Proverbios 6

1 Hijo mío, si has salido fiador por tu prójimo, si has dado promesa a un extraño,

2 si te has enredado con las palabras de tu boca, si con las palabras de tu boca has sido atrapado,

3 haz esto ahora, hijo mío, y líbrate, ya que has caído en la mano de tu prójimo: ve, humíllate e importuna a tu prójimo;

4 no des sueño a tus ojos ni adormecimiento a tus párpados;

5 líbrate como la gacela de la mano del cazador, y como ave de la mano del que caza.

6 Ve, mira la hormiga, perezoso, observa sus caminos, y sé sabio.

7 La cual sin tener jefe, ni oficial ni señor,

8 prepara en el verano su alimento, y recoge en la cosecha su sustento.

9 ¿Hasta cuándo, perezoso, estarás acostado? ¿Cuándo te levantarás de tu sueño?

10 Un poco de dormir, un poco de dormitar, un poco de cruzar las manos para descansar,

11 y vendrá como vagabundo tu pobreza, y tu necesidad como un hombre armado.

12 La persona indigna, el hombre inicuo, es el que anda con boca perversa,

13 el que guiña los ojos, el que hace señas con los pies, el que señala con los dedos,

14 el que con perversidad en su corazón, continuamente trama el mal, el que siembra discordia.

15 Por tanto su desgracia vendrá de repente; al instante será quebrantado, y no habrá remedio.

16 Seis cosas hay que odia el SEÑOR, y siete son abominación para El:

17 ojos soberbios, lengua mentirosa, manos que derraman sangre inocente,

18 un corazón que maquina planes perversos, pies que corren rápidamente hacia el mal,

19 un testigo falso que dice mentiras, y el que siembra discordia entre hermanos.

20 Hijo mío, guarda el mandamiento de tu padre, y no abandones la enseñanza de tu madre;

21 átalos de continuo en tu corazón, enlázalos a tu cuello.

22 Cuando andes, te guiarán; cuando duermas, velarán por ti; y al despertarte, hablarán contigo.

23 Porque el mandamiento es lámpara, y la enseñanza luz, y camino de vida las reprensiones de la instrucción,

24 para librarte de la mujer mala, de la lengua suave de la desconocida.

25 No codicies su hermosura en tu corazón, ni dejes que te cautive con sus párpados.

26 Porque por causa de una ramera uno es reducido a un pedazo de pan, pero la adúltera anda a la caza de la vida preciosa.

27 ¿Puede un hombre poner fuego en su seno sin que arda su ropa?

28 ¿O puede caminar un hombre sobre carbones encendidos sin que se quemen sus pies?

29 Así es el que se llega a la mujer de su prójimo; cualquiera que la toque no quedará sin castigo.

30 No se desprecia al ladrón si roba para saciarse cuando tiene hambre;

31 mas cuando es sorprendido, paga siete veces; tiene que dar todos los bienes de su casa.

32 El que comete adulterio no tiene entendimiento; destruye su alma el que lo hace.

33 Heridas y verguenza hallará, y su afrenta no se borrará.

34 Porque los celos enfurecen al hombre, y no perdonará en el día de la venganza.

35 No aceptará ningún rescate, ni se dará por satisfecho aunque le des muchos presentes.

Proverbios 6 Commentary

Chapter 6

Cautions against rash suretiship. (1-5) A rebuke to slothfulness. (6-11) Seven things hateful to God. (12-19) Exhortations to walk according to God's commandments. (20-35)

Verses 1-5 If we live as directed by the word of God, we shall find it profitable even in this present world. We are stewards of our worldly substance, and have to answer to the Lord for our disposal of it; to waste it in rash schemes, or such plans as may entangle us in difficulties and temptations, is wrong. A man ought never to be surety for more than he is able and willing to pay, and can afford to pay, without wronging his family; he ought to look upon every sum he is engaged for, as his own debt. If we must take all this care to get our debts to men forgiven, much more to obtain forgiveness with God. Humble thyself to him, make sure of Christ as thy Friend, to plead for thee; pray earnestly that thy sins may be pardoned, and that thou mayest be kept from going down to the pit.

Verses 6-11 Diligence in business is every man's wisdom and duty; not so much that he may attain worldly wealth, as that he may not be a burden to others, or a scandal to the church. The ants are more diligent than slothful men. We may learn wisdom from the meanest insects, and be shamed by them. Habits of indolence and indulgence grow upon people. Thus life runs to waste; and poverty, though at first at a distance, gradually draws near, like a traveller; and when it arrives, is like an armed man, too strong to be resisted. All this may be applied to the concerns of our souls. How many love their sleep of sin, and their dreams of worldly happiness! Shall we not seek to awaken such? Shall we not give diligence to secure our own salvation?

Verses 12-19 If the slothful are to be condemned, who do nothing, much more those that do all the ill they can. Observe how such a man is described. He says and does every thing artfully, and with design. His ruin shall come without warning, and without relief. Here is a list of things hateful to God. Those sins are in a special manner provoking to God, which are hurtful to the comfort of human life. These things which God hates, we must hate in ourselves; it is nothing to hate them in others. Let us shun all such practices, and watch and pray against them; and avoid, with marked disapproval, all who are guilty of them, whatever may be their rank.

Verses 20-35 The word of God has something to say to us upon all occasions. Let not faithful reproofs ever make us uneasy. When we consider how much this sin abounds, how heinous adultery is in its own nature, of what evil consequence it is, and how certainly it destroys the spiritual life in the soul, we shall not wonder that the cautions against it are so often repeated. Let us notice the subjects of this chapter. Let us remember Him who willingly became our Surety, when we were strangers and enemies. And shall Christians, who have such prospects, motives, and examples, be slothful and careless? Shall we neglect what is pleasing to God, and what he will graciously reward? May we closely watch every sense by which poison can enter our minds or affections.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO PROVERBS 6

In this chapter the wise man dissuades from rash suretyship; exposes the sin of idleness; describes a wicked man; makes mention of seven things hateful to God; exhorts to attend to parental instructions and precepts, and cautions against adultery. Suretyship is described, Pr 6:1; and represented as a snare and a net, in which men are taken, Pr 6:2; and advice is given what to do in such a case, for safety in it, and deliverance from it, Pr 6:3-5; The sin of slothfulness is exposed, by observing the industry of the ant, Pr 6:6-8; by expostulating with the sluggard for his continuance in sloth, and by mimicking him, Pr 6:9,10; and by the poverty it brings upon him, Pr 6:11. Then a naughty wicked man is described, by his mouth, eyes, feet, fingers, and heart, whose ruin is sudden and inevitable, Pr 6:11-15. The seven things hateful to God are particularly named, Pr 6:16-19. And next the exhortation in some preceding chapters is reassumed, to attend to the instructions of parents; which will be found ornamental, pleasant, and useful, Pr 6:20-23. Especially to preserve from the lewd woman cautioned against, Pr 6:24,25; whose company is dissuaded from; on account of the extreme poverty and distress she brings persons to, and even danger of life, Pr 6:26; from the unavoidable ruin such come into, Pr 6:27-29; from the sin of uncleanness being greater than that of theft, Pr 6:30,31; from the folly the adulterer betrays; from the destruction of his soul, and the disgrace he brings on himself, Pr 6:32,33; and from the rage and irreconcilable offence of the husband of the adulteress, Pr 6:34,35.