1 ¶ My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with 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, for thou hast fallen into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, for thou hast fallen 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 E scape as a roe from the hand of the hunter and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

Escape as a roe from the hand of the hunter and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6 ¶ Go 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 ho having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

Who having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

8 p rovides her food in the summer and gathers her food in the harvest.

provides her food in the summer and gathers 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 one that travels and thy want as an armed man.

So shall thy poverty come as one that travels and thy want as an armed man.

12 ¶ A wicked man of Belial walks with a perverse mouth.

¶ A wicked man of Belial walks with a perverse mouth.

13 H e winks with his eyes, he speaks with his feet, he teaches with his fingers;

He winks with his eyes, he speaks with his feet, he teaches with his fingers;

14 t here is perversion in his heart; he devises evil continually; he sows discord.

there is perversion in his heart; he devises evil continually; he sows discord.

15 T herefore his calamity shall come suddenly; suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.

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

16 T hese six things does the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

These six things does the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto 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 devises wicked imaginations, feet that are swift in running to evil,

a heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that are swift in running to evil,

19 a false witness that speaks lies, and he that sows discord among brethren.

a false witness that speaks lies, and he that sows discord among brethren.

20 ¶ My son, keep thy father’s commandment 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 thine heart and tie them about thy neck.

Bind them continually upon thine heart and tie them about thy neck.

22 W hen thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep 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 fire, and the law is light; and reproofs of chastening are the way of life,

For the commandment is fire, and the law is light; and reproofs of chastening are the way of life,

24 t o keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

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 thine heart, neither let her take thee with her eyes.

Lust not after her beauty in thine heart, neither let her take thee with her eyes.

26 F or by means of a whorish woman a man is reduced to a piece of bread, and the woman will hunt the precious soul of the man.

For by means of a whorish woman a man is reduced to a piece of bread, and the woman will hunt the precious soul of the man.

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 is he that goes in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever touches her shall not be innocent.

So is he that goes in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever touches her shall not be innocent.

30 M en do not take a thief lightly, even if he steals to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;

Men do not take a thief lightly, even if he steals to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;

31 a nd once he is taken, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

and once he is taken, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

32 B ut whosoever commits adultery with a woman has a fault in his heart; he that does it corrupts his own soul.

But whosoever commits adultery with a woman has a fault in his heart; he that does it corrupts his own soul.

33 A wound and dishonour shall he get, and his reproach shall never be wiped away.

A wound and dishonour shall he get, and his reproach shall never be wiped away.

34 F or the jealous rage of a man will not spare in the day of vengeance.

For the jealous rage of a man will not spare in the day of vengeance.

35 H e will not regard any ransom; neither will he want to forgive, though thou givest many bribes.

He will not regard any ransom; neither will he want to forgive, though thou givest many bribes.