Prov 6
1
My son, if you become surety for your friend, you shall deliver your hand to an enemy.
2
For a man’s own lips become a strong snare to him, and he is caught with the lips
of his own mouth.
3
My son, do what I command you, and deliver yourself; for on your friend’s account
you are come into the power of evil men: faint not, but stir up even your friend for
whom you are become surety.
4
Give not sleep to your eyes, nor slumber with your eyelids;
5
that you may deliver yourself as a doe out of the toils, and as a bird out of a snare.
6
Go to the ant, O sluggard; and see, and emulate his ways, and become wiser than he.
7
For whereas he has no husbandry, nor any one to compel him, and is under no master,
8
he prepares food for himself in the summer, and lays by abundant store in harvest.
(6:8AA) Or go to the bee, and learn how diligent she is, and how earnestly she is engaged
in her work; (6:8BA) whose labours kings and private men use for health, and she is desired and respected
by all: (6:8CA) though weak in Gr. strength body, she is advanced by honouring wisdom.
9
How long will you lie, O sluggard? and when will you awake out of sleep?
10
You sleep a little, and you rest a little, and you slumber a short time, and you fold
your arms over your breast a little.
11
Then poverty comes upon you as an evil traveller, and want as a swift courier: (6:11AA) but if you be diligent, your harvest
shall arrive as a fountain, and poverty shall
flee away as a bad courier.
12
A foolish man and a transgressor goes in ways that are not good.
13
And the same winks with the eye, and makes a sign with his foot, and teaches with
the beckonings of his fingers.
14
His perverse heart devises evils: at all times such a one causes troubles to a city.
15
Therefore his destruction shall come suddenly; overthrow and irretrievable ruin. Comp. Heb.
16
For he rejoices in all things which God hates, and he is ruined by reason of impurity
of soul.
17
The eye of the haughty, a tongue unjust, hands shedding the blood of the just;
18
and a heart devising evil thoughts, and feet hastening to do evil, —are hateful to
God.
19
An unjust witness kindles falsehoods, and Gr. sends forth judgements brings on quarrels between brethren.
20
My son, keep the laws of your father, and reject not the ordinances of your mother:
21
but bind them upon your soul continually, and hang them as a chain about your neck.
22
Whenever you walk, lead this along and let it be with you; that it may talk with you
when you wake.
23
For the commandment of the law is a lamp and a light; a way of life; reproof also
and correction:
24
to keep you continually from a married woman, and from the calumny of a strange tongue.
25
Let not the desire of beauty overcome you, neither be you caught by your eyes, neither
be captivated with her eyelids.
26
For the value of a harlot is as much as of one loaf; and a woman hunts for the precious
souls of men.
27
Shall any one bind fire in his bosom, and not burn his garments?
28
or will any one walk on coals of fire, and not burn his feet?
29
So is he who goes in to a married woman; he shall not be held guiltless, neither any
one that touches her.
30
It is not to be wondered at if one should be taken stealing, for he steals that when
hungry he may satisfy his soul:
31
but if he should be taken, he shall repay sevenfold, and shall deliver himself by
giving all his goods.
32
But the adulterer through want of sense procures destruction to his soul.
33
He endures both pain and disgrace, and his reproach shall never be wiped off.
34
For the soul of her husband is full of jealousy: he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
35
He will not forego his enmity for any ransom: neither will he be reconciled for many
gifts.