Proverbs 6

Chap. VI. Ver. 1—35. Cautions against suretiship, idleness, and vice.—In a commercial country, where many classes of persons can get no employment without security, this may not only be an act of friendship, but even duty. ‘Still, however, it requires great caution and prudence: 1. To know well the character and principles of the party for whom we become responsible; 2. And so to limit our responsibility, as not to ruin our own families in the attempt to serve others. But in the instance before us, we think there is a particular reference to the characters referred to in chapter v.—those gay and profligate young men who connect themselves with harlots, and bet themselves entangled in their snares, as in the close of that chapter. The next warning is to the idler and the sluggard, who is sent for a lesson of industry to the ant.

She improves her time by gathering her food in its proper season,—the time of harvest: whereas the sluggard, on the contrary, sleeps away his mornings, which are the times wherein the day-labourer makes his harvest. Instead of working ‘while it is day,” he trifles till his “night comes,” either of sickness or death, when “no man can work.” ((John 9:4).) Habits of idleness generally lead to licentiousness, and licentiousness as naturally to ruin. The latter part of the chapter pursues this subject, and compares the adulterer to one walking upon hot coals, or carrying fire in his bosom, and pertinently asks, Must not such a one be burnt? Lust is a fire that burns inwardly, and consumes the vitals.

Jealousy is a flame that can only be extinguished by the most exemplary vengeance.—“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? ‘él taking heed thereto according to thy word.” ((Psalms 119:9).)

Notes on the verses

Chap. VI. Ver. 1. Stricken thy hand.—[To strike, or join hands, was an ancient form of entering into contracts in all countries, and all ages. ‘Thus Nestor complained, that the Trojans had violated the engagement which they had sanctioned by libations of wine and giving their right hands.’]—Bagster.

Ver. 6. Go to the ant.—(The ant has been famous in all ages for its social habits, foresight, economy, and industry. Collecting their food at the proper seasons, they bite off the ends of the grain to prevent it germinating, and lay it up in cells till needed.)—Bagster.

Ver. 8. Provideth her meat in the summer.—It was a general opinion with the ancients, that the ants in summer provided their food for winter, because then they could not work; but it has been discovered that in these northern countries, they remain torpid during winter; this is found, however, not to be the case in hot houses, and therefore, probably, is not in those warm countries where the winters are much more mild than in Europe. There are many witnesses, however, to prove, that they lay up food in summer for future exigencies.

See Taylor’s Expos. Ind.

Ver. 11. A traveller an armed man—that is, hastily and irre-

Ver. 12. A naughty person—Heb. “A man of Belial.”

Ver. 19. Speaketh—Heb. “breatheth.”

Ver. 25. Take thee with her eyelids.—[This refers to the custom in the East of painting the eyelids with the powder of antimony, which has been already described, (see Note on 2 Kings, ix. 30,) and which, although it adds to the vivacity of the eye, throws a kind of voluptuous languor over it, which makes it appear (if I may use the expression) dissolving in bliss.]—Waring’s Tour to Sheeraz.—Bagster.

Ver. 31. Restore sevenfold—Make “a full and complete satisfaction and