Proverbs 6

Parental Counsel

1My son, if you have become 1surety for your neighbor, Have 2given a pledge for a stranger,2If you have been snared with the words of your mouth, Have been caught with the words of your mouth,3Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself; Since you have come into the 3hand of your neighbor, Go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor.4Give no 4sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids;5Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand And like a 5bird from the hand of the fowler.

6Go to the 6ant, O 7sluggard, Observe her ways and be wise,7Which, having 8no chief, Officer or ruler,8Prepares her food 9in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest.9How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?10“10A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to 11rest”--1112Your poverty will come in like a 13vagabond And your need like 14an armed man.

12A 15worthless person, a wicked man, Is the one who walks with a 16perverse mouth,13Who 17winks with his eyes, who 18signals with his feet, Who 19points with his fingers;14Who with 20perversity in his heart continually 21devises evil, Who 2223spreads strife.15Therefore 24his calamity will come suddenly; 25Instantly he will be broken and there will be 26no healing.

16There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination 27to Him:1728Haughty eyes, a 29lying tongue, And hands that 30shed innocent blood,18A heart that devises 31wicked plans, 32Feet that run rapidly to evil,19A 33false witness who utters lies, And one who 3435spreads strife among brothers.

2036My son, observe the commandment of your father And do not forsake the 37teaching of your mother;2138Bind them continually on your heart; Tie them around your neck.22When you 39walk about, 40they will guide you; When you sleep, 41they will watch over you; And when you awake, 42they will talk to you.23For 43the commandment is a lamp and the 44teaching is light; And reproofs for discipline are the way of life24To 45keep you from the evil woman, From the smooth tongue of the 46adulteress.2547Do not desire her beauty in your heart, Nor let her capture you with her 48eyelids.26For 49on account of a harlot one is reduced to a loaf of bread, And 50an adulteress 51hunts for the precious life.27Can a man 52take fire in his bosom And his clothes not be burned?28Or can a man walk on hot coals And his feet not be scorched?29So is the one who 53goes in to his neighbor’s wife; Whoever touches her 54will not 55go unpunished.3056Men do not despise a thief if he steals To 57satisfy 58himself when he is hungry;31But when he is found, he must 59repay sevenfold; He must give all the 60substance of his house.32The one who commits adultery with a woman is 61lacking 62sense; He who would 63destroy 64himself does it.33Wounds and disgrace he will find, And his reproach will not be blotted out.34For 65jealousy 66enrages a man, And he will not spare in the 67day of vengeance.35He will not 68accept any ransom, Nor will he be 69satisfied though you give many 70gifts.