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.
1 My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, 2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. 3 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 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids. 5 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, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. 9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
12 ¶ A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. 13 He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; 14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. 15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
16 ¶ 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, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
20 ¶ My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother: 21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. 22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. 23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: 24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. 25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids. 26 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 take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? 28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? 29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. 30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry; 31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house. 32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. 33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. 34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.