Proverbs 6:6-23

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

⁶ Go to the ant, you lazybones;
    consider its ways and be wise.^(A)
7 Without having any chief
    or officer or ruler,
⁸ it prepares its food in summer
    and gathers its sustenance in harvest.^(B)
9 How long will you lie there, O lazybones?
    When will you rise from your sleep?^(C)
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest,
¹¹ and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
    and want, like an armed warrior.^(D)

¹² A scoundrel and a villain
    goes around with crooked speech,^(E)
13 winking the eyes, shuffling the feet,
    pointing the fingers,^(F)
14 with perverted mind devising evil,
    continually sowing discord;^(G)
15 on such a one calamity will descend suddenly,
    in a moment, damage beyond repair.^(H)

¹⁶ There are six things that the Lord hates,
    seven that are an abomination to him:
¹⁷ haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
    and hands that shed innocent blood,^(I)
18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
    feet that hurry to run to evil,^(J)
19 a lying witness who testifies falsely,
    and one who sows discord in a family.^(K)

²⁰ My child, keep your father’s commandment,
    and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.^(L)
21 Bind them upon your heart always;
    tie them around your neck.^(M)
22 When you walk, they^[a] will lead you;
    when you lie down, they^[b] will watch over you;
    and when you awake, they^[c] will talk with you.^(N)
23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,
    and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,^(O)