Proverbs 6

1My son, if you have become surety for your neighbor, if you have struck your hands for a stranger.

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

3Do this now, my son, and rescue yourself, for you have come into your neighbor's hand; go, humble yourself, and urge your neighbor.

4Do not give sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids.

5Rescue yourself like a gazelle from the hunter's hand, like a bird from the fowler's snare.

6You sluggard, go to the ant; see her ways and be wise.

7which has no captain, officer, or ruler,

8She prepares her food in summer and gathers her provisions in harvest.

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

10A little sleep, a little slumber, a little clasping of hands to sleep.

11So your poverty will come like a wayfarer, and your need like an armed man.

12A scoundrel, a man of wickedness, walks with a crooked mouth.

13who winks with his eyes, who speaks with his feet, who points with his fingers

14Perversity is in his heart; he plots evil every time and stirs up strife and contention.

15Therefore his calamity will come suddenly; suddenly he will be broken, without remedy.

16Yahweh hates these six; indeed, seven abominations detestable to his soul.

17exalted eyes, a deceitful tongue, and hands pouring out innocent blood

18a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet hastening to run to evil,

19a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who stirs up strife among brothers.

20My son, keep your father's commandment, and do not abandon your mother's instruction.

21Bind them continually to your heart, and tie them around your neck.

22When you walk, it will direct you; when you sleep, it will guard you; and when you wake, it will speak with you.

23For the commandment is a lamp, the law radiant light; reproofs of discipline are the path of life.

24to guard you from the wicked woman, from the flattery of a foreign woman's tongue.

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

26For a prostitute costs only a loaf of bread, but a man's wife hunts the precious life.

27Can a man gather fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?

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

29So is the one who sleeps with his friend's wife; whoever touches her will not be guiltless.

30They do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry.

31But if he is found, he shall make amends seven times; he will give all the wealth of his house.

32Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks sense; he who does it destroys his own soul.

33A wound and disgrace will befall him, and his reproach will not be blotted out.

34For jealousy is a man's wrath, and he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

35He will not accept any ransom, nor will he yield though you offer many bribes.