Proverbs 21:6

6 He that gathereth treasures by the tongue of a lie maker, (or of a liar,) is vain, and without heart; and he shall be hurled to the snares of death.

Proverbs 21:6 Meaning and Commentary

Proverbs 21:6

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
By telling lies in trade; by bearing false witness in a court of judicature; or by preaching false doctrines in the church of God: [is] a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death:
such treasures, though ever so great, are like any light thing, smoke or vapour, straw, stubble, chaff, or a feather, tossed about the wind; which is expressive of the instability uncertainty of riches ill gotten; they do not last long, but are taken away and carried off by one providence or another; and they are likewise harmful and pernicious; they issue in death: and those that seek after them, and obtain them in a bad way, are said to "seek death": not intentionally, but eventually; this they certainly find, if grace prevent not; see ( Proverbs 8:36 ) . Jarchi reads it, they are the "snares of death" to him; and so the Septuagint version.

Proverbs 21:6 In-Context

4 Enhancing of eyes is [the] alarging of the heart; the lantern of wicked men is sin. (The raising up of the eyes, and the enlarging of the heart; such sins be the lantern of the wicked.)
5 The thoughts of a strong man be ever in abundance; but each slow man is ever in neediness. (The thoughts of a strong person be forevermore on abundance, or on plenty; but those of each person in haste be forevermore on neediness./Carefully-made plans shall be successful; but each person in haste shall be forever in need.)
6 He that gathereth treasures by the tongue of a lie maker, (or of a liar,) is vain, and without heart; and he shall be hurled to the snares of death.
7 The ravens of unpious men shall draw them down; for they would not do doom. (The robberies of the wicked shall pull them down; for what they do is wrong.)
8 The wayward way of a man is alien from God; but the work of him that is clean of sin, is rightful. (The evil way of a person is alien to God; but the work of him who is clean of sin, is upright.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.