Proverbs 6:1-5  “…if you become surety for your friend…You are snared by the words of your mouth…”
Becoming surety for an unsecured or uncollateralized debt.  Quite a bit of urgency for this situation.  With our lax view on financial responsibility today, we probably can’t see that urgency as Solomon did.  With no financial institutions or ability to declare bankruptcy, to become surety for a debt was to place yourself at risk of slavery.  The wise course of action is to always have sufficient collateral for debts if you must incur debt at all.  And as Solomon says here, if you’ve gotten yourself into that mess, do what you have to do to get out as quickly as possible.

6-11  “…How long will you slumber, O sluggard?”
Admonition against laziness.  Even the ants show diligence by working to provide for themselves while they can.

10-11  “A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep— So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.”
Wonder if this little phrase was a common or popular saying.  It will be repeated later.  Like early to bed early to rise.  Idea is that not tending to your work allows poverty and need to creep up on you quickly and suddenly.

12-15  “A worthless person…He devises evil continually…”
Actions of a worthless person.  Always into something, always has some angle going.  But their reward will eventually catch up with them, either in this world or the next.

16-19  “These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him…”
Poetic device, calling one number then increasing it for the point.  Seven things listed, pride, lying, murder, planning evil, desire for evil, being a false witness, and sowing discord.  Not just pride, but an air of superiority.  Looks like lying is mentioned twice, but I think there is a subtle difference the writer wanted to get across which the commentary says the original text addresses.  Not just speaking a lie, but also doing so continually.  One who can’t be trusted because their disposition is to tell lies.  Reminds me of the adage, how do you know they are lying, because their lips are moving.  Difference between killing and murder is shown here, presence of the innocence of the victim.  Plotting evil and wanting to always be involved with it.  Making it a way of life.  Creating discord to accomplish your own evil desires.  Not content to mess up your own life, but have to include others.  Sad part is that we have so many examples of people today who fit all seven of these.  People who are so self centered, so self absorbed, they will stoop to any level to gain what they want.

20-35  “To keep you from the evil woman…”
Another admonition against adultery and falling into immorality.

30-32  “People do not despise a thief If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving.  Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold…Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding…”
People understand when a person does something they had to do, but that doesn’t absolve them of the crime or exempt them from the consequences.  Adultery is just complete foolishness.  It is never necessary, and it is not looked upon with understanding.

I hope you enjoy reading and studying His word.  May it accomplish what He desires.  Please feel free to comment or post questions.  Thanks for reading!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.