Proverbs 6:1-11 ▼

1 My son, if thou art become surety for thy neighbour, If thou hast struck thy hands for a stranger--

2 Thou art snared by the words of thy mouth, Thou art caught by the words of thy mouth--

3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, Seeing thou art come into the hand of thy neighbour; Go, humble thyself, and urge thy neighbour.

4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

5 Deliver thyself as a gazelle from the hand [of the hunter], And as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; Consider her ways, and be wise;

7 Which having no chief, Overseer, or ruler,

8 Provideth her bread in the summer, And gatherest her food in the harvest.

9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep'--

11 So shall thy poverty come as a runner, And thy want as an armed man.