1 M y son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,

2 t hou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

3 D o this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

4 G ive not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

5 D eliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6 G o to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

7 w hich having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

8 p rovideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

9 H ow long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

10 Y et a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

11 s o shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

12 A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.

13 H e winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;

14 f rowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

15 T herefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

16 T hese six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17 a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 a n heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

20 M y son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

21 b ind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

22 W hen thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

23 F or the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

24 t o keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

25 L ust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

26 F or by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.

27 C an a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

28 C an one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?

29 S o he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.

30 M en do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;

31 b ut if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

32 B ut whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.

33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.

34 F or jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

35 H e will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.