Proverbs

¹ My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge for another,

² ensnared by the words of your mouth,

³ since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor!

⁴ no slumber to your eyelids.

⁵ like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

⁶ consider its ways and be wise!

⁷ no overseer or ruler,

⁸ and gathers its food at harvest.

⁹ When will you get up from your sleep?

¹⁰ a little folding of the hands to rest—

¹¹ and scarcity like an armed man.

¹² who goes about with a corrupt mouth,

¹³ signals with his feet and motions with his fingers,

¹⁴ he always stirs up dissension.

¹⁵ he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

¹⁶ seven that are detestable to him:

¹⁷ a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,

¹⁸ feet that are quick to rush into evil,

¹⁹ and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

²⁰ My son, keep your father’s commands and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

²¹ fasten them around your neck.

²² when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.

²³ this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life,

²⁴ from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife.

²⁵ or let her captivate you with her eyes,

²⁶ and the adulteress preys upon your very life.

²⁷ without his clothes being burned?

²⁸ without his feet being scorched?

²⁹ no one who touches her will go unpunished.

³⁰ to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.

³¹ though it costs him all the wealth of his house.

³² whoever does so destroys himself.

³³ and his shame will never be wiped away;

³⁴ and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.

³⁵ he will refuse the bribe, however great it is.