Proverbs 6:1-11

English Standard Version

Practical Warnings

6 My son, if you have put up ^(A)security for your neighbor,
    have ^(B)given your pledge for a stranger,
²if you are ^(C)snared in the words of your mouth,
    caught in the words of your mouth,
³then do this, my son, and save yourself,
    for you have come into the hand of your neighbor:
    go, hasten,^[a] and ^(D)plead urgently with your neighbor.
⁴^(E)Give your eyes no sleep
    and your eyelids no slumber;
⁵save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,^[b]
    ^(F)like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

⁶^(G)Go to ^(H)the ant, O ^(I)sluggard;
    consider her ways, and ^(J)be wise.
⁷^(K)Without having any chief,
    ^(L)officer, or ruler,
⁸she prepares her bread ^(M)in summer
    and ^(N)gathers her food in harvest.
⁹^(O)How long will you lie there, ^(P)O sluggard?
    When will you arise from your sleep?
¹⁰^(Q)A little sleep, a little slumber,
    ^(R)a little ^(S)folding of the hands to rest,
¹¹^(T)and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
    and want like an armed man.