Focused Passage

Proverbs 6:6-11

Wisdom Against Entrapment: Surety, Sloth, Wicked Speech, and Adultery

The chapter moves through five danger zones: financial entrapment, lazy neglect, corrupt character, sins detestable to the LORD, and adulterous desire. It then anchors protection in fatherly and motherly instruction that functions as lamp, light, and corrective way of life.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

6 Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise.

7 Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler,

8 it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest.

9 How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep?

10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,

11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 6

Original words

Walk in the manner of לֵֽךְ־ H1980 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition the ant נְמָלָ֥ה H5244 Noun - feminine singular O slacker עָצֵ֑ל H6102 Adjective - masculine singular observe רְאֵ֖ה H7200 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular its ways דְרָכֶ֣יהָ H1870 Noun - common plural construct | third person feminine singular and become wise וַחֲכָֽם׃ H2449 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Verse 7

Original words

- אֲשֶׁ֖ר H834 Pronoun - relative Without אֵֽין־ H369 Adverb a commander קָצִ֗ין H7101 Noun - masculine singular without an overseer שֹׁטֵ֥ר H7860 Noun - masculine singular or ruler וּמֹשֵֽׁל׃ H4910 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Verse 8

Original words

it prepares תָּכִ֣ין H3559 Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person feminine singular its provisions לַחְמָ֑הּ H3899 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular in summer בַּקַּ֣יִץ H7019 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular it gathers אָגְרָ֥ה H103 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular its food מַאֲכָלָֽהּ׃ H3978 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person feminine singular at harvest בַ֝קָּצִ֗יר H7105 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 9

Original words

How מָתַ֖י H4970 Interrogative long עַד־ H5704 Preposition will you lie there תִּשְׁכָּ֑ב H7901 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular O slacker עָצֵ֥ל׀ H6102 Adjective - masculine singular When מָ֝תַ֗י H4970 Interrogative will you get up תָּק֥וּם H6965 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular from your sleep מִשְּׁנָתֶֽךָ׃ H8142 Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Verse 10

Original words

A little מְעַ֣ט H4592 Adjective - masculine singular construct sleep שֵׁ֭נוֹת H8142 Noun - feminine plural a little מְעַ֣ט H4592 Adjective - masculine singular construct slumber תְּנוּמ֑וֹת H8572 Noun - feminine plural a little מְעַ֓ט׀ H4592 Adjective - masculine singular construct folding חִבֻּ֖ק H2264 Noun - masculine singular construct of the hands יָדַ֣יִם H3027 Noun - fd to rest לִשְׁכָּֽב׃ H7901 Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Verse 11

Original words

and poverty רֵאשֶׁ֑ךָ H7389 Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular will come upon you וּבָֽא־ H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular like a robber כִמְהַלֵּ֥ךְ H1980 Preposition-k | Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular and need וּ֝מַחְסֹֽרְךָ֗ H4270 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular like a bandit כְּאִ֣ישׁ H376 Preposition-k | Noun - masculine singular . . . מָגֵֽן׃פ H4043 Noun - masculine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.