12 A man of worthlessness, a man of iniquity, Walking `with' perverseness of mouth,
Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,
A worthless man is preparing evil, And on his lips -- as a burning fire.
for there are many both insubordinate, vain-talkers, and mind-deceivers -- especially they of the circumcision -- whose mouth it behoveth to stop, who whole households do overturn, teaching what things it behoveth not, for filthy lucre's sake.
and at the same time also, they learn `to be' idle, going about the houses; and not only idle, but also tattlers and busybodies, speaking the things they ought not;
`Brood of vipers! how are ye able to speak good things -- being evil? for out of the abundance of the heart doth the mouth speak.
An evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
The righteousness of the upright delivereth them, And in mischief the treacherous are captured.
The fear of Jehovah `is' to hate evil; Pride, and arrogance, and an evil way, And a froward mouth, I have hated.
They do corruptly, And they speak in the wickedness of oppression, From on high they speak. They have set in the heavens their mouth, And their tongue walketh in the earth.
Lo, they belch out with their mouths, Swords `are' in their lips, for `Who heareth?'
The words of his mouth `are' iniquity and deceit, He ceased to act prudently -- to do good.
Of oaths his mouth is full, And deceits, and fraud: Under his tongue `is' perverseness and iniquity,
And Eliab, his eldest brother, heareth when he speaketh unto the men, and the anger of Eliab burneth against David, and he saith, `Why `is' this -- thou hast come down! and to whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I have known thy pride, and the evil of thy heart -- for, to see the battle thou hast come down.'
wherefore having put aside all filthiness and superabundance of evil, in meekness be receiving the engrafted word, that is able to save your souls;
And like the bad figs, that are not eaten for badness, Surely thus said Jehovah: So do I make Zedekiah king of Judah, And his heads, and the remnant of Jerusalem, Who are left in this land, And who are dwelling in the land of Egypt, And I have given them for a trembling, For evil -- to all kingdoms of the earth, For a reproach, and for a simile, For a byword, and for a reviling, In all the places whither I drive them. And I have sent against them the sword, The famine and the pestilence, Till their consumption from off the ground, That I gave to them and to their fathers!
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.