Proverbs 6:12-35 ▼

12 A man of worthlessness, a man of iniquity, is walking with crookedness of mouth,

13 winking with his eyes, speaking with his foot, pointing with his fingers,

14 with perversity in his heart, plotting evil; at every time he sends forth strife.

15 Upon thus his calamity shall come suddenly; in an instant he will be shattered, and without healing.

16 These six things YHWH hates, and seven are an abomination to His soul:

17 Eyes raised high, a tongue of falsehood, and hands pouring out innocent blood,

18 a heart devising plans of iniquity, feet hurrying to run toward evil,

19 one breathing out lies, a witness of falsehood, and one sending forth contentions between brothers.

20 Keep, my son, the command of your father, and do not forsake the instruction of your mother.

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

22 In your going about, it will lead you; in your lying down, it will guard you; when you awake, it will speak with you.

23 For the command is a lamp, and the instruction a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way to life,

24 to guard you from the woman of evil, from the smoothness of the tongue of a strange woman.

25 Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her take hold of you with her eyelids.

26 For the price of a woman prostitute is as a crust of bread, and the woman of a man hunts a precious soul.

27 Can a man seize fire in his bosom, and his garments not be burned?

28 Or can a man walk upon the hot coals, and his feet not be scorched?

29 So is the one coming in to the wife of his neighbor; anyone who touches her shall not be innocent.

30 They do not despise the thief if he steals to fill his soul when he is hungry,

31 and having been found, he must repay sevenfold; all the wealth of his house he must give.

32 The one committing adultery with a woman is lacking of heart; he does it, destroying his own soul.

33 He finds only a stroke and shame, and his reproach is not wiped away.

34 For jealousy is the heat of a man, and he will not spare on the day of vengeance.

35 He will not lift the face of any ransom, and he will not consent, though you may multiply the bribe.