Deliver yourself (1–5). Wicked works will ensnare you (Prov. 5:22), but so will reckless words. You must be careful when you make promises. If you do not learn to say no, you will end up in bondage, and the price will be very high. Better to humble yourself and get free than to let your pride ruin you.
Teach yourself (6–11). Learn from the world of nature (Prov. 30:15–31). The ant makes good use of opportunities to prepare for the future, but the sluggard is aimless and lazy and ends up in poverty. The preacher who used this text was correct when he titled his sermon “Rock-A-Bye, Lullaby, Bye-Bye.”
Guard yourself (12–35). Watch out for the wicked man (vv. 12–19) and the evil woman (vv. 20–35). Hate what God hates and love what God loves and you will enjoy what God enjoys.
The Sluggard
The sluggard likes to sleep (Prov. 6:6–11; 24:30–34) and expects everybody else to serve him (Prov. 12:27; 19:24). He dreams of wealth but ends up poor (Prov. 13:4; 21:25–26). He is good at excuses (Prov. 20:4; 22:13; 26:13–16) but poor at performance (Prov. 10:26). He is not a builder but a destroyer (Prov. 18:9).
