Warning against Idleness and Falsehood

61 My son , if you have become surety for your neighbor , Have given a pledge for a stranger , 2 If you have been snared with the words of your mouth , Have been caught with the words of your mouth , 3 Do this then , my son , and deliver yourself ; Since you have come into the hand of your neighbor , Go , humble yourself, and importune your neighbor . 4 Give no sleep to your eyes , Nor slumber to your eyelids ; 5 Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hunter's hand And like a bird from the hand of the fowler .

6 Go to the ant , O sluggard , Observe her ways and be wise , 7 Which , having no chief , Officer or ruler , 8 Prepares her food in the summer And gathers her provision in the harvest . 9 How long will you lie down , O sluggard ? When will you arise from your sleep ? 10 " A little sleep , a little slumber , A little folding of the hands to rest "- 11 Your poverty will come in like a vagabond And your need like an armed man .

12 A worthless person , a wicked man , Is the one who walks with a perverse mouth , 13 Who winks with his eyes , who signals with his feet , Who points with his fingers ; 14 Who with perversity in his heart continually e devises evil , Who spreads strife . 15 Therefore e his calamity will come suddenly ; Instantly he will be broken and there will be no healing . 16 There are six things which the Lord hates , Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: 17 Haughty eyes , a lying tongue , And hands that shed innocent blood , 18 A heart that devises wicked plans , Feet that run rapidly to evil , 19 A false witness who utters lies , And one who spreads strife among brothers .

Warning against Adultery

20 My son , observe the commandment of your father And do not forsake the teaching of your mother ; 21 Bind them continually on your heart ; Tie them around your neck . 22 When you walk about, they will guide you; When you sleep , they will watch over you; And when you awake , they will talk to you. 23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light ; And reproofs for discipline are the way of life 24 To keep you from the evil woman , From the smooth tongue of the adulteress . 25 Do not desire her beauty in your heart , Nor let her capture you with her eyelids . 26 For on account of a harlot one is reduced to a loaf of bread , And an adulteress e hunts for the precious life . 27 Can a man take fire in his bosom And his clothes not be burned ? 28 Or can a man walk on hot coals And his feet not be scorched ? 29 So is the one who goes in to his neighbor's wife ; Whoever touches her will not go unpunished . 30 Men do not despise a thief if he steals To satisfy himself when he is hungry ; 31 But when he is found , he must repay sevenfold ; He must give all the substance of his house . 32 The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense ; He who would destroy himself does it. 33 Wounds and disgrace he will find , And his reproach will not be blotted out. 34 For jealousy enrages a man , And he will not spare in the day of vengeance . 35 He will not accept e any ransom , Nor will he be satisfied though you give many gifts .

Exhortations to Obedience

31 My son , do not forget my teaching , But let your heart keep my commandments ; 2 For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you. 3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck , Write them on the tablet of your heart . 4 So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man . 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding . 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight .

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes ; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil . 8 It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones . 9 Honor the Lord from your wealth And from the first of all your produce ; 10 So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine . 11 My son , do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His reproof , 12 For whom the Lord loves He reproves , Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights .

13 How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding . 14 For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold . 15 She is more precious than jewels ; And nothing e you desire compares with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand ; In her left hand are riches and honor . 17 Her ways are pleasant ways And all her paths are peace . 18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast . 19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth , By understanding He established the heavens . 20 By His knowledge the deeps were broken up And the skies drip with dew .

21 My son , let them not vanish from your sight ; Keep sound wisdom and discretion , 22 So they will be life to your soul And adornment to your neck . 23 Then you will walk in your way securely And your foot will not stumble . 24 When you lie down , you will not be afraid ; When you lie down , your sleep will be sweet . 25 Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes ; 26 For the Lord will be your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught .

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due , When it is in your power to do it. 28 Do not say to your neighbor , "Go , and come back , And tomorrow I will give it," When you have it with you. 29 Do not devise harm against your neighbor , While he lives securely beside you. 30 Do not contend with a man without cause , If he has done you no harm . 31 Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways . 32 For the devious are an abomination to the Lord ; But He is intimate with the upright . 33 The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked , But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous . 34 Though He scoffs at the scoffers , Yet He gives grace to the afflicted . 35 The wise will inherit honor , But fools display dishonor .