The Book of Proverbs - Chapter 6 - Personal Bible Study - Miscellaneous Proverbs and Warnings Against Adultery

 Chapter 6 is changing things up a bit.  The heading in my Bible calls it "Miscellaneous Proverbs."  

1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger,

2 if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth,

3 then do this, my son, to free yourself, for you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go, humble yourself, and press your plea with your neighbor.

4 Allow no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids.

5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

The footnotes in my Bible says this is like an ancient version of contract law.  Perhaps it's like making a promise that you are expected to keep but can't.  Getting out of a contract that you can't fulfill.  You need to humble yourself and try to get out of it or avoid the situation in the first place.    

6 Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise.

7 Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler,

8 it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest.

This is about working hard to prepare for the future.  Storing up food or provisions for the winter.  Being ready for the coming storms.  

The example of the ant, who is always working hard without supervision, always doing his job.  It is self-motivated.  Similar to a squirrel who is gathering nuts all summer and fall to prepare for the winter.  Those who don't will go without when it's cold and food becomes scarce.  

9 How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep?

10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,

11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.

If you are all about laziness and procrastination your life storms will come and you will fall.  Those who don't prepare for the coming storms will go without during the winter.   It's as simple as that.  So take from the example of the tiny ant who works hard when it is supposed to and is ready when it needs to be.

12 A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth,

13 winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers.

14 With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord.

15 Therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in an instant he will be shattered beyond recovery.

This chapter is pretty straight forward, and this part echo's the teachings of the earlier chapters.  Those who do evil will ultimately pay the price.  They walk around talking tough, blaming others, keeping you distracted from what is really going on or who this person really is, swearing and sewing discord with the people he deals with.   

16 There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him:

17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,

18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, 

19 a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.

These are the characteristics of an evil person.  

• Haughty Eyes - arrogant or condescending, acting all superior or arrogant.
• Lying Tongue - Liars. 
• Hands that shed innocent blood - Murderers.
• A heart that devises wicked schemes - Make plans to do evil.  
• Feet that run swiftly to evil - Are quick to get involved in evil schemes.  Takes advantage of opportunities.
• A false witness who  gives false testimony - Blames others to avoid the consequences of their evil acts.
• One who stirs up discord among brothers - Causes others to rebel, or distrust each other when there is no reason to do so.  

Warnings against Adultery

There is a lot said about adultery in the first few chapters.  This suggests that it is one of the most common sins committed by men/women, or rather one of the easiest temptations to fall for where men are at their weakest.

20 My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

21 Bind them always upon your heart; tie them around your neck.

Your parents should teach you how to be faithful to your own.  They should have set a good example.

22 When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.

23 For this commandment is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way to life,

24 to keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

Your parents should be the example to you of loyalty to each other.  And when you do wrong, accept their discipline because they are trying to guide you down the straight and narrow path and keep you out of trouble by avoiding such temptations.  

25 Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.

26 For the levy of the prostitute is poverty, and the adulteress preys upon your very life.

Don't fall for it.  She looks good and it would be fun but there are consequences.

27 Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned?

28 Can a man walk on hot coals without scorching his feet?

29 So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.

You will eventually get caught.  You will eventually be found out.  You will live with your own guilt.  

30 Men do not despise the thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger.

31 Yet if caught, he must pay sevenfold; he must give up all the wealth of his house.

32 He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.

33 Wounds and dishonor will befall him, and his reproach will never be wiped away.

34 For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy in the day of vengeance.

35 He will not be appeased by any ransom, or persuaded by lavish gifts.

Don't touch another mans wife.  You will only piss off her husband who will then want you dead.