Proverbs 6

The Voice

6 My son, if you will risk your family’s future to put up collateral for the debts of an acquaintance,
    if you seal a commitment with a handshake to someone without first knowing the value of his word,
² Then your words may well be the trap that snares you,
    and your promise may seal your fate.
    You can’t be sure to whom you hitched your future.
³ So, my son—save yourself! Here’s what you need to do:
    go to that person who became your master with a handshake,
    humble yourself, and plead your case.
⁴ Do not sleep;
    don’t even rest your eyes until you deal with this.
⁵ Get out as quickly as possible,
    as a gazelle runs from the hand of the hunter,
    as a bird takes off from the grip of the fowler.

⁶ Take a lesson from the ant, you who love leisure and ease.
    Observe how it works, and dare to be just as wise.
⁷ It has no boss,
    no one laying down the law or telling it what to do,
⁸ Yet it gathers its food through summer
    and takes what it needs from the harvest.
⁹ How long do you plan to lounge your life away, you lazy fool?
    Will you ever get out of bed?
¹⁰ You say, “A little sleep, a little rest,
    a few more minutes, a nice little nap.”
¹¹ But soon poverty will be on top of you like a robber;
    need will assault you like a well-armed warrior.

¹² Someone who struts around taking advantage of unsuspecting souls
    and deceiving others is to be avoided.
¹³ With a wink of his eye, a quick shuffle of his feet,
    and a slight gesture with his hand, he signals his roguish treachery.
¹⁴ With a warped mind and twisted heart, he constantly looks for his own gain at others’ expense,
    causing friction everywhere he goes.
¹⁵ But you watch: his actions will bring sudden disaster!
    In an instant, his life will be shattered,
    and there will be nothing to save him.

¹⁶ Take note, there are six things the Eternal hates;
    no, make it seven He abhors:
¹⁷ Eyes that look down on others, a tongue that can’t be trusted,
    hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸ A heart that conceives evil plans,
    feet that sprint toward evil,
¹⁹ A false witness who breathes out lies,
    and anyone who stirs up trouble among the faithful.

²⁰ So, my son, follow your father’s direction,
    and don’t forget what your mother taught you—
²¹ Keep their teachings close to your heart;
    engrave them on a pendant, and hang it around your neck.
²² Their instruction will guide you along your journey,
    guard you when you sleep,
    and address you when you wake in the morning.
²³ For their direction is a lamp; their instruction will light your path,
    and their discipline will correct your missteps,
    sending you down the right path of life.
²⁴ They will keep you far from the corrupted woman,
    away from the smooth talk of a seductive woman.
²⁵ Do not lose yourself in desire for her beauty
    or let her win you over with her painted eyes,
²⁶ For you can buy a harlot with a loaf of bread,
    but sex with another man’s wife will cost you your life.
²⁷ Can you carry fire right next to your body
    and keep your clothes from burning?
²⁸ Can you walk over fiery coals
    and keep your feet from blistering?
²⁹ Take another man’s wife, and you will find out—
    whoever touches her will be found guilty.
³⁰ People don’t despise a thief
    who only steals to fill his hunger;
³¹ Still if they catch him, he must repay seven times over—
    he could end up losing everything he owns!
³² By contrast only a fool would commit adultery
    since by his action he loses not only his possessions but also his own life.
³³ He will suffer injury and be disgraced;
    dishonor will leave a permanent mark on his life.
³⁴ For jealousy sparks a husband’s rage—
    when he gets his revenge, he’ll show no mercy.
³⁵ He will not be paid off or appeased;
    no bribe or gift will set things right.