1.
My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,
2.
Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
A CHAPTER OF WARNINGS
‘Snared.’
Proverbs 6:2
Wisdom directs us not only what to do but what to avoid. The hidden rocks upon which we may strike are all marked. Obedience to the Word of God, whole-hearted and continuous, is our only safety. If we stray, it is not for want of clear direction, but of care in following it.
I. Suretyship (1–5).—All suretyship is not forbidden; such, for example, as that of Reuben and Judah for Benjamin ( Genesis 42:37; Genesis 43:9); and still more, that of Jesus for His people. He became answerable for our liabilities, with the full intention of having to meet them for us. Without this suretyship we should be in despair. But the warning is against rash engagements involving responsibilities which cannot honestly be met.
II. Indolence (6–11).—A wise man will readily receive instruction even from ants. Their industry and providence powerfully reprove the indolent man. ‘ Guides’ are parents, teachers, ministers, the Bible. God is the constant ‘ Overseer.’ ‘Thou God seest me.’ And He is the ‘ Ruler’ and Judge before Whom our account must be given.
III. Mischievous wickedness (12–19).—The poverty of the sluggard comes because of his slothfulness, that of the ‘naughty person’ because of his unwearied activity in evil. All the members of his body— mouth, eyes, feet, fingers—are used as ‘instruments of unrighteousness,’ because the ‘heart’ is wrong. With a slight addition all these features reappear in the description of the seven ‘abominations.’ ‘The sower of discord’ is put in strange company. The God of Peace hates strife and division.
Illustration
‘How important to heed the warning of the next paragraph—against sloth! The secret of life is to leave no moment unemployed. Every hour should receive some seeds that will fruit in harvests by and by. We cannot continue doing the same thing, but we may turn from it to others. Happy the man who has several interests in his life, so that, when one set of faculties is wearied, he may turn the nervous energy into other channels. Recreation should be a means to an end, driving the red blood through heart and lung, that it may presently return oxygenated to the brain.’
3.
Do this now, my son, deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.
4.
Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.
5.
Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6.
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7.
Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8.
Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
9.
How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
10.
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11.
So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
12.
A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.
13.
He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;
14.
Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.
15.
Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
16.
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17.
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18.
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19.
A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
20.
My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
21.
Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
22.
When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
23.
For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
24.
To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
25.
Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
26.
For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.
27.
Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
28.
Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?
29.
So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.
30.
Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;
31.
But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.
32.
But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
33.
A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.
34.
For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
35.
He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.