Proverbs 6

Proverbs 6
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The whole Book of Proverbs in the Leningrad Codex (1008 C.E.) from an old fascimile edition.
Book	Book of Proverbs
Category	Ketuvim
Christian Bible part	Old Testament
Order in the Christian part	21

Proverbs 6 is the sixth chapter of the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible or the Old Testament of the Christian Bible.^[1][2] The book is a compilation of several wisdom literature collections, with the heading in 1:1 may be intended to regard Solomon as the traditional author of the whole book, but the dates of the individual collections are difficult to determine, and the book probably obtained its final shape in the post-exilic period.^[3] This chapter is a part of the first collection of the book.^[4]

Text

Hebrew

The following table shows the Hebrew text^[5][6] of Proverbs 6 with vowels alongside an English translation based upon the JPS 1917 translation (now in the public domain).

Textual witnesses

Some early manuscripts containing the text of this chapter in Hebrew are of the Masoretic Text, which includes the Aleppo Codex (10th century), and Codex Leningradensis (1008).^[7]

There is also a translation into Koine Greek known as the Septuagint, made in the last few centuries BC; some extant ancient manuscripts of this version include Codex Vaticanus (B; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^B; 4th century), Codex Sinaiticus (S; BHK: ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^S; 4th century), and Codex Alexandrinus (A; ${\displaystyle {\mathfrak {G}}}$^A; 5th century).^[8]

Analysis

This chapter belongs to a section regarded as the first collection in the book of Proverbs (comprising Proverbs 1–9), known as "Didactic discourses".^[3] The Jerusalem Bible describes chapters 1–9 as a prologue of the chapters 10–22:16, the so-called "[actual] proverbs of Solomon", as "the body of the book".^[9]

The structure of chapter involves some advices:^[10]

1. Advises release from foolish indebtedness (1–5)
2. Admonishes avoiding laziness (6–8)
3. Warns of the danger of poverty (9–11) and deviousness (12–15),
4. Lists conduct that the Lord hates (16–19)
5. Warns about immorality (20–35).

The New King James Version entitles the chapters and sections as follows:

• Dangerous Promises (verses 1–5)
• The Folly of Indolence (verses 6–11)
• The Wicked Man (verses 12–19)
• Beware of Adultery (verses 20–35)

Four warnings (6:1–19)

This section contains four miscellaneous sayings which are more reminiscent of the proverbial sayings in chapters 10–31 than the instructions in chapters 1–9:^[11]

1. Warning against acting as guarantor for debts (verses 1–5)
2. Warning against laziness and encourage diligence (verses 6–11)
3. Warning of the danger of scoundrel (verses 12–15)
4. Warnings of things that the Lord hates (verses 16–19)

Verses 16–19 contain a graded numerical saying (cf. Proverbs 30:15–31; Job 5:19; Amos 1:3–2:8) that is particularly useful both as a means of classification and as an aid to memorization.^[11][12] The saying lists 'different kinds of malicious and disruptive activity through a review of the unhealthy body': 'eyes… tongue… hands… heart… feet' (cf. Proverbs 4:23–27), with the addition of 'false witness' and 'one who stirs up strife' to make up the seven vices.^[11][12]

Verse 1

My son, if you become surety for your friend,

If you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,^[13]

• "Surety": or "guaranty", "collateral"^[14] There are several references to suretyship in Proverbs, the first coming here (verses 1–6). According to Perowne,

  the strong terms of warning and reprobation in which it is invariably spoken of… accord well with what we should suppose to be the condition of society in the reign of Solomon. In earlier and simpler times it was enough for the Law to forbid usury or interest for a loan of money to be exacted by one Israelite of another; and raiment given as a pledge or security for a debt was to be returned before night-fall to be the owner’s covering in his sleep (Exodus 22:25–27; Leviticus 25:35–38). With the development, however, of commerce and the growth of luxury under Solomon, money-lending transactions, whether for speculation in trade, or for personal gratification, had come to be among the grave dangers that beset the path of youth.

  Accordingly, the writer of Proverbs "has no quarter for it, but condemns it unsparingly on every mention of it".^[15] Subsequent references to surety are at Proverbs 11:15, 17:18, 20:16, 22:26 and 27:13.^[16]
• "Shaken": in Hebrew literally "struck"^[17] as in "struck hands in pledge" (NIV), that is, a handshake signaling the guarantee of a pledge (such as Proverbs 11:15; 17:18; 2 2:26, 2 Kings 10:15).^[11][18] An unwise guarantor would be threatened with not only 'penury' (cf. Proverbs 22:26–27) but also slavery (cf. 2 Kings 4:1–7; Nehemiah 5:1–8).^[11]

The price of adultery (6:20–35)

This passage focuses on the instruction to protect against the enticements of the seductress, in particular here of "a married woman".^[11] An affair with the adulteress would exact a heavy price, 'a man's very life', as a jealous and enraged husband would seek revenge and demand a higher price than money (verses 34–35).^[11]

Verse 21

Bind them continually upon your heart,

and tie them around your neck.^[19]

• "Bind them": an allusion to
  Deuteronomy 6:6–8 (cf. Proverbs 3:3, 24) where the people of Israel were told to bind a copy of the law on their foreheads and arms.^[11][20]

When you walk, their counsel will lead you.

When you sleep, they will protect you.

When you wake up, they will advise you.[21]

Verse 23

For like a lamp is a commandment, and instruction is light,

and the way of life[a] is the reproof of discipline,^[22]

Verse 24

They will protect you

from the flattering words

of someone else's wife.^[23]

Verse 25

Don’t hunger in your heart after her beauty.

Don’t let her eyes capture you. ^[24]

Verse 26

For the price of a woman, a prostitute,[a] is the price of a loaf of bread,

but the woman belonging to a man[b] hunts precious life.^[25]

Verse 27

Can a man carry fire in his lap

without burning his clothes?^[26]

Verse 28

Or can one walk on hot coals

and his feet not be scorched?^[27]

Verse 29

It is just as dangerous to sleep with another man's wife. Whoever does it will suffer.^[28]

See also

References