The wise man advises that if you have shaken hands in a pledge with a stranger, you may find yourself trapped by the words of your mouth, as stated in Proverbs 6:1-2. Therefore, be wise in your business dealings: work diligently and exercise caution when selecting business partners. Furthermore, remain alert to the signs of foolishness displayed by untrustworthy individuals, and avoid depending on them in any venture. 

There have been times when I have entered into agreements and later realized they were mistakes. God advises that if you find yourself in such a situation, do everything you can to withdraw from that agreement. Verse 3 advises that if you’ve made an unwise business deal, it’s wise to free yourself from it. Humble yourself and plead with your friend if necessary. 

There is also great wisdom in observing diligence, as demonstrated by the ants in nature (Prov. 6:6-11). Ants work diligently without a boss overseeing them, gathering food in the summer and storing it for the harvest. Do you know anyone who is a lazy sluggard? Learn from your experiences! The sluggard should take note of the ant’s instinct to overcome laziness!! 

In verses 12-19, we can see characteristics of the wicked man. The Lord lists six things that He hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 

It is essential to note the strong language used in the Proverbs, such as “hate” and “abomination.” Society often teaches that, since God is so loving, He accepts us regardless of our behavior. However, the wisdom literature emphasizes that God “hates” wickedness, and the behaviors mentioned in verses 16-19 are detestable to Him. We should be mindful of such strong terms and reflect on whether any of these characteristics are present in our own lives. If God hates something, it will be equally abominable in my life as it is in the most wicked person. 

While we may associate heinous crimes, such as murder, torture, etc., with being detestable, remember that prideful attitudes, lying tongues, etc., are also among the things God hates. Even stirring up discord among brethren is something the Lord despises, so remain vigilant against such behaviors. 

Let us use wisdom in our daily lives and strive to be, as Jesus says, “wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matt. 10:16, New King James Version). Being a child of God does not equate to weakness. On the contrary, we are called to possess strong moral character and actually to live out the faith we profess (Prov. 6:20-35; Matt. 27-30)!!! Jesus beckons us toward a higher calling, but so much of His teaching aligns perfectly with the principles found in this chapter. 

May God bless us to be prudent in our business dealings, diligent in our responsibilities, and to avoid any/all associations that could lead us into trouble.