Proverbs 6:6-19

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 6:6-11

Solomon, in these verses, addresses himself to the sluggard who loves his ease, lives in idleness, minds no business, sticks to nothing, brings nothing to pass, and in a particular manner is careless in the business of religion. Slothfulness is as sure a way to poverty, though not so short a way, as rash suretiship. He speaks here to the sluggard, I. By way of instruction, Ps. 6:6-8. He sends him to school, for sluggards must be schooled. He is to take him to school himself, for, if the... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 6:12-19

Solomon here gives us, I. The characters of one that is mischievous to man and dangerous to be dealt with. If the slothful are to be condemned, that do nothing, much more those that do ill, and contrive to do all the ill they can. It is a naughty person that is here spoken of, Heb. A man of Belial; I think it should have been so translated, because it is a term often used in scripture, and this is the explication of it. Observe, 1. How a man of Belial is here described. He is a wicked man,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 6:6

Go to the ant, thou sluggard ,.... That art become surety for another, and got into a snare and net, and yet takest no pains to get out. Or this may be directed, not to the surety, but the debtor; who, through his slothfulness, has contracted debts, and uses no industry to be in a capacity to pay them. Or, it may be, this has no connection with the former; but the wise man proceeds to a new subject, and to dissuade from idleness, which brings ruin on families, and leads to all sin; and, for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 6:7

Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler. None to guide and direct her what to do; nor any to overlook her, to see that she does aright, or to oblige her to work, and keep her to it; nor any to call her to an account, and correct her for doing amiss; and nevertheless diligent and industrious, doing everything of herself, by the instinct of nature, readily and willingly: and yet how slothful are men; who, besides the dictates of nature, reason, and conscience, have parents, masters,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 6:8

Provideth her meat in the summer ,.... Against the winter, of which it is mindful, when it never comes out of its place, having in the summer time got a sufficiency laid up in cells for its use: she toils in the heat of summer to get in her provision for the winter, being sensible that nothing is to be gotten then; she works at it night and day while the season lasts; so diligent is it in laying up its stores at the proper opportunity F12 "Ac veluti ingentem formicae farris acervum",... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 6:9

How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard ?.... Or "lie" F17 תשכב "jacebis", Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Gejerus; "cubabis", Piscator, Cocceius. in bed, indulging in sloth and ease; while the industrious ant is busy in getting in its provisions, even by moonlight, as naturalists F18 Aelian. de Animal. l. 4. c. 43. observe; when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep ? and be about thy lawful calling? doing the duties of religion, and the business of life; providing things... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 6:10

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber ,.... Or, "little sleeps, little slumbers" F19 מעט שנות מעט תנומות "parvis somnis, parvis dormitationibus", Pagninus; "pauculis somnis, pauculis dormitationibus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. . These are the words of the sluggard, in answer to the call of him to awake and arise, desiring he might not be disturbed, but be suffered to sleep on longer: there is a very beautiful climax or gradation in the words, aptly expressing the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 6:11

So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth ,.... Either swiftly and suddenly, as a traveller makes haste to get to his journey's end, and comes upon his family or friends at an unawares; or though he moves gradually, by slow paces and silent steps, yet surely: and so it signifies that poverty should come upon the sluggard very quickly, and before he was aware: and though it might come by degrees, yet it would certainly come; and thy want as an armed man ; or, "thy wants as a man of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 6:12

A naughty person, a wicked man ,.... Or, "a man of Belial, a man of iniquity" F23 בליעל איש און "homo Belijahal, vir iniquitatis", Montanus, Vatablus, Baynus, Michaelis. . The former signifies an unprofitable man, a man good for nothing, that is of no use to God or man; or one that is lawless, that has thrown off the yoke of the law, and will not be subject to it; Belial is the name of the devil; and here it may design such as are his children, and will do his lusts: the latter... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 6:13

He winketh with his eyes ,.... Not through natural infirmity, but purposely and with design; with one of his eyes, as Aben Ezra, as is usual with such persons: it is the air and gesture of a sneering and deceitful man, who gives the wink to some of his friends, sneering at the weakness of another in company; or as signifying to them some secret design of his against another, which he chooses not to declare in any other way; he speaketh with his feet ; the motions of the feet have a... read more

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