New International Reader's Version NIRV
New International Version NIV
1 My son, don't put up money for what your neighbor owes. Don't agree to pay up for someone else.
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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 Don't be trapped by what you have said. Don't be caught by the words of your mouth.
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you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth.
3 Instead, my son, do something to free yourself. Don't fall into your neighbor's hands. Don't be proud. Hurry and make your appeal to 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 go to sleep. Don't let your eyelids close.
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Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids.
5 As a deer frees itself from a hunter, free yourself. As a bird frees itself from a trapper, free yourself.
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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 You people who don't want to work, think about the ant! Consider its ways and be wise!
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Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander. It has no leader or ruler.
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It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,
8 But it stores up its food in summer. It gathers its food at harvest time.
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yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.
9 You lazy people, how long will you lie there? 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 You might sleep a little or take a little nap. You might even fold your hands and rest.
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A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—
11 Then you would be poor, as if someone had robbed you. You would have little, as if someone had stolen from you.
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and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.
12 A worthless and evil man goes around saying twisted things with his mouth.
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A troublemaker and a villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth,
13 He winks with his eyes. He makes signals with his feet. He motions with his fingers.
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who winks maliciously with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers,
14 His plans are evil. He has lies in his heart. He is always stirring up fights.
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who plots evil with deceit in his heart— he always stirs up conflict.
15 Trouble will catch up with him in an instant. He will suddenly be destroyed. Nothing can save him.
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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. In fact, he hates seven things.
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There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:
17 The LORD hates proud eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that kill those who aren't guilty.
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haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 He also hates hearts that make 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 any witness who pours out lies, and anyone who stirs up family fights.
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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. Don't turn away from your mother's teaching.
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My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
21 Tie them to your heart forever. Put them around your neck.
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Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will guide you. When you sleep, they will watch over you. When you wake up, they will speak to you.
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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 Your father's commands are like a lamp. Your mother's teaching is like a light. And the training that corrects you leads to 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 It keeps you from a sinful woman. It keeps you from the smooth tongue of a woman who commits adultery.
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keeping you from your neighbor’s wife, from the smooth talk of a wayward woman.
25 Don't hunger in your heart after her beauty. Don't let her eyes capture 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 leaves you with only a loaf of bread. Another man's wife hunts your very 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 can't shovel fire into your lap without burning your clothes.
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Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?
28 You can't 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 It's the same for anyone who has sex with another man's wife. Anyone who touches her 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 who steals to fill his empty stomach.
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People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.
31 But when he is caught, he must pay seven times as much as he stole. It may even cost him everything he has.
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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 commits adultery has no sense. Anyone who does it destroys 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 dishonored. His shame will never be wiped away.
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Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away.
34 Jealousy stirs up a husband's anger. He will show no mercy when he gets even.
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For jealousy arouses a husband’s fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
35 He won't accept any payment. He won't take any money, no matter how much he is offered.
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He will not accept any compensation; he will refuse a bribe, however great it is.
Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version® Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.
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.