Proverbs 6 | English Standard Version

English Standard Version

Practical Warnings

1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger, (Job 17:3) 2 if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, (Pr 5:22) 3 then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten,^[1] and plead urgently with your neighbor. (Lu 11:8; Lu 18:5) 4 Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; (Ps 132:4; Pr 20:13) 5 save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,^[2] like a bird from the hand of the fowler. (Ps 91:3) 6 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. (Job 12:7; Pr 10:26; Pr 23:19; Pr 27:11; Pr 30:25)

Job 12:7Pr 10:26Pr 23:19Pr 27:11Pr 30:25

7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, (Ex 5:6; Ex 5:15; Pr 30:27) 8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. (Pr 10:5) 9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? (Pr 6:6; Jon 1:6) 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, (Pr 24:33; Ec 4:5) 11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. (Pr 24:34) 12 A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, (Pr 4:24; Pr 16:27) 13 winks with his eyes, signals^[3] with his feet, points with his finger, (Ps 35:19; Pr 10:10) 14 with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord; (Pr 2:12; Pr 3:29; Pr 16:28; Mic 2:1)

Pr 2:12Pr 3:29Pr 16:28Mic 2:1

15 therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing. (2Ch 36:16; Pr 29:1; Isa 30:13; Jer 19:11)

2Ch 36:16Pr 29:1Isa 30:13Jer 19:11

16 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: (Job 5:19) 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, (De 19:10; Ps 31:18; Ps 101:5; Ps 120:2; Pr 8:13; Pr 12:22; Pr 16:5; Pr 17:7; Pr 21:4; Isa 1:15; Isa 59:3; Isa 59:7)

De 19:10Ps 31:18Ps 101:5Ps 120:2Pr 8:13Pr 12:22Pr 16:5Pr 17:7Pr 21:4Isa 1:15Isa 59:3Isa 59:7

18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, (Ge 6:5; Pr 1:16) 19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. (Ps 27:12; Pr 6:14; Pr 12:17; Pr 14:5; Pr 14:25; Pr 19:5; Pr 19:9)

Ps 27:12Pr 6:14Pr 12:17Pr 14:5Pr 14:25Pr 19:5Pr 19:9

Warnings Against Adultery

20 My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching. (Pr 1:8) 21 Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. (Job 31:36; Pr 3:3) 22 When you walk, they^[4] will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you. (Pr 2:11; Pr 3:23) 23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life, (Ps 13:3; Ps 119:105; Pr 10:17) 24 to preserve you from the evil woman,^[5] from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.^[6] (Pr 2:16) 25 Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes; (2Ki 9:30; Mt 5:28) 26 for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread,^[7] but a married woman^[8] hunts down a precious life. (1Sa 2:36; Pr 28:21; Pr 29:3; Eze 13:18)

1Sa 2:36Pr 28:21Pr 29:3Eze 13:18

27 Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned? (Job 31:12; Ps 79:12) 28 Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched? (Isa 43:2) 29 So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; none who touches her will go unpunished. (Pr 16:5) 30 People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry, (Job 38:39) 31 but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold; he will give all the goods of his house. (Ex 22:4; Ps 79:12) 32 He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself. 33 He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away. 34 For jealousy makes a man furious, and he will not spare when he takes revenge. (Le 20:10; Pr 27:4; So 8:6) 35 He will accept no compensation; he will refuse though you multiply gifts.

New International Version

Warnings against folly

1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbour, if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, 2 you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth. 3 So do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbour’s hands: go – to the point of exhaustion –^[1] and give your neighbour no rest! 4 Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids. 5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. 6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! 7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, 8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest – 11 and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man. 12 A troublemaker and a villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth, 13 who winks maliciously with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers, 14 who plots evil with deceit in his heart – he always stirs up conflict. 15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed – without remedy. 16 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

Warning against adultery

20 My son, keep your father’s command and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. 21 Bind them always on your heart; fasten them round your neck. 22 When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. 23 For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life, 24 keeping you from your neighbour’s wife, from the smooth talk of a wayward woman. 25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes. 26 For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread, but another man’s wife preys on your very life. 27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? 28 Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? 29 So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no-one who touches her will go unpunished. 30 People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving. 31 Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it costs him all the wealth of his house. 32 But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself. 33 Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away. 34 For jealousy arouses a husband’s fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge. 35 He will not accept any compensation; he will refuse a bribe, however great it is.

King James Version

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' 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.

New International Reader’s Version

Warnings against foolish acts

1 My son, don’t promise to pay for what your neighbour owes. Don’t agree to pay a stranger’s bill. 2 Don’t be trapped by what you have said. Don’t be caught by the words of your mouth. 3 Instead, my son, do something to free yourself. Don’t fall into your neighbour’s hands. Go until you can’t go anymore. Don’t let your neighbour rest. 4 Don’t let your eyes go to sleep. Don’t let your eyelids close. 5 As a deer frees itself from a hunter, free yourself. As a bird frees itself from a trapper, free yourself. 6 You people who don’t want to work, think about the ant! Consider its ways and be wise! 7 It has no commander. It has no leader or ruler. 8 But it stores up its food in summer. It gathers its food at harvest time. 9 You lazy people, how long will you lie there? When will you get up from your sleep? 10 You might sleep a little or take a little nap. You might even fold your hands and rest. 11 Then you would be poor, as if someone had robbed you. You would have little, as if someone had stolen from you. 12 An evil troublemaker goes around saying twisted things with his mouth. 13 He winks with his eyes. He makes signals with his feet. He motions with his fingers. 14 His plans are evil, and he has lies in his heart. He is always stirring up fights. 15 Trouble will catch up with him in an instant. He will suddenly be destroyed, and nothing can save him. 16 There are six things the LORD hates. In fact, he hates seven things. 17 The LORD hates proud eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that kill those who aren’t guilty. 18 He also hates hearts that make evil plans and feet that are quick to do evil. 19 He hates any witness who pours out lies and anyone who stirs up conflict in the community.

A warning against committing adultery

20 My son, keep your father’s command. Don’t turn away from your mother’s teaching. 21 Always tie them on your heart. Put them around your neck. 22 When you walk, they will guide you. When you sleep, they will watch over you. When you wake up, they will speak to you. 23 Your father’s command is like a lamp. Your mother’s teaching is like a light. And whatever instructs and corrects you leads to life. 24 It keeps you from your neighbour’s wife. It keeps you from the smooth talk of a woman who commits adultery. 25 Don’t hunger in your heart after her beauty. Don’t let her eyes capture you. 26 A prostitute can be bought for only a loaf of bread. But another man’s wife hunts your very life. 27 You can’t shovel fire into your lap without burning your clothes. 28 You can’t walk on hot coals without burning your feet. 29 It’s the same for anyone who has sex with another man’s wife. Anyone who touches her will be punished. 30 People don’t hate a thief who steals to fill his empty stomach. 31 But when he is caught, he must pay seven times as much as he stole. It may even cost him everything he has. 32 A man who commits adultery has no sense. Anyone who does it destroys himself. 33 He will be beaten up and dishonoured. His shame will never be wiped away. 34 Jealousy stirs up a husband’s anger. He will show no mercy when he gets even. 35 He won’t accept any payment. He won’t take any money, no matter how much he is offered.