Proverbs 6:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber;

NIV: Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids.

NASB: Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids;

CSB: Don’t give sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids.

NLT: Don’t put it off; do it now! Don’t rest until you do.

KJV: Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

NKJV: Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids.

When someone is obligated to a bad lending arrangement, having cosigned for someone unreliable or for an excessive amount of interest, Solomon urges swift action. He urges his son not to sleep or slumber until he resolves the issue of being the cosigner (Proverbs 6:1–3). In other words, he should not let a night pass before seeking to be released from the loan. The risks associated with such a promise are too dire to leave unresolved.

The Bible applies a similar sense of urgency to the matter of salvation. Procrastination should not be considered when God calls upon a sinner to be saved. Proverbs 27:1 states "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring." Second Corinthians 6:2 states: "Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." Also, Hebrews 4:7 says, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts" as in the time of Israel's refusal to believe God during the wilderness wanderings.

Jesus told the story of a rich man who died and went to hell. He wanted Abraham to send Lazarus to his five brothers to warn them not to end up in hell (Luke 16:22–31).

Proverbs 6:1–5 is the first of two teachings on good financial health in this chapter of Proverbs. This passage refers to using one's own property as collateral, especially for someone else's loan. The emphasis seems to be on a situation where one has cosigned on high-interest or risky borrowing, on behalf of another person. The book of Proverbs often discourages this kind of gamble (Proverbs 17:18; 22:26–27). Solomon's advice for those caught in such an arrangement is to immediately seek resolution: remove yourself from that situation without delay. Exodus 22:25–27 and Leviticus 25:35–37 are companion texts regarding lending money. The next passage considers another aspect of money management: avoiding laziness.

This chapter provides teaching on two aspects of wealth management. The first is avoiding putting one's property in debt for the sake of some other person's risky investment. The other warns against laziness, indicating that it puts a person at risk for sudden ruin. Solomon then poetically explains attitudes and actions which God finds especially repulsive. Next, Solomon returns to the subject of adultery. He reiterates the inherent risks of sexual immorality, including the catastrophic consequences which it brings. That lesson continues into the following chapter.

This chapter of Proverbs continues the wise sayings Solomon addresses to his son. In chapter 5 he addresses adultery and marriage. In this chapter he addresses financial matters, work ethics, characteristics and conduct the Lord despises, and sexual immorality. A common theme of these lessons is to avoid the natural consequences of foolish choices. The next chapter describes the adulteress's ways and the pitfalls involved in committing adultery with her.

Proverbs is best understood in context with the books of Ecclesiastes and Job. In Proverbs, “wisdom” is given in short, simple, general terms. Ecclesiastes represents wisdom based on observation and experience. This often shows how the general principles of the book of Proverbs don’t apply in absolutely every circumstance. Job represents wisdom based on the experience of suffering and injustice. All three come to the conclusion that God does indeed know best, and the most sensible course of action is to follow His will.