New American Standard Bible 1995

International Standard Version

1My son, if you have become surety for your neighbor, Have given a pledge for a stranger,

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

2If you have been snared with the words of your mouth, Have been caught with the words of your mouth,

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

3Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself; Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor, Go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor.

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 no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids;

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

5Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter's hand And like 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, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise,

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

7Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler,

7It has no commander, officer, or ruler,

8Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest.

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

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

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

10"A 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,

11Your poverty will come in like a vagabond And your need like an armed man.

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

12A worthless person, a wicked man, Is the one who walks with a perverse mouth,

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

13Who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, Who points with his fingers;

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

14Who with perversity in his heart continually devises evil, Who spreads strife.

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

15Therefore his calamity will come suddenly; Instantly he will be broken and there will be no healing.

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

16There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:

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

17Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood,

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

18A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil,

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

19A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.

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

20My son, observe the commandment of your father And do not forsake the teaching of your mother;

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

21Bind them continually on your heart; Tie them around your neck.

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

22When you walk about, they will guide you; When you sleep, they will watch over you; And when you awake, they will talk to you.

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 teaching is light; And reproofs for discipline 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 you from the evil woman, From the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

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

25Do not desire her beauty in your heart, Nor let her capture you with her eyelids.

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

26For on account of a harlot one is reduced to a loaf of bread, And an adulteress hunts 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?

28Or can a man walk on hot coals And his feet not be scorched?

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

29So is the one who goes in to his neighbor's wife; Whoever touches her will not go unpunished.

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 steals To satisfy himself when he is hungry;

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

31But when he is found, he must repay sevenfold; He must give all the substance of his house.

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

32The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense; He who would destroy himself does it.

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

33Wounds and disgrace he will find, And his reproach will not be blotted out.

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

34For jealousy enrages a man, And 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 accept any ransom, Nor will he be satisfied though you give many gifts.

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

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org

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