Don't Be Foolish
1 My child, suppose you agree
to pay the debt of someone,
who cannot repay a loan.
2 Then you are trapped
by your own words,
3 and you are now in the power
of someone else.
Here is what you should do:
Go and beg for permission
to call off the agreement.
4 Do this before you fall asleep
or even get sleepy.
5 Save yourself, just as a deer
or a bird tries to escape
from a hunter.
6 You lazy people can learn
by watching an anthill.
7 Ants don't have leaders,
8 but they store up food
during harvest season.
9 How long will you lie there
doing nothing at all?
When are you going to get up
and stop sleeping?
10 Sleep a little. Doze a little.
Fold your hands
and twiddle your thumbs.
11 Suddenly, everything is gone,
as though it had been taken
by an armed robber.
12 Worthless liars go around
13 winking and giving signals
to deceive others.
14 They are always thinking up
something cruel and evil,
and they stir up trouble.
15 But they will be struck
by sudden disaster
and left without a hope.
16 There are six or seven
kinds of people
the Lord doesn't like:
17 Those who are too proud
or tell lies or murder,
18 those who make evil plans
or are quick to do wrong,
19 those who tell lies in court
or stir up trouble
in a family.
20 Obey the teaching
of your parents—
21 always keep it in mind
and never forget it.
22 Their teaching will guide you
when you walk,
protect you when you sleep,
and talk to you
when you are awake.
23 The Law of the Lord is a lamp,
and its teachings
shine brightly.
Correction and self-control
will lead you through life.
24 They will protect you
from the flattering words
of someone else's wife.
25 Don't let yourself be attracted
by the charm and lovely eyes
of someone like that.
26 A woman who sells her love
can be bought for as little
as the price of a meal.
But making love
to another man's wife
will cost you everything.
27 If you carry burning coals,
you burn your clothes;
28 if you step on hot coals,
you burn your feet.
29 And if you go to bed
with another man's wife,
you pay the price.
30 We don't put up with thieves,
not even with one who steals
for something to eat.
31 And thieves who get caught
must pay back
seven times what was stolen
and lose everything.
32 But if you go to bed
with another man's wife,
you will destroy yourself
by your own stupidity.
33 You will be beaten
and forever disgraced,
34 because a jealous husband
can be furious and merciless
when he takes revenge.
35 He won't let you pay him off,
no matter what you offer.
1 My sonne, if thou be surety for thy neighbour, and hast striken hands with the stranger, 2 Thou art snared with the wordes of thy mouth: thou art euen taken with the woordes of thine owne mouth. 3 Doe this nowe, my sonne, and deliuer thy selfe: seeing thou art come into the hande of thy neighbour, goe, and humble thy selfe, and sollicite thy friends. 4 Giue no sleepe to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. 5 Deliuer thy selfe as a doe from the hande of the hunter, and as a birde from the hande of the fouler. 6 Goe to the pismire, O sluggarde: beholde her waies, and be wise. 7 For shee hauing no guide, gouernour, nor ruler, 8 Prepareth her meat in the sommer, and gathereth her foode in haruest. 9 Howe long wilt thou sleepe, O sluggarde? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleepe? 10 Yet a litle sleepe, a litle slumber, a litle folding of the hands to sleepe. 11 Therefore thy pouertie commeth as one that trauaileth by the way, and thy necessitie like an armed man. 12 The vnthriftie man and the wicked man walketh with a froward mouth. 13 He maketh a signe with his eyes: he signifieth with his feete: he instructeth with his fingers. 14 Lewde things are in his heart: he imagineth euill at all times, and raiseth vp contentions. 15 Therefore shall his destruction come speedily: hee shall be destroyed suddenly without recouerie. 16 These sixe things doeth the Lord hate: yea, his soule abhorreth seuen: 17 The hautie eyes, a lying tongue, and the hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that imagineth wicked enterprises, feete that be swift in running to mischiefe, 19 A false witnesse that speaketh lyes, and him that rayseth vp contentions among brethren. 20 My sonne, keepe thy fathers commandement, and forsake not thy mothers instruction. 21 Binde them alway vpon thine heart, and tye them about thy necke. 22 It shall leade thee, when thou walkest: it shall watch for thee, when thou sleepest, and when thou wakest, it shall talke with thee. 23 For the commandement is a lanterne, and instruction a light: and corrections for instruction are the way of life, 24 To keepe thee from the wicked woman, and from ye flatterie of ye tongue of a strange woman. 25 Desire not her beautie in thine heart, neither let her take thee with her eye lids. 26 For because of the whorish woman a man is brought to a morsell of bread, and a woman wil hunt for the precious life of a man. 27 Can a man take fire in his bosome, and his clothes not be burnt? 28 Or can a man go vpon coales, and his feete not be burnt? 29 So he that goeth in to his neighbours wife, shall not be innocent, whosoeuer toucheth her. 30 Men do not despise a thiefe, when he stealeth, to satisfie his soule, because he is hungrie. 31 But if he be founde, he shall restore seuen folde, or he shall giue all the substance of his house. 32 But he that committeth adulterie with a woman, he is destitute of vnderstanding: he that doeth it, destroyeth his owne soule. 33 He shall finde a wounde and dishonour, and his reproch shall neuer be put away. 34 For ielousie is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35 He cannot beare the sight of any raunsome: neither will he consent, though thou augment the giftes.