Proverbs 6: Warnings Against Folly and Sin
The father warns against rash pledges, laziness, troublemaking, and the deadly fire of adultery.
Proverbs 6 (WEB)
1 My son, if you have become collateral for your neighbor, if you have struck your hands in pledge for a stranger;
2 You are trapped by the words of your mouth. You are ensnared with the words of your mouth.
3 Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself, since you have come into the hand of your neighbor. Go, humble yourself. Press your plea with your neighbor.
4 Give no sleep to your eyes, nor 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.
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways, and be wise;
7 which having no chief, overseer, or ruler,
8 provides her bread in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.
9 How long will you sleep, sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11 so your poverty will come as a robber, and your scarcity as an armed man.
12 A worthless person, a man of iniquity, is he who walks with a perverse mouth;
13 who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, who motions with his fingers;
14 in whose heart is perverseness, who devises evil continually, who always sows discord.
15 Therefore his calamity will come suddenly. He will be broken suddenly, and that without remedy.
16 There are six things which Yahweh hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood;
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift in running to mischief,
19 a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.
20 My son, keep your father’s commandment, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching.
21 Bind them continually on your heart. Tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk, it will lead you. When you sleep, it will watch over you. When you awake, it will talk with you.
23 For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,
24 to keep you from the immoral woman, from the flattery of the wayward wife’s tongue.
25 Don’t lust after her beauty in your heart, neither let her captivate you with her eyelids.
26 For a prostitute reduces you to a piece of bread. The adulteress hunts for your precious life.
27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap, and his clothes not be burned?
28 Or can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be scorched?
29 So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife. Whoever touches her will not be unpunished.
30 Men don’t despise a thief, if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry:
31 but if he is found, he shall restore seven times. He shall give all the wealth of his house.
32 He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding. He who does it destroys his own soul.
33 He will get wounds and dishonor. His reproach will not be wiped away.
34 For jealousy arouses the fury of the husband. He won’t spare in the day of vengeance.
35 He won’t regard any ransom, neither will he rest content, though you give many gifts.
Proverbs 6 (KJV)
1 My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,
2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
3 Do 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.
4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.
5 Deliver thyself 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; consider her ways, and be wise:
7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
12 A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.
13 He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;
14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.
15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
20 My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
26 For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.
27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?
29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.
30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;
31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.
32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.
34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.
Proverbs 6 (ASV)
1 My son, if thou art become surety for thy neighbor, If thou hast stricken thy hands for a stranger;
2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, Thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, Seeing thou art come into the hand of thy neighbor: Go, humble thyself, and importune thy neighbor;
4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, Nor slumber to thine eyelids;
5 Deliver thyself 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; Consider her ways, and be wise:
7 Which having no chief, Overseer, or ruler,
8 Provideth her bread in the summer, And gathereth her food in the harvest.
9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
10 Yeta little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep:
11 So shall thy poverty come as a robber, And thy want as an armed man.
12 A worthless person, a man of iniquity, Is he that walketh with a perverse mouth;
13 That winketh with his eyes, that speaketh with his feet, That maketh signs with his fingers;
14 In whose heart is perverseness, Who deviseth evil continually, Who soweth discord.
15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; On a sudden shall he be broken, and that without remedy.
16 There are six things which Jehovah hateth; Yea, seven which are an abomination unto him:
17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood;
18 A heart that deviseth wicked purposes, Feet that are swift in running to mischief,
19 A false witness that uttereth lies, And he that soweth discord among brethren.
20 My son, keep the commandment of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:
21 Bind them continually upon thy heart; Tie them about thy neck.
22 When thou walkest, it shall lead thee; When thou sleepest, it shall watch over thee; And when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; And reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
24 To keep thee from the evil woman, From the flattery of the foreigner’s tongue.
25 Lust not after her beauty in thy heart; Neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
26 For on account of a harlota man is broughtto a piece of bread; And the adulteress hunteth for the precious life.
27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, And his clothes not be burned?
28 Or can one walk upon hot coals, And his feet not be scorched?
29 So he that goeth in to his neighbor’s wife; Whosoever toucheth her shall not be unpunished.
30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal To satisfy himself when he is hungry:
31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; He shall give all the substance of his house.
32 He that committeth adultery with a woman is void of understanding: He doeth it who would destroy his own soul.
33 Wounds and dishonor shall he get; And his reproach shall not be wiped away.
34 For jealousy is the rage of a man; And he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
35 He will not regard any ransom; Neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.
Summary
The father gives a series of urgent warnings. He cautions against rashly putting up security for a neighbor, urging the son to free himself quickly like a gazelle from a hunter. He sends the sluggard to the ant, who stores food without any ruler, warning that a little extra sleep invites poverty like a robber. He describes the worthless troublemaker who sows discord with winks and signals until sudden calamity breaks him. He then lists six things Yahweh hates, even seven: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a scheming heart, feet swift to evil, a false witness, and one who sows discord among brothers. Finally, he returns to the warning against the immoral woman, pleading that the son keep his parents' commandment as a guiding lamp. He asks whether a man can carry fire in his lap unburned, showing that adultery destroys the soul and brings wounds, dishonor, and a jealous husband's fury that no ransom can satisfy.
Main Characters
- The father — The teacher who warns his son against rash pledges, laziness, deceit, and adultery.
- The son — The one urged to keep his parents' commandment as a lamp guiding him away from folly.
- The sluggard — The lazy person sent to learn from the ant before poverty overtakes him like an armed robber.
- Yahweh — The Lord who hates seven things, including haughty eyes, lying, bloodshed, and sowing discord.
- The adulteress — The immoral woman whose flattery hunts the precious life of the one who gives in to her.
Key Verse
Proverbs 6:23 (WEB)
For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,
Lessons Learned
- Wisdom acts urgently to free itself from foolish entanglements and rash commitments.
- Diligence, learned even from the ant, guards us against the slow ruin of laziness.
- God hates deceit, pride, and division, and calls his people to be people of truth and peace.
- Adultery is like carrying fire in the lap; it inevitably burns and destroys the one who toys with it.
- Free yourself quickly from foolish entanglements. 'Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler' (Proverbs 6:5, WEB). Wisdom acts decisively to escape commitments that endanger us.
- Learn diligence from the ant. 'Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways, and be wise' (Proverbs 6:6, WEB). Even a small creature models the foresight and industry wisdom requires.
- Laziness invites poverty. 'A little sleep, a little slumber... so your poverty will come as a robber' (Proverbs 6:10-11, WEB). Small habits of neglect add up to real ruin.
- God hates pride, deceit, and division. Among the things Yahweh hates are 'haughty eyes, a lying tongue' and 'he who sows discord among brothers' (Proverbs 6:17-19, WEB). God calls us to truth, humility, and unity.
- God's word is a lamp guiding our way. 'For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life' (Proverbs 6:23, WEB). Scripture illumines the path and keeps us from harm.
- Adultery inevitably destroys the one who pursues it. 'Can a man scoop fire into his lap, and his clothes not be burned?' (Proverbs 6:27, WEB). Sexual sin cannot be played with safely; it always burns.
- What does the father tell his son to do if he has rashly become security for another, and why the urgency?
- What lesson does the ant teach the sluggard in verses 6 to 11?
- What are the seven things Yahweh hates, and what do they have in common?
- How do the images of fire and hot coals in verses 27 to 29 illustrate the danger of adultery?
- Which of this chapter's warnings speaks most directly to a temptation you face, and how will you respond?
- The father tells the son who has become security for a neighbor to act at once: 'deliver yourself... Go, humble yourself. Press your plea' and give no sleep until free (Proverbs 6:3-5, WEB). The urgency is that he is 'trapped by the words of his own mouth' and must escape like a gazelle from a hunter.
- The ant 'provides her bread in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest' with no ruler over her (Proverbs 6:8, WEB). She teaches the sluggard self-motivated diligence and foresight, warning that laziness brings sudden poverty (Proverbs 6:9-11, WEB).
- The seven are 'haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood; a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift in running to mischief, a false witness... and he who sows discord among brothers' (Proverbs 6:17-19, WEB). They share pride, deceit, and harm done to others.
- The father asks whether a man can 'scoop fire into his lap' or 'walk on hot coals' without being burned (Proverbs 6:27-28, WEB), then says, 'So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife' (Proverbs 6:29, WEB). Adultery is as certain to wound as fire is to burn.
- This is a personal-application question; invite honest, voluntary responses and keep the tone gracious. Use Proverbs 6:23 (WEB) on God's word as a lamp to help members name a specific warning to heed and a concrete step of obedience.