Proverbs 6
Financial Entanglements
1My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor or entered into an agreement with a stranger,23you have been snared by the words of your mouth — trapped by the words from your mouth.4
5Do this, then, my son, and free yourself, for you have put yourself in your neighbor’s power: Go, humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor.6
7Don’t give sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids.8
9Escape like a gazelle from a hunter, like a bird from a hunter’s trap.10
Laziness
11Go to the ant, you slacker! Observe its ways and become wise.1213Without leader, administrator, or ruler,14
15it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food during harvest.16
17How long will you stay in bed, you slacker? When will you get up from your sleep?18
19A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest,20
21and your poverty will come like a robber, your need, like a bandit.22
The Malicious Man
23A worthless person, a wicked man goes around speaking dishonestly,2425winking his eyes, signaling with his feet, and gesturing with his fingers.26
27He always plots evil with perversity in his heart; he stirs up trouble.28
29Therefore calamity will strike him suddenly; he will be shattered instantly, beyond recovery.30
What the Lord Hates
31The Lord hates six things; in fact, seven are detestable to him:3233arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,34
35a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet eager to run to evil,36
37a lying witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up trouble among brothers.38
Warning against Adultery
39My son, keep your father’s command, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching.4041Always bind them to your heart; tie them around your neck.42
43When you walk here and there, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you wake up, they will talk to you.44
45For a command is a lamp, teaching is a light, and corrective discipline is the way to life.46
47They will protect you from an evil woman, from the flattering tongue of a wayward woman.48
49Don’t lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyelashes.50
51For a prostitute’s fee is only a loaf of bread, but the wife of another man goes after a precious life.52
53Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned?54
55Can a man walk on burning coals without scorching his feet?56
57So it is with the one who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.58
59People don’t despise the thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry.60
61Still, if caught, he must pay seven times as much; he must give up all the wealth in his house.62
63The one who commits adultery lacks sense; whoever does so destroys himself.64
65He will get a beating and dishonor, and his disgrace will never be removed.66
67For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.68
69He will not be appeased by anything or be persuaded by lavish bribes.70