| Berean Study Bible | New International Version |
| 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 put up security for your neighbor, if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, |
| 2if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth, | 2you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by 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. | 3So do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands: Go--to the point of exhaustion-- and give your neighbor no rest! |
| 4Allow no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids. | 4Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids. |
| 5Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. | 5Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. |
| 6Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise. | 6Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! |
| 7Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, | 7It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, |
| 8it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest. | 8yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. |
| 9How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep? | 9How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? |
| 10A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, | 10A 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. | 11and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man. |
| 12A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth, | 12A troublemaker and a villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth, |
| 13winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers. | 13who winks maliciously with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers, |
| 14With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord. | 14who plots evil with deceit in his heart-- he always stirs up conflict. |
| 15Therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in an instant he will be shattered beyond recovery. | 15Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed--without remedy. |
| 16There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: | 16There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: |
| 17haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, | 17haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, |
| 18a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, | 18a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, |
| 19a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers. | 19a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. |
| 20My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. | 20My son, keep your father's command and do not forsake your mother's teaching. |
| 21Bind them always upon your heart; tie them around your neck. | 21Bind them always on your heart; fasten 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, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. |
| 23For this commandment is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way to life, | 23For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life, |
| 24to keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress. | 24keeping you from your neighbor's wife, from the smooth talk of a wayward woman. |
| 25Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes. | 25Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes. |
| 26For the levy of the prostitute is poverty, and the adulteress preys upon your very life. | 26For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread, but another man's wife preys on your very life. |
| 27Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned? | 27Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? |
| 28Can a man walk on hot coals without scorching his feet? | 28Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? |
| 29So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished. | 29So is he who sleeps with another man's wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished. |
| 30Men do not despise the thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger. | 30People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving. |
| 31Yet if caught, he must pay sevenfold; he must give up all the wealth of his house. | 31Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it costs him all the wealth of his house. |
| 32He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself. | 32But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself. |
| 33Wounds and dishonor will befall him, and his reproach will never be wiped away. | 33Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away. |
| 34For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy in the day of vengeance. | 34For jealousy arouses a husband's fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge. |
| 35He will not be appeased by any ransom, or persuaded by lavish gifts. | 35He will not accept any compensation; he will refuse a bribe, however great it is. |
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