Warnings against Foolishness

1My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,

if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger,

2if you have been trapped by the words of your lips,

ensnared by the words of your mouth,

3then do this, my son, to free yourself,

for you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:

Go, humble yourself,

and press your plea with your neighbor.

4Allow no sleep to your eyes

or slumber to your eyelids.

5Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,

like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

6Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker;

observe its ways and become wise.

7Without a commander,

without an overseer or ruler,

8it prepares its provisions in summer;

it gathers its food at harvest.

9How long will you lie there, O slacker?

When will you get up from your sleep?

10A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest,

11and poverty will come upon you like a robber,

and need like a bandit.

12A worthless person, a wicked man,

walks with a perverse mouth,

13winking his eyes, speaking with his feet,

and pointing with his fingers.

14With deceit in his heart he devises evil;

he continually sows discord.

15Therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;

in an instant he will be shattered beyond recovery.

16There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him:

17haughty eyes,

a lying tongue,

hands that shed innocent blood,

18a heart that devises wicked schemes,

feet that run swiftly to evil,

19a false witness who gives false testimony,

and one who stirs up discord among brothers.