Proverbs 6:1-19

Christian Standard Bible

6 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor^[a]
or entered into an agreement with^[b] a stranger,^(A)
2 you have been snared by the words of your mouth—
trapped by the words from your mouth.
³ Do this, then, my son, and free yourself,
for you have put yourself in your neighbor’s power:
Go, humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor.
⁴ Don’t give sleep to your eyes
or slumber to your eyelids.^(B)
5 Escape like a gazelle from a hunter,^[c]
like a bird from a hunter’s trap.^[d](C)

⁶ Go to the ant,^(D) you slacker!^(E)
Observe its ways and become wise.
⁷ Without leader, administrator, or ruler,
⁸ it prepares its provisions in summer;
it gathers its food during harvest.^(F)
9 How long will you stay in bed, you slacker?
When will you get up from your sleep?
¹⁰ A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the arms to rest,
¹¹ and your poverty will come like a robber,
your need, like a bandit.^(G)

¹² A worthless person,^(H) a wicked man
goes around speaking dishonestly,^(I)
13 winking^(J) his eyes, signaling with his feet,
and gesturing with his fingers.
¹⁴ He always plots evil^(K) with perversity in his heart;
he stirs up trouble.^(L)
15 Therefore calamity will strike him suddenly;
he will be shattered instantly, beyond recovery.^(M)

¹⁶ The Lord hates six things;
in fact, seven are detestable to him:
¹⁷ arrogant eyes,^(N) a lying tongue,^(O)
hands that shed innocent blood,^(P)
18 a heart that plots wicked schemes,^(Q)
feet eager to run to evil,^(R)
19 a lying witness who gives false testimony,^(S)
and one who stirs up trouble among brothers.^(T)