1
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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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2
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if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth, |
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3
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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. |
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4
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Allow no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eyelids. |
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5
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Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. |
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6
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Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise. |
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7
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Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, |
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8
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it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest. |
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9
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How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep? |
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10
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A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, |
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11
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and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit. |
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12
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A worthless person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth, |
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13
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winking his eyes, speaking with his feet, and pointing with his fingers. |
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14
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With deceit in his heart he devises evil; he continually sows discord. |
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15
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Therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in an instant he will be shattered beyond recovery. |
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16
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There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: |
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17
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haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, |
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18
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a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, |
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19
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a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers. |
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20
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My son, keep your father’s commandment, and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. |
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21
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Bind them always upon your heart; tie them around your neck. |
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22
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When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. |
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23
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For this commandment is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way to life, |
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24
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to keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress. |
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25
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Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes. |
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26
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For the levy of the prostitute is poverty, and the adulteress preys upon your very life. |
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27
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Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned? |
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28
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Can a man walk on hot coals without scorching his feet? |
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29
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So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished. |
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30
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Men do not despise the thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger. |
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31
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Yet if caught, he must pay sevenfold; he must give up all the wealth of his house. |
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32
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He who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself. |
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33
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Wounds and dishonor will befall him, and his reproach will never be wiped away. |
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34
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For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy in the day of vengeance. |
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35
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He will not be appeased by any ransom, or persuaded by lavish gifts. |
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