| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1My son, if you become surety for your friend, If you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, | 1My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger, |
| 2You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth. | 2if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth, |
| 3So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; For you have come into the hand of your friend: Go and humble yourself; Plead with your friend. | 3then do this, my son, to free yourself, for you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go, humble yourself, and press your plea with your neighbor. |
| 4Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids. | 4Allow no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids. |
| 5Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, And like a bird from the hand of the fowler. | 5Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. |
| 6Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, | 6Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise. |
| 7Which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, | 7Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, |
| 8Provides her supplies in the summer, And gathers her food in the harvest. | 8it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest. |
| 9How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? | 9How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep? |
| 10A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep— | 10A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, |
| 11So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man. | 11and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit. |
| 12A worthless person, a wicked man, Walks with a perverse mouth; | 12A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth, |
| 13He winks with his eyes, He shuffles his feet, He points with his fingers; | 13winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers. |
| 14Perversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, He sows discord. | 14With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord. |
| 15Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy. | 15Therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in an instant he will be shattered beyond recovery. |
| 16These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: | 16There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: |
| 17A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, | 17haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, |
| 18A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, | 18a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, |
| 19A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren. | 19a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers. |
| 20My son, keep your father’s command, And do not forsake the law of your mother. | 20My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. |
| 21Bind them continually upon your heart; Tie them around your neck. | 21Bind them always upon your heart; tie them around your neck. |
| 22When you roam, they will lead you; When you sleep, they will keep you; And when you awake, they will speak with you. | 22When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. |
| 23For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life, | 23For this commandment is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way to life, |
| 24To keep you from the evil woman, From the flattering tongue of a seductress. | 24to keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress. |
| 25Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, Nor let her allure you with her eyelids. | 25Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes. |
| 26For by means of a harlot A man is reduced to a crust of bread; And an adulteress will prey upon his precious life. | 26For the levy of the prostitute is poverty, and the adulteress preys upon your very life. |
| 27Can a man take fire to his bosom, And his clothes not be burned? | 27Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned? |
| 28Can one walk on hot coals, And his feet not be seared? | 28Can a man walk on hot coals without scorching his feet? |
| 29So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife; Whoever touches her shall not be innocent. | 29So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished. |
| 30People do not despise a thief If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving. | 30Men do not despise the thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger. |
| 31Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold; He may have to give up all the substance of his house. | 31Yet if caught, he must pay sevenfold; he must give up all the wealth of his house. |
| 32Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding; He who does so destroys his own soul. | 32He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself. |
| 33Wounds and dishonor he will get, And his reproach will not be wiped away. | 33Wounds and dishonor will befall him, and his reproach will never be wiped away. |
| 34For jealousy is a husband’s fury; Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. | 34For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy in the day of vengeance. |
| 35He will accept no recompense, Nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts. | 35He will not be appeased by any ransom, or persuaded by lavish gifts. |
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