Proverbs 6

Warnings Against Folly

1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
if you have struck hands in pledge for another,

2 if you have been trapped by what you said,
ensnared by the words of your mouth,

3 then do this, my son, to free yourself,
since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands:
Go and humble yourself;
press your plea with your neighbor!

4 Allow no sleep to your eyes,
no slumber to your eyelids.

5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider its ways and be wise!

7 It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,

8 yet it stores its provisions in summer
and gathers its food at harvest.

9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
When will you get up from your sleep?

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

11 and poverty will come on you like a bandit
and scarcity like an armed man.

12 A scoundrel and villain,
who goes about with a corrupt mouth,

13 who winks with his eye,
signals with his feet
and motions with his fingers,

14 who plots evil with deceit in his heart—
he always stirs up dissension.

15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;
he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

16 There are six things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him:

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

18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,

19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Warning Against Adultery

20 My son, keep your father's commands
and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

21 Bind them upon your heart forever;
fasten them around your neck.

22 When you walk, they will guide you;
when you sleep, they will watch over you;
when you awake, they will speak to you.

23 For these commands are a lamp,
this teaching is a light,
and the corrections of discipline
are the way to life,

24 keeping you from the immoral woman,
from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife.

25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty
or let her captivate you with her eyes,

26 for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread,
and the adulteress preys upon your very life.

27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap
without his clothes being burned?

28 Can a man walk on hot coals
without his feet being scorched?

29 So is he who sleeps with another man's wife;
no one who touches her will go unpunished.

30 Men do not despise a thief if he steals
to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.

31 Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold,
though it costs him all the wealth of his house.

32 But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment;
whoever does so destroys himself.

33 Blows and disgrace are his lot,
and his shame will never be wiped away;

34 for jealousy arouses a husband's fury,
and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.

35 He will not accept any compensation;
he will refuse the bribe, however great it is.

PROVERBS 6

Don't Be Foolish

1  t My child, suppose you agree
to pay the debt of someone,
who cannot repay a loan.

2 Then you are trapped
by your own words,

3 and you are now in the power
of someone else.
Here is what you should do:
Go and beg for permission
to call off the agreement.

4 Do this before you fall asleep
or even get sleepy.

5 Save yourself, just as a deer
or a bird tries to escape
from a hunter.

6 You lazy people can learn
by watching an anthill.

7 Ants don't have leaders,

8 but they store up food
during harvest season.

9 How long will you lie there
doing nothing at all?
When are you going to get up
and stop sleeping?

10  t Sleep a little. Doze a little.
Fold your hands
and twiddle your thumbs.

11 Suddenly, everything is gone,
as though it had been taken
by an armed robber.

12 Worthless liars go around

13  t winking and giving signals
to deceive others.

14 They are always thinking up
something cruel and evil,
and they stir up trouble.

15 But they will be struck
by sudden disaster
and left without a hope.

16 There are six or seven
kinds of people
the [Lord] doesn't like:

17 Those who are too proud
or tell lies or murder,

18 those who make evil plans
or are quick to do wrong,

19 those who tell lies in court
or stir up trouble
in a family.

20 Obey the teaching
of your parents—

21 always keep it in mind
and never forget it.

22 Their teaching will guide you
when you walk,
protect you when you sleep,
and talk to you
when you are awake.

23 The Law of the Lord is a lamp,
and its teachings
shine brightly.
Correction and self-control
will lead you through life.

24 They will protect you
from the flattering words
of someone else's wife.t

25 Don't let yourself be attracted
by the charm and lovely eyes
of someone like that.

26 A woman who sells her love
can be bought for as little
as the price of a meal.
But making love
to another man's wife
will cost you everything.

27 If you carry burning coals,
you burn your clothes;

28 if you step on hot coals,
you burn your feet.

29 And if you go to bed
with another man's wife,
you pay the price.

30 We don't put up with thieves,
not event with one who steals
for something to eat.

31 And thieves who get caught
must pay back
seven times what was stolen
and lose everything.

32 But if you go to bed
with another man's wife,
you will destroy yourself
by your own stupidity.

33 You will be beaten
and forever disgraced,

34 because a jealous husband
can be furious and merciless
when he takes revenge.

35 He won't let you pay him off,
no matter what you offer.