Proverbs 6

1go and beg to have your name erased. 4Don't put it off; do it now! Don't rest until you do. 5Save yourself like a gazelle escaping from a hunter, like a bird fleeing from a net. 5:15 Hebrew Drink water from your own cistern, / flowing water from your own well. springs in the streets, / your streams in the city squares? 6:1 Hebrew My son. 6Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! 7Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, 8 they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. 9But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? 10A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— 11 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber. 12What are worthless and wicked people like? They are constant liars, 13 signaling their deceit with a wink of the eye, a nudge of the foot, or the wiggle of fingers. 14Their perverted hearts plot evil, and they constantly stir up trouble. 15But they will be destroyed suddenly, broken in an instant beyond all hope of healing.

16There are six things the LORD hates—no, seven things he detests:17 haughty eyes,a lying tongue,hands that kill the innocent,18 a heart that plots evil,feet that race to do wrong,19 a false witness who pours out lies,a person who sows discord in a family.

20My son, obey your father’s commands, and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. 21Keep their words always in your heart. Tie them around your neck. 22When you walk, their counsel will lead you. When you sleep, they will protect you. When you wake up, they will advise you.

23For their command is a lampand their instruction a light;their corrective disciplineis the way to life.

24It will keep you from the immoral woman,from the smooth tongue of a promiscuous woman.

25Don’t lust for her beauty.Don't let her coy glances seduce you.

26For a prostitute will bring you to poverty,*but sleeping with another man’s wife will cost you your life.

27Can aman scoop a flame into his lapand not have his clothes catch on fire?

28Can he walk on hot coalsand not blister his feet?

29So it is with the man who sleeps with another man’s wife.He who embraces her will not go unpunished.

30Excuses might be found for a thiefwho steals because he is starving.

31But if he is caught, he must pay back seven times what he stole,even if he has to sell everything in his house.

32But the man who commits adultery is an utter fool,for he destroys himself.

33He will be wounded and disgraced.His shame will never be erased.

34For the woman’s jealous husband will be furious,and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.

35He will accept no compensation,nor be satisfied with a payoff of any size.

Another Warning about Immoral Women

71 Follow my advice, my son;