‏ Proverbs 6

1My son, if you become surety for your friend, you shall deliver your hand to an enemy. 2For a man's own lips become a strong snare to him, and he is caught with the lips of his own mouth. 3My son, do what I command you, and deliver yourself; for on your friend's account you have come into the power of evil men: faint not, but stir up even your friend for whom you have become surety. 4Give not sleep to your eyes, nor slumber with your eyelids; 5that you may deliver yourself as a doe out of the toils, and as a bird out of a snare. 6Go to the ant, O sluggard; and see, and emulate his ways, and become wiser than he. 7For whereas he has no leader, nor anyone to compel him, and is under no master, 8he prepares food for himself in the summer, and lays up abundant supplies in harvest. 8!AOr go to the bee, and learn how diligent she is, and how earnestly she is engaged in her work; 8!Bwhose labors kings and private men use for health, and she is desired and respected by all: 8!Cthough weak in body, she is advanced by honoring wisdom. 9How long will you lie, O sluggard? And when will you awake out of sleep? 10You sleep a little, and you rest a little, and you slumber a short time, and you fold your arms over your breast a little. 11Then poverty comes upon you as an evil traveler, and your need as a swift courier. 11!ABut if you be diligent, your harvest shall arrive as a fountain, and poverty shall flee away as a bad courier. 12A foolish man and a transgressor goes in ways that are not good. 13And the same winks with the eye, and makes a sign with his foot, and teaches with the beckonings of his fingers. 14His perverse heart devises evils: at all times such a one causes troubles to a city. 15Therefore his destruction shall come suddenly, overthrow and irretrievable ruin. 16For he rejoices in all things which God hates, and he is ruined by reason of impurity of soul. 17The eye of the haughty, an unjust tongue, hands shedding innocent blood, 18a heart devising evil thoughts, and feet hastening to do evil, are hateful to God. 19An unjust witness kindles falsehoods, and brings on quarrels between brothers. 20My son, keep the laws of your father, and do not reject the ordinances of your mother: 21but bind them upon your soul continually, and hang them as a chain about your neck. 22Whenever you walk, lead this along and let it be with you, that it may talk with you when you wake. 23For the commandment of the law is a lamp and a light; a way of life; reproof also and correction: 24to keep you continually from a married woman, and from the flattery of a strange tongue. 25Let not the desire of beauty overcome you, neither be caught by her eyes, or captivated with her eyelids. 26For the value of a harlot is as much as of one loaf of bread, and a woman hunts for the precious souls of men. 27Shall anyone bind fire in his bosom, and not burn his garments? 28Or will anyone walk on coals of fire, and not burn his feet? 29So is he that goes in to a married woman; he shall not be held guiltless, neither anyone that touches her. 30It is not to be wondered at if one should be caught stealing, for he steals that when hungry, he may satisfy his soul: 31but if he should be caught, he shall repay sevenfold, and shall deliver himself by giving all his goods. 32But the adulterer through lack of understanding procures destruction to his soul. 33He endures both pain and disgrace, and his reproach shall never be wiped off. 34For the soul of her husband is full of jealousy: he will not spare in the day of vengeance. 35He will not forego his enmity for any ransom: neither will he be reconciled by many gifts.
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