Proverbs 6

Chapter 6

Lessons for Daily Life

1 My child,t if you have put up security for a friend’s debt
or agreed to guarantee the debt of a stranger—2 if you have trapped yourself by your agreement
and are caught by what you said—3 follow my advice and save yourself,
for you have placed yourself at your friend’s mercy.
Now swallow your pride;
go and beg to have your name erased.4 Don’t put it off; do it now!
Don’t rest until you do.5 Save yourself like a gazelle escaping from a hunter,
like a bird fleeing from a net.6 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones.
Learn from their ways and become wise!7 Though they have no prince
or governor or ruler to make them work,8 they labor hard all summer,
gathering food for the winter.9 But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep?
When will you wake up?10 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest—11 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit;
scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.12 What are worthless and wicked people like?
They are constant liars,13 signaling their deceit with a wink of the eye,
a nudge of the foot, or the wiggle of fingers.14 Their perverted hearts plot evil,
and they constantly stir up trouble.15 But they will be destroyed suddenly,
broken in an instant beyond all hope of healing.16 There are six things the LORD hates—
no, seven things he detests:17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that kill the innocent,18 a heart that plots evil,
feet that race to do wrong,19 a false witness who pours out lies,
a person who sows discord in a family.20 My son, obey your father’s commands,
and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction.21 Keep their words always in your heart.
Tie them around your neck.22 When you walk, their counsel will lead you.
When you sleep, they will protect you.
When you wake up, they will advise you.23 For their command is a lamp
and their instruction a light;
their corrective discipline
is the way to life.24 It will keep you from the immoral woman,
from the smooth tongue of a promiscuous woman.25 Don’t lust for her beauty.
Don’t let her coy glances seduce you.26 For a prostitute will bring you to poverty,t
but sleeping with another man’s wife will cost you your life.27 Can a man scoop a flame into his lap
and not have his clothes catch on fire?28 Can he walk on hot coals
and not blister his feet?29 So it is with the man who sleeps with another man’s wife.
He who embraces her will not go unpunished.30 Excuses might be found for a thief
who steals because he is starving.31 But if he is caught, he must pay back seven times what he stole,
even if he has to sell everything in his house.32 But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool,
for he destroys himself.33 He will be wounded and disgraced.
His shame will never be erased.34 For the woman’s jealous husband will be furious,
and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.35 He will accept no compensation,
nor be satisfied with a payoff of any size.

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.