 1 My son, if you are surety for your friend, if you shake hands with a stranger, 2 you are snared with the words of your mouth, you are taken with the words of your mouth. 3 My son, do this now, and deliver yourself when you have come into the hand of your friend: Go, humble yourself and make your friend sure. 4 Do not give sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids. 5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter's hand and like a bird from the hand of the fowler. 6 Go to the ant, sluggard. Consider her ways and be wise. 7 They have no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 yet they provide food in the summer and gather food in the harvest. 9 How long will you sleep, O sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to lie down. 11 So shall your poverty come as one who travels, and your need like an armed man. 12 A worthless person, a wicked person walks with a crooked mouth, 13 winking with his eyes, speaking with his feet, teaching with his fingers. 14 Perversity is in his heart. He is always planning mischief. He causes fighting. 15 Therefore his calamity will come suddenly. He is quickly broken and there is no healing. 16 These six the Lord hates. Yes, seven are hateful to Him: 17 A proud look. A lying tongue. Hands that shed innocent blood. 18 A heart that plots wicked plans. Feet that hurry and run to evil. 19 A false witness who speaks lies. And one who causes fighting among the family. 20 My son, keep your father's commandments and do not forsake the law of your mother. 21 Bind them upon your heart forever. Tie them around your neck. 22 When you go, it will lead you. When you sleep, it will keep you. When you awake, it will talk to you. 23 For the commandment is a lamp and the law is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life. 24 Keep away from evil women and from flattery from the tongue of a strange woman. 25 Do not lust after her beauty in your heart nor let her take you with her eyelids. 26 For by means of a harlot a man comes to a piece of bread. And another man's wife will hunt for the precious life. 27 Can a man take fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned? 28 Can one walk on hot coals and their feet not be burned? 29 So is anyone who goes in to his neighbor's wife. Whoever touches her will not be innocent. 30 They do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his soul when he is hungry. 31 But when he is found, he must restore sevenfold. He must give all the goods of his house. 32 Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding. whoever does that destroys his own soul. 33 He will get a wound and dishonor. His shame will not be wiped away. 34 For jealousy is the rage of a man. Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35 He will not take any ransom. Nor will he be willing if you multiply the gifts.
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