Proverbs 6

Proverbs 6:1

SƲrety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand, &c.] Chap. 17. 18. and 20. 16. and 22. 26.

for thy friend] Or, to thy neighbour, as v. 3.

if thou hast stricken thy hand] Joyned hands with a stranger, as a surety, to pay thy friends debt, if he do not.

with a stranger] A man to whom thou owest nothing, nor knowest not how he will use thee, if thou fall into his hands.

Proverbs 6:2

Thou art] Or, And art.

Thou art snared] He forbiddeth us not to become sureties for our friends, according to the rule of charity; but wills, That we consider for whom, to whom, and upon what terms we do it, so that the creditour may not be defrauded, nor our selves damnified.

with the words of thy mouth] Many think words bring no hurt, if they part with no present money; but Solomon tells us; Our promises do ensnare us.

thou art] Or, and art.

Proverbs 6:3

when] Or, seeing.

into the hand of thy friend] Thy neighbour, to whom thou art bound for another, and therefore humble thy self to him, because thou art in his danger, chap. 22. 7.

friend] Or, neighbour.

and make sure thy friend] Or, so shalt thou prevail with thy friend: or, prevail with thy friends.

make sure thy friend] Heb. overcome thy friends. So the same word is used, Son 6:5. His meaning is, That if we be not able to pay, nor can finde no favour with the creditour, we should be importunate with our friends to free us from him with all speed, as beast or fowl, pursued, flie for their lives, verse 5.

Proverbs 6:4

Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eye-lids] Psalms 132:4.

Proverbs 6:6

Go] When thou art out of debt, go labour for thy living, and keep thy self out of it.

the ant] Because we regard not our teachers, God sets silly creatures to teach us to live of our selves, and not to be burdensome to others.

be wise] Learn of the ant wisely to order thine affairs.

Proverbs 6:7

which having no guide] The ant, that hath none to go before her to shew her how to do it, nor none oversee whether she do it or no, nor no ruler to punish her for idlenesse, yet labours: much more should men, that have those motives she hath not, chap. 30. 25, 27.

Proverbs 6:8

Provideth her meat in the summer] When the weather is fair, the way smooth, and food to be had, she provides against winter: so should we, against sicknesse and old age.

Proverbs 6:9

How long wilt thou sleep, &c.] Chap. 24. 33. He chides the sluggard for being so long slothfull.

Proverbs 6:10

Yet a little sleep] The sluggard answers, That he had need yet of more sleeps and slumbers: for sluggards never have sleep enough, but ever seek new occasions.

sleep] Heb. sleeps.

slumber] Heb. slumbers.

Proverbs 6:11

So shall thy poverty come, &c.] Chap. 13. 4. and 20. 4. As if God should reply, Sleep on; but thou shalt be poor enough at length.

as one that travelleth] Suddenly, and unlooked for.

thy want as an armed man] So as it cannot be resisted.

Proverbs 6:12

A naughty person] He sheweth what misery will come on mockers.

A naughty person, a wicked man] Heb. a man of Belial, a man of wickednesse.

Proverbs 6:13

He winketh with his eyes] He teacheth his companions to deride others by the motion of the eye, foot, or finger, when he dares not with his tongue, Job 15:12. Psalms 35:19.

Proverbs 6:14

Frowardnesse] Heb. Frowardnesses.

he deviseth mischief continually] Besides abundance of corruption in his heart (Heb. frowardnesses) he addes more by devising mischief still, even in the night, when workmen sleep, chap. 4. 16. Micah 2:1. Hosea 7:6.

soweth] Heb. casteth forth.

discord] Heb. discords.

Proverbs 6:15

broken without remedy] Jeremiah 19:11.

without remedy] A mockers misery will abide on him.

Proverbs 6:16

unto him] Heb. of his soul.

Proverbs 6:17

A proud look] Heb. Haughty eyes.

Proverbs 6:18

feet that be swift in running to mischief] Romans 3:15.

Proverbs 6:19

speaketh lies] Chap. 19. 5.

discord] Heb. discords.

Proverbs 6:20

My son, keep thy fathers commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother] Chap. 1. 8.

Proverbs 6:21

neck] See chap. 2. 9.

Proverbs 6:22

it shall lead thee] The commandment, mentioned, v. 20.

keep thee] Or, watch over thee.

it shall talk with thee] Direct thee what is to be done all day, as masters in the morning appoint their servants what to do the day following.

Proverbs 6:23

For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is a light] Psalms 19:8. and Psalms 119:105.

the commandment is a lamp] The commandment of thy father, and law of thy mother, v. 20, may guide thee, as a candle by night, and the light by day; and their reproofs are means to save you.

lamp] Or, candle.

Proverbs 6:24

To keep thee from the evil woman] Chap. 2. 16. and 5. 3. and 7. 5. The verse before may be included in a parenthesis, and this verse depend on the end of the two and twentieth.

of the tongue of a strange woman] Or, of the strange tongue.

Proverbs 6:25

Lust not] Or, That thou lust not.

Lust not after her beauty in thine heart] Matthew 5:28.

neither let her take thee with her eye-lids] Take heed of her fair looks, as well as of her sweet words; for if she catch thee with her eyes, when she hath brought thee to extreme poverty she will take away thy life also.

Proverbs 6:26

For] Or, When.

piece of bread] 1 Samuel 2:36.

and] Or, then.

the adulteresse] Heb. the woman of a man, or a mans wife.

the adulteresse will hunt] Heb. the wife of another man: that is, a whore. Or, A woman given to men.

for the precious life] Which should be precious to thee, Matthew 16:26. Or, after precious souls; that is, properest persons.

Proverbs 6:27

Can a man take fire in his bosome] Meaning, that she will never cease, till she have brought thee to beggery, and then seek thy destruction.

Proverbs 6:28

Can one go upon hot coles] A man cannot use familiarity with such, or dalliance, but it will turn to his ruine, Judg. 16.

Proverbs 6:29

So he] Or, So is he.

Proverbs 6:30

Men do not despise a thief] He approveth not theft, but sheweth, that stealing, for need, is not so abominable as whoredom; forasmuch as theft might be redeemed; but adultery was a perpetuall infamie, and death, by the law of God: and the one proceeds from want, and the other from wantonnesse.

Proverbs 6:31

if he be found] Heb. being found.

he shall restore seven-fold] That is, for a manifold restitution; for it was divers, according to the thing stollen: or, at most, they can but take his goods, his life they cannot take away for bare theft.

Proverbs 6:32

understanding] Heb. heart.

Proverbs 6:33

A wound and dishonour shall he get] That is, death, appointed by the law, or be slain by the strumpets husband. See verse 34. or, a wound in his fame, which shall never be done away.

Proverbs 6:34

therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance] He sheweth, that a man commonly seeketh his death that hath abused his wife; and so concludeth, That the husband will accept of no ransome, to save the adulterer.

Proverbs 6:35

He will not regard any ransome] Heb. He will not accept the face of any ransome.