1 M y son, if you become surety for your friend, If you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,

My son, if you have become surety for your neighbor, Have given a pledge for a stranger,

2 Y ou are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth.

If you have been snared with the words of your mouth, Have been caught with the words of your mouth,

3 S o do this, my son, and deliver yourself; For you have come into the hand of your friend: Go and humble yourself; Plead with your friend.

Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself; Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor, Go, humble yourself, and importune 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 hand of the hunter, And like a bird from the hand of the fowler. The Folly of Indolence

Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand And like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6 G o to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,

Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise,

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

Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler,

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

Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest.

9 H ow long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?

How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?

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

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

11 S o shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man. The Wicked Man

Your poverty will come in like a vagabond And your need like an armed man.

12 A worthless person, a wicked man, Walks with a perverse mouth;

A worthless person, a wicked man, Is the one who walks with a perverse mouth,

13 H e winks with his eyes, He shuffles his feet, He points with his fingers;

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

14 P erversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, He sows discord.

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

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

Therefore his calamity will come suddenly; Instantly he will be broken and there will be no healing.

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

There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:

17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,

Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood,

18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil,

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

19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. Beware of Adultery

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

20 M y son, keep your father’s command, And do not forsake the law of your mother.

My son, observe the commandment of your father And do not forsake the teaching of your mother;

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

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

22 W hen you roam, they will lead you; When you sleep, they will keep you; And when you awake, they will speak with you.

When you walk about, they will guide you; When you sleep, they will watch over you; And when you awake, they will talk to you.

23 F or the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,

For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light; And reproofs for discipline are the way of life

24 T o keep you from the evil woman, From the flattering tongue of a seductress.

To keep you from the evil woman, From the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

25 D o not lust after her beauty in your heart, Nor let her allure you with her eyelids.

Do not desire her beauty in your heart, Nor let her capture you with her eyelids.

26 F or by means of a harlot A man is reduced to a crust of bread; And an adulteress will prey upon his precious life.

For on account of a harlot one is reduced to a loaf of bread, And an adulteress hunts for the precious life.

27 C an a man take fire to 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 walk on hot coals, And his feet not be seared?

Or can a man walk on hot coals And his feet not be scorched?

29 S o is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; Whoever touches her shall not be innocent.

So is the one who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; Whoever touches her will not go unpunished.

30 P eople do not despise a thief If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving.

Men do not despise a thief if he steals To satisfy himself when he is hungry;

31 Y et when he is found, he must restore sevenfold; He may have to give up all the substance of his house.

But when he is found, he must repay sevenfold; He must give all the substance of his house.

32 W hoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul.

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

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

Wounds and disgrace he will find, And his reproach will not be blotted out.

34 F or jealousy is a husband’s fury; Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

For jealousy enrages a man, And he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

35 H e will accept no recompense, Nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts.

He will not accept any ransom, Nor will he be satisfied though you give many gifts.