Berean Study Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger,

1My son, if you have become surety for your neighbor, Have given a pledge for a stranger,

2if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth,

2If you have been snared with the words of your mouth, Have been caught with the words of your mouth,

3then 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.

3Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself; Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor, Go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor.

4Allow no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids.

4Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids;

5Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

5Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter's hand And like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise.

6Go to the ant, O sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise,

7Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler,

7Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler,

8it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest.

8Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest.

9How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep?

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

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

10"A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to rest "--

11and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.

11Your poverty will come in like a vagabond And your need like an armed man.

12A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth,

12A worthless person, a wicked man, Is the one who walks with a perverse mouth,

13winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers.

13Who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, Who points with his fingers;

14With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord.

14Who with perversity in his heart continually devises evil, Who spreads strife.

15Therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in an instant he will be shattered beyond recovery.

15Therefore his calamity will come suddenly; Instantly he will be broken and there will be no healing.

16There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him:

16There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:

17haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,

17Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood,

18a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil,

18A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil,

19a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.

19A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.

20My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

20My son, observe the commandment of your father And do not forsake the teaching of your mother;

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

21Bind them continually on your heart; Tie them around your neck.

22When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.

22When you walk about, they will guide you; When you sleep, they will watch over you; And when you awake, they will talk to you.

23For this commandment is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way to life,

23For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light; And reproofs for discipline are the way of life

24to keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

24To keep you from the evil woman, From the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

25Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.

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

26For the levy of the prostitute is poverty, and the adulteress preys upon your very life.

26For on account of a harlot one is reduced to a loaf of bread, And an adulteress hunts for the precious life.

27Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned?

27Can a man take fire in his bosom And his clothes not be burned?

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

28Or can a man walk on hot coals And his feet not be scorched?

29So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.

29So is the one who goes in to his neighbor's wife; Whoever touches her will not go unpunished.

30Men do not despise the thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger.

30Men do not despise a thief if he steals To satisfy himself when he is hungry;

31Yet if caught, he must pay sevenfold; he must give up all the wealth of his house.

31But when he is found, he must repay sevenfold; He must give all the substance of his house.

32He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.

32The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense; He who would destroy himself does it.

33Wounds and dishonor will befall him, and his reproach will never be wiped away.

33Wounds and disgrace he will find, And his reproach will not be blotted out.

34For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy in the day of vengeance.

34For jealousy enrages a man, And he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

35He will not be appeased by any ransom, or persuaded by lavish gifts.

35He will not accept any ransom, Nor will he be satisfied though you give many gifts.

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New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org