The Proverbs of Solomon: Chap. 6:12-19

Proverbs 6:12‑19  •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 9
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Simon Patrick on the Proverbs 1683
12. "A naughty person, a Wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth." By which means thou mayest be tempted to become the worst of men, a perfect shark, void of all faith and honesty: whose mouth never speaks a word of truth; but makes it his business by lies, or flatteries, or slanders, or perjuries, to maintain himself in his idle courses.
13. "He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers." His very eyes are instruments of deceit, or mischief; for he makes signs with them to his companions, when they are to play their pranks: or if that be too broad, he secretly treads upon their toes; or signifies his mind by the motion of his fingers; for every part of him is employed to make his wicked meaning understood.
14. "Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he sowed: discord." How should it be other ways, when his heart is a shop, furnished with nothing but all manner of perverse inclinations; which are perpetually at work to contrive some mischief or other: and (if they can do nothing else) by casting suspicions into men’s minds one of another, to stir up hatred, dissention, strife, brawling, law suits, and all manner of discord; which are the destruction of families and kingdoms.
15. "Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy." And shall prove his own utter ruin; which, for this very cause, shall sooner than he thinks of in a terrible manner come upon him: when he fancies he hath carried his matters so cunningly, that nobody discerns his villainy, he shall on a sudden be looked upon as the pest of mankind; and, like a vessel broken into little bits, be incurably undone.
16. "These six things cloth the Lord hate; yea, seven are an abomination unto Him." For among offenses of this kind, nothing is more odious to the Lord (who is the dispenser of rewards and punishments) nothing more opposite to the Divine Nature, and which He more severely punishes, than these six or seven things; which are commonly found in such loose companions, as I have now described.
17. "A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood." First, pride and haughtiness of spirit; which swelling a man with a vain opinion of himself, make him contemn all others, and overlook them as below his notice. Secondly, falsehood, or treachery; which stick not at any lies, or flatteries, or calumnies. And thirdly, a violent, cruel disposition; which makes a man rather embrue [soak] his hands in the blood even of an innocent person, than not have him removed, who stands in the way of his designs.
18. "A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief" To which add the fountain of all these, and of those that follow, a mind that studies nothing but how by fraud or force (though never so injurious to others) to satisfy some desire of pleasure, covetousness, or revenge: which produces three other abominable vices. First, forwardness to execute such mischievous intentions and desires cheerfully, without any check or delay.
19. "A false witness than speaketh lies. and he that soweth discord wrong brethren." Secondly, an atheistical impudence, which makes a man in open court (when he is upon his oath) testify any falsehood against his neighbor; and lastly, such malicious envy, as loves to make the dearest friends fall out; and takes pleasure to see those at variance, who ought to be most closely united in brotherly affection.