Proverbios 6

1 Hijo mío, si salieres fiador por tu amigo, si prometiste al extraño

2 enlazado eres con las palabras de tu boca, y preso con las razones de tu boca

3 Haz esto ahora, hijo mío, y líbrate, porque has caído en la mano de tu prójimo; ve, humíllate, y esfuerza tu prójimo

4 No des sueño a tus ojos, ni a tus párpados adormecimiento

5 Escápate como la gacela de la mano del cazador, y como el ave de la mano del que tiende trampas

6 Ve a la hormiga, oh perezoso, mira sus caminos, y sé sabio

7 la cual no teniendo capitán, ni gobernador, ni señor

8 prepara en el verano su comida y en el tiempo de la siega recoge su mantenimiento

9 Perezoso, ¿hasta cuándo has de dormir? ¿Cuándo te levantarás de tu sueño

10 Tomando un poco de sueño, cabeceando otro poco, y cruzado los brazos otro poco para volver a dormir

11 así vendrá tu necesidad como caminante, y tu pobreza como hombre de escudo

12 El hombre de Belial es varón inicuo, anda en perversidad de boca

13 guiña con sus ojos, habla con sus pies, enseña con sus dedos

14 perversidades hay en su corazón, anda pensando mal en todo tiempo; enciende rencillas

15 Por tanto su calamidad vendrá de repente; súbitamente será quebrantado, y no habrá remedio

16 Seis cosas aborrece el SEÑOR, y aun siete abomina su alma

17 Los ojos altivos, la lengua mentirosa, las manos derramadoras de sangre inocente

18 el corazón que maquina pensamientos inicuos, los pies presurosos para correr al mal

19 el testigo falso que habla mentiras, y el que enciende rencillas entre los hermanos

20 Guarda, hijo mío, el mandamiento de tu padre, y no dejes la ley de tu madre

21 átala siempre en tu corazón, enlázala a tu cuello

22 Te guiará cuando anduvieres; cuando durmieres te guardará; hablará contigo cuando despertares

23 Porque el mandamiento es candela, y la enseñanza luz; y camino de vida las reprensiones del castigo

24 para que te guarden de la mala mujer, de la blandura de la lengua de la extraña

25 No codicies su hermosura en tu corazón, ni ella te prenda con sus ojos

26 porque a causa de la mujer ramera es reducido el hombre a un bocado de pan; y la mujer caza la preciosa alma del varón

27 ¿Tomará el hombre fuego en su seno, sin que sus vestidos se quemen

28 ¿Andará el hombre sobre las brasas, sin que sus pies se quemen

29 Así el que entrare a la mujer de su prójimo; no será sin culpa cualquiera que la tocare

30 No tienen en poco al ladrón, aun cuando hurtare para saciar su alma teniendo hambre

31 tomado, paga siete veces; da toda la sustancia de su casa

32 Mas el que comete adulterio con la mujer, es falto de corazón; corrompe su alma el que tal hace

33 Plaga y vergüenza hallará; y su afrenta nunca será raída

34 Porque el celo sañudo del varón no perdonará en el día de la venganza

35 no tendrá respeto a ningún rescate; ni querrá perdonar, aunque multipliques el soborno

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.