Proverbs 6 - Good News Translation (GNT)

More Warnings

6 (A)My child, have you promised to be responsible for someone else's debts? 2 Have you been caught by your own words, trapped by your own promises? 3 Well then, my child, you are in that person's power, but this is how to get out of it: hurry to him, and beg him to release you. 4 Don't let yourself go to sleep or even stop to rest. 5 Get out of the trap like a bird or a deer escaping from a hunter.

6 Lazy people should learn a lesson from the way ants live. 7 They have no leader, chief, or ruler, 8 but they store up their food during the summer, getting ready for winter. 9 How long is the lazy man going to lie around? When is he ever going to get up? 10 (B)“I'll just take a short nap,” he says; “I'll fold my hands and rest a while.” 11 But while he sleeps, poverty will attack him like an armed robber.

12 Worthless, wicked people go around telling lies. 13 (C)They wink and make gestures to deceive you, 14 all the while planning evil in their perverted minds, stirring up trouble everywhere. 15 Because of this, disaster will strike them without warning, and they will be fatally wounded.

16-19 There are seven things that the Lord hates and cannot tolerate:

  • A proud look,
  • a lying tongue,
  • hands that kill innocent people,
  • a mind that thinks up wicked plans,
  • feet that hurry off to do evil,
  • a witness who tells one lie after another,
  • and someone who stirs up trouble among friends.

Warning against Adultery

20 Son, do what your father tells you and never forget what your mother taught you. 21 Keep their words with you always, locked in your heart. 22 Their teaching will lead you when you travel, protect you at night, and advise you during the day. 23 Their instructions are a shining light; their correction can teach you how to live. 24 It can keep you away from bad women, from the seductive words of other men's wives. 25 Don't be tempted by their beauty; don't be trapped by their flirting eyes. 26 A man can hire a prostitute for the price of a loaf of bread, but adultery will cost him all he has.

27 Can you carry fire against your chest without burning your clothes? 28 Can you walk on hot coals without burning your feet? 29 It is just as dangerous to sleep with another man's wife. Whoever does it will suffer. 30 People don't despise a thief if he steals food when he is hungry;[a] 31 yet if he is caught, he must pay back seven times more—he must give up everything he has. 32 But a man who commits adultery doesn't have any sense. He is just destroying himself. 33 He will be dishonored and beaten up; he will be permanently disgraced. 34 A husband is never angrier than when he is jealous; his revenge knows no limits. 35 He will not accept any payment; no amount of gifts will satisfy his anger.

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:30 People don't despise … hungry; or Don't people despise … hungry?

Cross references

  1. Proverbs 6:1 : Sir 29:14-Sir 29:20
  2. Proverbs 6:10 : Prov 24:33; Prov 24:34
  3. Proverbs 6:13 : Sir 27:22

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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)

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 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

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 (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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