Chapter 6. My son if you become Surety for your Friend If you have shaken hands in pledge for a Stranger You Are snared by the words of your Mouth You are taken by the words of your mouth So do this my son and deliver yourself For you have come into the hand of your Friend Go and humble yourself plead with your Friend Give no sleep to your eyes nor Slumber To your eyelids Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the Hand of the Hunter And like a bird from the hand of the Fowler Go to the ant you sluggard Consider her ways and be wise which Having no Captain overseer or ruler Provides her supplies in the summer and Gathers her food in the Harvest How long will you Slumber oh slugged When will you rise from your sleep A little sleep a little Slumber a little Folding of the hands to sleep So shall your poverty come on you like a Prowler and your need like an armed man A worthless person a wicked man walks With a perverse mouth He Winks with his eyes he shuffles his Feet he points with his fingers
Perversity is in his heart He devises evil continually He sows Discord Therefore his Calamity shall come Suddenly Suddenly he shall be broken without Remedy These six things the Lord hates yes Seven are an Abomination to him A proud look A lying tongue hands that shed innocent Blood A heart that devises Wicked plans Feet that are Swift in running to evil A false witness who speaks lies And one who sows Discord among brethren My son keep your father's command and do Not forsake the law of your mother Bind them continually upon your heart Tie them around your neck When you roam they will lead you when You sleep they will keep you And when you awake they will speak with You For the Commandment is a lamp and the Law a light Reproofs of instruction are the way of Life to keep you from the evil woman From the flattering tongue of a Seductress Do not lust after her beauty in your Heart Nor let her Allure you with her eyelids For by means of a harlot a man is
Reduced to a crust of bread And an adulteress will prey upon his Precious life Can a man take fire to his bosom and his Clothes not be burned Can one walk on hot coals and his feet Not be seared So is he who goes into his neighbor's Wife Whoever touches her shall not be Innocent People do not despise a thief if he Steals to satisfy himself when he is Starving Yet when he is found he must restore Sevenfold He may have to give up all the substance Of his house Whoever commits adultery with a woman Lacks understanding He who does so destroys his own soul Wounds and dishonor he will get and his Reproach will not be wiped away For jealousy is a husband's Fury Therefore he will not spare in the day Of vengeance He will accept no recompense nor will he Be appeased though you give many gifts