GOD'S WORD Translation GW
New International Version NIV
1 My son, if you guarantee a loan for your neighbor or pledge yourself for a stranger with a handshake,
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My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
2 you are trapped by the words of your own mouth, caught by your own promise.
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you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth.
3 Do the following things, my son, so that you may free yourself, because you have fallen into your neighbor's hands: Humble yourself, and pester your neighbor.
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So do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go—to the point of exhaustion—and give your neighbor no rest!
4 Don't let your eyes rest or your eyelids close.
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Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids.
5 Free yourself like a gazelle from the hand of a hunter and like a bird from the hand of a hunter.
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Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
6 Consider the ant, you lazy bum. Watch its ways, and become wise.
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Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
7 Although it has no overseer, officer, or ruler,
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It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,
8 in summertime it stores its food supply. At harvest time it gathers its food.
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yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, you lazy bum? When will you get up from your sleep?
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How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?
10 "Just a little sleep, just a little slumber, just a little nap."
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A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—
11 Then your poverty will come [to you] like a drifter, and your need will come [to you] like a bandit.
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and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.
12 A good-for-nothing scoundrel is a person who has a dishonest mouth.
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A troublemaker and a villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth,
13 He winks his eye, makes a signal with his foot, [and] points with his fingers.
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who winks maliciously with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers,
14 He devises evil all the time with a twisted mind. He spreads conflict.
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who plots evil with deceit in his heart— he always stirs up conflict.
15 That is why disaster will come on him suddenly. In a moment he will be crushed beyond recovery.
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Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
16 There are six things that the LORD hates, even seven that are disgusting to him:
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There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:
17 arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill innocent people,
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haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a mind devising wicked plans, feet that are quick to do wrong,
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a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a dishonest witness spitting out lies, and a person who spreads conflict among relatives.
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a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.