1 My son! If you have pledged for your neighbor and have given your hand for another,

2 Thou hast entangled thyself with the words of thy mouth, thou hast been caught by the words of thy mouth.

3 Do this, my son, and deliver yourself, for you have fallen into the hands of your neighbor: go, fall at your feet, and beseech your neighbor;

4 Give not sleep to thy eyes, nor slumber to thy eyelids;

5 Save thyself as a chamois out of the hand, and as a bird out of the hand of a fowler.

6 Go to the ant, you sluggard, and see his actions, and be wise.

7 He hath no ruler, no steward, no ruler;

8 But he stores up his bread in the summer, he gathers his food in the harvest. [Or go to the bee and find out how industrious it is, what honorable work it does; its labors are used for health both by kings and commoners; and it is loved by all and glorious; though it is weak in strength, it is honored in wisdom.]

9 How long wilt thou, O sluggard, sleep? When will you arise from your sleep?

10 Sleep a little, slumber a little, lie down a little with folded hands:

11 And thy poverty shall come as a passer-by, and thy need as a thief. [But if you are not slothful, your harvest will come as a spring; but poverty will flee far from you.]

12 A wicked man, a wicked man, walketh with lying lips,

13 He winks his eyes, he speaks with his feet, he makes signs with his fingers;

14 Deceit is in his heart: he deviseth evil at all times, he sows strife.

15 But suddenly his destruction will come, suddenly he will be broken, without healing.

16 These are six things that the Lord hates, even seven, which are an abomination to his soul:

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

18 A heart forging evil designs, feet swiftly running to wickedness,

19 A false witness who tells lies, and sows discord among the brethren.

20 My son! keep thy father's commandment, and reject not thy mother's instruction;

21 Bind them forever on your heart, bind them around your neck.