Proverbs 6

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

My child, if you've promised to pay for a friend's debt, or made a deal with someone you barely know,

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

Your own words have trapped you, you're caught in the net of your own speech.

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.

My child, act swiftly to free yourself, for you have fallen into your friend's power. Go to him with humility, plead with him persistently, and free yourself from this obligation.

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

Don't let your eyes fall into sleep or your eyelids into rest.

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

Free yourself like a deer escaping a hunter, or a bird fleeing from a trapper.

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

Look to the ant, you who are lazy. Observe its diligence and learn wisdom from it.

Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

Without any guidance, supervision, or leadership,

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

She diligently prepares her meals during the warm summer months, and collects her sustenance when the harvest is plentiful.

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

When will you wake up from your laziness, you sleepyhead? How much longer will you stay in bed?

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

Just a bit more rest, a brief nap, a quick moment of relaxation:

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

Poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like an armed man.

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

A worthless person, a person of evil, speaks with a twisted tongue.

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

He communicates subtly, expressing through his eyes, his feet, and his fingers.

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

His heart is filled with malice, constantly plotting trouble; he thrives on creating conflict.

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

His downfall will arrive unexpectedly; he will shatter abruptly, beyond repair.

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

There are six things God truly despises, seven that are utterly repugnant to Him.

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

Arrogance in the eyes, deceit on the lips, and hands stained with the blood of the innocent.

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

A heart that brews evil thoughts, feet that race towards trouble,

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

A liar who spreads falsehoods, and one who stirs up conflict among friends.

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

Dear child, honor your father's teachings and never forget your mother's rules.

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

Always keep them close to your heart, and wear them like a necklace.

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

As you journey, it will guide you; as you rest, it will protect you; and as you rise, it will converse with you.

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

God's commandments are like a guiding light, His laws illuminate our path, and His teachings, even when they correct us, lead us to a fulfilling life.

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

To protect you from the harm of a wicked woman, from the smooth, flattering words of the adulteress.

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

Don't lust after her beauty in your heart, or let her seduce you with her eyes.

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.

Through a prostitute, a man can be reduced to a crust of bread, and another man's wife hunts down his very life.

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

Is it possible for someone to hold flames close to their heart without getting burnt?

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

Is it possible to walk on burning embers without scorching your feet?

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

So it is with anyone who sleeps with another man's wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.

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

People don't scorn a thief who steals to feed his gnawing hunger.

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

If he is discovered, he must repay seven times over; he must give everything he owns.

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

Anyone who commits adultery lacks understanding; whoever does it destroys himself.

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

He will be hurt and shamed; his disgrace will forever remain.

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

Jealousy can ignite a man's fury, and he won't hold back when seeking revenge.

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

No amount of bribery will sway him; even a flood of gifts won't satisfy him.