Proverbs 6:1-25 ▼

1 My son, if you have been surety for your neighbor, or have struck your hand for the stranger,

2 or have been lured by the words of your mouth, captured by the words of your mouth,

3 then you must do this my son, and deliver yourself, for you have come into the palm of your neighbor: Go humble yourself, and press your neighbor.

4 You should not give sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids—

5 snatch yourself like a gazelle from the hand, and like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6 Go to the ant, O sluggish one; see her ways and become wise:

7 Which there is not unto her a chief, an official, or ruler,

8 she prepares her bread in summer, she has gathered her food in the harvest.

9 Until when, O sluggish one, will you slumber? When will you rise from your sleep?

10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to lie down,

11 and your poverty comes like one walking, and your need like a man of shield.

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.