| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 1My child, if you have made a pledge for your neighbor, and have become a guarantor for 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 ensnared by the words you have uttered, and have been caught by the words you have spoken, | 2you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by 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. | 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! |
| 4Permit no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids. | 4Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids. |
| 5Deliver yourself like a gazelle from a snare, and like a bird from the trap of the fowler. | 5Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. |
| 6Go to the ant, you sluggard; observe its ways and be wise! | 6Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! |
| 7It has no commander, overseer, or ruler, | 7It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, |
| 8yet it prepares its food in the summer; it gathers at the harvest what it will eat. | 8yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. |
| 9How long, you sluggard, will you lie there? When will you rise 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 relax, | 10A 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. | 11and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man. |
| 12A worthless and wicked person walks around saying perverse things; | 12A troublemaker and a villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth, |
| 13he winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, and points with his fingers; | 13who winks maliciously with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers, |
| 14he plots evil with perverse thoughts in his heart, he spreads contention at all times. | 14who plots evil with deceit in his heart-- he always stirs up conflict. |
| 15Therefore, his disaster will come suddenly; in an instant he will be broken, and there will be no remedy. | 15Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed--without remedy. |
| 16There are six things that the LORD hates, even seven things that are an abomination to him: | 16There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: |
| 17haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, | 17haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, |
| 18a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift to run to evil, | 18a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, |
| 19a false witness who pours out lies, and a person who spreads discord among family members. | 19a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. |
| 20My child, guard the commands of your father and do not forsake the instruction of your mother. | 20My son, keep your father's command and do not forsake your mother's teaching. |
| 21Bind them on your heart continually; fasten them around your neck. | 21Bind them always on your heart; fasten 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, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak 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 this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life, |
| 24by keeping you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the loose woman. | 24keeping you from your neighbor's wife, from the smooth talk of a wayward woman. |
| 25Do not lust in your heart for her beauty, and do not let her captivate you with her alluring eyes; | 25Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes. |
| 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 a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread, but another man's wife preys on your very life. |
| 27Can a man hold fire against his chest without burning his clothes? | 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 it is with the one who has sex with his neighbor's wife; no one who touches her will escape punishment. | 29So is he who sleeps with another man's wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished. |
| 30People do not despise a thief when he steals to fulfill his need when he is hungry. | 30People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving. |
| 31Yet if he is caught he must repay seven times over, he might even have to give 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. |
| 32A man who commits adultery with a woman lacks wisdom, whoever does it destroys his own life. | 32But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself. |
| 33He will be beaten and despised, and his reproach will not be wiped away; | 33Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away. |
| 34for jealousy kindles a husband's rage, and he will not show mercy when he takes revenge. | 34For jealousy arouses a husband's fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge. |
| 35He will not consider any compensation; he will not be willing, even if you multiply the compensation. | 35He will not accept any compensation; he will refuse a bribe, however great it is. |
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