DAWN

     Explanation: In Proverbs 6 Solomon advises his son to avoid various snares. These are divided into two main categories, the snares of debt and the snares of evil companions. These snares lead to the thing symbolized in the painting above -- ruin.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Proverbs 5. Proverbs 7. Proverbs 8. Proverbs 9. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Proverbs 6. ]

     Solomon begins his admonitions to his son by warning him against debt. He tells him to deliver himself from the snare of being a guarantor of another man's debt. He tells him to go to his friend, humble himself, and make sure (or strongly urge) his friend to release him from the contract. He tells him to be sleepless and swift to do so, like a deer or a bird fleeing from the hand of those who hunt them. (1-5). Solomon then broadens the instruction by advising his son to make his personal funds secure. He tells him to learn from the ant which has no guide, overseer, or ruler, yet it lays up food in storage in the summer and during the harvest. Again, as in the previous case, he is to be diligent and sleepless to do so. Otherwise poverty will come upon him like a traveling bandit (6-11). Furthermore, he must avoid those who are naughty (worthless), wicked (empty), and froward (perverse). Such a person makes covert signals with his eyes, feet, and fingers to initiate evil acts. Fraud is in his heart; he constantly devises mischief (evil); and he sows discord. Sudden calamity will break him (burst him asunder) without remedy (12-15).
     Such a person exemplifies many things which are an abomination (a disgust or an abhorrence) to the LORD. Solomon lists seven such things. These are a typical list, not an exhaustive one. The idea is that things of this type are particularly disgusting to the LORD; and the young man who is receiving Solomon's instruction should be particularly careful to avoid them. The LORD abominates a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that are swift in running to mischief (evil), a false witness who speaks lies, and those who sow discord among brethren (16-19).
     In light of what he has said, Solomon exhorts his son to keep his commandment and to not forsake the law of his mother. He should bind them upon his heart and tie them on his neck. When he goes they will lead him; when he sleeps they will keep him; when he awakes they will talk to him. The commandment is a lamp; the law is light; and reproofs of instruction (or corrections of chastisement) are the way of life. They will keep him from evil women and their flattery. He must not lust after her beauty in his heart, nor let her take him with her eyelids. Such a whorish woman will consume him as if he were a small piece of bread (a circlet or a wafer of bread). The adulteress will hunt for the precious life (20-26). As it is impossible for a man to take fire into his bosom without burning his clothes or to walk upon hot coals without burning (blistering) his feet, so he that goes in to his neighbor's wife will not be innocent. By analogy, men do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his soul when he is hungry. Nevertheless, when he is found out he will restore sevenfold (completely); he will give up the substance of his house -- i.e., he will gain little but forfeit everything. He who commits adultery lacks understanding; he destroys his own soul (not merely the goods of his house). He will suffer a wound, dishonor, and reproach which will not be wiped away. He will suffer the jealous rage of a (strong) man who will not spare him in the day of vengeance. The man will not regard compensation nor will he be content with many gifts (27-35).

¹ My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,
² Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
³ 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.
⁴ Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.
⁵ Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
⁶ Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
⁷ Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
⁸ Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
⁹ How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
¹⁰ Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
¹¹ So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

¹² A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.
¹³ He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;
¹⁴ Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually [at all times]; he soweth discord.
¹⁵ Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

¹⁶ These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
¹⁷ A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸ An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
¹⁹ A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

²⁰ My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
²¹ Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
²² When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
²³ For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
²⁴ To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
²⁵ Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
²⁶ 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.
²⁷ Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
²⁸ Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?
²⁹ So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.
³⁰ Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;
³¹ But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.
³² But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
³³ A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.
³⁴ For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
³⁵ He will not regard [lift up his face toward] any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.