Dangerous Promises

6 My son, aif you become 1surety for your friend,

If you have 2shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,

2 You are snared by the words of your mouth;

You are taken by the words of your mouth.

3 So 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.

4 bGive no sleep to your eyes,

Nor slumber to your eyelids.

5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,

And like a bird from the hand of the 3fowler.

The Folly of Indolence

6 cGo to the ant, you sluggard!

Consider her ways and be wise,

7 Which, having no 4captain,

Overseer or ruler,

8 Provides her 5supplies in the summer,

And gathers her food in the harvest.

9 dHow long will you 6slumber, O sluggard?

When will you rise from your sleep?

10 A little sleep, a little slumber,

A little folding of the hands to sleep—

11 eSo shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,

And your need like an armed man.

The Wicked Man

12 A worthless person, a wicked man,

Walks with a perverse mouth;

13 fHe winks with his eyes,

He 7shuffles his feet,

He points with his fingers;

14 Perversity is in his heart,

gHe devises evil continually,

hHe sows discord.

15 Therefore his calamity shall come isuddenly;

Suddenly he shall jbe broken kwithout remedy.

16 These six things the Lord hates,

Yes, seven are an abomination to 8Him:

17 lA 9proud look,

mA lying tongue,

nHands that shed innocent blood,

18 oA heart that devises wicked plans,

pFeet that are swift in running to evil,

19 qA false witness who speaks lies,

And one who rsows discord among brethren.

Beware of Adultery

20 sMy son, keep your father’s command,

And do not forsake the law of your mother.

21 tBind them continually upon your heart;

Tie them around your neck.

22 uWhen you roam, 1they will lead you;

When you sleep, vthey will keep you;

And when you awake, they will speak with you.

23 wFor the commandment is a lamp,

And the law a light;

Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,

24 xTo keep you from the evil woman,

From the flattering tongue of a seductress.

25 yDo not lust after her beauty in your heart,

Nor let her allure you with her eyelids.

26 For zby means of a harlot

A man is reduced to a crust of bread;

aAnd 2an adulteress will bprey upon his precious life.

27 Can a man take fire to his bosom,

And his clothes not be burned?

28 Can one walk on hot coals,

And his feet not be seared?

29 So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife;

Whoever touches her shall not be innocent.

30 People do not despise a thief

If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving.

31 Yet when he is found, che must restore sevenfold;

He may have to give up all the substance of his house.

32 Whoever commits adultery with a woman dlacks understanding;

He who does so destroys his own soul.

33 Wounds and dishonor he will get,

And his reproach will not be wiped away.

34 For ejealousy is a husband’s fury;

Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

35 He will 3accept no recompense,

Nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts.

7 My son, keep my words, And atreasure my commands within you.

2 bKeep my commands and live,

cAnd my law as the apple of your eye.

3 dBind them on your fingers;

Write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”

And call understanding your nearest kin,

5 eThat they may keep you from the immoral woman,

From the seductress who flatters with her words.