1 M y son, if you have become surety for your neighbor, Have given a pledge for a stranger,

My son, if you have become collateral for your neighbor, if you have struck your hands in pledge for a stranger;

2 I f you have been snared with the words of your mouth, Have been caught with the words 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 then, my son, and deliver yourself; Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor, Go, humble yourself, and importune 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 no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids;

Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids.

5 D eliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand And like 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, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise,

Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways, and be wise;

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

which having no chief, overseer, or ruler,

8 P repares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest.

provides her bread in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.

9 H ow long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?

How long will you sleep, sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep?

10 “ A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest”—

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

11 Y our poverty will come in like a vagabond And your need 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 the one who walks with a perverse mouth,

A worthless person, a man of iniquity, is he who walks with a perverse mouth;

13 W ho winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, Who points with his fingers;

who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, who motions with his fingers;

14 W ho with perversity in his heart continually devises evil, Who spreads strife.

in whose heart is perverseness, who devises evil continually, who always sows discord.

15 T herefore his calamity will come suddenly; Instantly he will be broken and there will be no healing.

Therefore his calamity will come suddenly. He will be broken suddenly, and that without remedy.

16 T here are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:

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

17 H aughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood,

haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood;

18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil,

a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.

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

20 M y son, observe the commandment of your father And do not forsake the teaching of your mother;

My son, keep your father’s commandment, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching.

21 B ind them continually on your heart; Tie them around your neck.

Bind them continually on your heart. Tie them around your neck.

22 W hen you walk about, they will guide you; When you sleep, they will watch over you; And when you awake, they will talk to 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 teaching is light; And reproofs for 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 smooth tongue of the adulteress.

to keep you from the immoral woman, from the flattery of the wayward wife’s tongue.

25 D o not desire her beauty in your heart, Nor 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 one is reduced to a loaf of bread, And an adulteress hunts for 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 O r can a man walk on hot coals And his feet not be scorched?

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

29 S o is the one who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; Whoever touches her will not 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 when he is found, he must repay sevenfold; He must give all the substance of his house.

but if he is found, he shall restore seven times. He shall give all the wealth of his house.

32 T he one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense; He who would destroy himself does it.

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

33 W ounds and disgrace he will find, And his reproach will not be blotted out.

He will get wounds and dishonor. His reproach will not be wiped away.

34 F or jealousy enrages a man, And 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 accept any ransom, Nor will he be satisfied though you give many gifts.

He won’t regard any ransom, neither will he rest content, though you give many gifts.