New King James Version

English Standard Version

Dangerous Promises

My son, if you become [a]surety for your friend,
If you have [b]shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,

1

Practical Warnings

My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
have given your pledge for a stranger,

2

You are snared by the words of your mouth;
You are taken by the words of your mouth.

2

if you are snared in the words of your mouth,
caught in the words of your mouth,

3

So do this, my son, and deliver yourself;
For you have come into the hand of your friend:
Go and humble yourself;
Plead with your friend.

3

then do this, my son, and save yourself,
for you have come into the hand of your neighbor:
go, hasten,a and plead urgently with your neighbor.

4

Give no sleep to your eyes,
Nor slumber to your eyelids.

4

Give your eyes no sleep
and your eyelids no slumber;

5

Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
And like a bird from the hand of the [c]fowler.

5

save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,b
like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6

The Folly of Indolence

Go to the ant, you sluggard!
Consider her ways and be wise,

6

Go to the ant, O sluggard;
consider her ways, and be wise.

7

Which, having no [d]captain,
Overseer or ruler,

7

Without having any chief,
officer, or ruler,

8

Provides her [e]supplies in the summer,
And gathers her food in the harvest.

8

she prepares her bread in summer
and gathers her food in harvest.

9

How long will you [f]slumber, O sluggard?
When will you rise from your sleep?

9

How long will you lie there, O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?

10

A little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to sleep —

10

A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,

11

So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler,
And your need like an armed man.

11

and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.

12

The Wicked Man

A worthless person, a wicked man,
Walks with a perverse mouth;

12

A worthless person, a wicked man,
goes about with crooked speech,

13

He winks with his eyes,
He [g]shuffles his feet,
He points with his fingers;

13

winks with his eyes, signalsc with his feet,
points with his finger,

14

Perversity is in his heart,
He devises evil continually,
He sows discord.

14

with perverted heart devises evil,
continually sowing discord;

15

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

15

therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;
in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.

16

These six things the Lord hates,
Yes, seven are an abomination to [h]Him:

16

There are six things that the Lord hates,
seven that are an abomination to him:

17

A[i] proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,

17

haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
and hands that shed innocent blood,

18

A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,

18

a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil,

19

A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.

19

a false witness who breathes out lies,
and one who sows discord among brothers.

20

Beware of Adultery

My son, keep your father’s command,
And do not forsake the law of your mother.

20

Warnings Against Adultery

My son, keep your father’s commandment,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching.

21

Bind them continually upon your heart;
Tie them around your neck.

21

Bind them on your heart always;
tie them around your neck.

22

When you roam, [j]they will lead you;
When you sleep, they will keep you;
And when you awake, they will speak with you.

22

When you walk, theyd will lead you;
when you lie down, they will watch over you;
and when you awake, they will talk with you.

23

For the commandment is a lamp,
And the law a light;
Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,

23

For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light,
and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

24

To keep you from the evil woman,
From the flattering tongue of a seductress.

24

to preserve you from the evil woman,e
from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.f

25

Do not lust after her beauty in your heart,
Nor let her allure you with her eyelids.

25

Do not desire her beauty in your heart,
and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes;

26

For by means of a harlot
A man is reduced to a crust of bread;
And [k]an adulteress will prey upon his precious life.

26

for the price of a prostitute is only a loaf of bread,g
but a married womanh hunts down a precious life.

27

Can a man take fire to his bosom,
And his clothes not be burned?

27

Can a man carry fire next to his chest
and his clothes not be burned?

28

Can one walk on hot coals,
And his feet not be seared?

28

Or can one walk on hot coals
and his feet not be scorched?

29

So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife;
Whoever touches her shall not be innocent.

29

So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife;
none who touches her will go unpunished.

30

People do not despise a thief
If he steals to satisfy himself when he is starving.

30

People do not despise a thief if he steals
to satisfy his appetite when he is hungry,

31

Yet when he is found, he must restore sevenfold;
He may have to give up all the substance of his house.

31

but if he is caught, he will pay sevenfold;
he will give all the goods of his house.

32

Whoever commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding;
He who does so destroys his own soul.

32

He who commits adultery lacks sense;
he who does it destroys himself.

33

Wounds and dishonor he will get,
And his reproach will not be wiped away.

33

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

34

For jealousy is a husband’s fury;
Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

34

For jealousy makes a man furious,
and he will not spare when he takes revenge.

35

He will [l]accept no recompense,
Nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts.

35

He will accept no compensation;
he will refuse though you multiply gifts.

Parallel

New King James Version

English Standard Version

Proverbs 6

Proverbs 6