Proverbs 6
1 [My] son, if you become surety for your friend, you shall deliver your hand to an enemy.
My son, suppose you have pledged to guarantee your neighbor's debt, or you have shaken hands in agreement with a stranger,
2 For a man's own lips become a strong snare to him, and he is caught with the lips of his own mouth.
then you've trapped yourself by what you promised, you've been caught by what you said.
3 [My] son, do what I command you, and deliver yourself; for on your friend's account you are come into the power of evil [men]: faint not, but stir up even your friend for whom you are become surety.
So this is what you have to do. You need to get out of it, because you've put yourself in that person's power. Go to your neighbor in all humility and ask him to release you from the commitment.
4 Give not sleep to your eyes, nor slumber with your eyelids;
Don't delay, saying that you'll sleep on it. Don't rest until you've done it.
5 that you may deliver yourself as a doe out of the toils, and as a bird out of a snare.
Get out of it like a gazelle escaping from a trap, like a bird from a bird-catcher's net.
6 Go to the ant, O sluggard; and see, and emulate his ways, and become wiser than he.
Go and observe the ants, you slacker! Learn from what they do and become wise.
7 For whereas he has no husbandry, nor any one to compel him, and is under no master,
They don't have a leader, an officer, or a ruler,
8 he prepares food for himself in the summer, and lays by abundant store in harvest. Or go to the bee, and learn how diligent she is, and how earnestly she is engaged in her work; whose labours kings and private men use for health, and she is desired and respected by all: though weak in body, she is advanced by honouring wisdom.
yet they work hard during the summer getting their food, gathering what they need during the harvest.
9 How long will you lie, O sluggard? and when will you awake out of sleep?
So how long are you going to lie there, you slacker? When are you going to get up from your sleep?
10 You sleep a little, and you rest a little, and you slumber a short [time], and you fold your arms over your breast a little.
You may say, “Please, just a little more sleep, a little longer snooze, a little more folding of the arms to rest”—
11 Then poverty comes upon you as an evil traveller, and lack as a swift courier: but if you be diligent, your harvest shall arrive as a fountain, and poverty shall flee away as a bad courier.
and poverty will attack you like a robber, destitution like an armed warrior.
12 A foolish man and a transgressor goes in ways that are not good.
Rebellious and wicked people go around telling lies,
13 And the same winks with the eye, and makes a sign with his foot, and teaches with the beckonings of his fingers.
winking slyly, giving sneaky foot gestures, rudely pointing with their fingers.
14 [His] perverse heart devises evils: at all times such a one causes troubles to a city.
Their warped minds plot evil schemes; they're always causing trouble.
15 Therefore his destruction shall come suddenly; overthrow and irretrievable ruin.
As a result, disaster falls suddenly on such people; in just a moment they're destroyed without hope of healing.
16 For he rejoices in all things which God hates, and he is ruined by reason of impurity of soul.
There are six things that the Lord hates, seven things that he absolutely detests:
17 The eye of the haughty, a tongue unjust, hands shedding the blood of the just;
arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that murder the innocent,
18 and a heart devising evil thoughts, and feet hastening to do evil, —[are hateful to God].
a mind that plots evil schemes, feet that hurriedly run to do wrong,
19 An unjust witness kindles falsehoods, and brings on quarrels between brethren.
a false witness that speaks lies, those who caused arguments in families.
20 [My] son, keep the laws of your father, and reject not the ordinances of your mother:
My son, pay attention to your father's instruction, and don't reject your mother's teaching.
21 but bind them upon your soul continually, and hang them as a chain about your neck.
Keep them always in mind. Tie them around your neck.
22 Whenever you walk, lead this along and let it be with you; that it may talk with you when you wake.
They will lead you as you walk along; they will watch over you as you sleep; when you wake up they will talk with you.
23 For the commandment of the law is a lamp and a light; a way of life; reproof also and correction:
For the instruction is a lamp, and the teaching is a light. The correction that comes from discipline is the way to life.
24 to keep you continually from a married woman, and from the calumny of a strange tongue.
It will protect you from an evil woman and the seductive words of a prostitute.
25 Let not the desire of beauty overcome you, neither be you caught by your eyes, neither be captivated with her eyelids.
Don't let your mind lust after her beauty, or let her hypnotize you with her fluttering eyelashes.
26 For the value of a harlot is as much as of one loaf; and a woman hunts for the precious souls of men.
You can buy a prostitute for the price of a loaf of bread, but adultery with another man's wife can cost you your life.
27 Shall any one bind fire in his bosom, and not burn his garments?
Can you put fire in your lap and not burn your clothes?
28 or will any one walk on coals of fire, and not burn his feet?
Can you walk on hot coals and not scorch your feet?
29 So is he that goes in to a married woman; he shall not be held guiltless, neither any one that touches her.
It's the same for anyone who sleeps with another man's wife. No one who touches her will remain unpunished.
30 It is not to be wondered at if one should be taken stealing, for he steals that when hungry he may satisfy his soul:
People don't condemn a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he's hungry.
31 but if he should be taken, he shall repay sevenfold, and shall deliver himself by giving all his goods.
But if he's caught, he has to pay back seven times what he stole, even if it means handing over everything he has in his house.
32 But the adulterer through lack of sense procures destruction to his soul.
Any man who commits adultery with a woman has no sense; he who does so destroys himself.
33 He endures both pain and disgrace, and his reproach shall never be wiped off.
He will be wounded and dishonored. His disgrace will never be removed.
34 For the soul of her husband is full of jealousy: he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
For jealousy makes a husband furious, and he won't hold back when he takes revenge.
35 He will not forego [his] enmity for any ransom: neither will he be reconciled for many gifts.
He refuses any compensation, and won't be paid off, however big the amount.
