Proverbs 6:1-17 ▼

1 My son, if you become surety for your friend, If you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,

2 You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth.

3 So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; For you have come into the hand of your friend: Go and humble yourself; Plead with your friend.

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

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

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise,

7 Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler,

8 Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest.

9 How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?

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

11 So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.

12 A worthless person, a wicked man, Walks with a perverse mouth;

13 He winks with his eyes, He shuffles his feet, He points with his fingers;

14 Perversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, He sows discord.

15 Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy.

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

17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood,