Proverbios 6

1 Lecciones para la vida diaria
Hijo mío, si has salido fiador por la deuda de un amigo
o has aceptado garantizar la deuda de un extraño,

2 si quedaste atrapado por el acuerdo que hiciste
y estás enredado por tus palabras,

3 sigue mi consejo y sálvate,
pues te has puesto a merced de tu amigo.
Ahora trágate tu orgullo;
ve y suplica que tu amigo borre tu nombre.

4 No postergues el asunto, ¡hazlo enseguida!
No descanses hasta haberlo realizado.

5 Sálvate como una gacela que escapa del cazador,
como un pájaro que huye de la red.

6 Tú, holgazán, aprende una lección de las hormigas.
¡Aprende de lo que hacen y hazte sabio!

7 A pesar de que no tienen príncipe
ni gobernador ni líder que las haga trabajar,

8 se esfuerzan todo el verano,
juntando alimento para el invierno.

9 Pero tú, holgazán, ¿hasta cuándo seguirás durmiendo?
¿Cuándo despertarás?

10 Un rato más de sueño, una breve siesta,
un pequeño descanso cruzado de brazos.

11 Entonces la pobreza te asaltará como un bandido;
la escasez te atacará como un ladrón armado.

12 ¿Cómo son las personas despreciables y perversas?
Nunca dejan de mentir,

13 demuestran su engaño al guiñar con los ojos,
al dar golpes suaves con los pies o hacer gestos con los dedos.

14 Sus corazones pervertidos traman el mal,
y andan siempre provocando problemas.

15 Sin embargo, serán destruidos de repente,
quebrantados en un instante y sin la menor esperanza de recuperarse.

16 Hay seis cosas que el Señor
odia,
no, son siete las que detesta:

17 los ojos arrogantes,
la lengua mentirosa,
las manos que matan al inocente,

18 el corazón que trama el mal,
los pies que corren a hacer lo malo,

19 el testigo falso que respira mentiras,
y el que siembra discordia en una familia.

20 Hijo mío, obedece los mandatos de tu padre,
y no descuides la instrucción de tu madre.

21 Guarda siempre sus palabras en tu corazón;
átalas alrededor de tu cuello.

22 Cuando camines, su consejo te guiará.
Cuando duermas, te protegerá.
Cuando despiertes, te orientará.

23 Pues su mandato es una lámpara
y su instrucción es una luz;
su disciplina correctiva
es el camino que lleva a la vida.

24 Te protegerán de la mujer inmoral,
de la lengua suave de la mujer promiscua.

25 No codicies su belleza;
no dejes que sus miradas coquetas te seduzcan.

26 Pues una prostituta te llevará a la pobreza,
pero dormir con la mujer de otro hombre te costará la vida.

27 ¿Acaso puede un hombre echarse fuego sobre las piernas
sin quemarse la ropa?

28 ¿Podrá caminar sobre carbones encendidos
sin ampollarse los pies?

29 Así le sucederá al hombre que duerme con la esposa de otro hombre.
El que la abrace no quedará sin castigo.

30 Tal vez haya excusas para un ladrón
que roba porque se muere de hambre.

31 Pero si lo atrapan, deberá pagar siete veces la cantidad que robó,
aunque tenga que vender todo lo que hay en su casa.

32 Pero el hombre que comete adulterio es un necio total,
porque se destruye a sí mismo.

33 Será herido y deshonrado.
Su vergüenza no se borrará jamás.

34 Pues el marido celoso de la mujer se enfurecerá,
y no tendrá misericordia cuando se cobre venganza.

35 No aceptará ninguna clase de compensación
ni habrá suma de dinero que lo satisfaga.

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.