International Standard Version

English Standard Version

1My son, if you guarantee a loan for your neighbor, if you have agreed to a deal with a stranger,

1My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger,

2trapped by your own words, and caught by your own words,

2if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth,

3then do this, my son, and deliver yourself, because you have come under your neighbor's control. Go, humble yourself! Plead passionately with your neighbor!

3then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor.

4Don't allow yourself to sleep or even to close your eyes.

4Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber;

5Deliver yourself like a gazelle from a hunter's hand, or like a bird from a fowler's hand.

5save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6Go to the ant, you lazy man! Observe its ways and become wise.

6Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.

7It has no commander, officer, or ruler,

7Without having any chief, officer, or ruler,

8but prepares its provisions in the summer and gathers its food in the harvest.

8she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.

9How long will you lie down, lazy man? When will you get up from your sleep?

9How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?

10A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,

10A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,

11and your poverty will come on you like a bandit and your desperation like an armed man.

11and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.

12A worthless man, a wicked man, goes around with devious speech,

12A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech,

13winking with his eyes, making signs with his feet, pointing with his fingers,

13winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger,

14planning evil with a perverse mind, continually stirring up discord.

14with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord;

15Therefore, disaster will overtake him suddenly. He will be broken in an instant, and he will never recover.

15therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.

16Here are six things that the LORD hates— seven, in fact, are detestable to him:

16There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him:

17Arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, and hands shedding innocent blood;

17haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18a heart crafting evil plans, feet running swiftly to wickedness,

18a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil,

19a false witness snorting lies, and someone sowing quarrels between brothers.

19a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

20Keep your father's commands, my son, and never forsake your mother's rules,

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

21by binding them to your heart continuously, fastening them around your neck.

21Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck.

22During your travels wisdom will lead you; she will watch over you while you rest; and when you are startled from your sleep, she will commune with you.

22When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.

23Because the command is a lamp and the Law a light, rebukes that discipline are a way of life—

23For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

24to protect you from the evil woman, from the words of the seductive woman.

24to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

25Do not focus on her beauty in your mind, nor allow her to take you prisoner with her flirting eyes,

25Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes;

26because the price of a whore is a loaf of bread, and an adulterous woman stalks a man's precious life.

26for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts down a precious life.

27Can a man scoop fire into his bosom without burning his clothes?

27Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned?

28Can a man walk on hot coals without scorching his feet?

28Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched?

29So also is it with someone who has sex with his neighbor's wife; anyone touching her will not remain unpunished.

29So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; none who touches her will go unpunished.

30A thief isn't despised if he steals to meet his needs when he is hungry,

30People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry,

31but when he is discovered, he must restore seven-fold, forfeiting the entire value of his house.

31but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold; he will give all the goods of his house.

32Whoever commits adultery with a woman is out of his mind; by doing so he corrupts his own soul.

32He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.

33He will receive a beating and dishonor, and his shame won't disappear,

33He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away.

34because jealousy incites a strong man's rage, and he will show no mercy when it's time for revenge.

34For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge.

35He will not consider any payment, nor will he be willing to accept it, no matter how large the bribe.

35He will accept no compensation; he will refuse though you multiply gifts.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.