Chapter 6

1My son, if you have stood surety for your fellow,Given your hand for another,a

2You have been trapped by the words of your mouth,Snared by the words of your mouth.

3Do this, then, my son, to extricate yourself,For you have come into the power of your fellow:Go grovel—and badger your fellow;

4Give your eyes no sleep,Your pupils no slumber.

5Save yourself like a deer out of the hand [of a hunter],Like a bird out of the hand of a fowler.

6Lazybones, go to the ant;Study its ways and learn.

7Without leaders, officers, or rulers,

8It lays up its stores during the summer,Gathers in its food at the harvest.

9How long will you lie there, lazybones;When will you wake from your sleep?

10A bit more sleep, a bit more slumber,A bit more hugging yourself in bed,

11And poverty will come bcalling upon you,And want, like a man with a shield.

12A scoundrel, an evil manLives by crooked speech,

13Winking his eyes,Shuffling his feet,Pointing his finger.

14Duplicity is in his heart;He plots evil all the time;He incites quarrels.

15Therefore calamity will come upon him without warning;Suddenly he will be broken beyond repair.

16Six things the LORD hates;Seven are an abomination to Him:

17A haughty bearing,A lying tongue,Hands that shed innocent blood,

18A mind that hatches evil plots,Feet quick to run to evil,

19A false witness testifying lies,And one who incites brothers to quarrel.

20My son, keep your father’s commandment;Do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

21Tie them over your heart always;Bind them around your throat.

22When you walk it will lead you;When you lie down it will watch over you;And when you are awake it will talk with you.

23For the commandment is a lamp,The teaching is a light,And the way to life is the rebuke that disciplines.

24It will keep you from an evil woman,From the smooth tongue of a forbiddenc woman.

25Do not lust for her beautyOr let her captivate you with her eyes.

26The last loaf of bread will go for a harlot;A married woman will snare a person of honor.

27Can a man rake embers into his bosomWithout burning his clothes?

28Can a man walk on live coalsWithout scorching his feet?

29It is the same with one who sleeps with his fellow’s wife;None who touches her will go unpunished.

30A thief is not held in contemptFor stealing to appease his hunger;

31Yet if caught he must pay sevenfold;He must give up all he owns.

32He who commits adultery is devoid of sense;Only one who would destroy himself does such a thing.

33He will meet with disease and disgrace;His reproach will never be expunged.

34The fury of the husband will be passionate;He will show no pity on his day of vengeance.

35He will not have regard for any ransom;He will refuse your bribe, however great.