Proverbs

Offers wisdom and advice on how to live a good and meaningful life.

Chapter 6

1 My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,

*My child, if you guarantee something for your friend, if you've made a promise to someone you don't know well,

2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

*You are caught by your own words, you are held by your own words.

3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

*"Do it now, my child. Save yourself when you're with a friend. Go and be humble to make sure your friend helps you."

4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

*Don't let your eyes close from sleep or your eyelids rest with slumber.

5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

*Escape like a deer from the hunter's grasp, and like a bird from the fowler's hold.

6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

*"Look at the ant, lazy person; watch how she works and become smart."

7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

*Which having no leader, supervisor, or boss,

8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

*Provides food in summer, collects crops during harvest time.

9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

*For how much longer will you sleep, lazy person? When will you wake up from your slumber?

10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

*A small nap, a brief rest, briefly resting your hands - sleep.

11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

*So, your lack of money will be like a traveler who comes unexpectedly, and your need will be like a soldier with weapons coming to demand what is owed.

12 A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.

*A bad person, a sinful guy, walks around with a sneaky talk.

13 He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;

*He winks with his eyes, he speaks with his feet, he teaches with his fingers.

14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

*He's unfriendly and always plans trouble; he keeps causing conflicts.

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

*So, his trouble will arrive quickly; suddenly, he will be broken with no way to fix it.

16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

*The Lord dislikes these six things; actually, seven things are very disgusting to him.

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

*A haughty glance, a deceitful speech, and hands causing harm to innocent people.

18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

*A heart that plans bad thoughts, and feet that quickly run into trouble.

19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

*A person who lies in court and someone who causes arguments among friends.

20 My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

*"Son, follow your father's rules and don't forget your mother's teachings."

21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

*Keep them always in your heart and wear them around your neck.

22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

*When you go, it will guide you; when you rest, it will protect you; and when you wake up, it will talk to you.

23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

*The rule is like a lamp, and the law gives light; guidance from teaching shows the path to living well.

24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

*To protect you from bad women, and the sweet talk of a woman not from your family.

25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

*Don't desire her looks in your thoughts; also, don't let her captivate you with her eyes.

26 For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.

*A man can lose everything through a dishonest woman who wants money, and a deceitful woman will chase after valuable things.

27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

*Can a person hold fire close to their chest, and not get their clothes burnt?

28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?

*Can someone walk on hot coals without getting their feet hurt?

29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.

*If someone goes to their neighbor's wife or touches her, they will not be considered innocent.

30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;

*People don't dislike a person stealing, if they steal to fill their hunger.

31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

*But if he is caught, he must return seven times more; he has to give everything in his home.

32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.

*But whoever has an affair with a woman is not smart; the person who does this hurts their own soul.

33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.

*He will suffer disgrace and shame, and his bad reputation won't go away.

34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

*Jealousy makes people very angry, so they won't hold back when it's time to get even.

35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.

*He won't accept any payment; he won't be satisfied even if you give lots of gifts.

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