.
take—or, "ensnare."
eyelids—By painting the lashes, women enhanced beauty.
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.
27-29. The guilt and danger most obvious.
30, 31. Such a thief is pitied, though heavily punished.
31. sevenfold—(compare Ex 22:1-4), for many, ample (compare Ge 4:24; Mt 18:21), even if all his wealth is taken.
32. lacketh understanding—or, "heart"; destitute of moral principle and prudence.
33. dishonour—or, "shame," as well as hurt of body (Pr 3:35).
reproach … away—No restitution will suffice;
34, 35. nor any terms of reconciliation be admitted.
regard—or, "accept" any ransom.