| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor or entered into an agreement with a stranger, | 1My son, if you guarantee a loan for your neighbor, if you have agreed to a deal with a stranger, |
| 2you have been trapped by the words of your lips-- ensnared by the words of your mouth. | 2trapped by your own words, and caught by your own words, |
| 3Do this, then, my son, and free yourself, for you have put yourself in your neighbor's power: Go, humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor. | 3then do this, my son, and deliver yourself, because you have come under your neighbor's control. Go, humble yourself! Plead passionately with your neighbor! |
| 4Don't give sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids. | 4Don't allow yourself to sleep or even to close your eyes. |
| 5Escape like a gazelle from a hunter, like a bird from a fowler's trap. | 5Deliver yourself like a gazelle from a hunter's hand, or like a bird from a fowler's hand. |
| 6Go to the ant, you slacker! Observe its ways and become wise. | 6Go to the ant, you lazy man! Observe its ways and become wise. |
| 7Without leader, administrator, or ruler, | 7It has no commander, officer, or ruler, |
| 8it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food during harvest. | 8but prepares its provisions in the summer and gathers its food in the harvest. |
| 9How long will you stay in bed, you slacker? When will you get up from your sleep? | 9How long will you lie down, lazy man? When will you get up from your sleep? |
| 10A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the arms to rest, | 10A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, |
| 11and your poverty will come like a robber, your need, like a bandit. | 11and your poverty will come on you like a bandit and your desperation like an armed man. |
| 12A worthless person, a wicked man goes around speaking dishonestly, | 12A worthless man, a wicked man, goes around with devious speech, |
| 13winking his eyes, signaling with his feet, and gesturing with his fingers. | 13winking with his eyes, making signs with his feet, pointing with his fingers, |
| 14He always plots evil with perversity in his heart-- he stirs up trouble. | 14planning evil with a perverse mind, continually stirring up discord. |
| 15Therefore calamity will strike him suddenly; he will be shattered instantly--beyond recovery. | 15Therefore, disaster will overtake him suddenly. He will be broken in an instant, and he will never recover. |
| 16The LORD hates six things; in fact, seven are detestable to Him: | 16Here are six things that the LORD hates— seven, in fact, are detestable to him: |
| 17arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, | 17Arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, and hands shedding innocent blood; |
| 18a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet eager to run to evil, | 18a heart crafting evil plans, feet running swiftly to wickedness, |
| 19a lying witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up trouble among brothers. | 19a false witness snorting lies, and someone sowing quarrels between brothers. |
| 20My son, keep your father's command, and don't reject your mother's teaching. | 20Keep your father's commands, my son, and never forsake your mother's rules, |
| 21Always bind them to your heart; tie them around your neck. | 21by binding them to your heart continuously, fastening them around your neck. |
| 22When you walk here and there, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you wake up, they will talk to you. | 22During your travels wisdom will lead you; she will watch over you while you rest; and when you are startled from your sleep, she will commune with you. |
| 23For a command is a lamp, teaching is a light, and corrective discipline is the way to life. | 23Because the command is a lamp and the Law a light, rebukes that discipline are a way of life— |
| 24They will protect you from an evil woman, from the flattering tongue of a stranger. | 24to protect you from the evil woman, from the words of the seductive woman. |
| 25Don't lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyelashes. | 25Do not focus on her beauty in your mind, nor allow her to take you prisoner with her flirting eyes, |
| 26For a prostitute's fee is only a loaf of bread, but an adulteress goes after a precious life. | 26because the price of a whore is a loaf of bread, and an adulterous woman stalks a man's precious life. |
| 27Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned? | 27Can a man scoop fire into his bosom without burning his clothes? |
| 28Can a man walk on burning coals without scorching his feet? | 28Can a man walk on hot coals without scorching his feet? |
| 29So it is with the one who sleeps with another man's wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished. | 29So also is it with someone who has sex with his neighbor's wife; anyone touching her will not remain unpunished. |
| 30People don't despise the thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry. | 30A thief isn't despised if he steals to meet his needs when he is hungry, |
| 31Still, if caught, he must pay seven times as much; he must give up all the wealth in his house. | 31but when he is discovered, he must restore seven-fold, forfeiting the entire value of his house. |
| 32The one who commits adultery lacks sense; whoever does so destroys himself. | 32Whoever commits adultery with a woman is out of his mind; by doing so he corrupts his own soul. |
| 33He will get a beating and dishonor, and his disgrace will never be removed. | 33He will receive a beating and dishonor, and his shame won't disappear, |
| 34For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge. | 34because jealousy incites a strong man's rage, and he will show no mercy when it's time for revenge. |
| 35He will not be appeased by anything or be persuaded by lavish gifts. | 35He will not consider any payment, nor will he be willing to accept it, no matter how large the bribe. |
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