Proverbs 6:7

7 Nobody has to tell it what to do.

Proverbs 6:7 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 6:7

Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler.
] None to guide and direct her what to do; nor any to overlook her, to see that she does aright, or to oblige her to work, and keep her to it; nor any to call her to an account, and correct her for doing amiss; and nevertheless diligent and industrious, doing everything of herself, by the instinct of nature, readily and willingly: and yet how slothful are men; who, besides the dictates of nature, reason, and conscience, have parents, masters, ministers, and magistrates, to guide, direct, exhort, instruct, and enforce! so Aristotle F11 says of the ant, that it is (agarcov) , without any ruler or governor.


FOOTNOTES:

F11 Hist. de Animal. l. 1. c. 1.

Proverbs 6:7 In-Context

5 Run like a deer from the hunter, fly like a bird from the trapper! A Lesson from the Ant
6 You lazy fool, look at an ant. Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two.
7 Nobody has to tell it what to do.
8 All summer it stores up food; at harvest it stockpiles provisions.
9 So how long are you going to laze around doing nothing? How long before you get out of bed?
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.