Proverbs 6:1–7:27
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.
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.
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:
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.
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?
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.
6 For at the window of my house
I looked through my lattice,
I perceived among the 1youths,
A young man fdevoid 2of understanding,
8 Passing along the street near her corner;
And he took the path to her house
9 gIn the twilight, in the evening,
In the black and dark night.
With the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart.
11 hShe was loud and rebellious,
iHer feet would not stay at home.
12 At times she was outside, at times in the open square,
Lurking at every corner.
13 So she caught him and kissed him;
With an 3impudent face she said to him:
14 “I have peace offerings with me;
Today I have paid my vows.
Diligently to seek your face,
And I have found you.
16 I have spread my bed with tapestry,
Colored coverings of jEgyptian linen.
With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until morning;
Let us delight ourselves with love.
19 For 4my husband is not at home;
He has gone on a long journey;
20 He has taken a bag of money 5with him,
And will come home 6on the appointed day.”
21 7With kher enticing speech she caused him to yield,
lWith her flattering lips she 8seduced him.
22 Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter,
Or 9as a fool to the correction of the 1stocks,
23 Till an arrow struck his liver.
mAs a bird hastens to the snare,
He did not know it 2would cost his life.
24 Now therefore, listen to me, my children;
Pay attention to the words of my mouth:
25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways,
Do not stray into her paths;
26 For she has cast down many wounded,
And nall who were slain by her were strong men.
27 oHer house is the way to 3hell,
Descending to the chambers of death.