Proverbs 5:20-6:23

English Standard Version

²⁰Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with ^(A)a forbidden woman
    and embrace the bosom of ^(B)an adulteress?^[a]
²¹For ^(C)a man's ways are ^(D)before the eyes of the Lord,
    and he ^(E)ponders^[b] all his paths.
²²The ^(F)iniquities of the wicked ^(G)ensnare him,
    and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.
²³^(H)He dies for lack of discipline,
    and because of his great folly he is ^(I)led astray.

Practical Warnings

6 My son, if you have put up ^(J)security for your neighbor,
    have ^(K)given your pledge for a stranger,
²if you are ^(L)snared in the words of your mouth,
    caught in the words of your mouth,
³then do this, my son, and save yourself,
    for you have come into the hand of your neighbor:
    go, hasten,^[c] and ^(M)plead urgently with your neighbor.
⁴^(N)Give your eyes no sleep
    and your eyelids no slumber;
⁵save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,^[d]
    ^(O)like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

⁶^(P)Go to ^(Q)the ant, O ^(R)sluggard;
    consider her ways, and ^(S)be wise.
⁷^(T)Without having any chief,
    ^(U)officer, or ruler,
⁸she prepares her bread ^(V)in summer
    and ^(W)gathers her food in harvest.
⁹^(X)How long will you lie there, ^(Y)O sluggard?
    When will you arise from your sleep?
¹⁰^(Z)A little sleep, a little slumber,
    ^(AA)a little ^(AB)folding of the hands to rest,
¹¹^(AC)and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
    and want like an armed man.

¹²^(AD)A worthless person, a wicked man,
    goes about with ^(AE)crooked speech,
¹³^(AF)winks with his eyes, signals^[e] with his feet,
    points with his finger,
¹⁴with ^(AG)perverted heart ^(AH)devises evil,
    continually ^(AI)sowing discord;
¹⁵therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;
    ^(AJ)in a moment he will be broken ^(AK)beyond healing.

¹⁶There are ^(AL)six things that the Lord hates,
    ^(AM)seven that are an abomination to him:
¹⁷^(AN)haughty eyes, ^(AO)a lying tongue,
    and ^(AP)hands that shed innocent blood,
¹⁸^(AQ)a heart that devises wicked plans,
    ^(AR)feet that make haste to run to evil,
¹⁹^(AS)a false witness who ^(AT)breathes out lies,
    and one who ^(AU)sows discord among brothers.

Warnings Against Adultery

²⁰^(AV)My son, keep your father's commandment,
    ^(AW)and forsake not your mother's teaching.
²¹^(AX)Bind them on your heart always;
    ^(AY)tie them around your neck.
²²^(AZ)When you walk, they^[f] will lead you;
    ^(BA)when you lie down, they will ^(BB)watch over you;
    and when you awake, they will talk with you.
²³For the commandment is ^(BC)a lamp and the teaching a light,
    and the ^(BD)reproofs of discipline are the way of life,