Proverbs 6:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.

NIV: Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

NASB: Therefore his disaster will come suddenly; Instantly he will be broken and there will be no healing.

CSB: Therefore calamity will strike him suddenly; he will be shattered instantly, beyond recovery.

NLT: But they will be destroyed suddenly, broken in an instant beyond all hope of healing.

KJV: Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

NKJV: Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.

Solomon assures his son worthless, wicked people (Proverbs 6:12–14) cannot go on forever in their attempts to deceive and disrupt others. God takes notice of those evil thoughts and actions, and eventually brings judgment. This judgment will be sudden and decisive. His punishment will be full and irreversible. In at least one sense, this is guaranteed for all people; those who reject God in this life will suffer eternal destruction in the next (Revelation 22:14–15). Even in mortal life, sins like deception put a person at risk for catastrophic consequences.

When Paul mentions Alexander the coppersmith as having caused him so much trouble, he predicts, "The Lord will repay him according to his deeds" (2 Timothy 4:14). During Israel's desert wanderings, Korah led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron. He assembled many Israelites in opposition to Moses and Aaron, but his attempt to sow discord and depose Moses and Aaron stirred up the Lord's anger. He told Moses and Aaron, "Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment" (Numbers 16:21). Before long, the earth split open and swallowed the rebels, their households, all the people who belonged to Korah, and all their goods (Numbers 16:32). They went down alive to sheol and the earth closed over them (Numbers 16:33). Those who cause trouble among God's people are destined to be the targets of reciprocal trouble.

Proverbs 6:12–19 focuses on those who create unnecessary strife. These people are described as "worthless," "crooked," and associated with a list of actions and attitudes which God hates. Just as those who are lazy are at risk of sudden financial ruin (Proverbs 6:6–11), those who are corrupt are subject to sudden judgment. This passage uses a pattern common to books like Proverbs, giving a number for a list and then adding one more (Job 5:19; Proverbs 30:21). This is mostly a poetic flair, but sometimes highlights the last item as especially important. In this case, the last point is about those who create division, which is the common theme of the previous six ideas. In contrast, Matthew 5:1–12 describes God's blessings on those who are righteous.

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.