Proverbs 6
Lutheran reading notes
In Proverbs chapter 6, the wisdom literature continues to explore wisdom for righteous living and reverence for God. Lutheran interpretation often emphasizes humanity’s limitations and the need to rely on God's grace and promises. The chapter highlights the contrast between human striving and the faithfulness of God.
1
My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, {if} thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,
Proverbs 6:1 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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. {and make...: or, so shalt thou prevail with thy friend}
4
Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.
Proverbs 6:4 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
5
Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand {of the hunter}, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
Proverbs 6:5 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
6
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
Proverbs 6:6 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
7
Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
Proverbs 6:7 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
8
Provideth her meat in the summer, {and} gathereth her food in the harvest.
Proverbs 6:8 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
9
How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
Proverbs 6:9 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
10
{Yet} a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
Proverbs 6:10 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
Proverbs 6:12 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
13
He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;
Proverbs 6:13 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
14
Frowardness {is} in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. {soweth: Heb. casteth forth}
Proverbs 6:14 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
15
Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
Proverbs 6:15 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
16
These six {things} doth the LORD hate: yea, seven {are} an abomination unto him: {unto...: Heb. of his soul}
Proverbs 6:16 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
17
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, {A proud...: Heb. Haughty eyes}
Proverbs 6:17 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
18
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Proverbs 6:18 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
19
A false witness {that} speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Proverbs 6:19 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
20
My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
Proverbs 6:20 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
21
Bind them continually upon thine heart, {and} tie them about thy neck.
Proverbs 6:21 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
22
When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and {when} thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
Proverbs 6:22 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
23
For the commandment {is} a lamp; and the law {is} light; and reproofs of instruction {are} the way of life: {lamp: or, candle}
Proverbs 6:23 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
24
To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. {of the...: or, of the strange tongue}
Proverbs 6:24 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
25
Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
Proverbs 6:25 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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. {the adulteress: Heb. the woman of a man, or, a man's wife}
Proverbs 6:26 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
27
Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
Proverbs 6:27 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
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.
Proverbs 6:29 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
30
{Men} do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;
Proverbs 6:30 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
31
But {if} he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.
Proverbs 6:31 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
32
{But} whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he {that} doeth it destroyeth his own soul. {understanding: Heb. heart}
Proverbs 6:32 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
33
A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.
Proverbs 6:33 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
34
For jealousy {is} the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
Proverbs 6:34 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.
35
He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts. {He will...: Heb. He will not accept the face of any ransom}
Proverbs 6:35 highlights wisdom, prayer, and faithful living with emphasis on law, gospel, grace, and faith.