Proverbs 6
1 My son, if thou hast become surety for another, If thou hast stricken hands for another,
My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger,
2 If thou hast become ensnared by the words of thy mouth, If thou hast been caught by the words of thy mouth,
if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth,
3 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!
then do this, my son, to free yourself, for you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go, humble yourself, and press your plea with your neighbor.
4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids;
Allow no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids.
5 Rescue thyself, as a roe from the hand, And as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
6 Go to the ant, O sluggard! Consider her ways, and be wise!
Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise.
7 She hath no governor, Nor overseer, nor ruler;
Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler,
8 Yet she prepareth in the summer her food, She gathereth in the harvest her meat.
it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest.
9 How long wilt thou lie in bed, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise from thy sleep?
How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep?
10 “A little sleep, —a little slumber, —A little folding of the hands to rest:”
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
11 So shall thy poverty come upon thee like a robber, Yea, thy want, as an armed man!
and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.
12 A worthless wretch is the unrighteous man, Who walketh with a deceitful mouth;
A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth,
13 Who winketh with his eyes, Speaketh with his feet, And teacheth with his fingers.
winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers.
14 Fraud is in his heart; He deviseth mischief continually; He scattereth contentions.
With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord.
15 Therefore shall calamity come upon him suddenly; In a moment shall he be destroyed, and that without remedy;
Therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in an instant he will be shattered beyond recovery.
16 These six things doth the LORD hate; Yea, seven are an abomination to him:
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him:
17 Lofty eyes, a false tongue, And hands which shed innocent blood;
haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that contriveth wicked devices; Feet that are swift in running to mischief,
a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil,
19 A false witness, that uttereth lies, And him that soweth discord among brethren.
a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.
20 Keep, O my son! the commandment of thy father, And forsake not the precepts of thy mother!
My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
21 Bind them continually to thy heart, Tie them around thy neck!
Bind them always upon your heart; tie them around your neck.
22 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.
When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 For the commandment is a lamp, and instruction a light; Yea, the rebukes of correction lead to life.
For this commandment is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way to life,
24 They shall guard thee from the evil woman, From the smooth tongue of the unchaste woman.
to keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.
25 Desire not her beauty in thy heart, Nor let her catch thee with her eyelids;
Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.
26 For by a harlot a man is brought to a morsel of bread, And the adulteress layeth snares for the precious life.
For the levy of the prostitute is poverty, and the adulteress preys upon your very life.
27 Can a man take fire into his bosom, And his clothes not be burned?
Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned?
28 Can one walk upon burning coals, And his feet not be scorched?
Can a man walk on hot coals without scorching his feet?
29 So is it with him who goeth in to his neighbor's wife; Whoever toucheth her shall not go unpunished.
So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.
30 Men do not overlook a thief, Though he steal to satisfy his appetite, when he is hungry;
Men do not despise the thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger.
31 If found, he must repay sevenfold, And give up all the substance of his house.
Yet if caught, he must pay sevenfold; he must give up all the wealth of his house.
32 Whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding; He that doeth it destroyeth himself;
He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.
33 Blows and dishonor shall he get, And his reproach shall not be wiped away.
Wounds and dishonor will befall him, and his reproach will never be wiped away.
34 For jealousy is the fury of a man; He will not spare in the day of vengeance;
For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy in the day of vengeance.
35 And he will not pay regard to any ransom, Nor be content, though thou offer many gifts.
He will not be appeased by any ransom, or persuaded by lavish gifts.
