Proverbs 6:1–11

Warnings Against Folly

6 My son,g if you have put up securityh for your neighbor,i

if you have shaken hands in pledgej for a stranger,

2 you have been trapped by what you said,

ensnared by the words of your mouth.

3 So do this, my son, to free yourself,

since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:

Go—to the point of exhaustion—a

and give your neighbor no rest!

4 Allow no sleep to your eyes,

no slumber to your eyelids.k

5 Free yourself, like a gazellel from the hand of the hunter,m

like a bird from the snare of the fowler.n

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard;o

consider its ways and be wise!

7 It has no commander,

no overseer or ruler,

8 yet it stores its provisions in summerp

and gathers its food at harvest.q

9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard?r

When will you get up from your sleep?

10 A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rests—

11 and povertyt will come on you like a thief

and scarcity like an armed man.