King James Bible

International Standard Version

1My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,

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

2Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

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

3Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

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!

4Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

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

5Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

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

6Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

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

7Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

7It has no commander, officer, or ruler,

8Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

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

9How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

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

10Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

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

11So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

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

12A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.

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

13He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;

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

14Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

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

15Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

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

16These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

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

17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

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

18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

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

19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

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

20My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

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

21Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

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

22When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

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.

23For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

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

24To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

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

25Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

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

26For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.

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

27Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

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

28Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?

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

29So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.

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

30Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;

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

31But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

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

32But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.

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

33A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.

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

34For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

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

35He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.

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

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

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