Proverbs 6

1My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,WEBMy son, if you have become collateral for your neighbor, if you have struck your hands in pledge for a stranger,

2Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.WEByou are trapped by the words of your mouth; you are ensnared with the words of your mouth.

3Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.WEBDo this now, my son, and deliver yourself, since you have come into the hand of your neighbor. Go, humble yourself. Press your plea with your neighbor.

4Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.WEBGive no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids.

5Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.WEBFree yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

6Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:WEBGo to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways, and be wise;

7Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,WEBwhich having no chief, overseer, or ruler,

8Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.WEBprovides her bread in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.

9How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?WEBHow long will you sleep, sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep?

10Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:WEBA little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep—

11So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.WEBso your poverty will come as a robber, and your scarcity as an armed man.

12A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.WEBA worthless person, a man of iniquity, is he who walks with a perverse mouth,

13He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;WEBwho winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, who motions with his fingers,

14Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.WEBin whose heart is perverseness, who devises evil continually, who always sows discord.

15Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.WEBTherefore his calamity will come suddenly. He will be broken suddenly, and that without remedy.

16These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:WEBThere are six things which Yahweh hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him:

17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,WEBarrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,

18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,WEBa heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift in running to mischief,

19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.WEBa false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.

20My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:WEBMy son, keep your father’s commandment, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching.

21Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.WEBBind them continually on your heart. Tie them around your neck.

22When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.WEBWhen you walk, it will lead you. When you sleep, it will watch over you. When you awake, it will talk with you.

23For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:WEBFor the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,

24To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.WEBto keep you from the immoral woman, from the flattery of the wayward wife’s tongue.

25Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.WEBDon’t lust after her beauty in your heart, neither let her captivate you with her eyelids.

26For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.WEBFor a prostitute reduces you to a piece of bread. The adulteress hunts for your precious life.

27Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?WEBCan a man scoop fire into his lap, and his clothes not be burned?

28Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?WEBOr can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be scorched?

29So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.WEBSo is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife. Whoever touches her will not be unpunished.

30Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;WEBMen don’t despise a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry,

31But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.WEBbut if he is found, he shall restore seven times. He shall give all the wealth of his house.

32But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.WEBHe who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding. He who does it destroys his own soul.

33A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.WEBHe will get wounds and dishonor. His reproach will not be wiped away.

34For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.WEBFor jealousy arouses the fury of the husband. He won’t spare in the day of vengeance.

35He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.WEBHe won’t regard any ransom, neither will he rest content, though you give many gifts.