Proverbs 6

1 My son [beloved child, descendant], if you have put up security [become surety, pledged to guarantee] for your neighbor [friend, companion], if you have struck [blown, shaken] hands [palm] in pledge [agreement, promise] with a stranger [foreigner, one unknown to you], word study 2 if you have been [spiritually] trapped [snared, caught] by the words [promises, vows] of your lips [mouth, speech], ensnared [taken, captured] by the words [sayings, utterances] of your mouth [the expression of your thoughts], word study 3 then [at this moment, now] do this, my son [my child, descendant], to free [rescue, deliver] yourself, for you have fallen [come into the power] into your neighbor’s [friend’s, companion’s] hands: Go [walk, approach], humble [trample, lower] yourself, and press [urge, assert] your plea [request, petition] with your neighbor [friend, companion]. word study 4 Allow [do not give, withhold] no sleep [rest, slumber] to your eyes [the windows of the soul, sources of insight] or slumber [drowsiness, lethargy] to your eyelids [the protectors of your vision, the guardians of your gaze]. word study 5 Free yourself [like a roe, swiftly and completely], like a gazelle [beauty, splendor; a gazelle] from the hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] of the hunter [one who pursues and seeks to capture], like a bird [a little bird, often hopping] from the snare [trap or net] of the fowler [one who sets traps to catch birds, a hunter of birds]. word study 6 Walk [go, proceed] in the manner [way of life, path] of the ant [pismire, diligent creature], O slacker [sluggard, hater of work]; observe [consider, give thought to] its ways [methods, habits] and become [be, learn to be] wise [intelligent, discerning]. word study 7 Without [lacking, having no] a commander [chief, leader], without [having no] an overseer [official, officer] or ruler [one who rules, having authority to govern], word study 8 it prepares [sets up, establishes] its provisions [food, bread] in summer [the harvest season]; it gathers [collects, harvests] its food [sustenance, nourishment] at harvest [the time of reaping, the season of gathering]. word study 9 How long [till when, for how much longer] will you lie there [sleep, be idle], O slacker [sluggard, hater of work, lazy loafer]? When [at what time, how soon] will you get up [rise, stand up, arise] from your sleep [rest, idleness, slothfulness]? word study 10 A little [small in amount, brief] sleep [rest, slumber], a little [short, temporary] slumber [drowsiness, lethargy], a little [small, brief] folding [clasping, laying] of the hands [an open hand; strength, a side or share] to rest [lie down, be idle], word study 11 and poverty [like a traveller, want] will come upon you like a robber [an outlaw, armed man], and need [lack, shortage] like a bandit [an armed warrior, one who takes by force]. word study 12 A [good-for-nothing] worthless person, a wicked [evil, ungodly] man, walks [goes on his way, travels] with a [froward, crooked] perverse mouth [lips, speech], word study 13 winking [with sly intent, to wink or pinch] his eyes [the source of sight], speaking [to say or utter, to communicate] with his feet [the foot, the leg], and pointing [to show or teach, to shoot an arrow] with his fingers [a means to grasp or hold, a way to signal]. word study 14 With deceit [perverseness, wickedness] in his heart [the center of feelings, will, and intellect] he devises [plots, plans] evil [bad, morally harmful]; he continually [at all times, constantly] sows [spreads, cultivates] discord [strife, contention, quarrel]. word study 15 Therefore [as a result, to such a one] calamity [disaster, oppression, or misfortune] will come [arrive, happen] upon him [on or against him] suddenly [without warning]; in an instant [suddenness, quickness] he will be shattered [broken, crushed, or ruined] beyond [without] recovery [healing, cure, or remedy]. word study 16 There are six [a specific number] things that the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] hates [intensely dislikes, abhors], seven [a number often associated with completeness or perfection] that are detestable [abominable, utterly disgusting] to Him [His soul, the essence of His being]: word study 17 haughty [proud, arrogant] eyes, a lying [false, deceptive] tongue, hands [an open hand; strength, a side or share] that shed [pour out, spill] innocent [morally clean, guiltless] blood, word study 18 a heart [that conceives wicked intentions, the seat of feelings and intellect] that devises [plots, plans, and imagines] wicked schemes [evil purposes, sinful plans], feet [the foot, the leg] that run [hasten, move quickly] swiftly [with urgency and speed] to evil [moral wrong, wickedness, trouble], word study 19 a false witness [who speaks lies, uttering deceit] who gives false testimony [breathing out untrue words, speaking deception], and one who stirs up [sows, sends forth] discord [strife, contention] among brothers [brethren, close relatives]. word study 20 My son [descendant, child of God], keep your father’s [parent, ancestor, or spiritual father] commandment [instruction, law, or divine guidance], and do not [refuse, neglect, or abandon] forsake [leave, reject, or turn away from] your mother’s [parent, nurturer, or caregiver] teaching [instruction, guidance, or wisdom]. word study 21 Bind [tie securely, fasten] them always [continually, constantly] upon [on, above] your heart [the seat of feelings, will, and intellect]; tie [bind securely, fasten around] them around [about, encircling] your neck [the throat]. word study 22 When you walk [go, journey through life], they will guide [lead, direct] you; when you lie down [rest, sleep], they will watch over [keep, protect] you; when you awake [arise, wake up], they will speak [talk, muse] to you. word study 23 For this commandment [a divine instruction, rule] is a lamp [a guiding light, shining brightly], this teaching [instruction, guidance] is a light [illumination, understanding], and the reproofs [rebukes, corrections] of discipline [training, correction] are the way [path, journey] to life [eternal, abundant, spiritual], word study 24 to keep [protect, guard] you from the evil [bad, immoral] woman [strange, foreign], from the smooth [flattering, seductive] tongue [language, speech] of the adulteress [wayward wife, prostitute]. word study 25 Do not [desire deeply, lust after] lust in your heart [mind, will, and emotions] for her beauty [loveliness, attractive quality] or let her captivate [take you with her eyes, enthrall] you with her eyes [eyelids, gaze]. word study 26 For the levy [tax, payment] of the prostitute [harlot, whorish woman] is poverty [a piece of bread, scarcity], and the adulteress [woman who commits adultery, unfaithful wife] preys [hunts, seeks to destroy] upon your very life [precious soul, valuable existence]. word study 27 Can a man [take in his bosom, scoop into his lap] embrace fire [flames, burning coals] and his clothes [garments, robes] not [under no circumstances] be burned [set on fire, kindled]? word study 28 Can a man [a male person, individual] walk [go, proceed] on hot coals [burning embers, fiery coals] without [not, lacking] scorching [to burn, penetrate] his feet [the lower extremities]? word study 29 So [thus, in this manner] is he who sleeps [has sex, lies with] with another man’s [his neighbor’s] wife; no one [not a single person] who touches [reaches out to, comes into contact with] her will go [remain] unpunished [without penalty, innocent]. word study 30 Men do not [totally reject] despise the thief [one who takes secretly] if he steals [takes to satisfy his need] to satisfy [fill completely] his hunger [physical need, craving for food]. word study 31 Yet if caught [found in the act, discovered], he must pay [restore, repay] sevenfold [seven times as much, much more than he stole]; he must give up [surrender, hand over] all [everything, the whole] the wealth [substance, riches] of his house [dwelling place, family estate]. word study 32 He who commits adultery [unfaithfulness, with a woman] lacks [is devoid of, without] judgment [understanding, sense]; whoever does so [acts in this way, destroys his own soul] destroys [ruins, corrupts] himself [his own soul, his life]. word study 33 Wounds [a plague, disease, or chastisement] and dishonor [shame, disgrace, or loss of reputation] will befall him, and his reproach [scorn, shame, or humiliation] will never [at no time, under no circumstances] be wiped away [erased, blotted out, or removed]. word study 34 For [because of, due to] jealousy [the rage of a man, intense anger] enrages [makes furious, arouses the fury of] a husband [a great man, a warrior], and he will show [spare not, have no mercy] no mercy [pity, compassion] in the day [a literal or figurative space of time] of vengeance [revenge, punishment]. word study 35 He will not [under any circumstances] be appeased [satisfied, calmed] by any ransom [payment for redemption, compensation], or persuaded [won over, convinced] by lavish gifts [many bribes, numerous presents]. word study