Geneva Study Bible My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,
Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. Thou art {a} snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
(a) He forbids us not to become surety one for another, according to the rule of charity, but that we consider for whom and after what sort, so that the creditor may not be defrauded. 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. 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.
Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.
Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler. Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Go to the {b} ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
(b) If the word of God cannot instruct you, learn from the little ant to labour for yourself and not to burden others. Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, {c} a little folding of the hands to sleep:
(c) He expresses the nature of the sluggards, who though they sleep long, yet never have enough, but always seek opportunity for more. So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man. So shall thy poverty come as one that {d} travelleth, and thy want as {e} an armed man.
(d) That is, suddenly, and when you do not look for it. (e) It will come in such sort, as you are not able to resist it. A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. A naughty person, {f} a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.
(f) He shows to what inconvenience the idle persons and sluggards come, by calling them unthrifty, or the men of Belial, and slanderous. He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he {g} teacheth with his fingers;
(g) Thus all his gesture tends to wickedness, Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.
Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy. Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, {h} feet that be swift in running to mischief,
(h) Meaning, the raging affections, which carry a man away in such sort that he cannot tell what he does. A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. Bind them continually upon thine {i} heart, and tie them about thy neck.
(i) Pr 3:3. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: For the {k} commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and {l} reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
(k) By the commandment, he means the word of God; and by the instruction, the preaching and declaration of the same, which is committed to the Church. (l) And reprehensions when the word is preached bring us to life. To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. Lust not after her beauty in thy heart; neither let her take thee with her {m} eyelids.
(m) With her wanton looks and gesture. 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. For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adultress will hunt for the precious life.
Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? {n} Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
(n) Meaning, that she will never cease till she has brought you to begging, and then seek your destruction. Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?
So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.
Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; Men do not {o} despise a thief, if he stealeth to satisfy his {p} soul when he is hungry;
(o) He does not reprove theft, showing that it is not as abominable as whoredom, for theft can be restored, but adultery is permanent, and death by the law of God. (p) Meaning, for necessity. But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house. But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.
But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. A {q} wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.
(q) That is, death appointed by the Law. For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not {r} spare in the day of vengeance.
(r) He shows that man by nature seeks the death of he that has abused his wife, and so concludes that neither God's law nor the law of nature admits any ransom for the adultery. He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts. He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts. The Geneva Bible Translation Notes [1599] Bible Hub |
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