Proverbs 6 - New International Version (NIV)

Warnings Against Folly

6 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’s hands:
Go—to the point of exhaustion—[a]
and give your neighbor no rest!
4 Allow no sleep to your eyes,
no slumber to your eyelids.(E)
5 Free yourself, like a gazelle(F) from the hand of the hunter,(G)
like a bird from the snare of the fowler.(H)

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard;(I)
consider its ways and be wise!
7 It has no commander,
no overseer or ruler,
8 yet it stores its provisions in summer(J)
and gathers its food at harvest.(K)

9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard?(L)
When will you get up from your sleep?
10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest(M)—
11 and poverty(N) will come on you like a thief
and scarcity like an armed man.

12 A troublemaker and a villain,
who goes about with a corrupt mouth,
13 who winks maliciously with his eye,(O)
signals with his feet
and motions with his fingers,(P)
14 who plots evil(Q) with deceit in his heart—
he always stirs up conflict.(R)
15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;(S)
he will suddenly(T) be destroyed—without remedy.(U)

16 There are six things the Lord hates,(V)
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,(W)
a lying tongue,(X)
hands that shed innocent blood,(Y)
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,(Z)
19 a false witness(AA) who pours out lies(AB)
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.(AC)

Warning Against Adultery

20 My son,(AD) keep your father’s command
and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.(AE)
21 Bind them always on your heart;
fasten them around your neck.(AF)
22 When you walk, they will guide you;
when you sleep, they will watch over you;
when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 For this command is a lamp,
this teaching is a light,(AG)
and correction and instruction
are the way to life,(AH)
24 keeping you from your neighbor’s wife,
from the smooth talk of a wayward woman.(AI)

25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty
or let her captivate you with her eyes.

26 For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread,
but another man’s wife preys on your very life.(AJ)
27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap
without his clothes being burned?
28 Can a man walk on hot coals
without his feet being scorched?
29 So is he who sleeps(AK) with another man’s wife;(AL)
no one who touches her will go unpunished.

30 People do not despise a thief if he steals
to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.
31 Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold,(AM)
though it costs him all the wealth of his house.
32 But a man who commits adultery(AN) has no sense;(AO)
whoever does so destroys himself.
33 Blows and disgrace are his lot,
and his shame will never(AP) be wiped away.

34 For jealousy(AQ) arouses a husband’s fury,(AR)
and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
35 He will not accept any compensation;
he will refuse a bribe, however great it is.(AS)

Footnotes

  1. Proverbs 6:3 Or Go and humble yourself,

Cross references

  1. Proverbs 6:1 : S Pr 1:8
  2. Proverbs 6:1 : Job 17:3
  3. Proverbs 6:1 : Pr 17:18
  4. Proverbs 6:1 : Pr 11:15; 22:26-27
  5. Proverbs 6:4 : Ps 132:4
  6. Proverbs 6:5 : S 2Sa 2:18
  7. Proverbs 6:5 : Isa 13:14
  8. Proverbs 6:5 : S Ps 91:3
  9. Proverbs 6:6 : ver 6-11; Pr 20:4
  10. Proverbs 6:8 : Pr 30:24-25
  11. Proverbs 6:8 : Pr 10:4
  12. Proverbs 6:9 : Pr 24:30-34; 26:13-16
  13. Proverbs 6:10 : Pr 24:33; Ecc 4:5
  14. Proverbs 6:11 : ver 10-11; Pr 20:13; 24:30-34
  15. Proverbs 6:13 : S Ps 35:19; Pr 16:30
  16. Proverbs 6:13 : Isa 58:9
  17. Proverbs 6:14 : S Ps 140:2
  18. Proverbs 6:14 : ver 16-19
  19. Proverbs 6:15 : S Ps 55:15
  20. Proverbs 6:15 : Job 5:3
  21. Proverbs 6:15 : Pr 14:32; 29:1
  22. Proverbs 6:16 : ver 16-19; Pr 3:32; 8:13; 15:8, 9, 26; 16:5
  23. Proverbs 6:17 : S Job 41:34; S Ps 10:5
  24. Proverbs 6:17 : Pr 12:22
  25. Proverbs 6:17 : S Dt 19:10; Pr 1:16; Isa 1:21; 59:7; Jer 2:34; Mic 7:2
  26. Proverbs 6:18 : S Job 15:31
  27. Proverbs 6:19 : S Dt 19:16
  28. Proverbs 6:19 : S Ps 12:2
  29. Proverbs 6:19 : ver 12-15; Pr 15:18; Zec 8:17
  30. Proverbs 6:20 : S Pr 3:21
  31. Proverbs 6:20 : Pr 1:8
  32. Proverbs 6:21 : Dt 6:8; S Pr 3:3; 7:1-3
  33. Proverbs 6:23 : S Ps 119:105
  34. Proverbs 6:23 : Pr 10:17
  35. Proverbs 6:24 : Ge 39:8; S Ps 55:21; Pr 2:16; 7:5
  36. Proverbs 6:26 : Pr 7:22-23
  37. Proverbs 6:29 : S Ex 20:14
  38. Proverbs 6:29 : Pr 2:16-19; S 5:8
  39. Proverbs 6:31 : Ex 22:1-14
  40. Proverbs 6:32 : S Ex 20:14
  41. Proverbs 6:32 : Pr 7:7; 9:4, 16
  42. Proverbs 6:33 : Pr 5:9-14
  43. Proverbs 6:34 : S Nu 5:14
  44. Proverbs 6:34 : S Ge 34:7
  45. Proverbs 6:35 : Job 31:9-11; SS 8:7

You Might Also Like:

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...
Read More

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...
Read More

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...
Read More

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...
Read More

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 ...
Read More

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...
Read More

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...
Read More

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...
Read More

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...
Read More

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...
Read More

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...
Read More

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...
Read More

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...
Read More

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’...
Read More

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...
Read More

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...
Read More