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 become surety for your friend, If you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,

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

You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words 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.

So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; For you have come into the hand of your friend: Go and humble yourself; Plead with your friend.

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

Give no 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 like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, And like a bird from the hand of the fowler. The Folly of Indolence

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 captain, Overseer or ruler,

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

Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest.

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

How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?

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

A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep—

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

So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man. The Wicked 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, Walks with a perverse 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 shuffles his feet, He points 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.

Perversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, He sows discord.

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

Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.

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

These six things the Lord hates, Yes, 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, 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 devises wicked 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 speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. Beware of Adultery

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

My son, keep your father’s command, And do not forsake 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; Tie them around 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 roam, they will lead you; When you sleep, they will keep you; And when you awake, they will speak 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 law a light; Reproofs of instruction 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 flattering tongue of a seductress.

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

Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, Nor let her allure 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 by means of a harlot A man is reduced to a crust of bread; And an adulteress will prey upon his precious life.

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

Can a man take fire to his bosom, And his clothes not be burned?

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

Can one walk on hot coals, And his feet not be seared?

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

So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; Whoever touches her shall not be innocent.

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

People do not despise a thief If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving.

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

Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold; He may have to give up all the 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.

Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul.

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

Wounds and dishonor he will 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 is a husband’s fury; 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 accept no recompense, Nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts.