Chapter 6

  My son, if you have become collateral for your neighbor, If you have struck your hands in pledge for a stranger;  

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  You are trapped by the words of your mouth. You are ensnared with the words of your mouth.  

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  Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself, Seeing you have come into the hand of your neighbor. Go, humble yourself. Press your plea with your neighbor.  

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  Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids.  

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  Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, Like a bird from the snare of the fowler.  

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  Go to the ant, you sluggard. Consider her ways, and be wise;  

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  Which having no chief, Overseer, or ruler,  

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  Provides her bread in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest.  

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  How long will you sleep, sluggard? When will you arise out of your sleep?  

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  A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep:  

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  So your poverty will come as a robber, And your scarcity as an armed man.  

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  A worthless person, a man of iniquity, Is he who walks with a perverse mouth;  

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  Who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, Who motions with his fingers;  

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  In whose heart is perverseness, Who devises evil continually, Who always sows discord.  

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  Therefore his calamity will come suddenly. He will be broken suddenly, and that without remedy.  

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  There are six things which Yahweh hates; Yes, seven which are an abomination to him:  

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  Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood;  

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  A heart that devises wicked schemes, Feet that are swift in running to mischief,  

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  A false witness who utters lies, And he who sows discord among brothers.  

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  My son, keep your father's commandment, And don't forsake your mother's teaching.  

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  Bind them continually on your heart. Tie them around your neck.  

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  When you walk, it will lead you. When you sleep, it will watch over you. When you awake, it will talk with you.  

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  For the commandment is a lamp, And the law is light. Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,  

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  To keep you from the immoral woman, From the flattery of the wayward wife's tongue.  

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  Don't lust after her beauty in your heart, Neither let her captivate you with her eyelids.  

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  For a prostitute reduces you to a piece of bread. The adulteress hunts for your precious life.  

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  Can a man scoop fire into his lap, And his clothes not be burned?  

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  Or can one walk on hot coals, And his feet not be scorched?  

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  So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife. Whoever touches her will not be unpunished.  

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  Men don't despise a thief, If he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry:  

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  But if he be found, he shall restore seven times. He shall give all the wealth of his house.  

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  He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding. He who does it destroys his own soul.  

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  He will get wounds and dishonor. His reproach will not be wiped away.  

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  For jealousy arouses the fury of the husband. He won't spare in the day of vengeance.  

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  He won't regard any ransom, Neither will he rest content, though you give many gifts.  

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