Proverbs 6 - Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

Dangers of Debt

6 My son, don’t make yourself responsible for the debts of others. Don’t make such deals with friends or strangers. ²If you do, your words will trap you. ³You will be under the power of other people, so you must go and free yourself. Beg them to free you from that debt. ⁴Don’t wait to rest or sleep. ⁵Escape from that trap like a deer running from a hunter. Free yourself like a bird flying from a trap.

The Dangers of Being Lazy

⁶You lazy people, you should watch what the ants do and learn from them. ⁷Ants have no ruler, no boss, and no leader. ⁸But in the summer, ants gather all of their food and save it. So when winter comes, there is plenty to eat.

⁹You lazy people, how long are you going to lie there? When will you get up? ¹⁰You say, “I need a rest. I think I’ll take a short nap.” ¹¹But then you sleep and sleep and become poorer and poorer. Soon you will have nothing. It will be as if a thief came and stole everything you owned.

Troublemakers

¹²Some people are just troublemakers. They are always thinking up some crooked plan and telling lies. ¹³They use secret signals to cheat people; they wink their eyes, shuffle their feet, and point a finger. ¹⁴They are always planning to do something bad. ¹⁵But they will be punished. Disaster will strike, and they will be destroyed. There will be no one to help them.

What the Lord Hates

¹⁶The Lord hates these seven things:
¹⁷ eyes that show pride,
tongues that tell lies,
hands that kill innocent people,
¹⁸ hearts that plan evil things to do,
feet that run to do evil,
¹⁹ witnesses in court who tell lies,
and anyone who causes family members to fight.

Warning Against Adultery

²⁰My son, remember your father’s command, and don’t forget your mother’s teaching. ²¹Remember their words always. Tie them around your neck and keep them over your heart. ²²Let this teaching lead you wherever you go. It will watch over you while you sleep. And when you wake up, it will give you good advice.

²³Your parents give you commands and teachings that are like lights to show you the right way. This teaching corrects you and trains you to follow the path to life. ²⁴It stops you from going to an evil woman, and it protects you from the smooth talk of another man’s wife. ²⁵Such a woman might be beautiful, but don’t let that beauty tempt you. Don’t let her eyes capture you. ²⁶A prostitute might cost a loaf of bread, but the wife of another man could cost you your life. ²⁷If you drop a hot coal in your lap, your clothes will be burned. ²⁸If you step on one, your feet will be burned. ²⁹If you sleep with another man’s wife, you will be punished.

^30-31A hungry man might steal to fill his stomach. If he is caught, he must pay seven times more than he stole. It might cost him everything he owns, but other people understand. They don’t lose all their respect for him. ³²But a man who commits adultery is a fool. He brings about his own destruction. ³³He will suffer disease and disgrace and never be free from the shame. ³⁴The woman’s husband will be jealous and angry and do everything he can to get revenge. ³⁵No payment—no amount of money—will stop him.

Proverbs 6 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

6 My son! if thou hast been surety for thy friend, Hast stricken for a stranger thy hand, 2 Hast been snared with sayings of thy mouth, Hast been captured with sayings of thy mouth, 3 Do this now, my son, and be delivered, For thou hast come into the hand of thy friend. Go, trample on thyself, and s...
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Proverbs 6 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

6 My son, if thou hast promised for thy friend, thou hast fastened thine hand at a stranger. (My son, if thou hast pledged yourself, or made a guarantee, for thy friend, then thou hast fastened thy hand to a stranger.) 2 Thou art bound by the words of thy mouth; and thou art taken with thine own wor...
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Proverbs 6 - World English Bible (WEB)

6 My son, if you have become collateral for your neighbor, if you have struck your hands in pledge for a stranger,2 you are trapped by the words of your mouth; you are ensnared with the words of your mouth.3 Do this now, my son, and deliver yourself, since you have come into the hand of your neighbo...
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Proverbs 6 - The Voice (VOICE)

6 My son, if you will risk your family’s future to put up collateral for the debts of an acquaintance, if you seal a commitment with a handshake to someone without first knowing the value of his word,2 Then your words may well be the trap that snares you, and your promise may seal your fate. You can...
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Proverbs 6 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Economic Entanglements6 My son, if you have become a cosigner for your neighbor,if you have shaken hands in pledge with a stranger,2 if you are trapped by your own words,ensnared by the words of your mouth,3 then do this, my son, and free yourself,since you fell into your neighbor’s hand:Go, humble ...
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Proverbs 6 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Practical Admonitions6 My son, if you have become surety for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger;2 if you are snared in the utterance of your lips,[a] caught in the words of your mouth;3 then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into your neighbor’s power: go, haste...
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Proverbs 6 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Proverbs 6 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Practical Admonitions6 My child, if you have given your pledge to your neighbor, if you have bound yourself to another,[a]2 you are snared by the utterance of your lips,[b] caught by the words of your mouth.3 So do this, my child, and save yourself, for you have come into your neighbor’s power: go, ...
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Proverbs 6 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition (NRSVACE)

Practical Admonitions6 My child, if you have given your pledge to your neighbour, if you have bound yourself to another,[a]2 you are snared by the utterance of your lips,[b] caught by the words of your mouth.3 So do this, my child, and save yourself, for you have come into your neighbour’s power: go...
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Proverbs 6 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Proverbs 6 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Practical Admonitions6 My child, if you have given your pledge to your neighbor, if you have bound yourself to another,[a](A)2 you are snared by the utterance of your lips,[b] caught by the words of your mouth.3 So do this, my child, and save yourself, for you have come into your neighbor’s power: g...
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Proverbs 6 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Lessons for Daily Life6 My child,[a] if you have put up security for a friend’s debt or agreed to guarantee the debt of a stranger—2 if you have trapped yourself by your agreement and are caught by what you said—3 follow my advice and save yourself, for you have placed yourself at your friend’s merc...
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Proverbs 6 - New Life Version (NLV)

A Father Talks to His Son6 My son, if you have put yourself as a trust for what your neighbor owes to another, or if you have made a promise for a stranger, 2 you have been trapped with the words of your lips. You have been caught with the words of your mouth. 3 Do this now, my son, and get yourse...
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Proverbs 6 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Dangerous Promises6 My son, (A)if you become [a]surety for your friend,If you have [b]shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,2 You are snared by the words of your mouth;You are taken by the words of your mouth.3 So do this, my son, and deliver yourself;For you have come into the hand of your friend:G...
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Proverbs 6 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Warnings against folly6 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbour, if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,2 you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth.3 So do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbour’s hands:go...
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Proverbs 6 - New International Version (NIV)

Warnings Against Folly6 My son,(A) if you have put up security(B) for your neighbor,(C) if you have shaken hands in pledge(D) for a stranger,2 you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth.3 So do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor’...
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Proverbs 6 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Warnings Against Foolish Acts6 My son, don’t promise to pay for what your neighbor owes. Don’t agree to pay a stranger’s bill.2 Don’t be trapped by what you have said. Don’t be caught by the words of your mouth.3 Instead, my son, do something to free yourself. Don’t fall into your neighbor’s hands.G...
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Proverbs 6 - New English Translation (NET)

Admonitions and Warnings against Dangerous and Destructive Acts[a]6 My child,[b] if you have made a pledge[c] for your neighbor,[d]if[e] you have become a guarantor[f] for a stranger,[g]2 if[h] you have been ensnared[i] by the words you have uttered,[j]and have been caught by the words you have spok...
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