Proverbs 6:1–11

Practical Warnings

6 My son, if you have put up esecurity for your neighbor,

have egiven your pledge for a stranger,

2  if you are fsnared in the words of your mouth,

caught in the words of your mouth,

3  then do this, my son, and save yourself,

for you have come into the hand of your neighbor:

go, hasten,1 and gplead urgently with your neighbor.

4  hGive your eyes no sleep

and your eyelids no slumber;

5  save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,2

ilike a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6  jGo to kthe ant, O lsluggard;

consider her ways, and mbe wise.

7  nWithout having any chief,

oofficer, or ruler,

8  she prepares her bread pin summer

and qgathers her food in harvest.

9  rHow long will you lie there, lO sluggard?

When will you arise from your sleep?

10  sA little sleep, a little slumber,

ta little sfolding of the hands to rest,

11  uand poverty will come upon you like a robber,

and want like an armed man.