Warnings against Foolishness 1 DRA My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, thou hast engaged fast thy hand to a stranger. BSB BSB: My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger,
2 DRA Thou art ensnared with the words of thy mouth, and caught with thy own words. BSB BSB: if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth,
3 DRA Do therefore, my son, what I say, and deliver thyself: because thou art fallen into the hand of thy neighbour. Run about, make haste, stir up thy friend: BSB BSB: then 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.
4 DRA Give not sleep to thy eyes, neither let thy eyelids slumber. BSB BSB: Allow no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids.
5 DRA Deliver thyself as a doe from the hand, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler. BSB BSB: Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.
6 DRA Go to the ant, O sluggard, and consider her ways, and learn wisdom: BSB BSB: Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise.
7 DRA Which, although she hath no guide, nor master, nor captain, BSB BSB: Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler,
8 DRA Provideth her meat for herself in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. BSB BSB: it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest.
9 DRA How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou rise out of thy sleep? BSB BSB: How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep?
10 DRA Thou wilt sleep a little, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to sleep: BSB BSB: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
11 DRA And want shall come upon thee, as a traveller, and poverty as a man armed. But if thou be diligent, thy harvest shall come as a fountain, and want shall flee far from thee. BSB BSB: and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.
12 DRA A man that is an apostate, an unprofitable man, walketh with a perverse mouth, BSB BSB: A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth,
13 DRA He winketh with the eyes, presseth with the foot, speaketh with the finger. BSB BSB: winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers.
14 DRA With a wicked heart he deviseth evil, and at all times he soweth discord. BSB BSB: With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord.
15 DRA To such a one his destruction shall presently come, and he shall suddenly be destroyed, and shall no longer have any remedy. BSB BSB: Therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in an instant he will be shattered beyond recovery.
16 DRA Six things there are, which the Lord hateth, and the seventh his soul detesteth: BSB BSB: There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him:
17 DRA Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, BSB BSB: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 DRA A heart that deviseth wicked plots, feet that are swift to run into mischief, BSB BSB: a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil,
19 DRA A deceitful witness that uttereth lies, and him that soweth discord among brethren. BSB BSB: a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.
Warnings against Adultery 20 DRA My son, beep the commandments of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother. BSB BSB: My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
21 DRA Bind them in thy heart continually, and put them about thy neck. BSB BSB: Bind them always upon your heart; tie them around your neck.
22 DRA When thou walkest, let them go with thee: when thou sleepest, let them keep thee; and when thou awakest, talk with them. BSB BSB: When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 DRA Because the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light, and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: BSB BSB: For this commandment is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way to life,
24 DRA That they may keep thee from the evil woman, and from the flattering tongue of the stranger. BSB BSB: to keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.
25 DRA Let not thy heart covet her beauty, be not caught with her winks: BSB BSB: Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.
26 DRA For the price of a harlot is scarce one loaf: but the woman catcheth the precious soul of a man. BSB BSB: For the levy of the prostitute is poverty, and the adulteress preys upon your very life.
27 DRA Can a man hide fire in his bosom, and his garments not burn? BSB BSB: Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned?
28 DRA Or can he walk upon hot coals, and his feet not be burnt? BSB BSB: Can a man walk on hot coals without scorching his feet?
29 DRA So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife, shall not be clean when he shall touch her. BSB BSB: So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.
30 DRA The fault is not so great when a man hath stolen: for he stealeth to fill his hungry soul: BSB BSB: Men do not despise the thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger.
31 DRA And if he be taken he shall restore sevenfold, and shall give up all the substance of his house. BSB BSB: Yet if caught, he must pay sevenfold; he must give up all the wealth of his house.
32 DRA But he that is an adulterer, for the folly of his heart shall destroy his own soul: BSB BSB: He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.
33 DRA He gathereth to himself shame and dishonour, and his reproach shall not be blotted out: BSB BSB: Wounds and dishonor will befall him, and his reproach will never be wiped away.
34 DRA Because the jealousy and rage of the husband will not spare in the day of revenge, BSB BSB: For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy in the day of vengeance.
35 DRA Nor will he yield to any man’s prayers, nor will he accept for satisfaction ever so many gifts. BSB BSB: He will not be appeased by any ransom, or persuaded by lavish gifts.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.