Proverbs 6-8

New International Version

⁶ Go to the ant, you sluggard;^(I)
    consider its ways and be wise!
⁷ It has no commander,
    no overseer or ruler,
⁸ yet it stores its provisions in summer^(J)
    and gathers its food at harvest.^(K)

⁹ How long will you lie there, you sluggard?^(L)
    When will you get up from your sleep?
¹⁰ A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest^(M)—
¹¹ and poverty^(N) will come on you like a thief
    and scarcity like an armed man.

¹² A troublemaker and a villain,
    who goes about with a corrupt mouth,
¹³     who winks maliciously with his eye,^(O)
    signals with his feet
    and motions with his fingers,^(P)
14     who plots evil^(Q) with deceit in his heart—
    he always stirs up conflict.^(R)
15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;^(S)
    he will suddenly^(T) be destroyed—without remedy.^(U)

¹⁶ There are six things the Lord hates,^(V)
    seven that are detestable to him:
¹⁷         haughty eyes,^(W)
        a lying tongue,^(X)
        hands that shed innocent blood,^(Y)
18         a heart that devises wicked schemes,
        feet that are quick to rush into evil,^(Z)
19         a false witness^(AA) who pours out lies^(AB)
        and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.^(AC)

²⁵ Do not lust in your heart after her beauty
    or let her captivate you with her eyes.

²⁶ For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread,
    but another man’s wife preys on your very life.^(AJ)
27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap
    without his clothes being burned?
²⁸ Can a man walk on hot coals
    without his feet being scorched?
²⁹ So is he who sleeps^(AK) with another man’s wife;^(AL)
    no one who touches her will go unpunished.

³⁰ People do not despise a thief if he steals
    to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.
³¹ Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold,^(AM)
    though it costs him all the wealth of his house.
³² But a man who commits adultery^(AN) has no sense;^(AO)
    whoever does so destroys himself.
³³ Blows and disgrace are his lot,
    and his shame will never^(AP) be wiped away.

³⁴ For jealousy^(AQ) arouses a husband’s fury,^(AR)
    and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
³⁵ He will not accept any compensation;
    he will refuse a bribe, however great it is.^(AS)

⁶ At the window of my house
    I looked down through the lattice.
⁷ I saw among the simple,
    I noticed among the young men,
    a youth who had no sense.^(AX)
8 He was going down the street near her corner,
    walking along in the direction of her house
⁹ at twilight,^(AY) as the day was fading,
    as the dark of night set in.

¹⁰ Then out came a woman to meet him,
    dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
¹¹ (She is unruly^(AZ) and defiant,
    her feet never stay at home;
¹² now in the street, now in the squares,
    at every corner she lurks.)^(BA)
13 She took hold of him^(BB) and kissed him
    and with a brazen face she said:^(BC)

¹⁴ “Today I fulfilled my vows,
    and I have food from my fellowship offering^(BD) at home.
¹⁵ So I came out to meet you;
    I looked for you and have found you!
¹⁶ I have covered my bed
    with colored linens from Egypt.
¹⁷ I have perfumed my bed^(BE)
    with myrrh,^(BF) aloes and cinnamon.
¹⁸ Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning;
    let’s enjoy ourselves with love!^(BG)
19 My husband is not at home;
    he has gone on a long journey.
²⁰ He took his purse filled with money
    and will not be home till full moon.”

²¹ With persuasive words she led him astray;
    she seduced him with her smooth talk.^(BH)
22 All at once he followed her
    like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer^[b] stepping into a noose^[c](BI)
23     till an arrow pierces^(BJ) his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
    little knowing it will cost him his life.^(BK)

²⁴ Now then, my sons, listen^(BL) to me;
    pay attention to what I say.
²⁵ Do not let your heart turn to her ways
    or stray into her paths.^(BM)
26 Many are the victims she has brought down;
    her slain are a mighty throng.
²⁷ Her house is a highway to the grave,
    leading down to the chambers of death.^(BN)

¹² “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
    I possess knowledge and discretion.^(BX)
13 To fear the Lord^(BY) is to hate evil;^(BZ)
    I hate^(CA) pride and arrogance,
    evil behavior and perverse speech.
¹⁴ Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
    I have insight, I have power.^(CB)
15 By me kings reign
    and rulers^(CC) issue decrees that are just;
¹⁶ by me princes govern,^(CD)
    and nobles—all who rule on earth.^[e]
17 I love those who love me,^(CE)
    and those who seek me find me.^(CF)
18 With me are riches and honor,^(CG)
    enduring wealth and prosperity.^(CH)
19 My fruit is better than fine gold;^(CI)
    what I yield surpasses choice silver.^(CJ)
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,^(CK)
    along the paths of justice,
²¹ bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
    and making their treasuries full.^(CL)

²² “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,^[f][g]
    before his deeds of old;
²³ I was formed long ages ago,
    at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
²⁴ When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
    when there were no springs overflowing with water;^(CM)
25 before the mountains were settled in place,^(CN)
    before the hills, I was given birth,^(CO)
26 before he made the world or its fields
    or any of the dust of the earth.^(CP)
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,^(CQ)
    when he marked out the horizon^(CR) on the face of the deep,
²⁸ when he established the clouds above^(CS)
    and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,^(CT)
29 when he gave the sea its boundary^(CU)
    so the waters would not overstep his command,^(CV)
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.^(CW)
30     Then I was constantly^[h] at his side.^(CX)
I was filled with delight day after day,
    rejoicing always in his presence,
³¹ rejoicing in his whole world
    and delighting in mankind.^(CY)

³² “Now then, my children, listen^(CZ) to me;
    blessed are^(DA) those who keep my ways.^(DB)
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
    do not disregard it.
³⁴ Blessed are those who listen^(DC) to me,
    watching daily at my doors,
    waiting at my doorway.
³⁵ For those who find me^(DD) find life^(DE)
    and receive favor from the Lord.^(DF)
36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves;^(DG)
    all who hate me love death.”^(DH)