Chapter 6

My son, if thou be surety¹ for thy friend, [if] thou hast stricken¹ thy hand with a stranger,⁵

Thou art snared⁸ with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken⁸ with the words of thy mouth.

Do³ this now, my son, and deliver¹⁰ thyself, when thou art come¹ into the hand of thy friend; go,³ humble¹⁰⁰ thyself, and make sure³ thy friend.

Give⁴ not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

Deliver¹⁰ thyself as a roe from the hand [of the hunter], and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

Go³ to the ant, thou sluggard; consider³ her ways, and be wise:³

Which having no guide, overseer,⁶ or ruler,⁶

Provideth⁵⁵ her meat in the summer, [and] gathereth¹ her food in the harvest.

How long wilt thou sleep,⁴ O sluggard? when wilt thou arise⁴ out of thy sleep?

[Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:²

So shall thy poverty come¹ as one that travelleth,¹⁸ and thy want as an armed man.

A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh⁶ with a froward mouth.

He winketh⁶ with his eyes, he speaketh⁶ with his feet, he teacheth⁵⁶ with his fingers;

Frowardness [is] in his heart, he deviseth⁶ mischief continually; he soweth¹⁷ discord. ⁴⁰⁹⁰

Therefore shall his calamity come⁴ suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken¹¹ without remedy.

These six [things] doth the LORD hate:¹ yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him:

A proud⁶ look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed⁶ innocent blood,

An heart that deviseth⁶ wicked imaginations, feet that be swift¹⁸ in running² to mischief,

A false witness [that] speaketh⁵⁵ lies, and he that soweth¹⁸ discord among brethren.

My son, keep³ thy father's commandment, and forsake⁴ not the law of thy mother:

Bind³ them continually upon thine heart, [and] tie³ them about thy neck.

When thou goest,⁹⁹ it shall lead⁵⁵ thee; when thou sleepest,² it shall keep⁴ thee; and [when] thou awakest,⁵² it shall talk⁴ with thee.

For the commandment [is] a lamp; and the law [is] light; and reproofs of instruction [are] the way of life:

To keep² thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

Lust⁴ not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take⁴ thee with her eyelids.

For by means of a whorish⁶ woman [a man is brought] to a piece of bread: and the adulteress ³⁷⁶ will hunt⁴ for the precious life.

Can a man take⁴ fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?¹¹

Can one go¹⁷ upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?¹¹

So he that goeth in⁶ to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth⁶ her shall not be innocent.¹¹

[Men] do not despise⁴ a thief, if he steal⁴ to satisfy¹⁵ his soul when he is hungry;⁴

But [if] he be found,⁸ he shall restore¹⁷ sevenfold; he shall give⁴ all the substance of his house.

[But] whoso committeth adultery⁶ with a woman lacketh understanding: he [that] doeth⁴ it destroyeth⁵⁶ his own soul.

A wound and dishonour shall he get;⁴ and his reproach shall not be wiped away.¹¹

For jealousy [is] the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare⁴ in the day of vengeance.

He will not regard^{4 6440} any ransom; neither will he rest content,⁴ though thou givest many⁵⁵ gifts.