1My son, if you guarantee a loan for your neighbor or pledge yourself for a stranger with a handshake,

2you are trapped by the words of your own mouth, caught by your own promise.

3Do the following things, my son, so that you may free yourself, because you have fallen into your neighbor's hands: Humble yourself, and pester your neighbor.

4Don't let your eyes rest or your eyelids close.

5Free yourself like a gazelle from the hand of a hunter and like a bird from the hand of a hunter.

6Consider the ant, you lazy bum. Watch its ways, and become wise.

7Although it has no overseer, officer, or ruler,

8in summertime it stores its food supply. At harvest time it gathers its food.

9How long will you lie there, you lazy bum? When will you get up from your sleep?

10"Just a little sleep, just a little slumber, just a little nap."

11Then your poverty will come [to you]like a drifter, and your need will come [to you]like a bandit.

12A good-for-nothing scoundrel is a person who has a dishonest mouth.

13He winks his eye, makes a signal with his foot, [and] points with his fingers.

14He devises evil all the time with a twisted mind. He spreads conflict.

15That is why disaster will come on him suddenly. In a moment he will be crushed beyond recovery.

16There are six things that the LORD hates, even seven that are disgusting to him:

17arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill innocent people,

18a mind devising wicked plans, feet that are quick to do wrong,

19a dishonest witness spitting out lies, and a person who spreads conflict among relatives.

20My son, obey the command of your father, and do not disregard the teachings of your mother.

21Fasten them on your heart forever. Hang them around your neck.

22When you walk around, they will lead you. When you lie down, they will watch over you. When you wake up, they will talk to you

23because the command is a lamp, the teachings are a light, and the warnings from discipline are the path of life

24to keep you from an evil woman and from the smooth talk of a loose woman.

25Do not desire her beauty in your heart. Do not let her catch you with her eyes.

26A prostitute's price is [only] a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts for [your] life itself.

27Can a man carry fire in his lap without burning his clothes?

28Can anyone walk on red-hot coals without burning his feet?

29So it is with a man who has sex with his neighbor's wife. None who touch her will escape punishment.

30People do not despise a thief who is hungry when he steals to satisfy his appetite,

31but when he is caught, he has to repay it seven times. He must give up all the possessions in his house.

32Whoever commits adultery with a woman has no sense. Whoever does this destroys himself.

33An adulterous man will find disease and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be blotted out,

34because jealousy arouses a husband's fury. The husband will show no mercy when he takes revenge.

35No amount of money will change his mind. The largest bribe will not satisfy him.