THE
PROVERBS

Proverbs 6

1Against suretiship, 6idleness, 12and mischievousness. 16Seven things hateful to God. 20The blessings of obedience to parents. 25The mischiefs of whoredom.


1MY1 son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken 2thy hand 3with a stranger,

1 See Prov. 1 on verse 8.

2 Namely, unto a sign that you will keep your word, whereby you have promised to pay, if the debtor fail, and be not able to pay. See Job 17 on verse 3. The right and prudent use or custom of being surety for another is not here condemned, but the impudence, rashness and indiscretion, that is often used in suretyship.

3 That is, for one who is unknown to you, or for another, that is, for any one, whomever he may be, either known or not known to you. Compare Prov. 11:15.

24Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art takena with the words of thy mouth.

4 Other, Art thou snared, etc.

a trap, catch*

3Do this now, my son, and 5deliver thyself, when thou art come 6into the hand of thy friend; go, 7humble thyself, and 8make sure thy friend.

5 That is, make yourself free from suretyship, either by the creditor, that he may discharge you or by the debtor, that he may pay the debt and put you out of fear and care.

6 That is, into the power of your creditor, forasmuch as he has power to require from you. Compare Gen. 16:6 and the annotation.

7 The Hebrew word signifies such a humiliation as if a man would suffer himself to be trod upon with the foot. So Psalm 68:30, see the annotation there.

8 That is, put courage into the creditor that he may be contented with the payment and not require it strictly from you, but expect it patiently of or from the debtor. Or, strengthen and urge the party for whom you are become surety, that he does his endeavor to pay.

49Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

9 That is, delay not to quiet and pacify yourself and the creditor.

510Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.b

10 Namely, from the power of the creditor unto whom you have bound yourself for the payment of the money.

b bird-hunter

6¶Go to the ant, thou sluggard;c consider her 11ways, and be wise:

c habitually idle or lazy person*

11 That is, manner or course of life, namely, in vigilant, careful and diligent gathering and providing food for herself. So is the word way taken in Prov. 13:15; 14:12; 16:2; 21:2; 30:19, 20.

7Which having no guide, 12overseer, or ruler,

12 Bees, as among other beasts, have their queen which prompts her own unto diligence, and stings the idle drones to death and casts them forth out of the hive, but the ant, having no need of such a ruler, puts herself on to labor.

8Provideth her 13meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

13 Understand grains of corn, which she gnaws, and with her biting cuts asunder, that they might not shoot forth and grow, to the end she might have her store and provision thereof against winter; for which she is called by the Hebrews nemalah from namal, which signifies cutting, cutting asunder.

9How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard?d when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

d Prov. 13:4; 20:4; 24:33, 34.

10Yet 14a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

14 That is, while you give yourself to mind nothing but sleep and laziness, poverty will certainly overtake you. Some perceive that the sluggard is here brought in speaking to himself, or answering to the former reproof, and wishing that he might have a little more sleep, etc. The truth is, that Solomon seems to have respect to the matter of doing and speaking of those who accustom themselves to laziness.

11So shall thy poverty come 15as one that travelleth, and thy want 16as an armed man.

15 That is, suddenly, and unawares; as a traveler makes haste, and commonly comes unexpected.

16 Hebr. a man of the shield, that is, who bears a shield. Meaning a strong armed man, who is wont to come in without asking, and cannot easily be driven out again.

12¶ A 17naughtye person, 18a wicked man, walketh with a 19froward mouth.

17 Also Prov. 16:27. See Deut. 13 on verse 13.

e worthless, bad

18 Hebr. a man of viciousness, or vanity, or iniquity. See Job 11 on verse 11; Psalm 5 on verse 6. Other, a man of Belial is a vicious or unjust man, walking about with perverseness of mouth.

19 See Prov. 2 on verse 12; Prov. 4 on verse 24.

13He 20winketh with 21his eyes, he 22speaketh with his feet, he 23teacheth with his fingers;

20 The meaning is: that he not only misuses his mouth, but also employs all his members to put his wickedness in practice.

21 Intimating thereby some evil which he either intends to do himself or desires to be done by others.

22 Namely, pushing, stamping, touching or treading therewith.

23 Namely, therewith pointing, numbering, threatening, etc.

1424Frowardness is in his heart, he 25deviseth mischief continually; he 26soweth discord.

24 That is, inventions, plots and devices are in his heart to act some wicked and perverse thing, either in words or deeds.

25 See Prov. 3 on verse 29. Also verse 18.

26 Hebr. sendeth, that is, occasions much discord, affording matter thereunto, and stirring up people’s minds to dissention and disagreements. Also verse 19; Prov. 16:28.

15Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken 27without remedy.

27 That is, no means for to escape destruction. Also Prov. 29:1.

16¶These 28six things doth the LORD hate: yea, 29seven are an abomination unto 30him:

28 A certain number for an uncertain.

29 Other, the seventh. See of this phrase Job 5 on verse 19.

30 Hebr. his soul’s abomination, or, the abomination of his soul, that is, which his soul holds to be an abomination. See Deut. 17 on verse 1; Prov. 3 on verse 32.

17 Af31proud look, a 32lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

f Prov. 30:13.

31 That is, pride, whereof the eyes, which are lifted up and soar aloft, are a plain sign. Compare Psalm 101:5; Prov. 30:13; Isa. 5:15. Unto these are contrasted those that be of lowly and humble eyes, Job 22:29.

32 Hebr. a tongue of falsehood, that is, which speaks lies. Also Psalm 109:2; Prov. 12:19; 21:6.

18An heart that deviseth 33wicked imaginations, 34feetg that be swift in running to mischief,

33 Hebr. thoughts of viciousness or iniquity. Understand a heart that plots wicked and unjust practices. See Prov. 3 on verse 29 and above verse 14.

34 That is, men, who by their evil inclinations and affections are exceeding put on to wrong and mischief their neighbors.

g Rom. 3:15.

1935A false witness that 36speaketh lies, and he that 37soweth discord among brethren.

35 Hebr. a witness of falsehood.

36 That is, who utters and produces lies in great abundance and with boldness. Also Prov. 14:25; 19:5, 9.

37 Hebr. sendeth, etc. See on verse 14.

20¶My son, keeph thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

h Prov. 1:8.

2138Bind them continually upon thine heart,iand tie them about thy neck.

38 Compare Prov. 3 on verse 3.

i Prov. 3:3.

22When thou goest, 39itj shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk 40with thee.

39 Namely, the commandment of your father, whereof mention is made in verse 20; although the particle it may also have respect to the law of the mother.

j Prov. 3:23, 24.

40 That is, making you mindful what you ought to do in your conduct and wherewith you ought to comfort yourself in all your sufferings.

23Fork41the commandment is a 42lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of 43instruction are the 44way of life:

k Psalm 19:8; 119:105.

41 Namely, which is taken out of the Word and law of God.

42 Compare Psalm 119:105.

43 Namely, which is done by discipline or by instruction, which must precede, if a man would attain unto wisdom. See of this word Prov. 1 on verse 2.

44 That is, which leads unto life; also the way of death, which leads unto death. See Jer. 21:8. Compare Prov. 2 on verse 8.

24To keep thee from the 45evil woman, from the 46flatteryl of the tongue of a 47strange woman.

45 Hebr. woman of evil, that is, that makes it her business to do evil.

46 That is, entreating, smooth talking, fair speaking. Compare Prov. 2 on verse 16.

l Prov. 2:16; 5:3; 7:5.

47 See Prov. 2 on verse 16.

25Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her takem thee 48with her eyelids.

m trap, catch*

48 That is, with the beauty of her eyes and with her lovely countenance.

26For by means of a 49whorish woman a man is brought to 50a piece of bread: and 51the adulteress will 52hunt for the precious life.

49 Hebr. a woman, an harlot; that is, who is an harlot; also 1 Kings 3:16. Likewise a woman, a prophetess; that is, who was a prophetess, Judges 4:4. A man, a prophet; that is, who was a prophet, Judges 6:8.

50 That is, to poverty, yea even to beggary.

51 That is, a woman that has an husband, and yet desires to keep company with other men. Other, a wife sick of a man. Some understand by the adulteress one who is every man’s wife.

52 That is, she brings not only the body of him, which she entices to uncleanness, into temporal destruction, but also his soul, which is his most precious and most worthy part, into everlasting suffering. Compare Ezek. 13:18.

2753Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

53 This question, as also the next, there is a strong denial. See Gen. 18 on verse 17.

28Can one go upon 54hot coals, and his feet not be burned?

54 Namely, fiery, or red hot coals. See of this word Job 41 on verse 21.

2955So he that goeth in 56to his neighbour's wife; whosoever 57toucheth her shall not be 58innocent.

55 As the two previous similitudes are sure and certain, so is also this, that it is applied thereunto; namely, that the adulterer hurts himself and damages his goods, body, honor and soul.

56 See the annotation at Gen. 6 on verse 4.

57 That is, has any dealings with her by carnal copulation. See the like phrase Gen. 20:6; 1 Cor. 7:1.

58 That is, shall not go unpunished. See 1 Kings 2 on verse 9; Job 9 on verse 28.

3059Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his 60soul when he is hungry;

59 Intimating, that theft is not such a great sin as adultery, and that theft, which is chiefly committed through hunger and want, is not so heinously and severely punished as adultery. This may be gathered from the particular dealing between the thief and the man whom he has robbed of something.

60 That is, to satisfy himself, or understand by soul, desire. See Gen. 34 on verse 3; Psalm 27 on verse 12.

31But if he be found, he shall restore 61sevenfold;n he shall give 62all the substance of his house.

61 That is, manifold. Seven is often in Scripture a certain number for an uncertain, as Gen. 4:15; Lev. 26:18; Psalm 119:164; Prov. 24:16; 26:25, signifying multitude. They, who had committed simple theft, were to make surely twofold, or fourfold or fivefold restitution, Exod. 22:1, etc. and 4; but some perceive that the punishment imposed upon thieves by the law was aggravated and increased in Solomon’s time. Or, it may be thus understood, that the thief agrees to give the man so much that he may not bring him to shame and disgrace.

n Exod. 22:1, 4.

62 Namely, if he be so poor, that he cannot make manifold restitution.

32But whoso committeth adultery with a woman 63lacketh understanding: he 64that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.

63 Hebr. is heartless, or, hath no heart, or, hath lack of an heart, that is, has no knowledge, understanding nor capacity to apprehend what is pleasing unto God, honorable in the sight of men, and profitable unto himself. See the same epithet or appellation Prov. 7:7; 9:4, 16; 10:13; 11:12; 15:21; 17:18, etc. The word heart is often taken for the understanding. See Job 9 on verse 4.

64 That is, he who commits adultery.

33A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not 65be wiped away.

65 Or, be put out, be blotted out.

34For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will 66not spare 67in the day of vengeance.

66 Namely, the adulterer.

67 That is, when occasion shall serve or offer itself for a man to avenge himself. So the time, when God would be avenged on the enemies of His church, is called a day of vengeance, Isa. 34:8. Compare Job 20:28; 24:1; Prov. 11:4.

3568He will not regard any 69ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou 70givest many gifts.

68 Hebr. he will not accept the face of all reconciliation, that is, accept no ransom. See 1 Kings 11 on verse 34. Of the phrase to accept the face, see Gen. 32 on verse 20.

69 Compare Num. 35 on verse 31.

70 Or, multipliest gifts.