[1] My son, if you have made yourself responsible for your neighbour, or
given your word for another, [2] You are taken as in a net by the words of
your mouth, the sayings of your lips have overcome you. [3] Do this, my
son, and make yourself free, because you have come into the power of your
neighbour; go without waiting, and make a strong request to your neighbour.
[4] Give no sleep to your eyes, or rest to them; [5] Make yourself free,
like the roe from the hand of the archer, and the bird from him who puts a
net for her. [6] Go to the ant, you hater of work; give thought to her ways
and be wise: [7] Having no chief, overseer, or ruler, [8] She gets her meat
in the summer, storing up food at the time of the grain-cutting. [9] How
long will you be sleeping, O hater of work? when will you get up from your
sleep? [10] A little sleep, a little rest, a little folding of the hands in
sleep: [11] Then loss will come on you like an outlaw, and your need like
an armed man [12] A good-for-nothing man is an evil-doer; he goes on his
way causing trouble with false words; [13] Making signs with his eyes,
rubbing with his feet, and giving news with his fingers; [14] His mind is
ever designing evil: he lets loose violent acts. [15] For this cause his
downfall will be sudden; quickly he will be broken, and there will be no
help for him. [16] Six things are hated by the Lord; seven things are
disgusting to him: [17] Eyes of pride, a false tongue, hands which take
life without cause; [18] A heart full of evil designs, feet which are quick
in running after sin; [19] A false witness, breathing out untrue words, and
one who lets loose violent acts among brothers. [20] My son, keep the rule
of your father, and have in memory the teaching of your mother: [21] Keep
them ever folded in your heart, and have them hanging round your neck. [22]
In your walking, it will be your guide; when you are sleeping, it will keep
watch over you; when you are awake, it will have talk with you. [23] For
the rule is a light, and the teaching a shining light; and the guiding
words of training are the way of life. [24] They will keep you from the
evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the strange woman. [25] Let not your
heart's desire go after her fair body; let not her eyes take you prisoner.
[26] For a loose woman is looking for a cake of bread, but another man's
wife goes after one's very life. [27] May a man take fire to his breast
without burning his clothing? [28] Or may one go on lighted coals, and his
feet not be burned? [29] So it is with him who goes in to his neighbour's
wife; he who has anything to do with her will not go free from punishment.
[30] Men do not have a low opinion of a thief who takes food when he is in
need of it: [31] But if he is taken in the act he will have to give back
seven times as much, giving up all his property which is in his house. [32]
He who takes another man's wife is without all sense: he who does it is the
cause of destruction to his soul. [33] Wounds will be his and loss of
honour, and his shame may not be washed away. [34] For bitter is the wrath
of an angry husband; in the day of punishment he will have no mercy. [35]
He will not take any payment; and he will not make peace with you though
your money offerings are increased.
