Chapter 6

6:1

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

6:2

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

6:3

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.

6:4

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

6:5

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

6:6

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

6:7

Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

6:8

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

6:9

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

6:10

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

6:11

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

6:12

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

6:13

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

6:14

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

6:15

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

6:16

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

6:17

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

6:18

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

6:19

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

6:20

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

6:21

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

6:22

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

6:23

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

6:24

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

6:25

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

6:26

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

6:27

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

6:28

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

6:29

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

6:30

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

6:31

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

6:32

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

6:33

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

6:34

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

6:35

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