Today we continue our reading in the Old Testament book of Proverbs in the Amplified Bible translation with Proverbs chapter 6 from the Word of God.
If you want to support the work of this podcast, please consider becoming a subscriber! For less than $1 USD/month you can assist in making this podcast even better, helping raise funds to purchase a new microphone, sound-proofing materials and so on. Subscribe today: https://anchor.fm/theaudiobible/subscribe or consider sharing a one-time gift at https://buymeacoffee.com/pastorben.
If you want to learn differently, beyond the Audio Bible, you can consider checking out my (Pastor Ben) SubStack and reading additional thoughts and commentary there: bmarshall.substack.com.
Thanks for listening and being a part of this community!
[00:00:04] Proverbs 6 My son, if you have become surety or guaranteed a debt or obligation for your neighbor, if you have given your pledge for the debt of a stranger or another outside your family, if you have been snared with the words of your lips, if you have been trapped by the speech of your mouth,
[00:00:30] do this now, my son, and release yourself from the obligation, since you have come into the hand of your neighbor. Go, humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor to pay his debt and release you. Give no unnecessary sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids.
[00:00:54] Tear yourself away like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, and like a bird from the hand of the fowler. Go to the ant, O lazy one. Observe her ways and be wise. Which, having no chief, overseer, or ruler, she prepares her food in the summer, and brings in her provisions of food for the winter in the harvest.
[00:01:23] How long will you lie down, O lazy one? When will you arise from your sleep and learn self-discipline? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to lie down and rest. So your poverty will come like an approaching prowler who walks slowly but surely, and your need will come like an armed man making you helpless.
[00:01:53] A worthless person, a wicked man, is one who walks with a perverse or corrupt, vulgar mouth, who winks with his eyes in mockery, who shuffles his feet to signal, who points with his fingers to give subversive instruction, who perversely in his heart plots trouble and evil continually, who spreads discord and strife.
[00:02:22] Therefore, the crushing weight of his disaster will come suddenly upon him. Instantly he will be broken, and there will be no healing or remedy, because he has no heart for God. These six things the Lord hates, indeed seven, are repulsive to him. A proud look, the attitude that makes one overestimate oneself and discount others.
[00:02:52] A lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood. A heart that creates wicked plans. Feet that runs swiftly to evil. A false witness who breathes out lies, even half-truths. And one who spreads discord or rumors among brothers. My son, be guided by your father's God-given commandment or instruction,
[00:03:20] and do not reject the teaching of your mother. Bind them continually upon your hearts or in your thoughts. And tie them around your neck. When you walk about, they, or the godly teachings of your parents, will guide you. When you sleep, they will keep watch over you. And when you awake, they will talk to you. For the commandment is a lamp,
[00:03:49] and the teaching of the law is light, and reproofs or rebukes, for discipline are the way of life. To keep you from the evil woman, from the flattery of the smooth tongue of an immoral woman, do not desire or lust after her beauty in your heart, nor let her capture you with her eyelashes. For, on account of a prostitute, one is reduced
[00:04:18] to a piece of bread to be eaten up, and the immoral woman hunts with a hook the precious life of a man. Can a man take fire to his chest and his clothes not be burned? Or can a man walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched? So is the one who goes in to his neighbor's wife. Whoever touches her will not be found innocent or go unpunished.
[00:04:47] People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry. But when he is found, he must repay seven times what he stole. He must give all the property of his house if necessary to meet his fine. But whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks common sense and sound judgment and an understanding of moral principles. He who would destroy
[00:05:17] his soul does it. Wounds and disgrace he will find, and his reproach or blame will not be blotted out. For jealousy enrages the wronged husband. He will not spare the guilty one on the day of vengeance. He will not accept any ransom offered to buy him off from demanding full punishment. Nor will he be satisfied
[00:05:46] though you offer him many gifts or bribes. Thank you for tuning in to the The Audio Bible today. This has been Proverbs chapter 6 from the Word of God.