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Proverbs 6

My son, if you've guaranteed your neighbour's debt or given your pledge to a stranger, you've been trapped by the words of your mouth; your own words have caught you. Then do this, my son, and free yourself, because you've fallen into your neighbour's hand: humble yourself, go to him, and press the matter urgently. Don't give sleep to you

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Surety and the ant

My son, if you've guaranteed your neighbour's debt or given your pledge to a stranger, you've been trapped by the words of your mouth; your own words have caught you. Then do this, my son, and free yourself, because you've fallen into your neighbour's hand: humble yourself, go to him, and press the matter urgently. Don't give sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids. Free yourself like a roe from the hunter's hand and like a bird from the hand of the fowler. Go to the ant, you lazy man. Watch how she works, and learn some wisdom. She has no guide, overseer or ruler, yet she prepares her food in summer and gathers her provisions at harvest. How long will you lie there, you lazy man? When are you going to get up? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— and poverty will come on you like a traveller, and want like an armed man.

My son, if you've gone surety for your mate, if you've struck your hand with a stranger, you're caught by the words of your mouth. You're taken by the words of your mouth. Do this now, my son, and rescue yourself when you've come into the hand of your mate. Go and bring yourself low, and push your mate hard. Don't give sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids. Rescue yourself like a deer from the hand of the hunter, and like a bird from the hand of the fowler. Go to the ant, you lazy man. Look at her ways and be wise. She's got no guide, overseer or ruler, but she gets her food ready in the summer and gathers her supplies in the harvest. How long will you sleep, lazy man? When will you get up out of your sleep? A bit more sleep, a bit more slumber, a bit more folding of the hands to lie down — so your poverty will come like one who travels, and your want like an armed man.

My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend. Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler. Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

1

My son, if you've guaranteed your neighbour's debt or given your pledge to a stranger,

Plain English

My son, if you've gone surety for your mate, if you've struck your hand with a stranger,

King James Version, 1611

My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,

2

you've been trapped by the words of your mouth; your own words have caught you.

Plain English

you're caught by the words of your mouth. You're taken by the words of your mouth.

King James Version, 1611

Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

3

Then do this, my son, and free yourself, because you've fallen into your neighbour's hand: humble yourself, go to him, and press the matter urgently.

Plain English

Do this now, my son, and rescue yourself when you've come into the hand of your mate. Go and bring yourself low, and push your mate hard.

King James Version, 1611

Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

4

Don't give sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids.

King James Version, 1611

Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

5

Free yourself like a roe from the hunter's hand and like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

Plain English

Rescue yourself like a deer from the hand of the hunter, and like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

King James Version, 1611

Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6

Go to the ant, you lazy man. Watch how she works, and learn some wisdom.

Plain English

Go to the ant, you lazy man. Look at her ways and be wise.

King James Version, 1611

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

7

She has no guide, overseer or ruler,

Plain English

She's got no guide, overseer or ruler,

King James Version, 1611

Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

8

yet she prepares her food in summer and gathers her provisions at harvest.

Plain English

but she gets her food ready in the summer and gathers her supplies in the harvest.

King James Version, 1611

Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

9

How long will you lie there, you lazy man? When are you going to get up?

Plain English

How long will you sleep, lazy man? When will you get up out of your sleep?

King James Version, 1611

How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

10

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—

Plain English

A bit more sleep, a bit more slumber, a bit more folding of the hands to lie down —

King James Version, 1611

Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

11

and poverty will come on you like a traveller, and want like an armed man.

Plain English

so your poverty will come like one who travels, and your want like an armed man.

King James Version, 1611

So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

Six things the Lord hates

A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with a perverse mouth. He winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, and points with his fingers. Perversity is in his heart. He is always plotting mischief and sowing discord. So disaster will come on him suddenly; in a moment he'll be broken beyond healing. There are six things the LORD hates—yes, seven are disgusting to him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood; a heart that schemes up wicked plans, and feet that hurry towards evil; a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a twisted mouth. He winks with his eyes. He speaks with his feet. He teaches with his fingers. Twistedness is in his heart. He plans evil all the time. He sows arguments. So his disaster will come suddenly. In a moment he'll be broken with no healing. There are six things the Lord hates, yes, seven that are disgusting to him: a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that spill innocent blood, a heart that thinks up wicked plans, feet that are quick to run to trouble, a false witness who speaks lies, and the one who sows arguments among brothers.

A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy. These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

12

A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with a perverse mouth.

Plain English

A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a twisted mouth.

King James Version, 1611

A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.

13

He winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, and points with his fingers.

Plain English

He winks with his eyes. He speaks with his feet. He teaches with his fingers.

King James Version, 1611

He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;

14

Perversity is in his heart. He is always plotting mischief and sowing discord.

Plain English

Twistedness is in his heart. He plans evil all the time. He sows arguments.

King James Version, 1611

Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

15

So disaster will come on him suddenly; in a moment he'll be broken beyond healing.

Plain English

So his disaster will come suddenly. In a moment he'll be broken with no healing.

King James Version, 1611

Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

16

There are six things the LORD hates—yes, seven are disgusting to him:

Plain English

There are six things the Lord hates, yes, seven that are disgusting to him:

King James Version, 1611

These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17

a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood;

Plain English

a proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that spill innocent blood,

King James Version, 1611

A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18

a heart that schemes up wicked plans, and feet that hurry towards evil;

Plain English

a heart that thinks up wicked plans, feet that are quick to run to trouble,

King James Version, 1611

An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19

a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

Plain English

a false witness who speaks lies, and the one who sows arguments among brothers.

King James Version, 1611

A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Fire in the chest

My son, keep your father's commandment and don't abandon your mother's law. Bind them on your heart always and fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they'll lead you; when you sleep, they'll keep you; and when you wake, they'll speak with you. The commandment is a lamp, the law is a light, and the corrections of instruction are the way of life. They'll keep you from the evil woman and from the flattering tongue of a strange woman. Don't lust after her beauty in your heart, and don't let her capture you with her eyelids. A whorish woman can bring a man down to a piece of bread, and an adulteress hunts for the precious life. Can a man carry fire against his chest without burning his clothes? Can he walk over hot coals without scorching his feet? So it is with the man who goes in to his neighbour's wife: whoever touches her will not be innocent. People don't despise a thief who steals to satisfy his hunger when he's starving. But if he's caught, he must repay sevenfold, even if it costs him everything in his house. Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; the man who does it destroys his own soul. He'll get wounds and dishonour, and his disgrace won't be wiped away. Jealousy enrages a man, and he won't spare anyone in the day of vengeance. He won't accept any payment, and he won't be satisfied no matter how big the gift.

My son, keep your father's order, and don't leave the law of your mother. Tie them on your heart always. Fasten them round your neck. When you go, it'll lead you. When you sleep, it'll keep you. And when you wake, it'll talk with you. Because the order is a lamp, and the teaching is light, and the tellings-off of teaching are the way of life — to keep you from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Don't want her beauty in your heart, and don't let her take you with her eyelids. Because by a prostitute a man is brought to a scrap of bread. And the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. Can a man take fire in his chest and his clothes not be burnt? Can a man walk on hot coals and his feet not be burnt? That's how it is with the one who goes in to his neighbour's wife. Whoever touches her won't be innocent. Men don't look down on a thief if he steals to fill his soul when he's hungry. But if he's found, he'll pay back sevenfold. He'll give everything of his house. But whoever breaks his marriage with a woman has no understanding. The one who does it wrecks his own soul. He'll get a wound and shame, and his disgrace won't be wiped away. Because jealousy is the rage of a man. So he won't spare in the day of paying back. He won't take any price. And he won't rest happy, though you give plenty of gifts.

My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house. But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.

20

My son, keep your father's commandment and don't abandon your mother's law.

Plain English

My son, keep your father's order, and don't leave the law of your mother.

King James Version, 1611

My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

21

Bind them on your heart always and fasten them around your neck.

Plain English

Tie them on your heart always. Fasten them round your neck.

King James Version, 1611

Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

22

When you walk, they'll lead you; when you sleep, they'll keep you; and when you wake, they'll speak with you.

Plain English

When you go, it'll lead you. When you sleep, it'll keep you. And when you wake, it'll talk with you.

King James Version, 1611

When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

23

The commandment is a lamp, the law is a light, and the corrections of instruction are the way of life.

Plain English

Because the order is a lamp, and the teaching is light, and the tellings-off of teaching are the way of life —

King James Version, 1611

For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

24

They'll keep you from the evil woman and from the flattering tongue of a strange woman.

Plain English

to keep you from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

King James Version, 1611

To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

25

Don't lust after her beauty in your heart, and don't let her capture you with her eyelids.

Plain English

Don't want her beauty in your heart, and don't let her take you with her eyelids.

King James Version, 1611

Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

26

A whorish woman can bring a man down to a piece of bread, and an adulteress hunts for the precious life.

Plain English

Because by a prostitute a man is brought to a scrap of bread. And the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.

King James Version, 1611

For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.

27

Can a man carry fire against his chest without burning his clothes?

Plain English

Can a man take fire in his chest and his clothes not be burnt?

King James Version, 1611

Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

28

Can he walk over hot coals without scorching his feet?

Plain English

Can a man walk on hot coals and his feet not be burnt?

King James Version, 1611

Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?

29

So it is with the man who goes in to his neighbour's wife: whoever touches her will not be innocent.

Plain English

That's how it is with the one who goes in to his neighbour's wife. Whoever touches her won't be innocent.

King James Version, 1611

So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.

30

People don't despise a thief who steals to satisfy his hunger when he's starving.

Plain English

Men don't look down on a thief if he steals to fill his soul when he's hungry.

King James Version, 1611

Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;

31

But if he's caught, he must repay sevenfold, even if it costs him everything in his house.

Plain English

But if he's found, he'll pay back sevenfold. He'll give everything of his house.

King James Version, 1611

But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

32

Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; the man who does it destroys his own soul.

Plain English

But whoever breaks his marriage with a woman has no understanding. The one who does it wrecks his own soul.

King James Version, 1611

But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.

33

He'll get wounds and dishonour, and his disgrace won't be wiped away.

Plain English

He'll get a wound and shame, and his disgrace won't be wiped away.

King James Version, 1611

A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.

34

Jealousy enrages a man, and he won't spare anyone in the day of vengeance.

Plain English

Because jealousy is the rage of a man. So he won't spare in the day of paying back.

King James Version, 1611

For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

35

He won't accept any payment, and he won't be satisfied no matter how big the gift.

Plain English

He won't take any price. And he won't rest happy, though you give plenty of gifts.

King James Version, 1611

He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.