Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? (Proverbs 6:27)

Does this Proverb really need much embellishment or explanation?  I don't think so.  To me, this is an example of the Proverbs at their best: graphic, visceral, forceful, provocative, witty, and wise.  They don't really need my help to be understood or appreciated.

Can a man scoop fire?

Fire is one of the most powerful images known to mankind.  We revere it, and we fear it.  It's fascinating to watch but horrible to be handled directly.  Red, hot, burning, blistering flames and embers... smoldering and singeing us if we get too close to it, or if it gets too close to us.  Of course a man cannot scoop fire!  It's good stuff -- useful and enjoyable in its proper context -- but it's dangerous stuff, if it's mishandled.  And one of the surest ways to mishandle it is to try and scoop it directly towards you without the proper protection.  Especially if your scooping it into an, umm... well, sensitive area.

Into his lap?

Can you believe the Bible actually goes there?!?  The sixth chapter of the Proverbs is all about the dangers of innappropriate sexuality -- but this particular image takes it to a dramatically direct level.  We're not just talking about scooping fire here; we're talking about scooping fire into a man's lap!  The most private, most sensitive, most vulnerable part of a person -- where it's intensely painful and intensely damaging to be scalded, singed, or burned.  Scooping fire towards you is a dumb thing to do no matter what, but to do it directly towards one's lap is just plain ridiculous.  We all know better than that... or at least we should.

Without his clothes being burned?

Some consequences in life are simply unavoidable.  We can think that the strength of our emotions can provide an exception.  Or we can think that we deserve better.  But the truth is that if a man scoops fire into his lap, he's simply going to get burned.  There's no more interesting back-story than that.  It's just one of those cause-and-effect things.  Fire and sex are simply two of those things that are to be handled respectfully and carefully... and if you were to ever try to argue a different side of things, well then all I can say is "Liar, liar, Pants on fire."