Warning against surety for a stranger

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WealthFriendship1My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,

Speech2you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth.

Wisdom3So do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor`s hands: Go—to the point of exhaustion— and give your neighbor no rest!

Work4Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids.

Wisdom5Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

Learn from the ant, O sluggard

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Work6Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!

Work7It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,

Work8yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

Work9How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?

Work10A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—

WorkWealth11and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.

The worthless person and his schemes

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Speech12A troublemaker and a villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth,

Speech13who winks maliciously with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers,

Anger14who plots evil with deceit in his heart— he always stirs up conflict.

Justice15Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant; he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

Six things the LORD hates

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Justice16There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him:

SpeechJustice17haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,

Justice18a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,

Speech19a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

Warning against adultery

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FamilyDiscipline20My son, keep your father`s command and do not forsake your mother`s teaching.

Discipline21Bind them always on your heart; fasten them around your neck.

Discipline22When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.

Discipline23For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life,

DesireFamily24keeping you from your neighbor`s wife, from the smooth talk of a wayward woman.

Desire25Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.

Desire26For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread, but another man`s wife preys on your very life.

Desire27Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?

Desire28Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?

DesireFamily29So is he who sleeps with another man`s wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.

Justice30People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.

JusticeWealth31Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold, though it costs him all the wealth of his house.

DesireFamily32But a man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does so destroys himself.

Desire33Blows and disgrace are his lot, and his shame will never be wiped away.

AngerFamily34For jealousy arouses a husband`s fury, and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.

Justice35He will not accept any compensation; he will refuse a bribe, however great it is.

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