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 put yourself as a trust for what your neighbor owes to another, or if you have made a promise for a stranger,

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

you have been trapped with the words of your lips. You have been caught with 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.

Do this now, my son, and get yourself out of trouble, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor. Go without pride and beg your neighbor to let you go.

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

Do not let your eyes sleep. Do not let your eyes close.

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.

Take yourself away like a deer from the man who kills animals, and like a bird from the hand of the man who catches birds.

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

Go to the ant, O lazy person. Watch and think about her ways, and be wise.

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

She has no leader, head or ruler,

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

but she gets her food ready in the summer, and gathers her food at the right time.

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

How long will you lie down, O lazy person? When will you rise up 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 rest, a little folding of the hands to rest,

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

and being poor will come upon you like a robber, and your need like a man ready to fight.

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

A person of no worth, a sinful man, is he who goes about telling lies.

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, makes signs with his feet, and makes certain moves 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.

He always plans to do sinful things because of his sinful heart. He causes arguing among people.

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

So trouble will come upon him all at once. Right then he will be broken, and there will be no healing.

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

There are six things which the Lord hates, yes, seven that are hated by Him:

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

A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that kill those who are without guilt,

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

a heart that makes sinful plans, feet that run fast to sin,

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

a person who tells lies about someone else, and one who starts fights among brothers.

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

My son, keep the teaching of your father, and do not turn away from the teaching of your mother.

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

Hold them always to 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.

They will lead you when you walk. They will watch over you when you sleep, and they will talk with you when you wake up.

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 word is a lamp. The teaching is a light, and strong words that punish are the way of life.

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

They keep you from the sinful woman, from the smooth tongue of a sinful woman.

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

Do not desire her beauty in your heart. Do not let her catch you with her eyes.

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 because of a woman who sells the use of her body, one is brought down to a loaf of bread. A sinful woman hunts to take a man’s very life.

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

Can a man carry fire in his arms, and his clothes not be burned?

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

Can a man walk on 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 is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife. Whoever touches her will be punished.

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

Men do not hate a robber who steals food for 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 caught, he must pay seven times what he took. He must give up all the things in 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.

He who does sex sins with a woman does not think well. He who does it is destroying himself.

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

He will be hurt and ashamed, and his shame will not be taken away.

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

Jealousy makes a man angry. He will show no pity for the wrong that was done to him.

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

He will not take pay, and he will not be happy even if you give him many gifts.