Proverbs 6
1 My son, suppose you have pledged to guarantee your neighbor's debt, or you have shaken hands in agreement with a stranger,
My son, if thou hast become surety for another, If thou hast stricken hands for another,
2 then you've trapped yourself by what you promised, you've been caught by what you said.
If thou hast become ensnared by the words of thy mouth, If thou hast been caught by the words of thy mouth,
3 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.
Do this now, my son, and rescue thyself, —Since thou hast fallen into the hands of thy neighbor, —Go, prostrate thyself, and be urgent with thy neighbor!
4 Don't delay, saying that you'll sleep on it. Don't rest until you've done it.
Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids;
5 Get out of it like a gazelle escaping from a trap, like a bird from a bird-catcher's net.
Rescue thyself, as a roe from the hand, And as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 Go and observe the ants, you slacker! Learn from what they do and become wise.
Go to the ant, O sluggard! Consider her ways, and be wise!
7 They don't have a leader, an officer, or a ruler,
She hath no governor, Nor overseer, nor ruler;
8 yet they work hard during the summer getting their food, gathering what they need during the harvest.
Yet she prepareth in the summer her food, She gathereth in the harvest her meat.
9 So how long are you going to lie there, you slacker? When are you going to get up from your sleep?
How long wilt thou lie in bed, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise from thy sleep?
10 You may say, “Please, just a little more sleep, a little longer snooze, a little more folding of the arms to rest”—
“A little sleep, —a little slumber, —A little folding of the hands to rest:”
11 and poverty will attack you like a robber, destitution like an armed warrior.
So shall thy poverty come upon thee like a robber, Yea, thy want, as an armed man!
12 Rebellious and wicked people go around telling lies,
A worthless wretch is the unrighteous man, Who walketh with a deceitful mouth;
13 winking slyly, giving sneaky foot gestures, rudely pointing with their fingers.
Who winketh with his eyes, Speaketh with his feet, And teacheth with his fingers.
14 Their warped minds plot evil schemes; they're always causing trouble.
Fraud is in his heart; He deviseth mischief continually; He scattereth contentions.
15 As a result, disaster falls suddenly on such people; in just a moment they're destroyed without hope of healing.
Therefore shall calamity come upon him suddenly; In a moment shall he be destroyed, and that without remedy;
16 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven things that he absolutely detests:
These six things doth the LORD hate; Yea, seven are an abomination to him:
17 arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that murder the innocent,
Lofty eyes, a false tongue, And hands which shed innocent blood;
18 a mind that plots evil schemes, feet that hurriedly run to do wrong,
A heart that contriveth wicked devices; Feet that are swift in running to mischief,
19 a false witness that speaks lies, those who caused arguments in families.
A false witness, that uttereth lies, And him that soweth discord among brethren.
20 My son, pay attention to your father's instruction, and don't reject your mother's teaching.
Keep, O my son! the commandment of thy father, And forsake not the precepts of thy mother!
21 Keep them always in mind. Tie them around your neck.
Bind them continually to thy heart, Tie them around thy neck!
22 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.
When thou goest forth, they shall guide thee; When thou sleepest, they shall watch over thee; And, when thou awakest, they shall talk with thee.
23 For the instruction is a lamp, and the teaching is a light. The correction that comes from discipline is the way to life.
For the commandment is a lamp, and instruction a light; Yea, the rebukes of correction lead to life.
24 It will protect you from an evil woman and the seductive words of a prostitute.
They shall guard thee from the evil woman, From the smooth tongue of the unchaste woman.
25 Don't let your mind lust after her beauty, or let her hypnotize you with her fluttering eyelashes.
Desire not her beauty in thy heart, Nor let her catch thee with her eyelids;
26 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.
For by a harlot a man is brought to a morsel of bread, And the adulteress layeth snares for the precious life.
27 Can you put fire in your lap and not burn your clothes?
Can a man take fire into his bosom, And his clothes not be burned?
28 Can you walk on hot coals and not scorch your feet?
Can one walk upon burning coals, And his feet not be scorched?
29 It's the same for anyone who sleeps with another man's wife. No one who touches her will remain unpunished.
So is it with him who goeth in to his neighbor's wife; Whoever toucheth her shall not go unpunished.
30 People don't condemn a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he's hungry.
Men do not overlook a thief, Though he steal to satisfy his appetite, when he is hungry;
31 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.
If found, he must repay sevenfold, And give up all the substance of his house.
32 Any man who commits adultery with a woman has no sense; he who does so destroys himself.
Whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding; He that doeth it destroyeth himself;
33 He will be wounded and dishonored. His disgrace will never be removed.
Blows and dishonor shall he get, And his reproach shall not be wiped away.
34 For jealousy makes a husband furious, and he won't hold back when he takes revenge.
For jealousy is the fury of a man; He will not spare in the day of vengeance;
35 He refuses any compensation, and won't be paid off, however big the amount.
And he will not pay regard to any ransom, Nor be content, though thou offer many gifts.
