Wesley's Notes on the Bible My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, 6:1 Surety - Rashly, without considering how thou shalt discharge the debt as occasion require. Otherwise suretyship in some cases may be not only lawful, but an act of justice and charity. Stricken thy hand - Obliged thyself by giving thine hand, as the custom then was in such cases. With - With the creditor, whom he calls a stranger, because the usurers in Israel, who lent money to others, upon condition of paying use for it, were either Heathens, or were reputed as bad as Heathens, because this practice was forbidden by God's law, Deut 23:19.
Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
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. 6:3 Hand - Into the power. Friend - Of the debtor, for whom, as being thy friend, thou didst become surety; whereby thou art in his power, by his neglect or unfaithfulness, to expose thee to the payment of the debt. Make sure - Or, and prevail with thy friend, strive to win him by thine incessant and earnest solicitations.
Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. 6:4 Give not sleep - Until thou hast taken care for the discharge of this obligation.
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: 6:6 Go - This is a distinct precept; and it is for the most part as needless to seek, as hard to find, coherence in the proverbs.
Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
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?
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man. 6:11 Travelleth - Swiftly and unexpectedly. Armed man - Irresistibly.
A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.
He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;
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.
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 6:16 Hate - Above many other sins which have a worse name in the world.
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, 6:18 Deviseth - He whose practice it is to contrive wickedness. Swift - Such as greedily execute their wicked designs.
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: 6:20 The law - The word of God, which thy parents delivered to thee.
Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. 6:21 Bind them - Constantly remember, and duly consider them.
When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. 6:22 It - The law of God which thy parents have taught thee. Talk - It shall give thee counsel and comfort.
For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
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. 6:25 Eye - lids - With her wanton glances,
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.
Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes 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.
Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; 6:30 Despise - Abhor, but rather pity him.
But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house. 6:31 Restore - He speaks not of that restitution which the law required, but of that which either the wronged person might force the thief to make, or which the thief would willingly give rather than be exposed to public shame.
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.
For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 6:34 Rage - It enflames a man with rage. In the day - When he hath an opportunity to avenge himself.
He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts. Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible by John Wesley [1754-65] Bible Hub |
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