1) My son! if you have stood surety for your neighbor and given your hand for another,
2) you have entangled yourself with the words of your mouth, you have been caught by the words of your mouth.
3) Do this, my son, and deliver yourself, since you have fallen into the hands of your neighbor: go, fall at your feet and beg your neighbor;
4) do not let your eyes sleep or slumber your eyelids;
5) escape like a chamois from the hand and like a bird from the hand of a fowler.
6) Go to the ant, sloth, look at his actions, and be wise.
7) He has neither a boss, nor a guard, nor a master;
8) But he prepares his grain in the summer, and gathers his food in the harvest. [Or go to the bee and know how industrious she is, what honorable work she produces; her works are used for health by both kings and common people; she is loved by everyone and glorious; although she is weak in strength, she is respectable in wisdom.]
9) How long will you sleep, sloth? when will you arise from your sleep?
10) Sleep a little, doze a little, lie down with your hands folded for a little:
11) and your poverty will come like a stranger, and your need like a robber. [If you are not lazy, then your harvest will come like a source; poverty will run far away from you.]
12) The wicked man, the wicked man walks with lying lips,
13) blinks his eyes, speaks with his feet, makes signs with his fingers;
14) deceit is in his heart: he plots evil at all times and sows discord.
15) But suddenly his destruction will come, he will suddenly be broken - without healing.
16) These are six things that the Lord hates, even seven that are an abomination to His soul:
17) proud eyes, a lying tongue and hands that shed innocent blood,
18) a heart that forges evil plans, legs that quickly run to villainy,
19) a false witness who tells lies and sows discord between brothers.
20) My son! keep your father's commandment and do not reject your mother's instruction;
21) bind them forever on your heart, tie them around your neck.
22) When you go, they will guide you; when you go to sleep, they will guard you; when you wake up, they will talk to you:
23) For commandment is a lamp, and instruction is light, and instruction is the way to life,
24) to guard you from a worthless woman, from the flattering tongue of a stranger.
25) Do not desire her beauty in your heart, [so that you are not caught by your eyes,] and do not let her captivate you with her eyelashes;
26) because because of a prodigal wife they become poor to a piece of bread, but a married wife snares a dear soul.
27) Can anyone take fire into his bosom so that his dress does not burn?
28) Can anyone walk on burning coals without having their feet burned?
29) The same thing happens to the one who goes in to his neighbor’s wife: whoever touches her will not be left without guilt.
30) A thief is not allowed to go free if he steals to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;
31) but, being caught, he will pay sevenfold, giving up all the property of his house.
32) Whoever commits adultery with a woman has no understanding; he who does this destroys his soul:
33) he will find beatings and shame, and his dishonor will not be erased,
34) because jealousy is the wrath of a husband, and he will not spare on the day of vengeance,
35) will not accept any ransom and will not be satisfied, no matter how many gifts you multiply.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru