“My son, if you have become a guarantor for your neighbor,
Or have given your handshake for a stranger,
If you have been ensnared by the words of your mouth,
Or have been caught by the words of your mouth,
Then do this, my son, and save yourself:
Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor,
Go, humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor.
Give no sleep to your eyes,
Nor slumber to your eyelids;
Save yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand
And like a bird from the hand of the fowler.”

“Go to the ant, you lazy one,
Observe its ways and be wise,
Which, having no chief, officer, or ruler,
Prepares its food in the summer
And gathers its provision in the harvest.
How long will you lie down, you lazy one?
When will you arise from your sleep?
‘A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to rest,’
Then your poverty will come in like a drifter,
And your need like an armed man.”

“A worthless person, a wicked man,
Is one who walks with a perverse mouth,
Who winks with his eyes,
Who signals with his feet,
Who points with his fingers;
Who perversely devises evil with deceit in his heart,
He continually spreads strife.
Therefore his disaster will come suddenly;
Instantly he will be broken and there will be no healing.”

“There are six things that the Lord hates,
Seven that are an abomination to Him:
Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that run rapidly to evil,
A false witness who declares lies,
And one who spreads strife among brothers.”

“My son, comply with the commandment of your father,
And do not ignore the teaching of your mother;
Bind them continually on your heart,
Tie them around your neck.
When you walk, they will guide you;
When you sleep, they will watch over you;
And when you awake, they will talk to you.
For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light;
And rebukes for discipline are the way of life.”

“To keep you from the evil woman,
From the smooth tongue of the adulteress.
Do not desire her beauty in your heart,
Nor let her capture you with her eyelids.
For the price of a prostitute reduces one to a loaf of bread,
And an adulteress hunts for the precious life.”

“Can a man take fire in his lap
And his clothes not be burned?
Or can a man walk on hot coals
And his feet not be scorched?
So is the one who goes in to his neighbor’s wife;
Whoever touches her will not go unpunished.”

“People do not despise a thief if he steals
To satisfy himself when he is hungry;
But when he is found, he must repay seven times
And give up all the property of his house.
One who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense;
He who would destroy himself commits it.
Wounds and disgrace he will find,
And his shame will not be removed.
For jealousy enrages a man,
And he will not have compassion on the day of vengeance.
He will not accept any settlement,
Nor will he be satisfied though you make it a large gift.”

---

Context and Meaning

Proverbs 6 is deeply practical—it brings wisdom into everyday decisions, covering financial responsibility, work ethic, truthfulness, and moral purity.

It warns against foolish entanglements (like guaranteeing another’s debt), lazy living, deceptive behavior, and sexual immorality.
Each section calls the listener to wise stewardship, integrity, and self-control, reminding us that small compromises can lead to great ruin.

Key Themes:

1. Financial Wisdom: Avoid reckless guarantees and entangling promises (v. 1–5).
2. Diligence vs. Laziness: Learn from the ant’s discipline and foresight (v. 6–11).
3. Character and Integrity: Avoid deceit, pride, and sowing discord (v. 12–15).
4. God’s Moral Standard: The Lord detests seven specific sins that destroy community (v. 16–19).
5. The Power of Parental Instruction: God’s Word is both lamp and guardrail for life (v. 20–23).
6. Purity and Self-Control: Immorality burns the one who embraces it (v. 24–35).

Reflection and Impact

Proverbs 6 offers vivid pictures of what wisdom looks like in practice:

• Be prudent with your promises – “Save yourself… plead with your neighbor” (v. 3) aligns with Matthew 5:25: make peace quickly with your accuser while you’re still on the way.
• Work diligently and plan ahead – “Go to the ant, you lazy one” (v. 6) mirrors 2 Thessalonians 3:10: if anyone is not willing to work, he shall not eat.
• Avoid deceit and pride – “A worthless man walks with a perverse mouth” (v. 12) echoes Ephesians 4:25: speak truth with your neighbor.
• Hate what God hates – “Six things the Lord hates…” (v. 16–19) connects with Romans 12:9: hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
• Walk in light and correction – “The commandment is a lamp” (v. 23) aligns with Psalm 119:105: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
• Flee from lust’s fire – “Can a man take fire in his lap and not be burned?” (v. 27) reflects 1 Corinthians 6:18: flee sexual immorality—it burns the soul.

Application

• Be Wise With Your Commitments: Avoid careless financial or personal guarantees that entangle your life.
• Work Hard and Plan Ahead: Let diligence be a reflection of faithfulness, not pride.
• Keep Your Words and Actions Pure: Integrity builds strength; deceit destroys trust.
• Align Your Heart With God’s Standards: Hate sin as He does, and love righteousness.
• Guard Against Lust: Treat purity not as restraint but as protection for your soul.
• Welcome God’s Correction: His rebukes light your path and keep you from destruction.

Closing Thought

Wisdom is not just knowing what’s right—it’s choosing what’s right in every circumstance.
Proverbs 6 shows that discipline, integrity, and purity protect us from ruin and align us with God’s blessing.

“The commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light;
Reproofs for discipline are the way of life.”