The big picture
Proverbs 6 opens in verse 1 with “My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 18 with “An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,”, and closes in verse 35 with “He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many…” Repeated or prominent terms include sleep, hand, heart, woman, feet. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Proverbs · King James Version · 35Proverbs 6:1-7
1–7: My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand…
Proverbs 6:1–7 opens with “My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,” and reaches “Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by hand, friend, thyself.
Context that brings the passage to life
“My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,” The line’s distinctive content terms include friend, hand, stranger. Its relationship to verses 2 shows what work it does in this passage.
Proverbs 6:1-7
King James Version1My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,
2Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
3Do 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.
4Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.
5Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
Proverbs 6:8-14
8–14: Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
Proverbs 6:8–14 opens with “Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.” and reaches “Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by sleep, little, arise.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
Proverbs 6:8-14
King James Version8Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
9How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
10Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
12A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.
13He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;
14Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.
Proverbs 6:15-21
15–21: Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken…
Proverbs 6:15–21 opens with “Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.” and reaches “Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by heart, suddenly, abomination.
Context that brings the passage to life
“Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Proverbs 6:15-21
King James Version15Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
16These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
20My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
21Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
Proverbs 6:22-28
22–28: When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep…
Proverbs 6:22–28 opens with “When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou…” and reaches “Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by woman, burned, keep.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
Proverbs 6:22-28
King James Version22When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
23For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
24To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
25Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
26For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.
27Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
28Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?
Proverbs 6:29-35
29–35: So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her…
Proverbs 6:29–35 opens with “So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.” and reaches “He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on the wording and movement of this passage, with particular weight carried by soul, adultery, committeth.
Context that brings the passage to life
“So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
Proverbs 6:29-35
King James Version29So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.
30Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;
31But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.
32But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
33A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.
34For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
35He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Proverbs 6:1 begins with “My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,”
Where the chapter turns
Proverbs 6:15 forms a natural hinge: “Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.”
The final note
Proverbs 6:35 leaves the reader with “He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words sleep, hand, heart, woman, feet, friend help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What repeated description explains the judgment?
The earth is corrupt and filled with violence, especially in verses 11-13.
What does obedience look like here?
Detailed preparation, gathering provisions and constructing what God commands.
KJV words made clear
- unto
- to
- thee
- you
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- doth
- does
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.