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.
20 My son, obey the command of your father, and do not disregard the teachings of your mother.
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My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
21 Fasten them on your heart forever. Hang them around your neck.
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Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck.
22 When you walk around, they will lead 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 guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 because the command is a lamp, the teachings are a light, and the warnings from discipline are the path of 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 to keep you from an evil woman and from the smooth talk of a loose woman.
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keeping you from your neighbor’s wife, from the smooth talk of a wayward woman.
25 Do not desire her beauty in your heart. Do not let her catch you with her eyes.
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Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.
26 A prostitute's price is [only] a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts for [your] life itself.
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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 Can a man carry fire in his lap without burning his clothes?
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Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?
28 Can anyone walk on red-hot coals without burning his feet?
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Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?
29 So it is with a man who has sex with his neighbor's wife. None who touch her will escape punishment.
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So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.
30 People do not despise a thief who is hungry when he steals to satisfy his appetite,
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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 has to repay it seven times. He must give up all the possessions in his house.
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Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it costs him all the wealth of his house.
32 Whoever commits adultery with a woman has no sense. Whoever does this destroys himself.
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But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself.
33 An adulterous man will find disease and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be blotted out,
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Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away.
34 because jealousy arouses a husband's fury. The husband will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
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For jealousy arouses a husband’s fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
35 No amount of money will change his mind. The largest bribe will not satisfy him.
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He will not accept any compensation; he will refuse a bribe, however great it is.
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.