1My son, if you have promised to pay your friend's debt, if you have shaken hands on a deal with a stranger,
2then you are trapped by the words of your own mouth. You are caught by the words of your own mouth.
3So do this, my son, and set yourself free, since you have fallen into your friend's hand. Go, humble yourself, and press your friend hard.
4Give no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids.
5Free yourself like a deer from the hunter's hand, and like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6Go to the ant, you lazy one. Watch her ways, and be wise.
7She has no guide, no overseer, no ruler,
8yet she stores up her food in the summer, and gathers what she eats at harvest time.
9How long will you lie there, you lazy one? When will you get up from your sleep?
10A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
11and your poverty will come on you like a traveller, and your need like an armed man.
12A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with a crooked mouth.
13He winks with his eyes, he signals with his feet, he points with his fingers.
14Twisted things are in his heart. He is always planning evil. He stirs up quarrels.
15So disaster will come on him suddenly. In a moment he will be broken, and there will be no cure.
16There are six things the LORD hates. Yes, seven are disgusting to him:
17a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18a heart that plans wicked things, feet that run quickly to do harm,
19a false witness who tells lies, and the one who stirs up quarrels among brothers.
20My son, keep your father's commandment. Do not leave your mother's teaching.
21Bind them on your heart always. Tie them around your neck.
22When you walk, it will lead you. When you sleep, it will watch over you. When you wake, it will talk with you.
23For the commandment is a lamp, and the teaching is light, and correction that instructs is the way of life.
24They will keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of a strange woman.
25Do not desire her beauty in your heart. Do not let her catch you with her eyelids.
26For a woman who sells herself brings a man down to a piece of bread, and the adulteress hunts for the precious life.
27Can a man carry fire against his chest, and his clothes not be burned?
28Can a man walk on hot coals, and his feet not be burned?
29So it is with the man who goes in to his neighbour's wife. No one who touches her will go unpunished.
30People do not scorn a thief if he steals to fill himself when he is hungry.
31But if he is caught, he must pay back seven times over. He must give all the goods of his house.
32But whoever commits adultery with a woman has no sense. The man who does it destroys his own soul.
33He will get wounds and shame, and his disgrace will not be wiped away.
34For jealousy makes a man furious. He will show no mercy on the day of revenge.
35He will not accept any ransom. He will not be satisfied, however many gifts you give.