²⁴ If you assist a thief, you only hurt yourself.
    You are sworn to tell the truth, but you dare not testify.

³⁶ But those who miss me injure themselves.
    All who hate me love death.”

¹¹ They may say, “Come and join us.
    Let’s hide and kill someone!
    Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent!
¹² Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave^[a];
    let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death.
¹³ Think of the great things we’ll get!
    We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take.
¹⁴ Come, throw in your lot with us;
    we’ll all share the loot.”

¹⁵ My child, don’t go along with them!
    Stay far away from their paths.
¹⁶ They rush to commit evil deeds.
    They hurry to commit murder.
¹⁷ If a bird sees a trap being set,
    it knows to stay away.
¹⁸ But these people set an ambush for themselves;
    they are trying to get themselves killed.
¹⁹ Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money;
    it robs them of life.

¹⁸ When you see thieves, you approve of them,
    and you spend your time with adulterers.
¹⁹ Your mouth is filled with wickedness,
    and your tongue is full of lies.
²⁰ You sit around and slander your brother—
    your own mother’s son.
²¹ While you did all this, I remained silent,
    and you thought I didn’t care.
But now I will rebuke you,
    listing all my charges against you.
²² Repent, all of you who forget me,
    or I will tear you apart,
    and no one will help you.

³² If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself;
    but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.

³² But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool,
    for he destroys himself.