Proverbs 6:1-19

1My child, be careful not to promise more than you can really do. You may have promised to pay the debts of a friend or of a stranger.

2Then what you have promised to do may become a trap that catches you.

3Now you need to escape from your problem. Your friend has got power over you. So you must be humble. Go quickly to him and ask him to forgive the debt.

4Do not let yourself sleep or even stop to rest until you have met with him.

5You must make yourself free from the trap. Escape quickly, like a bird or a deer that runs away from a hunter.

6Learn a lesson from the ants, you lazy person! See how hard they work.

7They have no leader or ruler,

8but they get their food during the summer. At the time of harvest they store food to prepare for winter.

9But you, you lazy man, you lie in bed too long! Will you never get up to work?

10You say, ‘I will have a short sleep. I will rest quietly for a while.’

11But while you sleep you will suddenly become poor. You will have nothing, as if someone has robbed you.

12A useless, wicked person is always deceiving people.

13He sends secret messages with his eyes, his feet or his fingers.

14He uses evil thoughts to decide how he will hurt people. Wherever he goes, there is trouble.

15Because of this, trouble will suddenly happen to him. It will knock him down and he will never get up again.

16There are six things that the Lord hates, or even seven things:

17Eyes that show how proud a person is. A mouth that speaks lies. Hands that kill people who have done nothing wrong.

18A mind that chooses to do wicked things. Feet that hurry to do evil things.

19A person who tells lies in court. A person who causes trouble in a family.