Warnings against Foolishness

1My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger,

2if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth,

3then do this, my son, to free yourself, for you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go, humble yourself, ²¹and press your plea with your neighbor.

4Allow no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids.

5Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, ²²like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

6Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise.

7Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler,

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

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

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

11and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.

12A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth,

13winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers.

14With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord.

15Therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in an instant he will be shattered beyond recovery.

16There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him:

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

18a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that run swiftly to evil,

19a false witness who gives false testimony,
and one who stirs up discord among brothers.

Warnings against Adultery

20My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

21Bind them always upon your heart; tie them around your neck.

22When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you;
when you awake, they will speak to you.

23For this commandment is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way to life,

24to keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress. ²³

25Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes. ²⁴

26For the levy of the prostitute is poverty, ²⁵and the adulteress preys upon your very life.

27Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned?

28Can a man walk on hot coals without scorching his feet?

29So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.

30Men do not despise the thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger.

31Yet if caught, he must pay sevenfold; he must give up all the wealth of his house.

32He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.

33Wounds and dishonor will befall him, and his reproach will never be wiped away.

34For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy in the day of vengeance.

35He will not be appeased by any ransom, or persuaded by lavish gifts.