Proverbs 6

Warnings Against Foolish Acts

1 My son, don't put up money for what your neighbor owes. Don't agree to pay up for someone else.

2 Don't be trapped by what you have said. Don't be caught by the words of your mouth.

3 Instead, my son, do something to free yourself. Don't fall into your neighbor's hands. Don't be proud. Hurry and make your appeal to your neighbor.

4 Don't let your eyes go to sleep. Don't let your eyelids close.

5 As a deer frees itself from a hunter, free yourself. As a bird frees itself from a trapper, free yourself.

6 You people who don't want to work, think about the ant! Consider its ways and be wise!

7 It has no commander. It has no leader or ruler.

8 But it stores up its food in summer. It gathers its food at harvest time.

9 You lazy people, how long will you lie there? When will you get up from your sleep?

10 You might sleep a little or take a little nap. You might even fold your hands and rest.

11 Then you would be poor, as if someone had robbed you. You would have little, as if someone had stolen from you.

12 A worthless and evil man goes around saying twisted things with his mouth.

13 He winks with his eyes. He makes signals with his feet. He motions with his fingers.

14 His plans are evil. He has lies in his heart. He is always stirring up fights.

15 Trouble will catch up with him in an instant. He will suddenly be destroyed. Nothing can save him.

16 There are six things the LORD hates. In fact, he hates seven things.

17 The LORD hates proud eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that kill those who aren't guilty.

18 He also hates hearts that make evil plans, feet that are quick to do evil,

19 any witness who pours out lies, and anyone who stirs up family fights.

A Warning Against Committing Adultery

20 My son, keep your father's commands. Don't turn away from your mother's teaching.

21 Tie them to your heart forever. Put them around your neck.

22 When you walk, they will guide you. When you sleep, they will watch over you. When you wake up, they will speak to you.

23 Your father's commands are like a lamp. Your mother's teaching is like a light. And the training that corrects you leads to life.

24 It keeps you from a sinful woman. It keeps you from the smooth tongue of a woman who commits adultery.

25 Don't hunger in your heart after her beauty. Don't let her eyes capture you.

26 A prostitute leaves you with only a loaf of bread. Another man's wife hunts your very life.

27 You can't shovel fire into your lap without burning your clothes.

28 You can't walk on hot coals without burning your feet.

29 It's the same for anyone who has sex with another man's wife. Anyone who touches her will be punished.

30 People don't hate a thief who steals to fill his empty stomach.

31 But when he is caught, he must pay seven times as much as he stole. It may even cost him everything he has.

32 A man who commits adultery has no sense. Anyone who does it destroys himself.

33 He will be beaten up and dishonored. His shame will never be wiped away.

34 Jealousy stirs up a husband's anger. He will show no mercy when he gets even.

35 He won't accept any payment. He won't take any money, no matter how much he is offered.

Proverbs 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.