NET Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1My child, if you have made a pledge for your neighbor, and have become a guarantor for a stranger,

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

2if you have been ensnared by the words you have uttered, and have been caught by the words you have spoken,

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

3then, my child, do this in order to deliver yourself, because you have fallen into your neighbor's power: go, humble yourself, and appeal firmly to 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.

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

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

5Deliver yourself like a gazelle from a snare, and like a bird from the trap 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, you sluggard; observe its ways and be wise!

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

7It has no commander, overseer, or ruler,

7Which, having no chief, Officer or ruler,

8yet it prepares its food in the summer; it gathers at the harvest what it will eat.

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

9How long, you sluggard, will you lie there? When will you rise 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 relax,

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

11and your poverty will come like a robber, and your need like an armed man.

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

12A worthless and wicked person walks around saying perverse things;

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

13he winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, and points with his fingers;

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

14he plots evil with perverse thoughts in his heart, he spreads contention at all times.

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

15Therefore, his disaster will come suddenly; in an instant he will be broken, and there will be no remedy.

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, even seven things 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 are swift to run to evil,

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

19a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who spreads discord among family members.

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

20My child, guard the commands of your father and do not forsake the instruction of your mother.

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

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

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

22When you walk about, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you wake up, they will talk 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 the commandments are like a lamp, instruction is like a light, and rebukes of discipline are like the road leading to life,

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

24by keeping you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the loose woman.

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

25Do not lust in your heart for her beauty, and do not let her captivate you with her alluring eyes;

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

26for on account of a prostitute one is brought down to a loaf of bread, but the wife of another man preys on your 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 hold fire against his chest without burning his clothes?

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 it is with the one who has sex with his neighbor's wife; no one who touches her will escape punishment.

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 when he steals to fulfill his need when he is hungry.

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

31Yet if he is caught he must repay seven times over, he might even have to give all the wealth of his house.

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

32A man who commits adultery with a woman lacks wisdom, whoever does it destroys his own life.

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

33He will be beaten and despised, and his reproach will not be wiped away;

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

34for jealousy kindles a husband's rage, and he will not show mercy when he takes revenge.

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

35He will not consider any compensation; he will not be willing, even if you multiply the compensation.

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