New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (nwt, en_US, 2013)

Proverbs

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Proverbs, 6

1 My son, if you have put up security*1 for your neighbor, If you have given your handshake*2 to a stranger,

  1. Lit., “gone surety.”

  2. That is, in a pledge.

2 If you have been ensnared by your promise, Caught by the words of your mouth,

3 Do this, my son, and free yourself, For you have fallen into the hand of your neighbor: Go and humble yourself and urgently plead with your neighbor.

4 Do not allow your eyes to sleep, Nor your eyelids to slumber.

5 Free yourself like a gazelle from the hunter’s hand, Like a bird from the hand of the birdcatcher.

6 Go to the ant, you lazy one; Observe its ways and become wise.

7 Although it has no commander, officer, or ruler,

8 It prepares its food in the summer, And it gathers its food supplies in the harvest.

9 How long, you lazy one, will you lie there? When will you rise up from your sleep?

10 A little sleep, a little slumbering, A little folding of the hands to rest,

11 And your poverty will come like a bandit, And your want like an armed man.

12 A useless and wicked man walks about with crooked speech;

13 He winks with his eye, signals with his foot, and motions with his fingers.

14 With a perverted heart, He is always scheming evil and spreading contentions.

15 Therefore, his disaster will come suddenly; In a moment he will be broken beyond healing.

16 There are six things that Jehovah hates; Yes, seven things that he*1 detests:

  1. Or “his soul.”

17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 A heart plotting wicked schemes, and feet that run quickly to evil,

19 A false witness who lies with every breath, And anyone sowing contentions among brothers.

20 Observe, my son, the commandment of your father, And do not forsake the instruction*1 of your mother.

  1. Or “law.”

21 Always bind them around your heart; Tie them about your neck.

22 When you walk about, it will lead you; When you lie down, it will stand guard over you; And when you awaken, it will speak to you.*1

  1. Or “instruct you.”

23 For the commandment is a lamp, And the law is a light, And the reproofs of discipline are the way to life.

24 They will guard you against the bad woman, Against the seductive tongue of the immoral*1 woman.

  1. Lit., “foreign.” See Pr 2:16.

25 Do not desire her beauty in your heart Or allow her to captivate you with her alluring eyes,

26 For because of a prostitute, a man is reduced to a loaf of bread, But the wife of another man preys on a precious life.*1

  1. Or “soul.”

27 Can a man rake fire to his chest and not burn his garments?

28 Or can a man walk on hot coals without scorching his feet?

29 It is the same with anyone having relations with his neighbor’s wife; No one who touches her will go unpunished.

30 People do not despise a thief If he steals to satisfy himself*1 when he is hungry.

  1. Or “fill his soul.”

31 Yet, when found, he will repay sevenfold; He will give up all the valuables of his house.

32 Anyone committing adultery with a woman is lacking good sense;*1 The one who does so brings ruin on himself.*2

  1. Lit., “in want of heart.”

  2. Or “his soul.”

33 He will get only wounds and dishonor, And his disgrace will not be wiped away.

34 For jealousy makes a husband furious; He will show no compassion when he takes revenge.

35 He will accept no compensation;*1 He will not be appeased, no matter how large you make the gift.

  1. Or “ransom.”