Proverbs 6:1-23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 6:1-5

It is the excellency of the word of God that it teaches us not only divine wisdom for another world, but human prudence for this world, that we may order our affairs with discretion; and this is one good rule, To avoid suretiship, because by it poverty and ruin are often brought into families, which take away that comfort in relations which he had recommended in the foregoing chapter. 1. We must look upon suretiship as a snare and decline it accordingly, Ps. 6:1, 2. ?It is dangerous enough for... read more

Matthew Henry

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 6:20-35

Here is, I. A general exhortation faithfully to adhere to the word of God and to take it for our guide in all our actions. 1. We must look upon the word of God both as a light (Pr. 6:23) and as a law, Pr. 6:20, 23. (1.) By its arguments it is a light, which our understandings must subscribe to; it is a lamp to our eyes for discovery, and so to our feet for direction. The word of God reveals to us truths of eternal certainty, and is built upon the highest reason. Scripture-light is the sure... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 6:1

My son, if thou be surety for thy friend ,.... To another; hast engaged thyself by promise or bond, or both, to pay a debt for him, if he is not able, or if required; or hast laid thyself under obligation to any, to see the debt of another paid; if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger ; or "to" him F2 לזר "extraneo", Pagninus, Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Baynus, Mercerus, Gejerus, Cocceius, Schultens. ; whom thou knowest not, and to whom thou owest... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 6:2

Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth ,.... Got into a snare out of which an escape is not easy; art no longer free, and thine own man, but under obligation to pay the debt if required; by the verbal agreement made and confirmed by striking hands, and this before witnesses; thou art taken with the words of thy mouth ; as in a net, and held fast therein and thereby, and cannot get loose without paying the debt, if the debtor does not, or without the leave of the creditor. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 6:3

Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself ,.... Take the following advice, as the best that can be given in such circumstances, in order to be freed from such an obligation, or to be safe and easy under it; when thou art come into the hand of thy friend ; or, "because or seeing thou art fallen into the hand of thy friend,' as the Targum; or "though thou art,' &c.; as Aben Ezra; which may be understood either of the creditor to whom a man is bound, or of the debtor for whom he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 6:4

Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. Until the above things are done; which denotes of what consequence and importance they are; and that persons in such circumstances should not be careless, dilatory, and unconcerned; but should use great diligence, and leave no stone unturned, or method untried, to extricate themselves; see Psalm 132:4 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 6:5

Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter ,.... As such a creature, which is very swift, when it is got into the hand of the hunter, will strive and struggle to get out; so should a man try all ways and means to get out of his suretyship engagements, especially when he finds himself liable to danger by it; this he should do "immediately" and "out of hand" F7 מיד "statim", De Dieu; "subito", Noldius, p. 859. No. 1630. "ilico, repente", so some in Eliae Tishbi, p. 143. ,... 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

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