Wisdom · Chapter 6 of 31

Proverbs 6

The father gives four warnings: against rash pledges of surety, against laziness pictured by the diligent ant, against the worthless troublemaker who sows discord, and once more against adultery. Woven in is a famous list of seven things the LORD hates. The chapter binds a father's commandment to the heart as a lamp guiding through life.

What happens in Proverbs 6

Solomon first tells his son how to escape a foolish pledge made for another: humble yourself, give your eyes no sleep, deliver yourself like a bird from the snare. He then sends the sluggard to the ant, who without any overseer stores food in summer, warning that poverty comes on the lazy like an armed man. Next he sketches the naughty, wicked person who winks, signals, and continually sows discord, whose calamity will come suddenly.

A poetic list follows: six things, indeed seven, that the LORD hates, from a proud look and lying tongue to hands that shed innocent blood and one who sows discord among brethren. Finally the father returns to his central concern, urging the son to keep parental commandment as a lamp and light, guarding him from the flattering adulteress, for whoever touches his neighbor's wife will not go unpunished.

Proverbs 6 in context

Chapter 6 continues the father's lectures in Proverbs 1 through 9. Its four topics, suretyship, sloth, the mischief-maker, and adultery, reflect everyday dangers facing a young man in ancient Israel: financial entanglement, ruinous idleness, corrosive company, and sexual folly.

The central list of seven abominations follows a Hebrew numerical saying form. Throughout, wisdom is portrayed as inherited instruction, a lamp handed from parent to child.

Main themes of Proverbs 6

Proverbs 6 (KJV)

1My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, 2Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. 3Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend. 4Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. 5Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler. 6Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. 9How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 10Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 11So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man. 12A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. 13He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; 14Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. 15Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy. 16These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. 20My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 21Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. 22When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. 23For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: 24To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. 25Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. 26For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. 27Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? 28Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? 29So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. 30Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; 31But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house. 32But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. 33A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. 34For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.

Verses to carry from Proverbs 6

“Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:”Proverbs 6:6

“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:”Proverbs 6:16

“For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:”Proverbs 6:23

Reflection

Where are you making small surrenders, a little slumber, a little folded-hand delay, that will cost you dearly later? And where might your words be sowing discord rather than peace? Let the commandment be a lamp today, and follow Christ, the light, into diligent, peaceable living.

A prayer from Proverbs 6