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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Proverbs 6:6-11

Solomon, in these verses, addresses himself to the sluggard who loves his ease, lives in idleness, minds no business, sticks to nothing, brings nothing to pass, and in a particular manner is careless in the business of religion. Slothfulness is as sure a way to poverty, though not so short a way, as rash suretiship. He speaks here to the sluggard, I. By way of instruction, Ps. 6:6-8. He sends him to school, for sluggards must be schooled. He is to take him to school himself, for, if the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 6:6

Go to the ant, thou sluggard ,.... That art become surety for another, and got into a snare and net, and yet takest no pains to get out. Or this may be directed, not to the surety, but the debtor; who, through his slothfulness, has contracted debts, and uses no industry to be in a capacity to pay them. Or, it may be, this has no connection with the former; but the wise man proceeds to a new subject, and to dissuade from idleness, which brings ruin on families, and leads to all sin; and, for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 6:7

Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler. None to guide and direct her what to do; nor any to overlook her, to see that she does aright, or to oblige her to work, and keep her to it; nor any to call her to an account, and correct her for doing amiss; and nevertheless diligent and industrious, doing everything of herself, by the instinct of nature, readily and willingly: and yet how slothful are men; who, besides the dictates of nature, reason, and conscience, have parents, masters,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 6:8

Provideth her meat in the summer ,.... Against the winter, of which it is mindful, when it never comes out of its place, having in the summer time got a sufficiency laid up in cells for its use: she toils in the heat of summer to get in her provision for the winter, being sensible that nothing is to be gotten then; she works at it night and day while the season lasts; so diligent is it in laying up its stores at the proper opportunity F12 "Ac veluti ingentem formicae farris acervum",... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 6:9

How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard ?.... Or "lie" F17 תשכב "jacebis", Montanus, Junius & Tremellius, Gejerus; "cubabis", Piscator, Cocceius. in bed, indulging in sloth and ease; while the industrious ant is busy in getting in its provisions, even by moonlight, as naturalists F18 Aelian. de Animal. l. 4. c. 43. observe; when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep ? and be about thy lawful calling? doing the duties of religion, and the business of life; providing things... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 6:10

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber ,.... Or, "little sleeps, little slumbers" F19 מעט שנות מעט תנומות "parvis somnis, parvis dormitationibus", Pagninus; "pauculis somnis, pauculis dormitationibus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator. . These are the words of the sluggard, in answer to the call of him to awake and arise, desiring he might not be disturbed, but be suffered to sleep on longer: there is a very beautiful climax or gradation in the words, aptly expressing the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Proverbs 6:11

So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth ,.... Either swiftly and suddenly, as a traveller makes haste to get to his journey's end, and comes upon his family or friends at an unawares; or though he moves gradually, by slow paces and silent steps, yet surely: and so it signifies that poverty should come upon the sluggard very quickly, and before he was aware: and though it might come by degrees, yet it would certainly come; and thy want as an armed man ; or, "thy wants as a man of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 6:6

Go to the ant, thou sluggard - נמלה nemalah , the ant, is a remarkable creature for foresight, industry, and economy. At the proper seasons they collect their food - not in the summer to lay up for the winter; for they sleep during the winter, and eat not; and therefore such hoards would be to them useless; but when the food necessary for them is most plentiful, then they collect it for their consumption in the proper seasons. No insect is more laborious, not even the bee itself; and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 6:10

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber - This, if not the language, is the feeling of the sluggard. The ant gathers its food in summer and in harvest, and sleeps in winter when it has no work to do. If the sluggard would work in the day, and sleep at night, it would be all proper. The ant yields him a lesson of reproach. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Proverbs 6:11

So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth - That is, with slow, but surely approaching steps. Thy want as an armed man - That is, with irresistible fury; and thou art not prepared to oppose it. The Vulgate, Septuagint, and Arabic add the following clause to this verse: - "But if thou wilt be diligent, thy harvest shall be as a fountain; and poverty shall flee far away from thee." It is also thus in the Old MS. Bible: If forsothe unslow thou shul ben; shul comen as a welle thi... read more

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