Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.
The first seven chapters of Proverbs plead with people to heed instruction and choose wisdom as the path of life, and the verse calls for urgent, unceasing attention to wisdom rather than delay or neglect. In its warning about going surety for another person's debt, it pictures immediate, persistent effort to escape the obligation, giving the eyes no sleep or rest until free. Going surety is not a harmless formality, for the guarantor may have to pay the full debt and lose property needed to support his own family, so he should consider beforehand whether he can afford and is willing to bear that loss, since ignoring the warning can bring lasting hardship and want. This applies to a father pressed to guarantee another man's loan despite feeling socially obliged to sign.
The verse expresses urgent, tireless action to repent and rebuild the family altar, giving oneself no rest until it is restored and kept from being broken down again. It urges earnest, unceasing effort not to rest until one can say the Lord is one's own, which means continuing to receive truth as light is given on important points until that assurance is reached. It teaches that a person should not rest until they have learned and followed God's will, which applied to the Sabbath question calls for urgent, earnest investigation of whether Sunday-keeping conflicts with God's commandment rather than remaining indifferent while uncertain about obedience. It expresses urgent, persistent effort to seek God through prayer and confession when the joy of salvation has been lost, not resting until the Saviour's presence brings thanksgiving and renewed joy.
The verse expresses an urgent, sleepless resolve not to rest until a wrong is put right, applied to restoring stolen money to employers. It teaches urgency and persistence not to give oneself rest until necessary work is done, applied to finishing the day's work before sleeping so unfinished duties do not remain to burden the mind. Its words also describe people who overwork and overeat until they cannot sleep, warning that lack of regular rest can leave them physically wrecked and unable to continue toward their goals, so sleep is necessary for health and strength and food intake should correspond to the amount of sleep.
The first seven chapters of Proverbs plead with people to heed instruction and choose wisdom as the path of life, and the verse calls for urgent, unceasing attention to wisdom rather than delay or neglect. In its warning about going surety for another person's debt, it pictures immediate, persistent effort to escape the obligation, giving the eyes no sleep or rest until free. Going surety is not a harmless formality, for the guarantor may have to pay the full debt and lose property needed to support his own family, so he should consider beforehand whether he can afford and is willing to bear that loss, since ignoring the warning can bring lasting hardship and want. This applies to a father pressed to guarantee another man's loan despite feeling socially obliged to sign.
The verse expresses urgent, tireless action to repent and rebuild the family altar, giving oneself no rest until it is restored and kept from being broken down again. It urges earnest, unceasing effort not to rest until one can say the Lord is one's own, which means continuing to receive truth as light is given on important points until that assurance is reached. It teaches that a person should not rest until they have learned and followed God's will, which applied to the Sabbath question calls for urgent, earnest investigation of whether Sunday-keeping conflicts with God's commandment rather than remaining indifferent while uncertain about obedience. It expresses urgent, persistent effort to seek God through prayer and confession when the joy of salvation has been lost, not resting until the Saviour's presence brings thanksgiving and renewed joy.
The verse expresses an urgent, sleepless resolve not to rest until a wrong is put right, applied to restoring stolen money to employers. It teaches urgency and persistence not to give oneself rest until necessary work is done, applied to finishing the day's work before sleeping so unfinished duties do not remain to burden the mind. Its words also describe people who overwork and overeat until they cannot sleep, warning that lack of regular rest can leave them physically wrecked and unable to continue toward their goals, so sleep is necessary for health and strength and food intake should correspond to the amount of sleep.