Proverbs chapter 6

vs 12

It's amazing just how much corruption you can cause with just your mouth! How many crimes can be committed using nothing but your mouth - lots I'd say.

vs 13

But there's more! I'm not sure what winking meant back then. Is it more salacious, or sultry, or suggestive, or any of the above? Conspiratorial? Something we don't use winking for anymore? And how does one signal with their feet? By taking a couple of steps towards something, then looking back meaningfully? At least we all know how to motion with our fingers. I suppose all of these things are suggestive, trying to encourage someone to action. And if you're a troublemaker or a villain, then you're probably encouraging evil.

vs 14

Obviously it's not nice to be one of these people. Solomon makes them sound so awful that you don't want to go near the person. Trouble does breed dissension though. Sometimes trouble follows people around, and when you think about it, perhaps they are doing things that cause it to. I'll raise my hand there.

vs 15

Gasp. Unfortunately, suddenly doesn't mean instantly. It just means without warning.

vs 16

No, he didn't get the count wrong, and no, the first six aren't somehow worse, or the seventh one isn't special. It's a literary device called "counting". It's probably called something better, but I call it counting.

vs 17

How are eyes haughty? I guess the KJV is a little easier to understand here with "A proud look".
Tongue is fairly obvious.
Given God's focus on the innocent and them not being oppressed, the hands are understandable.

vs 18

Again the heart seems to be doing some thinking.
Feet that speed their body into trouble faster might be efficient, but obviously not good.

vs 19

I suppose that's the tongue again, really. But these last two seem to be looking at the whole person, or an aspect of their person - one is a witness who continues to lie. The other is one who stirs up strive and dissension. Interesting that causing such trouble, incitement sort of trouble, is so frowned upon in Proverbs. There's a strong sense of community responsibility and the value of the community not being disturbed.

vs 20

Once again, listen up. The inclusion of the mother here is also important. Both have a role in the education of the child with regards to wisdom.

vs 21

And again. This is an interesting reference to the shema.

vs 22

I just want to mention again the importance of the fact that wisdom is something that guides. It is not simply knowledge that is gained. It actually leads to a change in what you do, in the path you follow. To quote The Matrix, "There is a difference between knowing the path, and walking the path." I want to see that again now. I bet Dave has it on DVD...

vs 23

I think he's talking about this teaching he's about to give in particular, and the importance and value of its instruction. It gets repeated a fair bit in Proverbs, if I remember rightly.

vs 24

Yes, the woman here is painted, at least in the second phrase, as the tempter. But I think then you could read the first phrase as the man tempting his neighbour's wife. The subtle repetition of the idea between the two verses could be that distinct I think. Anyway, this is the wisdom about which Solomon thinks is so bright and necessary to lead your paths straight.