1 M y son, if thou art become surety for thy neighbor, If thou hast stricken thy hands for a stranger;

My 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.

thou 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, Seeing thou art come into the hand of thy neighbor: Go, humble thyself, and importune thy neighbor;

Do 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;

Give 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.

Deliver 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:

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

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

which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

8 P rovideth her bread in the summer, And gathereth her food in the harvest.

provideth 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?

How 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:

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

11 S o shall thy poverty come as a robber, And thy want as an armed man.

so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

12 A worthless person, a man of iniquity, Is he that walketh with a perverse mouth;

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

13 T hat winketh with his eyes, that speaketh with his feet, That maketh signs with his fingers;

He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;

14 I n whose heart is perverseness, Who deviseth evil continually, Who soweth discord.

frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

15 T herefore shall his calamity come suddenly; On a sudden shall he be broken, and that without remedy.

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

16 T here are six things which Jehovah hateth; Yea, seven which are an abomination unto him:

These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17 H aughty eyes, 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 deviseth wicked purposes, Feet that are swift in running to mischief,

an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that uttereth lies, And he that soweth discord among brethren.

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

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

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

21 B ind them continually upon thy heart; Tie them about thy neck.

bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

22 W hen thou walkest, it shall lead thee; When thou sleepest, it shall watch over thee; And when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

When 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:

For 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 foreigner's tongue.

to keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

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

Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

26 F or on account of a harlot a man is brought to a piece of bread; And the adulteress hunteth for the precious life.

For 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?

Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

28 O r can one walk upon hot coals, And his feet not be scorched?

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

29 S o he that goeth in to his neighbor's wife; Whosoever toucheth her shall not be unpunished.

So 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 himself when he is hungry:

Men 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.

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

32 H e that committeth adultery with a woman is void of understanding: He doeth it who would destroy his own soul.

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

33 W ounds and dishonor shall he get; And his reproach shall not be wiped away.

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; And he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

For 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.

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