Proverbs 6:1-19

1My son, if you guarantee a loan for your neighbor or pledge yourself for a stranger with a handshake,

2you are trapped by the words of your own mouth, caught by your own promise.

3Do the following things, my son, so that you may free yourself, because you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Humble yourself, and pester your neighbor.

4Don’t let your eyes rest or your eyelids close.

5Free yourself like a gazelle from the hand of a hunter and like a bird from the hand of a hunter.

6Consider the ant, you lazy bum. Watch its ways, and become wise.

7Although it has no overseer, officer, or ruler,

8in summertime it stores its food supply. At harvest time it gathers its food.

9How long will you lie there, you lazy bum? When will you get up from your sleep?

10“Just a little sleep, just a little slumber, just a little nap.”

11Then your poverty will come ⌞to you⌟ like a drifter, and your need will come ⌞to you⌟ like a bandit.

12A good-for-nothing scoundrel is a person who has a dishonest mouth.

13He winks his eye, makes a signal with his foot, ⌞and⌟ points with his fingers.

14He devises evil all the time with a twisted mind. He spreads conflict.

15That is why disaster will come on him suddenly. In a moment he will be crushed beyond recovery.

16There are six things that the Lord hates, even seven that are disgusting to him:

17arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill innocent people,

18a mind devising wicked plans, feet that are quick to do wrong,

19a dishonest witness spitting out lies, and a person who spreads conflict among relatives.