Warnings against Foolishness

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

if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger,

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

ensnared by the words of your mouth,

3 

then do this, my son, to free yourself,

for you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands:

Go, humble yourself,[fn]

and press your plea with your neighbor.

4 

Allow no sleep to your eyes

or slumber to your eyelids.

5 

Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand [of the hunter],[fn]

like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

6 

Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker;

observe its ways and become wise.

7 

Without a commander,

without an overseer or ruler,

8 

it prepares its provisions in summer;

it gathers its food at harvest.

9 

How long will you lie there, O slacker?

When will you get up from your sleep?

10 

A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest,

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and poverty will come upon you like a robber,

and need like a bandit

12 

A worthless person, a wicked man,

walks with a perverse mouth,

13 

winking his eyes, speaking with his feet,

and pointing with his fingers.

14 

With deceit in his heart he devises evil;

he continually sows discord.

15 

Therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;

in an instant he will be shattered beyond recovery.

16 

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

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• haughty eyes,
• a lying tongue,
• hands that shed innocent blood,
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• a heart that devises wicked schemes,
• feet that run swiftly to evil,
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• a false witness who gives false testimony,
• and one who stirs up discord among brothers.
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