Online Bible

Parental Counsel

My son, if you have become ^asurety for your neighbor,Have ¹given a pledge for a stranger,2 If you have been snared with the words of your mouth,Have been caught with the words of your mouth,3 Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself;Since you have come into the ¹hand of your neighbor,Go, humble yourself, and importune your neighbor.4 Give no ^asleep to your eyes,Nor slumber to your eyelids;5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s handAnd like a ^abird from the hand of the fowler.

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

12 A ^aworthless person, a wicked man,Is the 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 ^aperversity in his heart continually ^bdevises evil,Who ¹^cspreads strife.15 Therefore ^ahis calamity will come suddenly;^bInstantly he will be broken and there will be ^cno healing.

16 There are six things which the LORD hates,Yes, seven which 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 utters lies,And one who ¹^bspreads strife among brothers.

20 ^aMy son, observe the commandment of your fatherAnd do not forsake the ¹teaching of your mother;21 ^aBind them continually on your heart;Tie them around your neck.22 When you ^awalk about, 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 reproofs for discipline are the way of life24 To ^akeep you from the evil woman,From the smooth tongue of the ¹adulteress.25 ^aDo not desire her beauty in your heart,Nor let her capture you with her ^beyelids.26 For ^aon account of a harlot one is reduced to a loaf of bread,And ¹an adulteress ^bhunts for the precious life.27 Can a man ¹take fire in his bosomAnd 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 ¹go unpunished.30 ¹Men do not despise a thief if he stealsTo ^asatisfy ²himself when he is hungry;31 But when he is found, he must ^arepay sevenfold;He must give all the ¹substance of his house.32 The one who commits adultery with a woman is ^alacking ¹sense;He who would ^bdestroy ²himself does it.33 Wounds and disgrace he will find,And his reproach will not be blotted out.34 For ^ajealousy ¹enrages a man,And he will not spare in the ^bday of vengeance.35 He will not ¹accept any ransom,Nor will he be ²satisfied though you give many ³gifts.

Practical Warnings

My son, if you have become a ^aguarantor for your neighbor,Have struck your ¹hands in pledge for a stranger,2 If you have been snared with the words of your mouth,Have been caught with the words of your mouth,3 Do this then, my son, and deliver yourself;Since you have come into the ¹hand of your neighbor,Go, humble yourself, and badger your neighbor.4 Give no ^asleep to your eyes,Nor slumber to your eyelids;5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s handAnd like a ^abird from the hand of the fowler.

12 A ^avile person, a wicked man,Is the 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 ^aperversity in his heart continually ^bdevises evil,Who ¹^cspreads contentions.15 Therefore ^ahis disaster will come suddenly;^bInstantly he will be broken and there will be ^cno healing.

16 There are six things which Yahweh hates,Even seven which are an abomination ¹to Him:17 ^aHaughty eyes, a ^blying tongue,And hands that ^cshed innocent blood,18 A heart that devises ^awicked thoughts,^bFeet that hasten to run to evil,19 A ^afalse witness who breathes out lies,And one who ¹^bspreads strife among brothers.

Warning Against Adultery

20 ^aMy son, observe the commandment of your fatherAnd do not abandon the ¹law of your mother;21 ^aBind them continually on your heart;Tie them around your neck.22 When you ^awalk about, ¹they will lead you;When you sleep, ²they will keep watch over you;And when you awake, ³they will speak to you.23 For ^athe commandment is a lamp and the ¹law is light;And reproofs 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 ^aon account of ¹a harlot one is reduced to a loaf of bread,And ²an adulteress ^bhunts for the precious ³life.27 Can a man ¹take fire in his bosomAnd 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 ¹go unpunished.30 ¹Men do not despise a thief if he stealsTo ^afill ²himself when he is hungry;31 But when he is found, he must ^arepay sevenfold;He must give all the ¹substance of his house.32 The one who commits adultery with a woman is ^alacking a heart of wisdom;He who would ^bdestroy his soul does it.33 Wounds and disgrace he will find,And his reproach will not be blotted out.34 For ^ajealousy ¹enrages a man,And he will not spare in the ^bday of vengeance.35 He will not ¹accept any ransom,He will not be willing though you give many 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.