English Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

1My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger,

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

2if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in 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, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently 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.

4Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber;

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

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

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

6Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.

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

7Without having any chief, officer, or ruler,

7Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler,

8she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.

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

9How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise 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 want like an armed man.

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

12A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech,

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

13winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger,

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

14with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord;

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

15therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.

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 an abomination to him:

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

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

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

18a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil,

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

19a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

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

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

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

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

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

22When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with 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 the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

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

24to preserve 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 desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes;

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

26for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts down a precious 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 carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned?

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

28Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched?

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

29So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; none 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.

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

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

31but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold; he will give all the goods 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 sense; he who does it destroys himself.

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

33He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away.

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

34For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge.

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

35He will accept no compensation; he will refuse though you multiply gifts.

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

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

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