New International Version NIV
Revised Standard Version RSV
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 son, if you have become surety for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger;
2 you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth.
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if you are snared in the utterance of your lips, caught in the words of your mouth;
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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then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into your neighbor's power: go, hasten, and importune your neighbor.
4 Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids.
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Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber;
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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save yourself like a gazelle from the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
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Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.
7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,
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Without having any chief, officer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.
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she prepares her food in summer, and gathers her sustenance in harvest.
9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? 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 hands to rest—
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A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
11 and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.
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and poverty will come upon you like a vagabond, and want like an armed man.
12 A troublemaker and a villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth,
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A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech,
13 who winks maliciously with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers,
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winks with his eyes, scrapes with his feet, points with his finger,
14 who plots evil with deceit in his heart— he always stirs up conflict.
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with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord;
15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
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therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.
16 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:
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There are six things which the LORD hates, seven which are an abomination to him:
17 haughty 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 devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
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a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
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a false witness who breathes out lies, and a man who sows discord among brothers.
20 My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
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My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not your mother's teaching.
21 Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck.
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Bind them upon your heart always; tie them about your neck.
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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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 this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction 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 keeping you from your neighbor’s wife, from the smooth talk of a wayward woman.
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to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adventuress.
25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.
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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 can be had for a loaf of bread, but another man’s wife preys on your very life.
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for a harlot may be hired for a loaf of bread, but an adulteress stalks a man's very life.
27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?
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Can a man carry fire in his bosom and his clothes not be burned?
28 Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?
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Or can one walk upon hot coals and his feet not be scorched?
29 So is he 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 do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.
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Do not men despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his appetite 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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And if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold; he will give all the goods of his house.
32 But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself.
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He who commits adultery has no sense; he who does it destroys himself.
33 Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away.
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Wounds and dishonor will he get, and his disgrace will not be wiped away.
34 For jealousy arouses a husband’s fury, 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 accept any compensation; he will refuse a bribe, however great it is.
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He will accept no compensation, nor be appeased though you multiply gifts.
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.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.