Proverbs 6

An admonition to beware of suretiship, verse 1, &c. Of idleness, with a disgracing of the sluggard, by the example of the pismires, 6. To beware of the nature and gestures of a wicked man, 12. Six, yea seven things that God hateth, 16. The duty of children in respect of the good instruction of their parents, with fair promises, 20. Especially that they shall be preserved from whorish adulterous women, who are described by their hurtful and mischievous fruits, to wit, their own unhappy end, and the unhappy end of those that cleave or adhere unto them, 24. The comparing of these with adultery, 30.

1. My son, [See above chap.1.on verse 8.] if thou be surety for thy neighbour, (if thou) hast stricken thy hand [to wit, in token that thou wilt keep thy word, whereby thou hast 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 imprudence, rashness, and indiscretion, that is often used in suretiship] for a stranger; [that is, for one that is unknown to thee; or for another; that is, for any one, be he who he will, either known, or not known unto thee. Compare below chap.11.15.]

2. Thou art snared with the sayings of thy mouth, [Oth. Art thou snared, &c.] thou art taken with the sayings of thy mouth.

3. Do this now, my son, and deliver thy self, [That is, free thy self from suretiship, either by the creditor, that he may discharge thee, or by the debtor, that he may discharge thee out of fear and care] seeing thou art come into the hand of thy neighbour: [that is, into the power of thy creditor, forasmuch as he hath power to require the debt of thee. Compare Gen.6.16. and the annot.] go, submit thy self, [the Hebrew word signifieth such an humiliation, as if a man would suffer himself to be trod upon with the foot. So Psalms 68:31. see the annot. There] and strengthen thy neighbour. [That is, put courage into the creditor, that he may be contented with the payment, and not requite it strictly of thee, but expect it patiently of or from the debtor. Or, strengthen, and urge the party for whom thou art become surety, that he do his endeavour to pay.]

4. Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eye-lids: [That is, delay not to quiet and pacify thy self, and the creditor.]

5. Deliver thy self [to wit, from the power of the creditor, unto whom hast bound thy self for the payment of the money] 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: behold her ways, [That is, manner, or course of life; to wit, in vigilant, careful, and diligent gathering and providing food for her self. So is the word way taken below, chap.13.15. and 14.12. and 16.2. and 21.2. and 30.19,20.] and be wise:

7. Which having no guide, Governor, nor Ruler, [As among other beasts Bees have their King, that quickens on and stirs up his own unto diligence, and stings the idle drones to death, and casts them forth out of the hive: but the pismire having no need of such a King, puts her self on to labour.]

8. Prepareth her bread in the summer, (and) gathereth her food in the harvest. [By bread, or food, which the pismire prepareth and gathereth in summer, and in harvest, is meant here grains of corn, which she gnaweth, and with her biting cutteth asunder, that they might not shoot forth and grow, to the end she might have her store and provision thereof against winter; for which cause she is called by the Hebrews nemalah, from namal, which signifieth cutting, cutting asunder.]

9. How long wilt thou lie down, (O) sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

10. (Yet) a little sleep, a slumber, a little folding of the hands lying down.

11. So shall thy poverty come (upon thee) as a traveller; [The meaning is, while thou givest thy self to mind nothing but sleep and laziness, poverty will be sure to overtake thee: yea it will come upon thee as a traveller: that is, suddenly, and unawares, unlook for; as a traveller maketh haste, and commonly cometh upon a man, when he least looks for him. Some conceive 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, &c. The truth is, that Salomon seemeth to have respect to the manner of doing and speaking of those that accustom themselves to laziness and sluggishiness] and they want as an armed man. [Hebr. A man of the shield; that is, that beareth a shield. Meaning a strong armed man, that is wont to come in without asking, and cannot easily be driven out again.]

12. A man of Belial, [So below chap.16.27. see Deut.13.on verse 13.] a vicious man [Hebr. A man of viciousness, or, vanity, or, iniquity. See Job 11.on verse 11. And Psalm 5.on verse 7.] walketh about with forwardness of mouth; [see above chap.2.on verse 12. And chap.4.on verse 24. Oth. A man of Belial is a vicious, or, unjust man, walking about with forwardness of mouth.]

13. (He) winketh with his eyes, [Intimating thereby some evil which he either intendeth to do himself, or desireth to be done by others] (he) speaketh with his feet, [to wit, pushing, stamping, touching, or treading therewith] (he) teacheth with his fingers; [to wit, therewith pointing, numbering, threatening, &c. The meaning is, that he not onely abuseth his mouth, but also employed all his members, to put his wickedness in practice.]

14. Frowardnesses are in his heart, [That is, inventions, plots and devices are in his heart to act some wicked and perverse thing, either in words or deeds] he forget evil [see above chap.3.on verse 29. So below verse 18.] always; he casteth in strifes. [Hebr. Sendeth; that is, occasioneth much discord, affording matter thereunto, and stirring up mens minds to dissention and disagreement. So below verse 19. And chap.16.28.]

15. Therefore shall his destruction come speedily, suddenly shall he be broken, (so) that there shall be no healing of (him). [That is, no means for to escape destruction. So below chap.29.1.]

16. These six (things) [A certain number for an uncertain] doth the LORD hate: yea seven [Oth. The seventh. See of this phrase, Job 5.on verse 19.] are an abomination unto his soul: [Hebr. His souls abomination, or, the abomination of his soul; that is, which his soul holdeth to be abomination. See Deut.17.on verse 1. And above chap.3.on verse 32.]

17. Lofty eyes, [That is, pride, whereof the eyes that are lifted up, and soar aloft, are a plain token. Compare Psalms 101:5. Prov. Chap.30.13. Isa.5.15. unto these are opposed those that be of lowly or humble eyes, Job 22:29.] a false tongue; [Hebr. A tongue of falsehood; that is, which speaketh lies; so Psalms 109:2. and bel. Chap.12.19. and 21.6.] and hands that shed innocent blood:

18. An heart that forget vicious thoughts, [Hebrew, thoughts of viciousness, or, iniquity. Meaning an heart that pierceth and plotteth wicked and unjust practises. See ab.ch.3.on v.29. and the 14. Verse of this Chapter] feet that make haste to run to evil: [that is, men, who by their evil inclinations and affections, are exceedingly put on to wrong and mischieve their neighbors.]

19. A false witness, [Hebr. A witness of falsehood] (that) lies; [that is, that inventeth and uttereth lies in great abundance, and with boldness. So below ch.14.25. and ch.18. verse 5.9.] and (him) that casteth in contentions [Hebr. Sendeth, &c. See above on verse 14.] between brethren.

20. My son, keep the commandment of thy father and forsake not the law of thy mother. [Compare ab.ch.1.8.]

21. Bind them continually unto thine heart: fasten them unto thy neck. [Compare above ch.3.3. and the Annot.]

22. When thou walkest, it [To wit, the commandment of thy father, whereof mention is made, verse 20. Although the particle (it) may also relate or have respect to the law of the mother] shall conduct thee, when thou liest down, it shall keep watch over thee; when thou awakes, it s hall talk (with) thee. [that is, put thee in mind what thou oughtest to do or omit in thy dealing and converse, and wherewith thou oughtest to comfort thy selk in thy sufferings.]

23. For the Commandment [To wit, which is taken out of the Word and Law of God] is a Lamp, [compare Psalms 119:105.] and the law is a light: and the reproofs of discipline [To wit, which is done by discipline, or by instruction, which must preceed, or go before, if a man would attain unto wisdom. See of this word ab.ch.1.on verse 2.] are the way of life: [That is, which leadeth unto life: so the way of death, which leadeth unto death: see Jer.21.8. comp.ab.ch.2.on v.8.]

24. To keep thee from the evil woman: [Hebr. Woman of evil; that is, that makes it her business to do evil; or, that getteth her living by doing evil] from the flatteries [that is, soothing, cogging, fair speaking. Comp.ab.ch.2.on ver.16.] of the strange tongue. [see above chap.2.on ver.16. and ch.5.3. and 7.5.]

25. Lust not after her beauty in thine heart: neither let her take thee with her eyes-lids. [That is, with her fair looks, and with her lovely countenance.]

26. For by a woman, (that) is an harlot, [Hebr. A woman, an harlot; that is, which is an harlot. So 1 Ki.3.16. also a woman, a Prophetess: that is, which was a Prophetess, Judg.4.4. a man, a Prophet; that is, which was a Prophet, Judg.6.8.] (a man cometh) to a piece of bread; [that is, to poverty, yea even to beggary] and a mans wife [that is, a woman that hath an husband, and yet desires to keep company with other men. Oth. A wife sick of a man. Some understand by a mans wife, one that is every mans wife] hunteth (for) the precious soul. [that is, she bringeth not onely the body of him, that enticeth her 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.]

27. Shall any man take fire in his bosom, (so) that his cloaths be not burnt? [This question, as also the next to it, do deny strongly. See Genesis 18.on ver.17.]

28. Shall any man go upon coals, [To wit, fiery, or red hot coals. See of this word, Job 41.on ver.12.] (so) that his feet be not burnt?

29. So he that goeth ;in to his neighbours wife: [See Genesis 6. The Annotations on verse 4.] who so ever toucheth her, [that is, hath any dealings with her by carnal copulation: see the like phrase, Genesis 20:6. 1 Corinthians 7:1.] shall not be held guiltless. [that is, shall not go unpunished. See 1 Kings 2.on verse 9. And Job 9.on verse 28. As the two former similitudes laid down in the two former verses, are sure and certain, so is also this that is applied thereunto; to wit, that the adulterer hurteth and damnisieth himself in his estate, body, honour, and soul.]

30. Men do not offer disgrace to a thief, when he stealeth to fill his soul. [That is, to satisfy himself; or, understand by soul, desire. See Gen.34.on verse 3. And Psalm 27.on verse 12.] seeing he is hungry; [intimating, that theft, or felony is not so great a sin as adultery is; and that felony which is chiefly committed through hunger and want, is not so heinously and severely punished, as adultery is: and this may be gathered from the particular dealing between the thief, and the party whom he hath robbed, as followeth in the next verse.]

31. And being found he restoreth it sevenfold: [That is, manifold. Seven is often in scripture a certain number for an uncertain, as Genesis 4:15. Leviticus 26:18. Psalms 119:164. below chapter 24.16. and 26.25. signifying multitude. Those that had commited simple or bare theft, were to make onely two fold, or fourfold, or fivefold restitution, Exodus 22:1, etc. And 4. But some conceive that the punishment increased in Salomons time. Or it may be thus understood, that the thief agreeth to give the man so much, that he may nor bring him to shame and disgrace] he giveth all the goods of his house. [to wit, if he be so poor, that he cannot make manifold restitution.]

32. (But) whose committeth adultery with a woman, is void of understanding; [Hebr. Is heartless, or, hath no heart, or, lacketh an heart; that is, hath no knowledge, understanding, nor, capacity, to apprehend what is pleasing unto God, honourable kin the sight of men, and profitable unto himself. See the same epithet, or appellation, below chap.7.7. and 9.4,16. And 10.13. and 11.12. and 15.21. and 17.18, &c. The word heart is often taken for the understanding. See Job 9.on verse 4.] he that doth it, [that is, he that committeth adultery] destroyeth his (own) soul:

33. A blow, and dishonour shall he find, and his reproach shall not be blotted out: [Or, be put out, wiped away.]

34. For jealousy is the rage of a man: and he will not spare [To wit, the adulterer] in the day of vengeance. [that is, when occasion shall serve, or offer it self, to take vengeance, or 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. and 24.1. and below chap.11.4.]

35. He will not accept any reconciliation: [Compare Numb.35.on verse 31. Hebrew, be 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.] neither will he consent, though thou enlarge the gift. [Or, multiply gifts.]