6:1 My child, if you have made a pledge for your neighbor, and have become a guarantor for a stranger,
Solomon addressed his sons in the singular again. He warned them against cosigning a note involving high interest rates for someone else’s loan.
6:2 if you have been ensnared by the words you have uttered, and have been caught by the words you have spoken,
This kind of loan was a trap and a snare.
6:3 then, my child, do this in order to deliver yourself, because you have fallen into your neighbor’s power: go, humble yourself, and appeal firmly to your neighbor.
If they were caught in this situation, then they were to go humble themselves.
6:4 Permit no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids.
They were to get out of this trap as quickly as possible.
6:5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from a snare, and like a bird from the trap of the fowler.
They were to appear to their neighbor (like a gazelle) and attempt to get out of this loan (trap) as quickly as possible.
6:6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; observe its ways and be wise!
Solomon asked his sons to not be lazy sluggards. Instead, they were to learn a lesson by observing the ant.
6:7 It has no commander, overseer, or ruler,
The ants have no supervisor watching their every move.
6:8 yet it prepares its food in the summer; it gathers at the harvest what it will eat.
However, the ant is very industrious. The ant takes care of its needs by working hard and storing up food for the coming winter.
6:9 How long, you sluggard, will you lie there? When will you rise from your sleep?
Solomon urged the lazy sluggard to get out of bed and start working.
6:10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to relax,
It is dangerous for men to take a nap when they should be working.
6:11 and your poverty will come like a robber, and your need like an armed man.
If a man takes a nap instead of working, then poverty will rob him of his income. leaving him penniless and hungry.
6:12 A worthless and wicked person walks around saying perverse things;
The Hebrew word for “worthless” is בְּלִיַּ֫עַל (bilial), meaning an ungodly scoundrel. Later, it became a name used of the devil.
The Hebrew for “wicked” is אָ֫וֶן (ayan), meaning a person who is evil, destructive, harmful, and troublesome.
The Hebrew word for “perverse” is עִקְּשׁוּת (akishut), meaning a depraved, immoral, stubborn, rebellious, and contentious mouth.
This type of scoundrel is evil like the devil. He used his words to harm what is good.
6:13 he winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, and points with his fingers;
This evil scoundrel’s body language contradicts what he says. He uses body gesture signals to send messages to his fellow conspirators.
6:14 he plots evil with perverse thoughts in his heart, he spreads contention at all times.
This evil scoundrel plots evil actions from a deceitful heart so that people are not aware of his intentions until it is too late. He feigns sincerity and kindness, but he is inwardly perverted. He causes dissension and division among others.
6:15 Therefore, his disaster will come suddenly; in an instant he will be broken, and there will be no remedy.
An evil scoundrel will eventually bring disaster upon himself. When disaster comes, he falls quickly, completely, and certainly. These will be no escape or remedy for his fall.
6:16 There are six things that the Lord hates, even seven things that are an abomination to him:
Satan has painted a false picture of God that deceives many gullible people who have not mastered sound Bible doctrine. Many people think that God is a great big Grandpa in the sky who loves everyone and winks at their sin. This is simply not the case. There are some things that God hates, because these things harm His children.
6:17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
God hates people who have a proud look. A person with haughty eyes will stand up and claim that he has elevated his human opinion above the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God. Evolutionists, atheists, agnostics, feminists, homosexuals, lesbians, liberals, transgenders, cults, and isms often are guilty of this sin against God. God hates this kind of lewd behavior.
God hates a tongue that lies. Many politicians will tell lies or live lies for political power. God hates this kind of godless behavior.
God hates hands that murder. Politicians who pass abortion laws are murdering innocent babies in the womb. Doctors who cut babies to pieces are committing murder. God hates murder.
These three types of people will be judged by the eternal Judge of the universe. He will judge fairly and accurately. He will not wink at their sins. He will not accept bribes or favors. Their power, prestige, fame, and wealth will not help them escape from the wrath of God.
6:18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift to run to evil,
God hates a heart that devises evil plans. He hates feet that run quickly to do evil. Whenever there is a fight, wicked men will run to see it. Whenever there is a new violent movie, wicked men will run to see it. This is because their sin nature hates God but loves violence. God hates these kinds of behaviors.
6:19 a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who spreads discord among family members.
A false witness will sell out another person for money, power, or fame. Those who cause family problems are breaking up a divine institution which was sanctioned by God. God hates these kinds of behaviors.
6:20 My child, guard the commands of your father and do not forsake the instruction of your mother.
Solomon referred to his sons in the singular again. Solomon was the father. Bathsheba was the mother. This was instruction to a royal house of princes. They were part of the Davidic line which was to bring in the Messiah. The sons were to guard the instruction which was given to them by their parents.
6:21 Bind them on your heart continually; fasten them around your neck.
Solomon advised his sons to bind these parental teachings upon their heart continually. They were to wear them around their neck like a necklace.
6:22 When you walk about, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you wake up, they will talk to you.
Solomon advised his sons that their parental instruction should walk around with them and guide them. This parental instruction was a guard who would watch over them. When the sons woke up in the morning, then this parental advice would talk to them.
6:23 For the commandments are like a lamp, instruction is like a light, and rebukes of discipline are like the road leading to life,
The parental commandments given to these sons of Solomon were like a lamp which guided their way at night. The rebukes of discipline which these parents gave these sons was like a road which leads to life.
6:24 by keeping you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the loose woman.
The smooth tongue of the loose woman is the seductive voice of the adulteress. Wisdom from God’s Word would help keep these boys out of adultery. Many Jewish women wanted to be queens of Israel, so these boys would be prime targets. They were also prime targets of Satan, because Satan wanted to bring down the house of David so that the Messiah would not be born through this line.
6:25 Do not lust in your heart for her beauty, and do not let her captivate you with her alluring eyes;
Adultery and fornication begins with the lust of the eyes. This is why Satan works so hard with the pornography industry.
6:26 for on account of a prostitute one is brought down to a loaf of bread, but the wife of another man preys on your precious life.
There is a price for immorality. A prostitute can reduce a man to poverty or even cost him his life. Sexual diseases are expensive and deadly. The only remedy for sex disease is abstinence.
6:27 Can a man hold fire against his chest without burning his clothes? 6:28 Can a man walk on hot coals without scorching his feet? 6:29 So it is with the one who has sex with his neighbor’s wife; no one who touches her will escape punishment.
If a man plays around with adultery, he is going to get burnt. He may be set on fire by the adulterer’s husband.
6:30 People do not despise a thief when he steals to fulfill his need when he is hungry.
People may sympathize with (but not approve of) a thief if he steals to avoid starvation.
6:31 Yet if he is caught he must repay seven times over, he might even have to give all the wealth of his house.
However, if this thief is caught, then he will repay what he stole seven times over. He may lose all of his property and wealth.
6:32 A man who commits adultery with a woman lacks wisdom, whoever does it destroys his own life.
Wisdom is sound Bible doctrine from the entire counsel of the Word of God. A man who commits adultery with a woman lacks strong Bible doctrine.
6:33 He will be beaten and despised, and his reproach will not be wiped away;
It is stupid to commit adultery with another man’s wife. The Mosaic Law required stoning. The reputation and witness of the adulterer will be marred.
6:34 for jealousy kindles a husband’s rage, and he will not show mercy when he takes revenge.
It is stupid to commit adultery with another man’s wife. If the husband finds out, then he may seek revenge in a violent matter. The Mosaic Law required stoning. His reputation and witness will be marred.
6:35 He will not consider any compensation; he will not be willing, even if you multiply the compensation.
The husband of the adulteress will not be willing to take compensation.
The husband will be so angry, that he will not listen to a bribe, no matter how great it is. He will ask and demand for capital punishment, which was death by stoning.