1 My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,

1 ¶ My son, if thou art become surety for thy neighbour,
If thou hast stricken thy hands for a stranger,

2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

2 ¶ Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth,
Thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

3 ¶ Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself,
Seeing thou art come into the hand of thy neighbour;
Go, humble thyself, and importune thy neighbour.

4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

4 ¶ Give not sleep to thine eyes,
Nor slumber to thine eyelids.

5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

5 ¶ Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter,
And as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6 ¶ Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

6 ¶ Go to the ant, thou sluggard;
Consider her ways, and be wise:

7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

7 ¶ Which having no chief,
Overseer, or ruler,

8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

8 ¶ Provideth her meat in the summer,
And gathereth her food in the harvest.

9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

9 ¶ How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard?
When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

10 ¶ Yet a little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to sleep:

11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

11 ¶ So shall thy poverty come as a robber,
And thy want as an armed man.

12 ¶ A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.

12 ¶ A worthless person, a man of iniquity;
He walketh with a froward mouth;

13 He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;

13 ¶ He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet,
He maketh signs with his fingers;

14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

14 ¶ Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth evil continually;
He soweth discord.

15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

15 ¶ Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly;
On a sudden shall he be broken, and that without remedy.

16 ¶ These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

16 ¶ There be six things which the Lord hateth;
Yea, seven which are an abomination unto him:

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

17 ¶ Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood;

18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

18 ¶ An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations,
Feet that be swift in running to mischief;

19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

19 ¶ A false witness that uttereth lies,
And he that soweth discord among brethren.

20 ¶ My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

20 ¶ My son, keep the commandment of thy father,
And forsake not the law of thy mother:

21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

21 ¶ Bind them continually upon thine heart,
Tie them about thy neck.

22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

22 ¶ When thou walkest, it shall lead thee;
When thou sleepest, it shall watch over thee;
And when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

23 ¶ For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light;
And reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

24 ¶ To keep thee from the evil woman,
From the flattery of the stranger’s tongue.

25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

25 ¶ Lust not after her beauty in thine heart;
Neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

26 For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.

26 ¶ For on account of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread:
And the adulteress hunteth for the precious life.

27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

27 ¶ Can a man take fire in his bosom,
And his clothes not be burned?

28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?

28 ¶ Or can one walk upon hot coals,
And his feet not be scorched?

29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.

29 ¶ So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife;
Whosoever toucheth her shall not be unpunished.

30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;

30 ¶ Men do not despise a thief, if he steal
To satisfy his soul when he is hungry:

31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

31 ¶ But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold;
He shall give all the substance of his house.

32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.

32 ¶ He that committeth adultery with a woman is void of understanding:
He doeth it that would destroy his own soul.

33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.

33 ¶ Wounds and dishonour shall he get;
And his reproach shall not be wiped away.

34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

34 ¶ For jealousy is the rage of a man;
And he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.

35 ¶ He will not regard any ransom;
Neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.