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1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger, 2 if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth, 3 then 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. 4 Allow no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids. 5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. 6 Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise. 7 Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, 8 it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, O slacker? 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 poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit. 12 A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth, 13 winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers. 14 With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord. 15 Therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in an instant he will be shattered beyond recovery. 16 There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, 19 a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers. 20 My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. 21 Bind them always upon your heart; tie them around your neck. Proverbs 6:1-21, Majority Standard Bible. Public domain.
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