Proverbs 6

1. My son, if you are surety for your friend, if you have struck your hands in a pledge with a stranger,

2. You are snared with the words of your mouth, and you are caught with the words of your mouth—

3. Then my son, do this now, and deliver yourself when you have come into the hand of your friend: go, humble yourself and make your friend sure.

4. Do not give sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids.

5. Deliver yourself as a gazelle from the hunter’s hand, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6. Go to the ant, sluggard; consider her ways and be wise,

7. Who having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

8. Provides her food in the summer and gathers her food in the harvest.

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

10. Yet, a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest;

11. So shall your poverty come as one who travels, and your want like an armed man.

12. A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth,

13. Winking with his eyes, speaking with his feet, pointing with his fingers;

14. Perversity is in his heart; he is always planning mischief; he causes discord.

15. Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; instantly he shall be broken without remedy.

16. These six things the LORD hates; yea, seven are an abomination unto Him:

17. A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18. A heart that plots wicked imaginations, feet that are swift in running to evil,

19. A false witness who speaks lies, and he who sows discord among brethren.

20. My son, keep your father’s commandments, and do not forsake the instruction of your mother;

21. Bind them continually upon your heart; tie them around your neck.

22. When you go, they shall lead you; when you sleep, they shall keep you; and when you awake, they shall talk with you.

23. For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light, and reproofs of instruction are the way of life

24. To keep you from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

25. Do not lust after her beauty in your heart; nor let her seduce you with her eyelids

26. For by means of a harlot a man is vanquished to a piece of bread; and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.

27. Can a man take fire to his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

28. Can one walk upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?

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

30. They do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;

31. Yet if he is found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the goods of his house.

32. But whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; he who does it destroys his own soul.

33. He shall get a wound and dishonor; and his shame shall not be wiped away;

34. For jealousy is the rage of a man; therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

35. He will not accept any recompense, nor will he be willing even if you multiply the gifts for him.