Proverbs 6:1-21 ▼

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

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

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

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

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

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

7 It has no commander, officer, or ruler,

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

9 How 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,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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