Proverbs 6:1-11 ▼

1 My son, if you have become surety to your neighbor, given your hand in pledge to another,

2 You have been snared by the utterance of your lips, caught by the words of your mouth;

3 So do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor’s power: Go, hurry, rouse your neighbor!

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

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

6 Go to the ant, O sluggard, study her ways and learn wisdom;

7 For though she has no chief, no commander or ruler,

8 She procures her food in the summer, stores up her provisions in the harvest.

9 How long, O sluggard, will you lie there? when will you rise from your sleep?

10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest—

11 Then poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like a brigand.