1 M y son, if you have become security for your neighbor, if you have given your pledge for a stranger or another,

My son, if you have become security for your neighbor, if you have given your pledge for a stranger or another,

2 Y ou are snared with the words of your lips, you are caught by the speech of your mouth.

You are snared with the words of your lips, you are caught by the speech of your mouth.

3 D o this now, my son, and deliver yourself when you have put yourself into the power of your neighbor; go, bestir and humble yourself, and beg your neighbor.

Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself when you have put yourself into the power of your neighbor; go, bestir and humble yourself, and beg your neighbor.

4 G ive not sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids;

Give not sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids;

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

Deliver yourself, as a roe or gazelle from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6 G o to the ant, you sluggard; consider her ways and be wise!—

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider her ways and be wise!—

7 W hich, having no chief, overseer, or ruler,

Which, having no chief, overseer, or ruler,

8 P rovides her food in the summer and gathers her supplies in the harvest.

Provides her food in the summer and gathers her supplies in the harvest.

9 H ow long will you sleep, O sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep?

How long will you sleep, O sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep?

10 Y et a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to lie down and sleep—

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to lie down and sleep—

11 S o will your poverty come like a robber or one who travels and your want like an armed man.

So will your poverty come like a robber or one who travels and your want like an armed man.

12 A worthless person, a wicked man, is he who goes about with a perverse (contrary, wayward) mouth.

A worthless person, a wicked man, is he who goes about with a perverse (contrary, wayward) mouth.

13 H e winks with his eyes, he speaks by shuffling or tapping with his feet, he makes signs and teaches with his fingers.

He winks with his eyes, he speaks by shuffling or tapping with his feet, he makes signs and teaches with his fingers.

14 W illful and contrary in his heart, he devises trouble, vexation, and evil continually; he lets loose discord and sows it.

Willful and contrary in his heart, he devises trouble, vexation, and evil continually; he lets loose discord and sows it.

15 T herefore upon him shall the crushing weight of calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken, and that without remedy.

Therefore upon him shall the crushing weight of calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken, and that without remedy.

16 T hese six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him:

These six things the Lord hates, indeed, seven are an abomination to Him:

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

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

18 A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil,

A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil,

19 A false witness who breathes out lies, and he who sows discord among his brethren.

A false witness who breathes out lies, and he who sows discord among his brethren.

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

My son, keep your father’s commandment and forsake not the law of your mother.

21 B ind them continually upon your heart and tie them about your neck.

Bind them continually upon your heart and tie them about your neck.

22 W hen you go, they shall lead you; when you sleep, they shall keep you; and when you waken, they shall talk with you.

When you go, they shall lead you; when you sleep, they shall keep you; and when you waken, they shall talk with you.

23 F or the commandment is a lamp, and the whole teaching is light, and reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

For the commandment is a lamp, and the whole teaching is light, and reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

24 T o keep you from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a loose woman.

To keep you from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a loose woman.

25 L ust not after her beauty in your heart, neither let her capture you with her eyelids.

Lust not after her beauty in your heart, neither let her capture you with her eyelids.

26 F or on account of a harlot a man is brought to a piece of bread, and the adulteress stalks and snares the precious life.

For on account of a harlot a man is brought to a piece of bread, and the adulteress stalks and snares the precious life.

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

Can 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?

Can one go upon hot coals and his feet not be burned?

29 S o he who cohabits with his neighbor’s wife; he who touches her shall not be innocent or go unpunished.

So he who cohabits with his neighbor’s wife; he who touches her shall not be innocent or go unpunished.

30 M en do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry;

Men do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry;

31 B ut if he is found out, he must restore seven times; he must give the whole substance of his house.

But if he is found out, he must restore seven times; he must give the whole substance of his house.

32 B ut whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks heart and understanding (moral principle and prudence); he who does it is destroying his own life.

But whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks heart and understanding (moral principle and prudence); he who does it is destroying his own life.

33 W ounds and disgrace will he get, and his reproach will not be wiped away.

Wounds and disgrace will he get, and his reproach will not be wiped away.

34 F or jealousy makes man furious; therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

For jealousy makes man furious; therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

35 H e will not consider any ransom; neither will he be satisfied, though you offer him many gifts and bribes.

He will not consider any ransom; neither will he be satisfied, though you offer him many gifts and bribes.