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 collateral for your neighbor, if you have struck your 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 trapped by the words of your mouth. You are ensnared 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 deliver yourself, since you have come into the hand of your neighbor. Go, humble yourself. Press your plea with your neighbor.

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.

Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare 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 bread 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 sleep, 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—

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 your poverty will come as a robber, and your scarcity as 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 man of iniquity, is he who 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.

who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, who motions 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.

in whose heart is perverseness, who devises evil continually, who always 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 will come suddenly. He will be broken suddenly, and that without remedy.

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

There are six things which Yahweh hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him:

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

haughty eyes, 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 schemes, feet that are swift in running to mischief,

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

a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.

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 don’t forsake your mother’s teaching.

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

Bind them continually on 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 walk, it will lead you. When you sleep, it will watch over you. When you awake, it will 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 law is 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 immoral woman, from the flattery of the wayward wife’s tongue.

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

Don’t lust after her beauty in your heart, neither let her captivate 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 a prostitute reduces you to a piece of bread. The adulteress hunts for your precious life.

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

Can a man scoop fire into his lap, and his clothes not be burned?

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

Or can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be scorched?

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 not be unpunished.

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

Men don’t 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, he shall restore seven times. He shall give all the wealth 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.

He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding. He who does it destroys his own soul.

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

He will get wounds and dishonor. 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 arouses the fury of the husband. He won’t 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 won’t regard any ransom, neither will he rest content, though you give many gifts.