Holman Christian Standard Bible CSB
English Standard Version ESV
1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor or entered into an agreement with a stranger,
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My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger,
2 you have been trapped by the words of your lips- ensnared by the words of your mouth.
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if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth,
3 Do this, then, my son, and free yourself, for you have put yourself in your neighbor's power: Go, humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor.
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then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor.
4 Don't give sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids.
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Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber;
5 Escape like a gazelle from a hunter, like a bird from a fowler's trap.
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save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 Go to the ant, you slacker! Observe its ways and become wise.
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Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.
7 Without leader, administrator, or ruler,
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Without having any chief, officer, or ruler,
8 it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food during harvest.
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she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.
9 How long will you stay in bed, you slacker? When will you get up from your sleep?
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How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest,
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A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
11 and your poverty will come like a robber, your need, like a bandit.
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and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.
12 A worthless person, a wicked man, who goes around speaking dishonestly,
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A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech,
13 who winks his eyes, signals with his feet, and gestures with his fingers,
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winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger,
14 who plots evil with perversity in his heart- he stirs up trouble constantly.
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with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord;
15 Therefore calamity will strike him suddenly; he will be shattered instantly-beyond recovery.
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therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.
16 Six things the Lord hates; in fact, seven are detestable to Him:
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There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him:
17 arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
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haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet eager to run to evil,
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a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a lying witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up trouble among brothers.
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a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.
20 My son, keep your father's command, and don't reject your mother's teaching.
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My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching.
21 Always bind them to your heart; tie them around your neck.
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Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck.
22 When you walk here and there, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you wake up, they will talk to you.
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When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you.
23 For a commandment is a lamp, teaching is a light, and corrective instructions are the way to life.
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For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,
24 They will protect you from an evil woman, from the flattering tongue of a stranger.
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to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.
25 Don't lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyelashes.
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Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes;
26 For a prostitute's fee is only a loaf of bread, but an adulteress goes after [your] very life.
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for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts down a precious life.
27 Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned?
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Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned?
28 Can a man walk on coals without scorching his feet?
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Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched?
29 So it is with the one who sleeps with another man's wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.
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So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; none who touches her will go unpunished.
30 People don't despise the thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry.
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People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry,
31 Still, if caught, he must pay seven times as much; he must give up all the wealth in his house.
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but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold; he will give all the goods of his house.
32 The one who commits adultery lacks sense; whoever does so destroys himself.
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He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself.
33 He will get a beating and dishonor, and his disgrace will never be removed.
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He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away.
34 For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
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For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge.
35 He will not be appeased by anything or be persuaded by lavish gifts.
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He will accept no compensation; he will refuse though you multiply gifts.
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025