Financial Entanglements

1My son, if you have put up security for your neighborA

or entered into an agreement withB a stranger,a

2you have been snared by the words of your mouth—

trapped by the words from your mouth.

3Do this, then, my son, and free yourself,

for you have put yourself in your neighbor’s power:

Go, humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor.

4Don’t give sleep to your eyes

or slumber to your eyelids.a

5Escape like a gazelle from a hunter,A

like a bird from a hunter’s trap.B a

Laziness

6Go to the ant,a you slacker!b

Observe its ways and become wise.

7Without leader, administrator, or ruler,

8it prepares its provisions in summer;

it gathers its food during harvest.a

9How long will you stay in bed, you slacker?

When will you get up from your sleep?

10A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the arms to rest,

11and your poverty will come like a robber,

your need, like a bandit.a

The Malicious Man

12A worthless person,a a wicked man

goes around speaking dishonestly,b

13winkinga his eyes, signaling with his feet,

and gesturing with his fingers.

14He always plots evila with perversity in his heart;

he stirs up trouble.b

15Therefore calamity will strike him suddenly;

he will be shattered instantly, beyond recovery.a

What the Lord Hates

16The Lord hates six things;

in fact, seven are detestable to him:

17arrogant eyes,a a lying tongue,b

hands that shed innocent blood,c

18a heart that plots wicked schemes,a

feet eager to run to evil,b

19a lying witness who gives false testimony,a

and one who stirs up trouble among brothers.b

Warning against Adultery

20My son, keep your father’s command,

and don’t reject your mother’s teaching.a

21Always bind them to your heart;

tie them around your neck.a

22When you walk here and there, they will guide you;

when you lie down, they will watch over you;

when you wake up, they will talk to you.

23For a command is a lamp, teaching is a light,a

and corrective discipline is the way to life.b

24They will protect you from an evil woman,A

from the flattering tongue of a wayward woman.a

25Don’t lust in your heart for her beautya

or let her captivate you with her eyelashes.b

26For a prostitute’s fee is only a loaf of bread,A

but the wife of another manB goes after a precious life.a

27Can a man embrace fire

and his clothes not be burned?

28Can a man walk on burning coals

without scorching his feet?

29So it is with the one who sleeps with

another man’s wife;

no one who touches her will go unpunished.a

30People don’t despise the thief if he steals

to satisfy himself when he is hungry.a

31Still, if caught, he must pay seven times as much;a

he must give up all the wealth in his house.

32The one who commits adulteryA lacks sense;

whoever does so destroys himself.a

33He will get a beatingA and dishonor,

and his disgrace will never be removed.

34For jealousy enrages a husband,a

and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.

35He will not be appeased by anything

or be persuaded by lavish bribes.