New King James Version

Berean Standard Bible

1My son, if you become surety for your friend, If you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,

1My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger,

2You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth.

2if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth,

3So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; For you have come into the hand of your friend: Go and humble yourself; Plead with your friend.

3then do this, my son, to free yourself, for you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go, humble yourself, and press your plea with your neighbor.

4Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids.

4Allow no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids.

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

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

6Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,

6Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise.

7Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler,

7Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler,

8Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest.

8it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest.

9How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?

9How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep?

10A 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 your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.

11and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.

12A worthless person, a wicked man, Walks with a perverse mouth;

12A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth,

13He winks with his eyes, He shuffles his feet, He points with his fingers;

13winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers.

14Perversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, He sows discord.

14With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord.

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

15Therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in an instant he will be shattered beyond recovery.

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

16There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him:

17A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,

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

18A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil,

18a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil,

19A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

19a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.

20My son, keep your father’s command, And do not forsake the law of your mother.

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

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

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

22When you roam, they will lead you; When you sleep, they will keep you; And when you awake, they will speak with you.

22When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.

23For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,

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

24To keep you from the evil woman, From the flattering tongue of a seductress.

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

25Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, Nor let her allure you with her eyelids.

25Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.

26For by means of a harlot A man is reduced to a crust of bread; And an adulteress will prey upon his precious life.

26For the levy of the prostitute is poverty, and the adulteress preys upon your very life.

27Can a man take fire to his bosom, And his clothes not be burned?

27Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned?

28Can one walk on hot coals, And his feet not be seared?

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

29So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; Whoever touches her shall not be innocent.

29So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.

30People do not despise a thief If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving.

30Men do not despise the thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger.

31Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold; He may have to give up all the substance of his house.

31Yet if caught, he must pay sevenfold; he must give up all the wealth of his house.

32Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul.

32He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.

33Wounds and dishonor he will get, And his reproach will not be wiped away.

33Wounds and dishonor will befall him, and his reproach will never be wiped away.

34For jealousy is a husband’s fury; Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

34For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy in the day of vengeance.

35He will accept no recompense, Nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts.

35He will not be appeased by any ransom, or persuaded by lavish gifts.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

This text of God's Word has been dedicated to the public domain.