New Century Version NCV
New International Version NIV
1 My child, be careful about giving a guarantee for somebody else's loan, about promising to pay what someone else owes.
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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 might get trapped by what you say; you might be caught by your own words.
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you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth.
3 My child, if you have done this and are under your neighbor's control, here is how to get free. Don't be proud. Go to your neighbor and beg to be free from your promise.
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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 go to sleep or even rest your eyes,
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Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids.
5 but free yourself like a deer running from a hunter, like a bird flying away from a trapper.
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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 Go watch the ants, you lazy person. Watch what they do and be wise.
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Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
7 Ants have no commander, no leader or ruler,
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It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,
8 but they store up food in the summer and gather their supplies at harvest.
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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 person? When will you get up from sleeping?
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How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?
10 You sleep a little; you take a nap. You fold your hands and lie down to rest.
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A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—
11 So you will be as poor as if you had been robbed; you will have as little as if you had been held up.
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and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.
12 Some people are wicked and no good. They go around telling lies,
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A troublemaker and a villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth,
13 winking with their eyes, tapping with their feet, and making signs with their fingers.
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who winks maliciously with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers,
14 They make evil plans in their hearts and are always starting arguments.
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who plots evil with deceit in his heart— he always stirs up conflict.
15 So trouble will strike them in an instant; suddenly they will be so hurt no one can help them.
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Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
16 There are six things the Lord hates. There are seven things he cannot stand:
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There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:
17 a proud look, 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 that thinks up evil plans, feet that are quick to do evil,
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a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a witness who lies, and someone who starts arguments among families.
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a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
20 My son, keep your father's commands, and don't forget your mother's teaching.
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My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
21 Keep their words in mind forever as though you had them tied around your neck.
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Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck.
22 They will guide you when you walk. They will guard you when you sleep. They will speak to you when you are awake.
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When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 These commands are like a lamp; this teaching is like a light. And the correction that comes from them will help you have life.
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For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life,
24 They will keep you from sinful women and from the pleasing words of another man's unfaithful wife.
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keeping you from your neighbor’s wife, from the smooth talk of a wayward woman.
25 Don't desire her because she is beautiful. Don't let her capture you by the way she looks at you.
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Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.
26 A prostitute will treat you like a loaf of bread, and a woman who takes part in adultery may cost you your life.
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For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread, but another man’s wife preys on your very life.
27 You cannot carry hot coals against your chest without burning your clothes,
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Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?
28 and you cannot walk on hot coals without burning your feet.
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Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?
29 The same is true if you have sexual relations with another man's wife. Anyone who does so will be punished.
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So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.
30 People don't hate a thief when he steals because he is hungry.
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People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.
31 But if he is caught, he must pay back seven times what he stole, and it may cost him everything he owns.
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Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it costs him all the wealth of his house.
32 A man who takes part in adultery has no sense; he will destroy himself.
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But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself.
33 He will be beaten up and disgraced, and his shame will never go away.
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Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away.
34 Jealousy makes a husband very angry, and he will have no pity when he gets revenge.
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For jealousy arouses a husband’s fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
35 He will accept no payment for the wrong; he will take no amount of money.
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He will not accept any compensation; he will refuse a bribe, however great it is.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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.