Proverbs 6:1-19

1My son, if you have become a cosigner for your neighbor, if you have shaken hands in pledge with a stranger,

2if you are trapped by your own words, ensnared by the words of your mouth,

3then do this, my son, and free yourself, since you fell into your neighbor’s hand: Go, humble yourself, plead with your neighbor!

4Allow no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids.

5Escape like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

6Go to the ant, you slacker— consider its ways and be wise!

7It has no commander, no overseer or ruler.

8Yet it prepares its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

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

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

11and your poverty comes like a bandit and your need like an armed man.

12A scoundrel, a wicked man, is one who goes around with a perverse mouth,

13winking his eyes, shuffling his feet, pointing his fingers,

14who continually plots evil with deceit in his heart stirring up strife.

15Therefore his disaster will come suddenly —in an instant he will be broken, with no remedy.

16Six things Adonai hates, yes, seven are abominations to Him:

17haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,

18a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet that run to evil,

19a false witness who spouts lies, and one who stirs up strife among brothers.