New International Version NIV
Good News Translation GNT
1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
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My child, have you promised to be responsible for someone else's debts?
2 you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth.
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Have you been caught by your own words, trapped by your own promises?
3 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!
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Well then, my child, you are in that person's power, but this is how to get out of it: hurry to him, and beg him to release you.
4 Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids.
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Don't let yourself go to sleep or even stop to rest.
5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
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Get out of the trap like a bird or a deer escaping from a hunter.
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
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Lazy people should learn a lesson from the way ants live.
7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,
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They have no leader, chief, or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.
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but they store up their food during the summer, getting ready for winter.
9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?
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How long is the lazy man going to lie around? When is he ever going to get up?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—
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"I'll just take a short nap," he says; "I'll fold my hands and rest a while."
11 and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.
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But while he sleeps, poverty will attack him like an armed robber.
12 A troublemaker and a villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth,
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Worthless, wicked people go around telling lies.
13 who winks maliciously with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers,
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They wink and make gestures to deceive you,
14 who plots evil with deceit in his heart— he always stirs up conflict.
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all the while planning evil in their perverted minds, stirring up trouble everywhere.
15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
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Because of this, disaster will strike them without warning, and they will be fatally wounded.
16 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:
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There are seven things that the Lord hates and cannot tolerate: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that kill innocent people, a mind that thinks up wicked plans, feet that hurry off to do evil, a witness who tells one lie after another, and someone who stirs up trouble among friends
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
20 My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
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Son, do what your father tells you and never forget what your mother taught you.
21 Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck.
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Keep their words with you always, locked in your heart.
22 When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.
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Their teaching will lead you when you travel, protect you at night, and advise you during the day.
23 For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life,
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Their instructions are a shining light; their correction can teach you how to live.
24 keeping you from your neighbor’s wife, from the smooth talk of a wayward woman.
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It can keep you away from bad women, from the seductive words of other men's wives.
25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.
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Don't be tempted by their beauty; don't be trapped by their flirting eyes.
26 For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread, but another man’s wife preys on your very life.
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A man can hire a prostitute for the price of a loaf of bread, but adultery will cost him all he has.
27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?
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Can you carry fire against your chest without burning your clothes?
28 Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?
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Can you walk on hot coals without burning your feet?
29 So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.
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It is just as dangerous to sleep with another man's wife. Whoever does it will suffer.
30 People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.
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People don't despise a thief if he steals food when he is hungry;
31 Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it costs him all the wealth of his house.
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yet if he is caught, he must pay back seven times more - he must give up everything he has.
32 But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself.
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But a man who commits adultery doesn't have any sense. He is just destroying himself.
33 Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away.
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He will be dishonored and beaten up; he will be permanently disgraced.
34 For jealousy arouses a husband’s fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
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A husband is never angrier than when he is jealous; his revenge knows no limits.
35 He will not accept any compensation; he will refuse a bribe, however great it is.
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He will not accept any payment; no amount of gifts will satisfy his anger.
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.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.