Online Bible

Parental Counsel

My son, if you have become ^asurety (guaranteed a debt or obligation) for your neighbor,If you have given your pledge for the debt of a stranger or another outside your family,2 If you have been snared with the words of your lips,If you have been trapped by the speech of your mouth,3 Do this now, my son, and release yourself from the obligation;¹Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor,Go humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor to pay his debt and release you.4 Give no unnecessary ^asleep to your eyes,Nor slumber to your eyelids;5 Tear yourself away like a gazelle from the hand of the hunterAnd like a ^abird from the hand of the fowler.

6 Go to the ^aant, O ^blazy one;Observe her ways and be wise, Job 12:77 Which, having ^ano chief,Overseer or ruler,8 She prepares her food ^ain the summerAnd brings in her provisions of food for the winter in the harvest.9 How long will you lie down, O lazy one?When will you arise from your sleep and learn self-discipline? Prov 24:33, 3410 “Yet ^aa little sleep, a little slumber,A little folding of the hands to lie down and rest”—11 ^aSo your poverty will come like an approaching prowler who walks slowly, but surelyAnd your need will come like an armed man making you helpless. Prov 10:4; 13:4; 20:4

12 A ^aworthless person, a wicked man,Is one who walks with a ^bperverse (corrupt, vulgar) mouth.13 Who ^awinks with his eyes in mockery, who shuffles his feet to signal,Who points with his fingers to give subversive instruction;14 Who ^aperversely in his heart ^bplots trouble and evil continually;Who ^cspreads discord and strife.15 Therefore the crushing weight of his ^adisaster will come suddenly upon him;^bInstantly he will be broken, and there will be no healing or ^cremedy because he has no heart for God.

16 These six things the LORD hates;Indeed, seven are repulsive to Him:17 A ^aproud look the attitude that makes one overestimate oneself and discount others, a ^blying tongue,And hands that ^cshed innocent blood, Ps 120:2, 318 A heart that creates ^awicked plans,^bFeet that run swiftly to evil,19 A ^afalse witness who breathes out lies even half-truths,And one who ^bspreads discord (rumors) among brothers.

20 ^aMy son, be guided by your father’s God-given commandment (instruction)And do not ¹reject the teaching of your mother; Eph 6:1-321 ^aBind them continually upon your heart (in your thoughts) ,And tie them around your neck. Prov 3:3; 7:322 When you ^awalk about, they (the godly teachings of your parents) will guide you;When you sleep, they will keep watch over you;And when you awake, they will talk to you.23 For ^athe commandment is a lamp, and the teaching of the law is light,And reproofs (rebukes) for discipline are the way of life, Ps 19:8; 119:10524 To ^akeep you from the evil woman,From the flattery of the smooth tongue of an immoral woman.25 ^aDo not desire (lust after) her beauty in your heart,Nor let her capture you with her ^beyelashes.26 For ^aon account of a prostitute one is reduced to a piece of bread to be eaten up,And the immoral woman ^bhunts with a hook the precious life of a man.27 Can a man take fire to his chestAnd his clothes not be burned?28 Or can a man walk on hot coalsAnd his feet not be scorched?29 So is the one who ^agoes in to his neighbor’s wife;Whoever touches her ^bwill not be found innocent or go unpunished.30 People do not despise a thief if he stealsTo ^asatisfy himself when he is hungry;31 But when he is found, he must ^arepay seven times what he stole;He must give all the property of his house if necessary to meet his fine.32 But whoever commits adultery with a woman ^alacks common sense and sound judgment and an understanding of moral principles;He who would ^bdestroy his soul does it.33 Wounds and disgrace he will find,And his reproach (blame) will not be blotted out.34 For ^ajealousy enrages the wronged husband;He will not spare the guilty one on the ^bday of vengeance.35 He will not accept any ransom offered to buy him off from demanding full punishment;Nor will he be satisfied though you offer him many gifts (bribes) .

Parental Counsel

My son, if you have become a ^aguarantor for your neighbor,Or have given a handshake for a stranger,2 If you have been ensnared by the words of your mouth,Or caught by the words of your mouth,3 Then do this, my son, and save yourself:Since you have come into the ¹hand of your neighbor,Go, humble yourself, and be urgent with your neighbor to free yourself.4 Give no ^asleep to your eyes,Nor slumber to your eyelids;5 Save yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand,And like a ^abird from the hand of the fowler.

6 Go to the ^aant, you ¹^blazy one,Observe its ways and be wise,7 Which, having ^ano chief,Officer, or ruler,8 Prepares its food ^ain the summerAnd gathers its provision in the harvest.9 How long will you lie down, you ¹lazy one?When will you arise from your sleep?10 “^aA little sleep, a little slumber,A little folding of the hands to ¹rest,”11 ^aThen your poverty will come in like a ¹drifter,And your need like ²an armed man.

12 A ^aworthless person, a wicked man,Is one who walks with a ^bperverse mouth,13 Who ^awinks with his eyes, who ¹signals with his feet,Who ²points with his fingers;14 Who, with ^aperversion in his heart, continually ^bdevises evil,Who ¹^cspreads strife.15 Therefore ^ahis disaster will come suddenly;^bInstantly he will be broken and there will be ^cno healing.

16 There are six things that the LORD hates,Seven that are an abomination ¹to Him:17 ^aHaughty eyes, a ^blying tongue,And hands that ^cshed innocent blood,18 A heart that devises ^awicked plans,^bFeet that run rapidly to evil,19 A ^afalse witness who declares lies,And one who ¹^bspreads strife among brothers.

20 ^aMy son, comply with the commandment of your father,And do not ignore the ¹teaching of your mother;21 ^aBind them continually on your heart;Tie them around your neck.22 When you ^awalk, ¹they will guide you;When you sleep, ²they will watch over you;And when you awake, ³they will talk to you.23 For ^athe commandment is a lamp and the ¹teaching is light;And rebukes for discipline are the way of life24 To ^akeep you from the evil woman,From the smooth tongue of the foreign woman.25 ^aDo not desire her beauty in your heart,Nor let her capture you with her ^beyelids.26 For ^athe price of a prostitute reduces one to a loaf of bread,And ¹an adulteress ^bhunts for a precious life.27 Can anyone take fire in his lapAnd his clothes not be burned?28 Or can a person walk on hot coalsAnd his feet not be scorched?29 So is the one who ^agoes in to his neighbor’s wife;Whoever touches her ^bwill not ¹go unpunished.30 People do not despise a thief if he stealsTo ^asatisfy ¹himself when he is hungry;31 But when he is found, he must ^arepay seven times as much;He must give up all the property of his house.32 One who commits adultery with a woman is ^alacking ¹sense;He who would ^bdestroy ²himself commits it.33 He will find wounds and disgrace,And his shame will not be removed.34 For ^ajealousy ¹enrages a man,And he will not have compassion on the ^bday of vengeance.35 He will not ¹accept any settlement,Nor will he be ²satisfied though you make it a large gift.